Infant Baptism
(for children up to age 7 years of age)
Why should I baptize my baby? This question receives several answers:
BECAUSE…the Catholic Church tells me to do so,
BECAUSE…my parents want me to,
BECAUSE…I was baptized as an infant,
BECAUSE…
Yet the truth is, God wants to give the child He created the greatest gift of all—Himself, and only asks YOU if you will accept His gift of adoption for your child.
Just think, God, the Almighty is asking you if you will accept His gift. The gift which leads to Eternal Life filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and goodness.
Baptism is the gateway to be Catholic and the beginning to receiving the outpouring of God’s grace in all the other sacraments. Because of Adam and Eve’s choice to disobey God, they killed the sanctifying grace within their souls and God closed the gates to Heaven. Jesus atoned for this sin, ransoming Himself so the gates of Heaven would be reopened and grace restored.
Before Jesus began His public ministry, He was baptized in the Jordan River to show us what He desired of us. Our eyes see the water poured, our ears hear the words, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, our skin feels the wetness of the substance, and our senses know something profound has just occurred. What we don’t see is God completely filling the heart and soul of the one being baptized with His grace, His life, His love.
The question to truly ponder is Why haven’t I baptized my baby?
When should I baptize my baby? According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the child should be baptized, shortly after birth. “The Church and the parents would deny a child the priceless grace of becoming a child of God were they not to confer Baptism shortly after birth,” (CCC1250). This means within the first couple of weeks to allow God to fill the child’s empty soul with His grace, His Life. A child under the age of seven years may receive Infant Baptism through the acceptance of the parents and godparent(s).
What do I need to do?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
For Jesus said, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mk 10:14))
As Jesus also answered Nicodemus, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit” (Jn 3:5)
Why should I baptize my baby? This question receives several answers:
BECAUSE…the Catholic Church tells me to do so,
BECAUSE…my parents want me to,
BECAUSE…I was baptized as an infant,
BECAUSE…
Yet the truth is, God wants to give the child He created the greatest gift of all—Himself, and only asks YOU if you will accept His gift of adoption for your child.
Just think, God, the Almighty is asking you if you will accept His gift. The gift which leads to Eternal Life filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and goodness.
Baptism is the gateway to be Catholic and the beginning to receiving the outpouring of God’s grace in all the other sacraments. Because of Adam and Eve’s choice to disobey God, they killed the sanctifying grace within their souls and God closed the gates to Heaven. Jesus atoned for this sin, ransoming Himself so the gates of Heaven would be reopened and grace restored.
Before Jesus began His public ministry, He was baptized in the Jordan River to show us what He desired of us. Our eyes see the water poured, our ears hear the words, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, our skin feels the wetness of the substance, and our senses know something profound has just occurred. What we don’t see is God completely filling the heart and soul of the one being baptized with His grace, His life, His love.
The question to truly ponder is Why haven’t I baptized my baby?
When should I baptize my baby? According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the child should be baptized, shortly after birth. “The Church and the parents would deny a child the priceless grace of becoming a child of God were they not to confer Baptism shortly after birth,” (CCC1250). This means within the first couple of weeks to allow God to fill the child’s empty soul with His grace, His Life. A child under the age of seven years may receive Infant Baptism through the acceptance of the parents and godparent(s).
What do I need to do?
- Have the desire to daily learn and live your own Catholic faith and promise God you will raise your child in the teachings and truth of the Catholic Church.
- Be a registered and active member of the parish.
- Fill out the registration form for church membership.
- Choose godparents who are actively participating members of the Catholic Church in the state of grace having received the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation plus received the Sacrament of Matrimony, if applicable. (See “Selecting a Godparent for your Child”)
- Parents and godparents attend a Baptism Preparation class. (Contact the Church office 480-987-0315 for more information).
_____________________________________________________________________________________
For Jesus said, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mk 10:14))
As Jesus also answered Nicodemus, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit” (Jn 3:5)