Baptism

Scheduling Baptism

By appointment. Typically administered after Mass on Sundays.

To schedule a Baptism, call: 832-512-9993

Catholic Definition of Baptism

The definition of Baptism according to the Council of Trent is as follows:

"With regard to the definition of Baptism although many can be given from sacred writers, nevertheless that which may be gathered from the words of our Lord recorded in John, and of the Apostle to the Ephesians, appears the most appropriate and suitable. Unless, says our Lord, a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he can not enter the Kingdom of God; and, speaking of the Church, the Apostle says, cleansing it by the laver of water in the word of life. 

Thus it follows that Baptism may be rightly and accurately defined: The Sacrament of regeneration by water in the word. By nature we are born from Adam children of wrath, but by Baptism we are regenerated in Christ, children of mercy. For He gave power to men to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in his name, who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

The Catechism of Council of Trent, 1962 edition, Baronius Press, pp. 171

Note: All Baptisms performed at St. Jude's are done in the traditional pre-1955 manner, which includes a solemn exorcism using blessed salt.

Validity

For a Catholic Baptism to be valid, it must contain these three qualities:

Form:

Matter:

Intent:

What Can Invalidate a Baptism?

Baptisms are usually presumed to be valid, especially if done by a Catholic priest who was ordained by a Catholic bishop consecrated under the former Episcopal Rite of Consecration. Nevertheless, there are extenuating circumstances that can invalidate a Baptism. Keep in mind, Baptisms are presumed to be valid unless there is sufficient evidence one of the above-mentioned qualities (form, matter, and intent) was missing from the original Baptism. In this instance, the Church would allow for one to perform what is called a conditional Baptism.

Conditional Baptism

A Conditional Baptism is presumed to be one's first and only Baptism, specifically performed only if there is sufficient evidence, also called positive doubt, that one's first Baptism was invalid. Conditional Baptisms are becoming more common as many former protestants and even former Novus Ordo Mass-attending Catholics find themselves more interested in the true Catholic Faith.

There has to be a good reason to receive a conditional Baptism because it is sacrilege to repeat a Baptism.

To inquire about conditional Baptism, please call 832-512-9993.

Baptismal Circumstances

1) If an individual has never been Baptized, he must be Baptized before going to Confession, as Baptism is the gateway to all other Sacraments.  

2) If an individual's Baptism took place but is doubtful (see above), but this individual is a practicing Catholic, he or she must go to Confession first before receiving a Conditional Baptism, since the validity of a doubtful Baptism is necessarily presumed valid.  Thereafter he or she may receive a Conditional Baptism.

3) If a person is a non-Catholic with a doubtful Baptism, he or she would need to go to Confession first before receiving a Conditional Baptism (for the same reasons as Case 2), after making an abjuration of heresy and profession of faith.  After Confession, he or she may receive Conditional Baptism.

To inquire about Baptism, please call 832-512-9993

Baptism of Blood and Desire

Taken from Baltimore Catechism No. 3, The Text of the Official Revised Edition 1949, by Rev. Francis J. Connell, C.SS.R., S.T.D.

"321. How can those be saved who through no fault of their own have not received the sacrament of Baptism?

Those who through no fault of their own have not received the Sacrament of Baptism can be saved through what is called baptism of blood or baptism of desire.

322. How does an unbaptized person receive the baptism of blood?

An unbaptized person receives the baptism of blood when he suffers martyrdom for the faith of Christ.

a) Baptism of blood does not imprint a character on the soul, nor does it give one the right to receive the other sacraments. It does, however, confer grace and take away sin, original and actual, and the punishment due to sin.

b) Martyrdom is the suffering from a supernatural motive, of death or a mortal wound inflicted out of hatred for Christ, His religion, or a Christian virtue. In sinners guilty of mortal sin, at least attrition is also required in order to secure the effects of baptism of blood.

(. . .)

323. How does an unbaptized person receive the baptism of desire?

An unbaptized person receives the baptism of desire when he loves God above all things and desires to do all that is necessary for his salvation.

a) Baptism of desire takes away all sin, original and actual, and the eternal punishment due to sin. It does not, however, imprint a character on the soul, nor does it necessarily take away all the temporal punishment due to actual sins.

b) In baptism of desire there need not always be an explicit desire to receive baptism of water.

(. . .)"