Why not baptize the moment a child is born instead of waiting sometimes months?

[jilly4ski]

Our son was baptized about three weeks after he was born. We live in a rural area. It took some time for us to recover and feel comfortable enough to make the trek into town. We also waited until his Godparents could travel from a distant state.

I would bow to your wife’s wishes as to when she is ready to leave the house with the baby. . Depending on the baby’s sleep patterns, you may need to wait until you have a bit of a predictable schedule.

If you and your wife are both of the same mind to get the baby baptized soon after birth, you might want to schedule it ahead of time. Since the doctors won’t let your wife go beyond two weeks past her due date, it’s probably safe to schedule the baptism for the 2nd or 3rd Sunday after the due date. The 3rd Sunday is probably safest to ensure mama and baby are ready to travel. Also, if you have family traveling, they can buy their plane tickets ahead of time to save money.

Congratulations!

This is true, but if baby comes early then it is going to be more like 4 to 6 weeks. I get all my babies baptized between 4 and 6 weeks about, (with some early deliveries, waiting for Godparents to come in, and parish schedules and them only doing baptisms one Sunday a month or once every two months .

With my first (baptized at 5 weeks) I still couldn’t really sit well, and was having a hard time recovering, the pews were torture. My second was baptized at 6 weeks, because he was due the 23rd and came on the 13. My 3rd was baptized at 4 weeks, because our new pastor was just rolling with the punches (he baptized her the same day as his reception for becoming our pastor). And my current baby will be baptized next weekend at 5.5 weeks, because that Sunday is the parishes “preferred” baptism day the last one being in late July, but I was due the 19th and didn’t want to schedule the baptism on the 27th (incase baby was late). Well baby came the 9th instead. When you plan babies laugh.

 

[Petaro]

Conditional baptism. I stand corrected.

 

[Usige]

For all I don’t like how some things at our parish are done, I am glad we don’t have once a month baptisms. We have never had to wait more than 2 weeks. Both the deacons and priests are always willing to do a baptism (they are generally done after the last morning mass or Saturday afternoons). Heck our last one (number 6) was born 12 days before his due date and was baptized 4 days later. In his case he was baptized before his dues date. If we had to pre-schedule for the first slot after the due date it would drive me nuts.

 

[Catholic_farmer]

Oh wow, I didn’t realize you didn’t have to wait until Sunday mass to get your new baby baptized in the Catholic Church. That makes it much easier.

 

[Phemie]

Oh wow, I didn’t realize you didn’t have to wait until Sunday mass to get your new baby baptized in the Catholic Church. That makes it much easier.

While the Church has a preference for Sunday, Baptisms may be celebrated any day except Good Friday and Holy Saturday (barring emergencies). That said, every Pastor has his own rules. Ours doesn’t want to celebrate Baptism except on the last Sunday of the month (at both the Saturday evening and Sunday morning Mass).

However, if families have a compelling reason to have Baptism on another day (inablility to be present on the last Sunday; grandparents came for the birth and are leaving before the end of the month; godparents can only fly in on a specific date, etc.) he will accommodate.

 

[Tigg]

I baptized my boy in the bath. Quite valid if you follow the form. Of course he was baptized formally later, but it is better to be sure, to be sure.

Reminds me of the class on Baptism given to catechists by a priest who also happens to be a canon lawyer. One of the first things he said to us went something like this: “Grandmas…if you are baby sitting and your grandchild has not been baptized, you are NOT allowed to secretly do so.” A nervous laughter went through the room, making me wonder if some had not done that very thing, which can only be done out of necessity.

 

[Phemie]

Reminds me of the class on Baptism given to catechists by a priest who also happens to be a canon lawyer. One of the first things he said to us went something like this: “Grandmas…if you are baby sitting and your grandchild has not been baptized, you are NOT allowed to secretly do so.” A nervous laughter went through the room, making me wonder if some had not done that very thing, which can only be done out of necessity.

You have NOOOOO idea how tempting it is when you know the parents have no intention of ever having the child baptized. I’ve had to talk myself out of it more times than I care to count.

 

[Tigg]

You have NOOOOO idea how tempting it is when you know the parents have no intention of ever having the child baptized. I’ve had to talk myself out of it more times than I care to count.

I hear 'ya! And the very fact that this priest even mentioned it, makes me think that perhaps it’s not so uncommon after all.

 

[tee_eff_em]

Conditional baptism. I stand corrected.

I’m not sure if even a conditional baptism is called for, if there is no doubt about the validity of the (illicit) baptism? But I am not a pastor.

In the one case that I am familiar with of a (licit) emergency hospital baptism, the girl later received the exorcisms, anointings, blessings, et cetera of the baptismal rite, but she did not undergo another baptism (conditional nor un-).

tee

 

[Yarb]

I baptized my boy in the bath. Quite valid if you follow the form. Of course he was baptized formally later, but it is better to be sure, to be sure.

My understanding is that baptizing a person already baptized is forbidden by a dogma of the Council of Trent. But if there is doubt about whether there was a valid earlier baptism, then the person doing the baptism can say “If you are not already baptized, then I baptize you…” etc.

 

[jmcrae]

I’m not sure if even a conditional baptism is called for, if there is no doubt about the validity of the (illicit) baptism? But I am not a pastor.

In the one case that I am familiar with of a (licit) emergency hospital baptism, the girl later received the exorcisms, anointings, blessings, et cetera of the baptismal rite, but she did not undergo another baptism (conditional nor un-).

tee

That sounds like what we do, too. We wouldn’t re-do the baptism, but we would arrange to complete the Rites.

 

[jmcrae]

If you and your wife are both of the same mind to get the baby baptized soon after birth, you might want to schedule it ahead of time. Since the doctors won’t let your wife go beyond two weeks past her due date, it’s probably safe to schedule the baptism for the 2nd or 3rd Sunday after the due date. The 3rd Sunday is probably safest to ensure mama and baby are ready to travel. Also, if you have family traveling, they can buy their plane tickets ahead of time to save money.

Congratulations!

I agree with this. If it’s the firstborn, get the preparation classes done before the baby is born, and then register for the Baptism date that falls next after the latest possible due date. You’ll have lots of time to invite family and friends.

Find out how your parish does things, and work with them. Don’t make up your own rules and then expect them to read your mind.