Validity of baptism

[cassiesue]

I was received into the church this past April. I went through RCIA, had my first confession and was confirmed, received first Holy Communion and had my marriage convalidated at the Easter vigil mass. I have been a practicing Catholic since then.

I don’t think my priest researched my baptism (which was performed in a non-denominational church 20 years ago), I simply told him that I was immersed and that the proper words were said and he decided my baptism was valid. Last night, I read some things on the EWTN website that disturbed me and I fear my baptism may NOT have been valid. FIrst of all, the words were not said during the immersion, but beforehand, and second, I know this church doesn’t believe that baptism is sacramental, but that it is merely symbolic. I really regret not being more assertive in asking for conditional baptism.

What does the church do in the case that they discover someone was not validly baptized and has been receiving other sacraments? Do I need to “start over?” I am very upset about this and am actually thinking I may not truly be part of the body of Christ! I’ve been crying off and on for nearly 24 hours over this.
God bless you all, thanks for reading and responding.

 

[palmas85]

I was received into the church this past April. I went through RCIA, had my first confession and was confirmed, received first Holy Communion and had my marriage convalidated at the Easter vigil mass. I have been a practicing Catholic since then.

I don’t think my priest researched my baptism (which was performed in a non-denominational church 20 years ago), I simply told him that I was immersed and that the proper words were said and he decided my baptism was valid. Last night, I read some things on the EWTN website that disturbed me and I fear my baptism may NOT have been valid. FIrst of all, the words were not said during the immersion, but beforehand, and second, I know this church doesn’t believe that baptism is sacramental, but that it is merely symbolic. I really regret not being more assertive in asking for conditional baptism.

What does the church do in the case that they discover someone was not validly baptized and has been receiving other sacraments? Do I need to “start over?” I am very upset about this and am actually thinking I may not truly be part of the body of Christ! I’ve been crying off and on for nearly 24 hours over this.
God bless you all, thanks for reading and responding.

What formula was used in the Baptism? If the formula was in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Baptism is valid. If they used something like the Creator, sanctifier and redeemer it is not.

For info, most Christian groups do not believe that Baptism is sacramental as do Catholics and the Orthodox, but is merely an intiation into whatever community they happen to be.

There was a fairly famous case that occurred in Australia several years back in which a Catholic Church had used the wrong formula for several years. All of those so baptized had to be re-baptized. That may be the case with you. Then again, you may be deemed to have had Baptism by desire. Or your original Baptism may have been valid. It all depends.

Best of luck!

 

[puzzleannie]

simply mention your concerns to the priest and tell him why you are worried, he can set your fears at rest. The most that would happen is that he would then baptize you conditionally, very privately only one witness, and no, you don’t have to start over.

 

[Gardening_Mommy]

When my husband went through RCIA and when we were RCIA sponsors for a few years, the baptism requirements were specific, but simple:

1. “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (from Jesus’ instruction in the Great Commission)
2. You got wet (with water). Sprinkled, splashed, dunked, whatever.

Although Catholic baptisms in the current practice put the water in the middle of the formula ("… in the name of the Father (water) and of the Son (more water) and of the Holy Spirit (more water)…" and by this time the baby is awake and screaming), that is not required for a vaild baptism, nor is a Catholic understanding of the sacrament.

If we required a Catholic understanding of baptism as conferring grace, then my husband’s baptism as a grade schooler wouldn’t count, since his nondenom church only saw it as a sign or initiation. But, it fulfilled 1 and 2, so he did not need to be conditionally baptized.

What you read on EWTN may have been discussing properly done Catholic baptism. There are rubrics to follow, and the priest, as with mass, is not supposed to mess with them, because the rite of baptism should help convey what we mean by it, emphasize the responsibilities of the parents and godparents, etc.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I was received into the church this past April. I went through RCIA, had my first confession and was confirmed, received first Holy Communion and had my marriage convalidated at the Easter vigil mass. I have been a practicing Catholic since then.

I don’t think my priest researched my baptism (which was performed in a non-denominational church 20 years ago), I simply told him that I was immersed and that the proper words were said and he decided my baptism was valid. Last night, I read some things on the EWTN website that disturbed me and I fear my baptism may NOT have been valid. FIrst of all, the words were not said during the immersion, but beforehand, and second, I know this church doesn’t believe that baptism is sacramental, but that it is merely symbolic. I really regret not being more assertive in asking for conditional baptism.

What does the church do in the case that they discover someone was not validly baptized and has been receiving other sacraments? Do I need to “start over?” I am very upset about this and am actually thinking I may not truly be part of the body of Christ! I’ve been crying off and on for nearly 24 hours over this.
God bless you all, thanks for reading and responding.

If it is determined that the Baptism might be questionable you would simply be Conditionally Baptized. With non-Catholic Baptism as long as the words are within the one action of immersion. They cannot be two clearly separate and distince actions with no connection to one another. In other words if you make a profession, the Words “I Baptize you…” are spoken and then you walk over to the pool and are immersed two or three minutes later. The words and action are separated too much.