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1. What is baptism?Baptism, where one is freed from sin and joined to Christ through water and the Holy Spirit, is the entrance to the Christian life. Through baptism into Christ, we are also joined to his Body, the Church, the community of those who follow him.
Infant baptism is the term for the baptism of those who have not yet attained the use of reason (presumed at age seven). In infant baptism, the parents choose to have their child baptized, and therefore they are the ones who need to be prepared for the sacrament.
Children who will be seven or older at the time of their baptism are able to make the decision to be baptized themselves and go through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, adapted for children. -
2. Is preparation required for baptism?
Yes, preparation for baptism is a requirement in Church law. Parents and godparents must be aware of the meaning of the sacrament and the obligations attached to receiving it. A child who is baptized becomes a member of the Church, with all the rights and responsibilities that entails. Each pastor has a responsibility to ensure that those who are baptized are going to be brought up in the Catholic Faith, since baptism cannot be revoked.
Parents and godparents who have completed the catechetical component of infant baptism preparation in the last three years do not need to do so again for the baptism of another child, unless the previously baptized children are not being raised in the Faith.
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3. What does preparation look like?
When parents seek baptism for their child, there will be an initial interview where a minister from the parish will talk to them about their faith life, their relationship with Christ and the Church, and why they want to have their child baptized. If parents are to raise a child in the Faith, they themselves need to be evangelized, to know the Good News of Jesus Christ. This initial interview will help to discern what sort of preparation they will need.
Parents and godparents will normally participate in preparation at their own parish. Parishes may have different programs for preparation. It is not simply a single “class,” but a process of deepening evangelization. What exactly is required depends on the faith life of the parents and godparents. Some may need a longer period of preparation to learn more about the basics of the Faith before being formed for baptism itself.
Since the practice of infant baptism relies on the parents and godparents passing on the Faith to the child, there needs to be a founded hope that the child will be brought up in a Christian home, the ‘domestic Church,’ as a Catholic. If the parents are not practicing Catholics, there will need to be a discussion as to how the child will be brought up in the Catholic Faith before baptism can occur. This may require delaying the baptism for a time as the parents discern the role of the Catholic Faith in their life.
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4. When should a child be baptized?
Parents have an obligation in Church law to see that their child is baptized in the “first few weeks” after birth (c. 867 §1). Because of this, they should normally begin preparation for baptism before the child is born.
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5. Where can a child be baptized?
Baptism normally takes place in the parish church of the parents, either the one in whose territory they live, or the one in which they are registered. If they wish to have the child baptized elsewhere, they need to get a letter from their pastor giving permission. Pre-baptismal preparation should still take place in the parents’ parish. Godparents may receive preparation at the parents’ parish or at their own. Part of being Catholic is belonging to a parish community.
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6. Can grandparents have their grandchild baptized?
The lawful celebration of baptism requires the consent of at least one of the parents, or in their absence, the legal guardian. However, if the parents are not practicing, if at least one of them consents to the baptism, a grandparent, other relative, or a godparent could vouch for the Catholic upbringing of the child.
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7. What if the parents are not married in the Church?
If the parents are cohabiting or in a marriage not recognized by the Church, the baptism of a child presents an opportunity to find out what can be done to remedy the situation. A knowledgeable priest, deacon, or Tribunal aide can help with the process.
It is not a requirement for baptizing a child that the parents be married in the Church (or married at all). However, if both parents are unwilling to work toward a solution, this may be an indication that weighs against the hope that the child will be raised as a Catholic.
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8. What about Godparents?
Being a godparent is not merely an honor bestowed by the family but a role taken on in the Church. Godparents serve as representatives of the wider spiritual family of the Church, as helpers for the parents in their duty of raising the child in the Faith, and the official witnesses of the baptism. In the Order of Baptism of Children, they are asked to profess the Faith of the Church in which the child is baptized.
Because of the nature of this role, the Church has certain requirements that godparents must meet:
Sixteen years of age or older (exceptions can be made for someone as young as fourteen).
Fully initiated Catholic (received Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist).
Lead a life of faith in keeping with the function of godparent. This includes the requirement that, if married, the godparent is married validly according to the Catholic Church.
Not be the parents of the child.
There normally is to at least one godparent. There may be a maximum of two godparents— one male and one female—who serve as the official witnesses and are listed in the sacramental record.
A baptized non-Catholic may serve as a “Christian witness” alongside a Catholic godparent. An Eastern Non-Catholic Christian can serve as a godparent alongside a Catholic godparent. A Catholic who does not meet the requirements to be a godparent, nor a non-Catholic who is not validly baptized, may not serve as a Christian witness.
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More Information Available
For more detailed information please refer to the Directory for Infant Baptism: Preparation and Celebration, at https://stocktondiocese.org/ diocesan-liturgical-norms.