Baptism Requirements?

[InquisitorKind]

What is required of a person (action wise, not concerning belief) to become baptized in the Catholic Church?

Are there other things that are not required but are often, or not so often, done by Catholics in order to better prepare for their baptism?

Thanks for your time,
~Matt

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

Here are the requiments as set for by Cannon Law (Law of the Church)

The key to your question proably lies in 865.
Put into action this involes an RCIA class to prepare them to make a profession of faith. I will let those going through the process describe it more.

CHAPTER III : THE PERSONS TO BE BAPTIZED


Can. 864 Every unapprised person, and only such a person, can be baptized.


Can. 865 §1 To be admitted to baptism, an adult must have manifested the intention to receive baptism, must be adequately instructed in the truths of the faith and in the duties of a Christian, and tested in the Christian life over the course of the catechumenate. The person must moreover be urged to have sorrow for personal sins.


§2 An adult in danger of death may be baptized if, with some knowledge of the principal truths of the faith, he or she has in some manner manifested the intention to receive baptism and promises to observe the requirements of the Christian religion.


Can. 866 Unless there is a grave reason to the contrary, immediately after receiving baptism an adult is to be confirmed, to participate in the celebration of the Eucharist and to receive holy communion.


Can. 867 §1 Parents are obliged to see that their infants are baptized within the first few weeks. As soon as possible after the birth, indeed even before it, they are to approach the parish priest to ask for the sacrament for their child, and to be themselves duly prepared for it.


§2 If the infant is in danger of death, it is to be baptized without any delay.


Can. 868 §1 For an infant to be baptized lawfully it is required:


1° that the parents, or at least one of them, or the person who lawfully holds their place, give their consent;


2° that there be a well­founded hope that the child will be brought up in the catholic religion. If such hope is truly lacking, the baptism is, in accordance with the provisions of particular law, to be deferred and the parents advised of the reason for this.


§2 An infant of catholic parents, indeed even of non-Catholic parents, may in danger of death be baptized even if the parents are opposed to it.


Can. 869 §1 If there is doubt as to whether a person was baptized or whether a baptism was conferred validly, and after serious enquiry this doubt persists, the person is to be baptized conditionally.


§2 Those baptized in a non-Catholic ecclesial community are not to be baptized conditionally unless there is a serious reason for doubting the validity of their baptism, on the ground of the matter or the form of words used in the baptism, or of the intention of the adult being baptized or of that of the baptizing minister.


§3 If in the cases mentioned in §1 and 2 a doubt remains about the conferring of the baptism or its validity, baptism is not to be conferred until the doctrine of the sacrament of baptism is explained to the person to be baptized, if that person is an adult. Moreover, the reasons for doubting the validity of the earlier baptism should be given to the person or, where an infant is concerned, to the parents.


Can. 870 An abandoned infant or a foundling is to be baptized unless diligent enquiry establishes that it has already been baptized.


Can. 871 Aborted fetuses, if they are alive, are to be baptized, in so far as this is possible.

 

[Photini]

Does the Catholic Church encourage that the priest and person that is to be baptized fast prior to the Baptism? If so, how many days?

 

[Dominus Fidelis]

Hey Matt-

If you are asking in order to classify these things as "works" (I don't know your motivation, I'm just clarifying in advance), then I will tell you something that I experienced yesterday.

I was sitting in Mass and my students (RCIA students) were going through their Rite of Acceptance. As they were standing up there getting the sign of the cross put on them, and formally declaring their intention to join the Church, my eyes welled up with tears. It was beatiful, because it wasn't anything that they did to get them to this point in their spritual journeys, but rather, it was the Holy Spirit prompting them to accept the faith. I literally felt His grace as I watched...and cried. Its all God's grace that causes a conversion of people to the faith, and none of these rites or baptisms, etc, can honestly be called "works" meriting anything at all.

Just something to think about.

 

[Dominus Fidelis]

Does the Catholic Church encourage that the priest and person that is to be baptized fast prior to the Baptism? If so, how many days?

Not anything special apart from general encouragement to participate in Lent, as far as I have experienced.

 

[Benedicta00]

Does the Catholic Church encourage that the priest and person that is to be baptized fast prior to the Baptism? If so, how many days?

No. Why would you need to fast, if you are not baptized yet, there is no merit to be gained from fasting.

 

[thereselittleflower]

No. Why would you need to fast, if you are not baptized yet, there is no merit to be gained from fasting.

Hi Shelb5

I don't think there is a special fast, but baptism for those who are coming into the Church is at the end of the Lenten period, where all are encouraged to be fasting and praying, including catechumenates and priests . .

So, I would answer yes to the question presented . . but not because there is a special fast for baptism . .

For those who are baptized as infants, there would be no fast for the baby, and I don't believe that the Orthodox would fast thier infants before baptism . .


I think the question perhaps unintentionally took baptism out of its context in an artificial way . . .


Peace in Him!

 

[InquisitorKind]

I don't think there is a special fast, but baptism for those who are coming into the Church is at the end of the Lenten period, where all are encouraged to be fasting and praying, including catechumenates and priests . .

That's interesting. Fasting is encouraged due to the Lenten period, so it indirectly happens before baptism, but not directly required of baptism itself?


~Matt

 

[thereselittleflower]

That's interesting. Fasting is encouraged due to the Lenten period, so it indirectly happens before baptism, but not directly required of baptism itself?


~Matt

Hi Matt

It is all part of the Lenten process . . . Lent is incorporated into the Catechumenate process . . you cannot divide them . . to do so is to make an atrificial division that doesn't exist . .


So yes, it is directly tied to baptism in one sense, but not just because of baptism . . Lent is not only for those who are getting baptized . .


The Catechumenate process culminates with Baptism, Confirmation and reception of the Holy Eucharist at the end of the Lenten Season . .


It is not just, "and, oh, by the way, the fasting you are doing for Lent is a side benefit for your baptism" . .


Do you see how you are trying to artificially separate the two? It does not "indirectly" happen . . it is a part of the process required for the final initiation through Baptism into the Body of Christ . .


Peace in Him!

 

[Benedicta00]

Hi Shelb5

I don't think there is a special fast, but baptism for those who are coming into the Church is at the end of the Lenten period, where all are encouraged to be fasting and praying, including catechumenates and priests . .

That I understand that but it doesn't have anything to do with the baptism itself.

For those who are baptized as infants, there would be no fast for the baby, and I don't believe that the Orthodox would fast thier infants before baptism . .

I would hope not, that could harm him.

I think the question perhaps unintentionally took baptism out of its context in an artificial way . . .


Peace in Him!

I wasn’t thinking of it being asked in the context of lent, then I would say, yes any catechumen would be encouraged to observe lent but that would not have anything to do with their baptism.

 

[Benedicta00]

Hi Matt

It is all part of the Lenten process . . . Lent is incorporated into the Catechumenate process . . you cannot divide them . . to do so is to make an atrificial division that doesn't exist . .


So yes, it is directly tied to baptism in one sense, but not just because of baptism . . Lent is not only for those who are getting baptized . .


The Catechumenate process culminates with Baptism, Confirmation and reception of the Holy Eucharist at the end of the Lenten Season . .


It is not just, "and, oh, by the way, the fasting you are doing for Lent is a side benefit for your baptism" . .


Do you see how you are trying to artificially separate the two? It does not "indirectly" happen . . it is a part of the process required for the final initiation through Baptism into the Body of Christ . .


Peace in Him!

But Theresa, you can be baptized during ordinary time as well. You wouldn't need to fast before hand.

 

[thereselittleflower]

But Theresa, you can be baptized during ordinary time as well. You wouldn't need to fast before hand.

That's true, but you would not walk in off the street and be baptized . .

If you are converting to the faith, you would go through the steps of the Catechumenate outside of the usual timelines now used by the Church, and I would think there would still need to be a period of time corresponding to the period of Purification and Enlightenment, in which fasting is encouraged . .

The Period of Purification and Enlightenment




The Period of Purification and Enlightenment corresponds to that time known in the Catholic Church as Lent. The six-weeks of preparation for Easter are prayerful time for catechumens and candidates, who are now known as the Elect, as they prepare to become full members of the Catholic Church and are established as such by the Sacraments of Initiation.


This period is begun on the First Sunday of Lent by the Rite of Sending at the local parish. The Catechumens sign their names in the Book of the Elect and are sent to the Rite of Election. The Rite of Election is usually celebrated at the Cathedral Church with the diocesan bishop. By this Rite the Church acknowledges that the Elect have been chosen (elected) by God and that they are accepted as candidates for the Easter Sacraments by the bishop, representing the fact that this decision is not theirs alone.

Throughout Lent, special prayers are offered at the Sunday Eucharist for the Elect; they are called Scrutinies. These are prayers for a strengthening in grace and virtue, for purification from all past evil, and for freedom from any bonds which hinder them from experiencing the love of God. Throughout this period, the Elect are invited to join with the whole Church in a deeper practice of works of charity and in the practice of fasting.

During this period, the weekly reflection on the Scriptures continues; the readings of Lent were chosen with the themes of continuing conversion in mind. Toward the end of this period, the Church continues the custom of "handing over" to the Elect the Creed (the summary of our faith) and the Lord's Prayer (which represents its practice of continuing prayer after the command of Jesus who taught us to pray.)
​

Does this make sense? The process is not dependent on Lent . .


The original question was if the Catholic Church encouraged (not required) those who were seeking baptism to fast . .

And I would have to answer yes, we are encouraged to do so as part of the process of Enlightenment and Purification . .


Peace in Him

 

[Oblio]

It was my understanding that Lent was originally used primarily as a preparatory period for the catechumate.

A reference to Apostolic Christian fasting practices WRT Baptism (realizing that it is NOT canon law in the RCC) :

Chapter 7. Concerning Baptism. And concerning baptism, baptize this way: Having first said all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living water. But if you have no living water, baptize into other water; and if you cannot do so in cold water, do so in warm. But if you have neither, pour out water three times upon the head into the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit. But before the baptism let the baptizer fast, and the baptized, and whoever else can; but you shall order the baptized to fast one or two days before.

 

[thereselittleflower]

It was my understanding that Lent was originally used primarily as a preparatory period for the catechumate.

A reference to EC fasting practices WRT Baptism (realizing that it is NOT canon law in the RCC) :

That is also my understanding Oblio . . which is why we I don't believe we can make artificial distinctions between what happens during lent and the process the catechumenate goes through to receive baptism . . it is an intricate whole . .and when adults are brought into the Church outside of this traditional time frame, the process is not simply discarded . . .

Lent is a response to the process, not the process a response to Lent . .


Peace in Him!

 

[InquisitorKind]

Do you see how you are trying to artificially separate the two? It does not "indirectly" happen . . it is a part of the process required for the final initiation through Baptism into the Body of Christ . .

Perhaps the question that should be asked is:

Can Catholic baptism happen at a time other than the season of Lent?

It is not my intention to separate the two; I had no idea that they were bonded so.

~Matt

 

[thereselittleflower]

Perhaps the question that should be asked is:

Can Catholic baptism happen at a time other than the season of Lent?

It is not my intention to separate the two; I had no idea that they were bonded so.

~Matt

Of course baptism can happen at other times for adults . . but the process typified in Lent is not limited to Lent but should be a part of all adult catechumens seeking baptism . . whenever that may be in the year . .


I hope I this helped to clarify and that I am not being confusing . .


Peace in Him!

 

[Photini]

For those who are baptized as infants, there would be no fast for the baby, and I don't believe that the Orthodox would fast thier infants before baptism . .

The parents do fast, as does the priest and possibly other close relatives and friends, and anyone else who can. Usually for one to two days prior to Baptism.

 

[Cathologetics]

Perhaps the question that should be asked is:

Can Catholic baptism happen at a time other than the season of Lent?

It is not my intention to separate the two; I had no idea that they were bonded so.

~Matt

We could probably get you baptized sooner if you don't want to wait till next Easter!

 

[Benedicta00]

We could probably get you baptized sooner if you don't want to wait till next Easter!

LOL.

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

Perhaps the question that should be asked is:

Can Catholic baptism happen at a time other than the season of Lent?

It is not my intention to separate the two; I had no idea that they were bonded so.

~Matt

Yep anytime and it can even be preformed by someone other then a priest if the need raises. But RCIA process is the prefored method if your not on your death bed. Easter is the prefered time for many reasons. But depending on your background and situation and the priest it can happen at other times.