Why do Catholics Baptize Babies?
The day's readings can be found here.
Most of the Christian people around this area believe that baptism is important. However, the actual meaning of baptism varies according to denomination. Some non-Catholic Christians believe a person should be of the age to decide if he wants to be baptized or not. Others believe baptism is nice but not necessary for salvation. Because there are so many ideas out there about baptism, in every baptism I administer, I explain the Catholic and Biblical understanding that baptism is not just something nice or a mere formality. Rather, baptism is a sacrament and is necessary for salvation.
Our colleagues and friends may ask, “Why are you baptizing your little child? He doesn’t know what is going on.” Our answer to this question “why?” is: “Why not?” Why not baptize a little one? There is no condemnation in Sacred Scripture for this practice. In fact in the Acts of the Apostles (16:15, 33), there is recording of whole households being baptized — men, women and children together. Consequently, it is not just something we Catholics invented a few centuries ago. The practice of baptizing infants goes back to Apostolic times, and we as Catholic Christians continue this Tradition. Why would we hold back the sacrament of baptism (and all the graces that come with this sacrament) for the simple reason that the child lacks the full use of reason? Jesus said, "Let the children come to me . . ." So we want children to experience Christ, to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and to have Original Sin wiped away (1 Peter 3:21).
In the gospel of John (3:5), our Lord Jesus Christ tells Nicodemus that unless a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Jesus, therefore, makes baptism a necessity for salvation. In instituting this sacrament of initiation (Matthew 28:19), Jesus fulfills the OT requirement of entrance into the Covenant (Colossians 2:11–12). Just as male circumcision was a sign of the Promise and necessary for entrance into the Old Covenant, so the Christian sacrament of baptism is a sign of true rebirth (Titus 3:5) and necessary for salvation (Acts 2:38) in the New Covenant. And of course, we celebrate the fact that this Covenant is offered not to only one race but to Jew and Gentile alike.
We certainly do not believe that baptism or any sacrament is a "substitute" for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Instead, the sacrament of baptism begins that relationship with Jesus so that the believer can accept Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior every day of his life. This is something we as Catholic priests, parents, singles and youths have to take more seriously: the baptismal call to holiness. Sacraments are not magic. They are an encounter with the living God. And for them to be efficacious – for them to work – we have to be men and women of constant conversion.
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