I sat down in front of my computer looking at my almost finished homework from Catechism class, and stared blankly at this next question, “It has been said that the most urgent task we have is to learn to die well. What are some practical spiritual preparations we can make for death?” I sighed. We are now reading and studying the section on last rites and funerals in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, something I would prefer to put on the back burner. I am not ready to die, and here I am forced to think about my own mortality. Telling myself that perhaps some quick answer would come to mind in the morning and I could be done with this least favorite assignment, I turned off the computer and went to bed.

As so often is the case, however, it is those things I prefer not to think about that God calls me to think about. I believe that questions that we would rather not think about and refuse to think about are the stumbling blocks that prevent us from furthering our faith journeys. I have also discovered, that for myself, answers to questions like these are slow to come, but when they do they often are very powerful and move me into deeper relationship with Christ. Read more...

Infant Baptism

Infant Baptism

I often hear criticism of the Catholic practice of infant baptism coming from some of the Sola Scriptura and Sola Fide crowd, and I believe that these Protestants are contradicting their own doctrines by failing to appreciate the practice of infant baptism.

Catholics are accused of performing needless works to earn Heaven by the ‘faith alone’ bunch, and yet Catholics are the ones who seem to understand that because Baptism is a free gift that we cannot earn, babies who have no ability to perform a work of acceptance of the gift of Baptism, are eligible to receive this gift.

What Does Scripture Say about Infant Baptism?

It is true that Scripture doesn’t say in so many words that babies should be baptized or were baptized, but there are scriptural references to whole households being baptized which suggests that any babies who were part of these households would have also been baptized. (Acts 16:15,18:8). Paul makes a reference to baptizing a whole household in 1 Corinthians 1:16. It is also important to note that nowhere in Scripture does it say NOT to baptize infants. Jesus says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. . .” (Matthew 28:19). Why would we assume this command doesn’t include babies? Infant Baptism is certainly not omitted from Scripture.

Infant Baptism and Grace

I have also heard it said time and time again that all that is needed in order to receive the Grace of the Holy Spirit is a simple verbal confession of faith and a heartfelt acceptance of Jesus as one’s personal Lord and Savior. According to those who subscribe to this notion, since a baby cannot give a verbal confession of this sort or accept Jesus into his heart, baptism should wait until he is old enough to perform these works. These people ask, “Why all the fuss over the ritualistic celebration involving water and a priest? Is Infant Baptism really necessary?"

Indeed, if we examine Scripture we find that faith is vital. In Acts 16 we read about the jailer who asked Paul and Silas how he might be saved. They tell him, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31. But, upon examination of the words following this passage, we see that Paul employs actions involving water which is described as a washing away of wounds. “And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, with all his family.” Acts 16:32-33. Here we see Paul baptizing a whole family, water being used to wash wounds, and though it is not stated who the members of the family included, no reason is given to assume that infants were not part of the jailer’s family. Now, our ‘faith alone’ friend might say that Paul states that the conditions for salvation were ‘believing’. But that statement from Paul makes total sense in light of the fact that the jailer would not have allowed his family to be baptized if he didn’t believe in the Lord. For adults, believing is necessary in order for one to enter into the sacrament of his or her own free will. The same cannot be said of infants. They are too young to believe - they need, Infant Baptism.

The jailer’s belief was important so that Baptism might take place. Paul doesn’t say the rest of the family has to believe. He says only that the jailer has to believe in order that his family be saved. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31. If Paul’s emphasis on receiving Grace only included a personal acceptance of the Lord and nothing else, he would not have said that the jailer’s belief could save his family. Clearly he meant that the jailer’s belief would allow him and his family to receive the Sacrament of Baptism.

I think the most compelling reason we should baptize infants is stated in John 3:5, “. . . unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Why would we withhold such a vital re-birth from infants?

Circumcision was performed on babies at the age of 8 days. This sign of one’s entering into covenant relationship with God was a precursor to the Sacrament of Baptism which we celebrate today. In Colossians 2:11-12 we read, “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of flesh in the circumcision of Christ; and you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.” It doesn’t make any logical sense to believe that although babies were welcomed into covenant relationship with God at the age of 8 days through circumcision, now that Christ has come to fulfill this covenant, the conditions for eligibility are different. With a proper knowledge of Scripture, no parent would keep their child from the Sacrament of Infant Baptism.