Infant And [the prison guard] called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, “Men, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in , and you will be saved, you and your household.” ... and he was baptized at once, with all his family. ~ Acts 16:29-31, 33

HE BAPTISM OF INFANTS and children who will never be brought to conversion is far out- have not reached the age of reason has been weighed by the spiritual advantages of this prac- practiced since the beginning of Christian- tice — that the child, once baptized, has God’s life T ity. Scripture provides implicit evidence of in him or her and can begin to grow in holiness im- this practice when it mentions the Baptism of en- mediately. tire households, which most likely included infants Baptism of infants and children demonstrates and children (see Acts 18:8; 1 Cor 1:16), and also the necessity of the community to provide the faith when the faith of a par- required for Baptism ent brings about heal- “Scripture provides implicit evidence (see Mk 16:15-16). ing of their child (see Just as we cannot give Mk 9:17-27; Lk 8:41- of this practice when it mentions the ourselves life, we can- 42, 49-56). Explicit Baptism of entire households.” not give ourselves faith. references to infant Both faith and life are Baptism are found possible only after and as early as the sec- with God’s initiative. An ond century in the adult is able to make a per- writings of Justin sonal act of faith needed Martyr, , for Baptism only in light Polycarp, and oth- of having witnessed ers like them whom the the faith of someone Church honors as Fathers else. Furthermore, of the Church because of an adult cannot live their contributions to the and grow in faith in Christian faith. isolation — they, While infant Baptism having become has a long-standing tradi- “members of Christ” tion, it is not the norm for (1 Cor 6:15), live this . Baptism and grow in faith rightly presupposes con- in the community, version. We see this in the Body of Christ, countless examples in the the Church. For . Aware an infant or child, of the necessity of conver- the parents make sion, the Church requires this act of faith as that the parents, godpar- part of their di- ents, and all those in the vine responsibil- community, each in his or ity of nurturing her role and capacity, help and educating to bring this child to con- their children. version. The concern that Faith, like life it- these responsibilities will self, is something not be fulfilled and that the that parents with

DAVID CHARLES PHOTOGRAPHY

The Association for Catechumenal Ministry (ACM) grants the original purchaser (parish, local parochial institution, or individual) permission to reproduce this handout. DAVID CHARLES PHOTOGRAPHY CHARLES DAVID “Faith, like life itself, is something that parents with the help of God enable their children to have.”

the help of God enable their children to have. They fess your faith in Christ Jesus” ( of Baptism for Chil- provide the first faith community in which the in- dren 93). fant or child will live and grow in faith. Next, the infant is clothed in a white garment, which represents Christian dignity. The or dea- Responsibility of the Parents con proclaims that the words and examples of the in- The parental responsibility of nurturing and edu- fant’s “family and friends” are to help the child bring cating their children in the faith is repeatedly men- this Christian dignity “unstained into the everlasting tioned throughout the Rite of Baptism. The rite be- life of Heaven” (Rite of Baptism for Children 99). Final- gins with the naming of the child, followed by the ly, a candle is lit to represent the light of Christ. The parents requesting Baptism for the child. The priest priest or deacon reminds those gathered, “Parents and or deacon tells the parents that by their request they , this light is entrusted to you to be kept are “accepting the responsibility of training him (her) burning brightly” (Rite of Baptism for Children 100). in the practice of the faith” (Rite of Baptism for Children 77). This includes the parents’ responsibility to see Responsibility of the Church that this child receives the rest of the of Although the parents have the primary respon- (Confirmation and Eucharist). sibility of being examples of faith to their children, Later in the rite the priest or deacon tells the par- the Church assists in this duty. This obligation is ents, “[Y]ou must make it your constant care to bring also mentioned in the Rite of Baptism, most clearly in him (her) up in the practice of the faith. See that the the community’s profession of faith when children of divine life which God gives him (her) is kept safe from catechetical age are baptized during the Easter Vig- the poison of sin, to grow always stronger in his (her) il: “‘[A]ll of us who have in any way prepared them heart” (Rite of Baptism for Children 93). In order to car- to meet Christ today must always be ready to assist ry out their obligations, the parents are then asked to them” (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults 312). renew their baptismal vows to “reject sin” and “pro- (CCC 1250-1252)

Infant Baptism — Page 2