Why Do Catholics Baptize Babies?
Baptism is an important act in many Christian traditions. In Catholicism, it is one of the seven sacraments. A sacrament is a ritual when God is active. Different Christian groups have different beliefs about the meaning of baptism. Because of this, some Christians baptize older children and adults only after they have personally accepted Christ, while Catholics and some Protestants commonly baptize infants.
Other People Are Reading
-
Ceremony
-
A priest performs each Catholic baptism. The parents and godparents present the infant for baptism and recite words of faith such as the Nicene Creed or Apostle's Creed. They promise to raise the child in the Catholic faith. Then, the priest pours a small amount of water over the forehead of the infant. The priest pours the water three times, in the name of the Father (God), in the name of the Son (Jesus) and in the name of the Holy Spirit. Finally, he makes the sign of the cross on the child.
History
-
Baptism has its roots in the Jewish ritual of mikvah, which involved using water for a ritual of purification. Three of the four gospels in the bible report that Jesus himself was baptized by John the Baptist. One example is in Matthew 3:13-17. Early Christians baptized only adults. In the Middle Ages, Catholics began to baptize infants. Infant baptism is still common, although adults who desire to be baptized may request to do so.
-
Significance
-
Catholics believe that an act of God happens during baptism, it is not just a sign of faith. The child is absolved of sin, receives the Holy Spirit, and is connected to the promise of salvation. All of these are gifts to the infant, not something she chose or earned.
Misconceptions
-
Many people believe that baptism absolves only your personal sins. Thus, it would not make sense to baptize a baby who has not yet sinned. However, Catholics believe that baptism absolves you of your part in original sin that dates back to when Adam and Eve gave in to temptation. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "original sin does not have the character of a personal fault in any of Adam's descendants. It is a deprivation of original holiness and justice ... Baptism, by imparting the life of Christ's grace, erases original sin and turns a man back towards God." Therefore, even though an infant has not personally committed sins, he is absolved of his part in the sins of humankind.
Benefits
-
When parents and godparents speak on behalf of the child at baptism, they promise to raise the child in the Catholic faith. According to the website AmericanCatholic.org, "Children learn to be Christian by osmosis, by experiencing Christianity at home. The 'domestic church' prepares children for the local and world Church." To fulfill this promise, faith must be incorporated into the daily lives of the whole family, keeping all of them actively involved. Catholic baptism is not only an individual event in the life of a believer but a commitment by the entire family.
-
References
- Photo Credit gourmette de julien image by sylbohec from Fotolia.com
