The Teaching of the Catholic Church on Baptism
for Catholics Living in Countries of Persecution
Table of Contents
- The Necessity of Baptism
- Preparation for Adult Baptism
- Baptism of Children in Persecution
- Godparents in Baptism
- Baptism in Cases of Necessity
- The Minister of Baptism
- The Required Intention
- The Matter and Form of Baptism
- Record of Baptism
- After Baptism
- Duties of the Newly Baptized
- Conclusion
- The Necessity of Baptism
The Catholic Church teaches that Baptism is necessary for salvation.
Our Lord Jesus Christ declared: “Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5, Douay-Rheims Bible, published in 1582, English translation from the Latin Vulgate). The Council of Trent, Seventh Session, 1547, Canon II on the Sacraments in General and specifically on Baptism, states that true and natural water is necessary for Baptism and condemns any metaphorical interpretation of Our Lord’s words.
Because Baptism is necessary for salvation, the Church has always taught that in cases of necessity no merely ecclesiastical law may prevent its administration. Baptism is required for entrance into the kingdom of God, as defined by the infallible teaching of the Church before 1964.
- Preparation for Adult Baptism
Before an adult is baptized, he should first learn the essential truths of the Catholic faith according to his abilities. He does not need to know every doctrine in detail, but he should know the principal teachings of the catechism, believe them, sincerely desire to become a Catholic, and intend to live according to the commandments of God and the teachings of His Church. An adult must also possess at least an implicit intention to receive all that Christ instituted for salvation and must freely consent to Baptism. An adult must also sincerely repent of all his sins. Before Baptism, he is not required to confess them sacramentally. However, he must examine his conscience, recognize the sins he has committed, be truly sorry for having offended God, and firmly resolve, with God’s help, to avoid sin in the future. Through Baptism itself, all sins, both original and actual, together with all punishment due to them, are completely forgiven. The adult should also receive a saint’s name.
- Baptism of Children in Persecution
In countries of persecution, parents or guardians must have their children baptized as soon as possible, especially in danger of death. The rules differ according to the age and capacity of the child.
For infants who have not yet reached the years of discretion, that is, who do not yet possess the use of reason, no personal faith or repentance is required from the child. The faith of the Catholic Church, supplied by the parents or godparents, suffices. The same minister, intention, matter and form apply as for adults. The minister must intend to do what the Catholic Church does, using natural water poured on the skin of the forehead while pronouncing the proper words at the same time. The child must receive a saint’s name.
For children who have reached the years of discretion and possess the use of reason, personal instruction, faith and repentance are required, just as for adults. The years of discretion are ordinarily presumed by the Church to begin around the seventh year of age, although this depends upon the actual use of reason. Such a child must learn the essential truths of the Catholic faith according to his abilities, believe them, sincerely desire Baptism, and intend to live according to the commandments of God and the teachings of His Church. He must also examine his conscience, recognize his sins, be truly sorry for having offended God, and firmly resolve, with God’s help, to avoid sin in the future. Through Baptism itself, all sins, both original and actual, together with all punishment due to them, are completely forgiven. The child must also receive a saint’s name.
- Godparents in Baptism
Godparents, also called sponsors, are required by ecclesiastical law for the solemn celebration of Baptism whenever possible. Their presence does not belong to the essence of the sacrament, but to the traditional discipline of the Church.
A godparent must be a baptized Catholic. Ideally he or she should also have received the sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Eucharist, lead a life in conformity with the faith, and not be bound by any canonical impediment according to the traditional canon law of the Church. The godparent must be at least fourteen years of age, unless the minister judges otherwise for a just cause. A parent may not act as godparent for his or her own child. Only one godfather or one godmother is strictly required, although two may be chosen, one of each sex.
If no godparent who has received Confirmation and First Holy Communion can be found, a baptized Catholic who has not yet received these sacraments may still function as godparent in cases of true necessity. In such situations the Baptism remains valid, though the sponsorship is imperfect. An unbaptized person can never act as godparent.
When the solemn rite is celebrated according to the traditional Roman Ritual, the godparent must physically participate by touching the person to be baptized. For an infant, the godparent (or godparents) places his or her right hand on the child’s right shoulder during the essential rite of Baptism. For an adult, the godparent stands beside the candidate and similarly touches him or her on the shoulder with the right hand. These physical acts express the spiritual sponsorship and are part of the traditional ceremony.
The duties of godparents are grave and lasting. They must ensure, as far as they are able, that the baptized child is instructed in the Catholic faith and raised in the practice of the Catholic religion. A child can only be baptized if Catholic education has been guaranteed by the godparents or parents. If the parents neglect this duty, the godparents are bound to supply it. Godparents contract a spiritual relationship with the baptized person. This spiritual affinity creates a diriment impediment to marriage between the godparent and the baptized, and between the godparent and the parents of the baptized, unless a dispensation is obtained.
In countries of persecution, the choice of godparents requires particular prudence and fidelity. Parents must select only those who are known to be steadfast in the Catholic Faith, who will not abandon the child to error or to the influence of heretics or apostates, and who are willing and able to fulfill their obligations even under threat of suffering. When no suitable sponsor can be found, Baptism should nevertheless not be delayed.
For the Baptism of adults, godparents are likewise customary and recommended. They assist the adult candidate by their example and prayers, and they stand as witnesses to the faith that the adult professes.
- Baptism in Cases of Necessity
If it is truly impossible to reach a Catholic bishop, priest or deacon in countries where Catholicism is forbidden and paganism or persecution prevails, the Catholic Church teaches that Baptism can still be validly administered by another person in a case of necessity. A person should never delay Baptism in danger of death merely because a priest cannot immediately be found. This is the constant teaching of the Church, not a special rule invented for persecuted believers.
- The Minister of Baptism
The person who performs the Baptism is called the minister of Baptism. This means the same person who pours the water and pronounces the words of Baptism at the same time. The traditional order of preference is based upon the ordinary ministers established by the Church and the dignity of the ecclesiastical state: bishop, priest, deacon, Catholic layman, Catholic laywoman, other baptized Christian, and finally an unbaptized person. Whenever possible, Baptism should be administered by a Catholic priest or deacon. If that is truly impossible, a Catholic layman or laywoman should baptize. If no Catholic is available, another baptized Christian may do so. Only if none of these can be found may an unbaptized person administer Baptism. If several suitable persons are present, the Church traditionally gives preference to a man rather than a woman, provided there is no special reason to do otherwise. Even a child who has reached the years of discretion, that is, the use of reason, can validly administer Baptism in case of true necessity when no adult is available.
- The Required Intention
The person administering Baptism must have the intention to do what the Catholic Church does when she baptizes. It is sufficient that he intends to perform the external rite of Christian Baptism as Christians perform it. The Catholic Church teaches that this minimal intention for validity consists in willing to perform the rite as a sacramental act that cleanses from sin and gives new life according to Catholic tradition. Even if the minister does not know all Catholic doctrines or is not himself Catholic, the Baptism remains valid provided this intention is present. If the baptizer explicitly intends something else, for example merely a symbolic rite without supernatural effect, the Baptism is invalid. This doctrine is from the perennial teaching of the Church, as found in the Baltimore Catechism No. 2, Lesson 24 (published by Benziger Brothers, New York, around 1890s-1940s editions, English) and the Council of Trent, Seventh Session, 1547, Canon IV.
- The Matter and Form of Baptism
Natural water must be poured directly upon the skin, preferably upon the forehead. Pouring the water only upon the hair must be avoided, since the water may fail to reach the skin. If the forehead cannot be reached, another part of the body may be used, provided the water certainly touches the skin. While the water is being poured by the same person, that person must say exactly these words: “[Name of the saint], I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” The pouring of the water and the pronunciation of these words must take place at the same time by the same minister. The traditional Roman Ritual prescribes a threefold pouring. In a case of necessity, a single pouring suffices for validity.
- Record of Baptism
Whenever circumstances permit, the date, place, minister, names of the parents and sponsors, and circumstances of the Baptism should be carefully written down so that future doubts may be avoided. This is particularly important in persecuted countries.
- After Baptism
When there is prudent certainty that the Baptism has been validly administered, it must never be repeated. Conditional Baptism must never be administered unless there exists a prudent positive doubt regarding the validity of the previous Baptism. If there is any doubt whether the Baptism was validly administered, for example if the correct words were not certainly spoken, if it is uncertain whether natural water was used, or whether the water actually touched the skin, then the person should later receive conditional Baptism from a Catholic priest, if this becomes possible. The conditional formula is: “If thou art not baptized, I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” If, after Baptism, it later becomes possible to contact a Catholic priest safely, the newly baptized person should do so. The priest can verify the circumstances of the Baptism, record it if possible, complete the person’s instruction in the Catholic faith, administer Confirmation when possible, hear the person’s first confession for any sins committed after Baptism, and administer the other sacraments.
- Duties of the Newly Baptized
The newly baptized Catholic must continue to study the Catholic Faith. He must avoid all false religions and heretical worship. He must strive to receive Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist as soon as this becomes safely possible. He must faithfully observe the commandments of God and of the Church. He must persevere in the Catholic Faith until death.
- Conclusion
This doctrine comes from the perennial teaching of the Catholic Church. The extraordinary manner of administering Baptism in persecution does not create a new law. It merely applies the perpetual doctrine and discipline of the Catholic Church to extraordinary circumstances. No one should be deprived of this sacrament merely because no priest can be reached. In countries where Catholics suffer persecution, faithful souls must cling to this truth with exact fidelity, for the Church in her visible, hierarchical form suffers eclipse in the current crisis since the public heresies beginning with Paul VI and Lumen Gentium in 1964, yet her doctrine on the sacraments remains unchanged and necessary for salvation.
List of Sources
– Holy Bible, Douay-Rheims Version (published 1582, English translation from the Latin Vulgate).
– Council of Trent, Seventh Session, 1547, Canons on Baptism (official decrees of the Ecumenical Council).
– Baltimore Catechism No. 2, Lesson 24 (Benziger Brothers, New York, editions ca. 1890-1940s).
– Catechismus Romanus (Catechism of the Council of Trent), Rome, 1566, Latin.
– Codex Iuris Canonici, 1917, Canons 737–779, Rome, Latin.
– Rituale Romanum, Titulus II, De Sacramento Baptismi, editio typica before 1962, Latin.
– St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, III, qq. 66–71, Latin.
– St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Theologia Moralis, Lib. VI, Rome/Naples, Latin.
– Traditional Roman Ritual for the Sacrament of Baptism (pre-1962 edition).
This text presents the constant and certain teaching of the Catholic Church before 1964.