Was my baptism valid?

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Hello everyone,

I came back to the catholic church for about a year ago. I go to mass regularly (on sundays and also during the week when I can) and I also go to confession. Recently I wondered if my baptism was valid. I will describe my story:

I was baptized as a child at my catholic parish. My parents were not practicing catholics, but they decided to baptize me anyway because in the catholic south part of the Netherlands - where I live - it was a tradition to be baptized. My mother told me about my baptism and how kind the priest was. I also have pictures of the baptism. My parents didn’t really raise me catholic (they let me do my first communion and my confirmation and gave me a childrens bible, but they didn’t teach me the faith because they didn’t believe). About a couple of years ago I started believing in God and a year ago I approached the priest of my parish where I made my first confession (I read that a confession was needed to come back in full communion with the catholic church when you have already received the sacrament of baptism).

My question is: is my baptism valid since my parents weren’t practicing catholics and did not believe in God or his Church? I do not know what their intentions were during my baptism. Are there any rules which have to be met in order for a baptism to be valid?

I am worried about this, but perhaps it is scrupulosity since I am quite scrupulous.

Thank you and I look forward for your replies,
 
Yes, it’s absolutely valid. As long as the person doing the baptism used water, and said, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” or whatever the equivalent in Dutch would be, it’s valid. That’s all that’s required. Whether or not one’s parents practice the faith has absolutely nothing to do with it.

Let your mind be at peace.
 
Yes it is valid.

Your baptism is not contingent on their intentions. Be at peace.

Form and matter are pouring of water and “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit”.
 
I thank you for your answer. I understand that (holy) water, the triniatrian formula and a catholic priest are required for a valid baptism. I read something in the catechism which troubles me:

Can. 868 §1. For an infant to be baptized licitly:
1/ the parents or at least one of them or the person who legitimately takes their place must consent;
2/ there must be a founded hope that the infant will be brought up in the Catholic religion; if such hope is altogether lacking, the baptism is to be delayed according to the prescripts of particular law after the parents have been advised about the reason.
 
Kahlesson said:
Can. 868 §1. For an infant to be baptized licitly:
Click to expand...
The key word there is* licitly*, which just communicates whether or not something is done in accordance with the law.

But there is a difference between liceity and validity.

A person can be Baptized illicitly, and yet the Baptism can be valid. As the article I linked to observes, a great example of this would be a Catholic layperson, without grave reason, choosing to Baptize someone. Is such a Baptism valid? It very well may be. But is it licit? Never.

The same is true of other Sacraments, like the Holy Mass. Liturgical abuses can exist, thus making the Mass illicit — but yet the consecration itself can be quite valid.
 
Also, just an FYI, you need neither a priest nor holy water for a valid baptism. Deacons routinely baptize. And anyone can baptize in an emergency, even someone who is not him/herself baptized.

While water is normally blessed when celebrating a baptism, in an emergency for example, someone could use bottled water in his car to celebrate baptism, or the water in a nearby creek.
 
Kahlesson said:
I thank you for your answer. I understand that (holy) water, the triniatrian formula and a catholic priest are required for a valid baptism. I read something in the catechism which troubles me:
Holy water is not required if not available; any water, even a slight amount, will do.
Can. 868 §1. For an infant to be baptized licitly:
1/ the parents or at least one of them or the person who legitimately takes their place must consent; They did consent; the photos are proof.
2/ there must be a founded hope that the infant will be brought up in the Catholic religion; if such hope is altogether lacking, the baptism is to be delayed according to the prescripts of particular law after the parents have been advised about the reason. It is the priest who makes that determination; apparently, he thought this would be the case or he (likely) wouldn’t have proceeded.

As others have stated, even had your baptism been illicit, that doesn’t render it invalid.
Click to expand...
 
Intention is also required for validity, but it’s the intention of the *minister *of baptism, not of the parents (unless the minister of baptism *is *one of the parents for some reason). Fortunately, this intention is interpreted very broadly and includes even the baptism of heretics so long as they believe in the Blessed Trinity and intend to do what the Church (as they understand it) does.
 
Kahlesson said:
Hello everyone,

I came back to the catholic church for about a year ago. I go to mass regularly (on sundays and also during the week when I can) and I also go to confession. Recently I wondered if my baptism was valid. I will describe my story:

I was baptized as a child at my catholic parish. My parents were not practicing catholics, but they decided to baptize me anyway because in the catholic south part of the Netherlands - where I live - it was a tradition to be baptized. My mother told me about my baptism and how kind the priest was. I also have pictures of the baptism. My parents didn’t really raise me catholic (they let me do my first communion and my confirmation and gave me a childrens bible, but they didn’t teach me the faith because they didn’t believe). About a couple of years ago I started believing in God and a year ago I approached the priest of my parish where I made my first confession (I read that a confession was needed to come back in full communion with the catholic church when you have already received the sacrament of baptism).

My question is: is my baptism valid since my parents weren’t practicing catholics and did not believe in God or his Church? I do not know what their intentions were during my baptism. Are there any rules which have to be met in order for a baptism to be valid?

I am worried about this, but perhaps it is scrupulosity since I am quite scrupulous.

Thank you and I look forward for your replies,
Click to expand...
Of course your baptism is valid!!

Keep working on the scrupulosity with a trusted spiritual director. Prayers.
 
I will re-post an older post of mine

A person struggles with scruples - what ought they do?

A person with scrupulosity --ought to have a* “regular confessor” *who can direct them --and even give them some general principles to follow -to apply (principles for them due to their particular scruples -they are usually not for those with a normal conscience). Thus with their direction they can dismiss scruples.

Scruples are to be dismissed not argued with.

(I will add) For example a Person who looks into his baptism and finds that he was baptized validly by a Catholic Priest - even though his parents were not believers - and that their lack of belief does not effect the baptism - but the person still has -worries -doubts- fears - then he would “dismiss” the scruple and act against it with a firm foot - refuse to argue with it.

Scruples are like a barking dog or a hissing goose -one does not stop to argue with a barking dog or a hissing goose does one?

Such ‘obedience’ (except in what is manifest sin - such as if he told them it was ok to murder someone or something certain like that) is key. Such is the age old practice.

As to counseling - that could be helpful depending on the case -but one would want to look for a counselor who can assist one in following the Churches Teachings - not go contrary to them (I have heard CA staff mention catholictherapists.com/)

Here was a recent post from Jimmy Akin of CA that I saw in the Register and saved for those who struggle with such.

ncregister.com/blog/jimmy-akin/6-tools-for-the-scrupulous
 
Since even atheists can validly baptise, I’d argue it was valid.
 
I want to thank you all for your answers. They are very helpful to me. I now believe that I was indeed validly baptized.
 
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