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Ukrforever
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Was my baptism invalid because my parents served as my godparents one isnt even Catholic and the other is a lapsed one!! Is it valid or not??
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RyanBlack
Guest
If your baptism was done with water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and with the intent actually to baptize, it was valid. The issue of whether the priest follows Church guidelines with respect to who is permitted to serve as godparents is irrelevant to the question of validity. Even if there had been no godparents at all, the baptism would still have been valid, provided that it was done with water, using the Trinitarian formula, and with the intent of the priest actually to baptize.
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Ukrforever
Guest
Im hoping so because than I get to have another baptism
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RyanBlack
Guest
Where did the baptism take place?
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Ukrforever
Guest
Hi, Im beginning to fear my baptism was invalid because my parents served as godparents.One is not even Catholic , the other is a lapsed one.What should be done if it is??
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Ukrforever
Guest
In an easten catholic church.Doesnt canon law state that parents cannot be godparents??
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Ukrforever
Guest
If it doesnt follow the rules of a normal ceremony in a normal circomstance than it is not valid and I want another baptism
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curlycool89
Guest
Godparents would fall as a canonical requirement (I’m not sure about the Eastern Rites, but I assume it’s the same). If you were baptized with:
a. Water
b. Three times (pouring or immersion)
c. In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirt
then you are validly baptized (that is all that’s required for a valid baptism). If there were anything, it might be illicit (don’t take my word on that, I’m not a canon lawyer), but none of that would reflect on you because you weren’t old enough to have committed a sin (I’m assuming you were baptized as a baby?).
Do you have a baptismal record? If it says you’re baptized, then you’re baptized.
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Ukrforever
Guest
So if thats the case than I guess priests can say a divine litergy without using the proper texts and they can say what ever they want.Thats what your telling me.Priests can rule the church however they see fit as long as their intent was in the right place. Whats the use of even having canon law than if this is the way its used.
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Ukrforever
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All please answer
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Rolltide
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ANY person - even a layman, or even a non-Catholic - can validly baptize someone (although it’s only permitted in life-or-death circumstances for anyone but the priest to perform the ceremony). The question of validity with baptism is very simple. Water MUST be used, and the person must use the formula “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”. If these conditions were met, you’ve been baptized, and once you’re validly baptized, you cannot be baptized again. Any other irregularities in the ceremony might be illicit, but they wouldn’t render the baptism invalid.
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cpsusie
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Yeah, like the last poster said, you’re baptism is a-ok. As long as the minister/priest/deacon or whoever poured water over your head (or dunked you) thrice and said “I baptize thee in the name of the father, son and holy ghost” (or “the servant of god is baptized in the name of the father son and the holy ghost”) or something like that, you are a ok. Improper godparents do not invalidate a baptism.
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RyanBlack
Guest
If the baptism had the correct matter (water), the correct form (in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit), and with the intent actually to baptize, it is valid. As to why your parents were allowed to be the godparents, I don’t know. However, such an irregularity, even if it is in violation, does not affect the validity. Failure to follow the rules of “a normal ceremony in a normal circumstance” simply doesn’t matter with respect to the question of the validity of the sacrament.
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Rolltide
Guest
You have to keep in mind that there is a big difference between “illicit” and “invalid”. As one person elegantly stated in another thread, “Stolen money is illicit, counterfeit money is invalid”. One is still legitimate even if obtained in an incorrect manner (although someone somewhere might get in trouble for it), but the other is simply worthless.
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Rolltide
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You are correct… in my answer above, I forgot to add that “intent” is also required.
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Alexander_Roman
Guest
The validity of your Holy Baptism is not based on who your Godparents were. You can adopt other Godparents (I was asked to be a new Godparent for a child whose Godparents have left the country and will not be coming back - I agreed and I’m now registered as the Godparent).
The role of the Godparent is twofold - to speak in the name of the person being baptized i.e. where a child cannot make the responses and then to be a supportive nurturer of the baptized, especially where the parents fail in that department (any particular failing on the part of my Godchildren is always my fault . . .).
Godparents are there to be a friend in the faith and to pray always for their Godchildren (much like a bishop prays unceasingly for the flock entrusted to him).
But the validity of the Mystery of Baptism does not depend on who are Godparents were at the time it took place.
And in the Christian East, non-believers and those outside the Church cannot validly baptize (as can occur under special circumstances in the West).
The question is - do you feel the need for a Godparent in your life, or is it a spiritual Elder/Father that you are really seeking?
Alex
The role of the Godparent is twofold - to speak in the name of the person being baptized i.e. where a child cannot make the responses and then to be a supportive nurturer of the baptized, especially where the parents fail in that department (any particular failing on the part of my Godchildren is always my fault . . .).
Godparents are there to be a friend in the faith and to pray always for their Godchildren (much like a bishop prays unceasingly for the flock entrusted to him).
But the validity of the Mystery of Baptism does not depend on who are Godparents were at the time it took place.
And in the Christian East, non-believers and those outside the Church cannot validly baptize (as can occur under special circumstances in the West).
The question is - do you feel the need for a Godparent in your life, or is it a spiritual Elder/Father that you are really seeking?
Alex
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CEM5
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Journey322
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Three times? Will you explain? I have never heard of this.
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MarkThompson
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It is an extremely old tradition. The Didache (an early Christian treatise ca. 100 AD) sets it forth thus:
And concerning baptism, baptize this way: Having first said all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living water. But if you have no living water, baptize into other water; and if you cannot do so in cold water, do so in warm. But if you have neither, pour out water three times upon the head into the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit.
That said, I’m almost certain that the Church has never required a triple pouring (or dunking) for validity, though I’m willing to be corrected.
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Vico
Guest
Validity
The baptism is valid if the proper intent, form, and matter are used:
Matter: “true and natural water.”
Form requires the minister to pour, completely immerse in, or sprinkle water upon the candidate, while saying the words, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Intention: the minister of baptism must intend to baptize as the Church intends.
The eastern canon law differentiates between validity and liceity.
CCEO Canon 676
In a case of urgent necessity, baptism can be licitly administered by doing only those things which are necessary for validity.
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