Update on Catholic Baptism of Babies

What does baptism mean?

For Catholics, baptism marks the entry of the child in the big Christian family that is the Church. He then becomes a child of God. Baptism is the first of the seven sacraments, the others being the Eucharist (communion), confirmation, marriage, reconciliation, ordination (when one becomes a priest) and the anointing of the sick. By baptizing a baby, his parents undertake to give him a Christian education.

Why does the baptism take place so early?

Baptism most often takes place in the first months of life, but it is not mandatory. Until the end of the XNUMXth century, babies were baptized from their first hours, because infant mortality was very high, we wanted to ensure, if they died, that they entered paradise. 

Other parents prefer to wait until the child is old enough to understand and to choose for himself whether he wishes to be baptized or not. In this case, he will have to follow courses of awakening to the faith and catechism. There is no age limit to be baptized, even adults or the elderly can ask to be. They are called catechumens.

Today, in addition to being a religious ceremony, baptism is also a joyful family event that celebrates the arrival of a baby. This is the opportunity to reunite the family around the child. Clothes, sugared almonds, meals, religious ceremony… it’s a day of celebration! A tradition that continues, since today, the number of baptisms reaches 250 per year in France.

What are the conditions for having your baby baptized?

There are no specific conditions. It is enough that both parents agree and commit to raising their child in the Catholic faith. They don’t need to be baptized themselves to ask for this sacrament for their baby. On the day of his baptism, the parents appoint a godfather and a godmother. Their role is to assist parents in the religious education of their godchild. They must therefore both be baptized and follow a Christian life to fully fulfill their responsibilities. Previously, the godparents also had the role of taking care of the child if the parents were to die. Today, their role is more spiritual.

Baptism: which parish to contact?

To the one you want! The easiest way is to choose the parish of your domicile, but you can make a request to another parish. It is enough to contact the church in question a few months before the envisaged date, in order to make the request for baptism and to fill out a registration form. The day of baptism is most often a Sunday, at the end of mass. 

Is baptism paying?

Baptism cannot be bought, it is a gift from God. It is completely free. However, to thank the priest, you can make an offering for the church, in any amount you wish. This is not a taboo subject, so please do not hesitate to ask your ward for information on this subject. It is simply necessary to know that the life of the Church depends on the effort of the faithful. It’s up to everyone to see what they can give.

What preparation should I follow to have my child baptized?

In most cases, you will have an interview with the chosen priest, in order to prepare the ceremony and so that he knows your motivations. This is by no means an exam, but a simple meeting, so you can take the opportunity to ask him your questions.

How to choose the godfather and godmother of your child?

The godfather and the godmother must be believers and practitioners. They support you in the religious education of your child, so you must have full confidence in them, and not choose them to “please” them. They are the ones who offer the baptismal medal to the child : the godmother buys the medal and has it engraved (in the name of the child and his date of baptism in general) and the godfather gives the chain. During the ceremony, the medal is blessed by the priest and given to the child.

What are the highlights of the ceremony?

The baptismal ceremony takes place according to a very precise ritual, around the baptismal fonts, a kind of tank in which the baby was once fully immersed. Today, in general, the priest simply pours water on the infant’s forehead. This water symbolizes the death and resurrection of Christ. The priest then marks the baby’s forehead with a sign of the cross with scented oil. The child must be dressed in a white garment, a symbol of rebirth and light. After the baptism, a candle is given to the parents.

Do you want to talk about it between parents? To give your opinion, to bring your testimony? We meet on https://forum.parents.fr.