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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Baptism by Immersion	John	Saturday, November 15, 2008
Question: My question pertains to what the necesary form is for a valid Baptism by Immersion. I know this practice is done quite frequently in the Eastern Rites of the Catholic Church. If the priest only imerses the baby in the water in a bowl waste deep and moves them in the water while saying the proper words is it valid even though no water is running on the baby's head? Water is moving on the childs skin, but not on their head?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear John: Baptism by immersion means to immerse -- that is, completely under water, though immersion of just the head is permissible. To sit a baby in a bowl waste deep is not baptism by immersion. The minister must pour the water over the head of the infant. Baptism involves the head, not the bottom We can learn the definitions from the General Instruction on RCIA §226: A If baptism is by immersion, of the whole body or of the head only, decency and decorum should be preserved. Either or both godparents touch the candidate. The celebrant, immersing the candidate's whole body or head three times, baptizes the candidate in the name of the Trinity. B If baptism is by the pouring of water, either or both godparents place the right hand on the shoulder of the candidate, and the celebrant, taking baptismal water and pouring it three times on the candidate's bowed head, baptizes the candidate in the name of the Trinity.... Note the description of immersion: either the whole body or the head only may be immersed in the water. Thus, the head must be immersed, or water is to be poured over the head with the water actually touching the skin to be valid. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Baptism by Immersion

John

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Question:

My question pertains to what the necesary form is for a valid Baptism by Immersion. I know this practice is done quite frequently in the Eastern Rites of the Catholic Church. If the priest only imerses the baby in the water in a bowl waste deep and moves them in the water while saying the proper words is it valid even though no water is running on the baby's head? Water is moving on the childs skin, but not on their head?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear John:

Baptism by immersion means to immerse -- that is, completely under water, though immersion of just the head is permissible. To sit a baby in a bowl waste deep is not baptism by immersion. The minister must pour the water over the head of the infant. Baptism involves the head, not the bottom

We can learn the definitions from the General Instruction on RCIA §226:

A If baptism is by immersion, of the whole body or of the head only, decency and decorum should be preserved. Either or both godparents touch the candidate. The celebrant, immersing the candidate's whole body or head three times, baptizes the candidate in the name of the Trinity.
B If baptism is by the pouring of water, either or both godparents place the right hand on the shoulder of the candidate, and the celebrant, taking baptismal water and pouring it three times on the candidate's bowed head, baptizes the candidate in the name of the Trinity....

Note the description of immersion: either the whole body or the head only may be immersed in the water.

Thus, the head must be immersed, or water is to be poured over the head with the water actually touching the skin to be valid.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum