Comments for The Necessity of Baptism at http://www.thecatholicthing.org , comment 1 to 16 out of 16 comments http://www.thecatholicthing.org Sat, 25 May 2013 15:34:16 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-necessity-of-baptism.html#comment-15839 Catholics believe baptism is necessary for salvation. VATICAN II declared this in #7 of it’s decree Ad Gentes: “Therefore, all must be converted to Him, made known by the Church's preaching, and all must be incorporated into Him by baptism and into the Church which is His body. For Christ Himself "by stressing in express language the necessity of faith and baptism (cf. Mark 16:16; John 3:5), at the same time confirmed the necessity of the Church, into which men enter by baptism, as by a door. Therefore those men cannot be saved, who though aware that God, through Jesus Christ founded the Church as something necessary, still do not wish to enter into it, or to persevere in it." (Dogmatic constitution by Vatican II: Lumen Gentium 14) Therefore though God in ways known to Himself can lead those inculpably ignorant of the Gospel to find that faith without which it is impossible to please Him (Heb. 11:6), yet a necessity lies upon the Church (1 Cor. 9:16), and at the same time a sacred duty, to preach the Gospel. And hence missionary activity today as always retains its power and necessity.” important! - JoanJ Sun, 17 Feb 2013 04:54:32 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-necessity-of-baptism.html#comment-2733 I am sorry to hear that you will not return to your home, the Church, because you feel that there are priests who do not see baptism as important. May I point out that the priest, even if he had wanted to, would not have been allowed to baptize your daughter because she was already baptized. You can only receive baptism once. I don\'t know what he said, but this should have been said in stead of saying that it's because you were not from the area. Please come home! - Ashley Collins Sat, 29 Aug 2009 23:02:45 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-necessity-of-baptism.html#comment-2720 In the early centuries of Christianity, sponsors were required to attest to the moral integrity of the adult convert. Since infant baptism became the norm, sponsors-called godparents-take the baptismal promises on behalf of the child. In doing so, they promise to ensure the child is raised in the faith, both morally and spiritually. Therefore, godparents must be practicing Catholics in good standing. "Godparent" is not an honorary title; it is a duty of profound spiritual obligations. - David Bonagura Fri, 28 Aug 2009 23:24:28 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-necessity-of-baptism.html#comment-2714 Michele, my wife and I teach baptism prep too and we've taken to offering to find godparents for couples or putting them in touch with our Director of Religious Ed, who is solidly orthodox and will find them good godparents. More often we run into people who want unsuitable people to be godparents; they get very angry when we explain why this is not possible. - David Deavel Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:40:56 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-necessity-of-baptism.html#comment-2710 Beautiful article. Like many grandparents I suffer daily knowing that my two precious grandsons ages 5 and 6 - borne out of wedlock - are not baptized. I have asked three different priests if I can do this myself since their transgendered mother has custody and opposes any form of Christianity. But I have been told "No". I have had many opportunities but have remained faithful to what I have been told and can only pray for God's mercy on these innocent little victims. - Cheryl Curtis Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:08:22 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-necessity-of-baptism.html#comment-2690 Limbo is a doctrine of the Church. St. Pope Zosimus proclaimed it in his ex cathedra--Tractoria ".. that it might be understood that in the kingdom of heaven there will be some middle place or some place anywhere where the blessed infants live who departed from this life without baptism, without which they cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven, which is eternal life, let him be anathema." - Bill Strom Fri, 28 Aug 2009 07:06:46 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-necessity-of-baptism.html#comment-2684 Our daughter was born seriously ill and was quickly baptized by the hospital chaplain. We had planned a family celebration with a priest I'd known since childhood, whose parish my family had helped found and where I was married, but when we brought our baby home he refused to baptize her, because we were military and not then living in the area. We called the bishop who said it was up to the parish priest. So baptism isn't important to some priests. I haven't been in a Catholic church since. - Peggy Coffey Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:26:45 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-necessity-of-baptism.html#comment-2677 The idea of "limbo" was put forward by St. Thomas Aquinas, who lived in the 13th century. He distinguished between the "Limbus Patrum" (the Limbo of the Fathers) and the" Limbus Infantium" (the Limbo of the Children). The Church taught "Limbo" for a long time in catechesis classes. I was taught it and so were by parents and grandparents. i own a Manual of Dogmatic Theology dated of 1949 and another of 1875, used in seminaries in Europe, where Limbo is explained in detail. - Louis Pereira Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:04:19 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-necessity-of-baptism.html#comment-2674 Just a comment. My son was serving in Iraq right before his son was born. He called his parish where they were active to schedule classes and the baptism. He was told that there was no hurry and they could take care of it when he got back, just a week before his son's birth. He was told the same for his daughter in a different parish where they had just moved. So, sometimes, it is the parish staff, not just the parents who do not see the urgency for the sacrament. AnneG in NC - Anne Gomes Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:41:40 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-necessity-of-baptism.html#comment-2673 Limbo has only been a speculative "place/idea" and has never been a doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church. Listen to Benedict XVI and do not make Limbo what it never has been. In the liturgy for an infant who dies before baptism, the Church entrusts the child's soul to the mercy of God. As far as St. Augustine is concerned, we should all appreciate his deep respect for the sacrament of Baptism. - Peter Hart Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:40:49 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-necessity-of-baptism.html#comment-2672 Baptism removes original and actual sin, instills sanctifying grace, makes the recipient a member of the Church, subject to its laws and capable of receiving other sacraments, and puts an indelible mark on the soul. It's for everyone, from newborns on up. - Sean Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:39:03 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-necessity-of-baptism.html#comment-2671 By "doctrine" of Limbo I mean "teaching" in the informal sense. It is true that Limbo is a hypothesis, but one that has received approbation from popes over centuries, even if it was never formally defined. In reality, we do not know the fate of unbaptized babies; we can only commend them to God's mercy with prayer and hope, as stated in the funeral rite for them. Space did not permit an expose of baptism by blood (martyrdom) and by desire, both of which are affirmed in the Catechism 1257-1261. - David Bonagura Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:05:45 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-necessity-of-baptism.html#comment-2670 Please address the Godparent factor in Sacraments. One of the biggest headaches I deal with monthly through Sacramental Prep for Parents and Confirmation Prep for students is suitable Godparents. Many parents delay baptism because they don't know anyone who is an actual practicing Catholic. Even after extensive teaching many parents still want 'my brother' 'my sister' etc., who are only civilly married, or are of another faith-even Mormons. They ALL say, "they will raise the child Catholic". - Michele Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:05:06 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-necessity-of-baptism.html#comment-2669 Thanks, Mr. Bonagura, for a wonderful column. I would add a comment about a corporate element of baptism. Our Catechism teaches us that baptism is \"the foundation of communion among all Christians\" and that a \"sacramental bond of unity\" already exists among baptized persons. This is at once a hopeful teaching, further scandalizes our divisions, and adds urgency to the Church\'s work to unite all believers in the fullness of the Faith, in communion with the successor of Peter. - Bradley Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:14:29 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-necessity-of-baptism.html#comment-2667 Limbo was never a doctrine of the Church. Limbo, a theological idea was developed very informally after the concept (also not a doctrine) of the limbo of the Prophets. - Edward Lewis Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:16:44 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-necessity-of-baptism.html#comment-2666 A good article especially in these days of lacking catechesis. It is hard to believe, however, that so many will be deprived of the Beatific Vision because of lack of baptism. The victims of abortion, the Holy Innocents and.indeed. The Good Thief did not receive Baptism per se. One can say they received Baptism of blood or desire. But what of all those who never heard of Jesus or blatantly reject Him (Jews and Muslims). I believe baptism of desire is a bit of a leap in this case. What think you? - Willie Wed, 26 Aug 2009 07:56:18 +0100