| Question Title | Posted By | Question Date |
|---|---|---|
| valid Baptisms? | Michael | Tuesday, June 14, 2005 |
Question: Recently at Mass the celebrant baptized three infants. The last was by pouring, while the first two were by immersion. The unusual thing was that the priest did not entirely submerse either infant. In both cases, the infants' heads remained above the water for each of the triple "immersions". The third infant was baptized by water being poured on his forehead. All other aspects of the baptism were normal. Were the first two baptisms licit? Were they perhaps even invalid? And, if so, should I do something to alert the parents that their children might not be validly baptized? |
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| Question Answered by Mr. Jacob Slavek
Dear Michael, I wouldn't worry about it, the Rite of Baptism for Children says that "He immerses the child or pours water on it." Mr. Slavek Footer Notes: (a) A Eucharistic Minister is clergy (Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion). Laity are Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and should never be called Eucharistic Ministers. (b) There is no such Mass called the Novus Ordo. The Current Mass is the Roman Missal of 2000, or the Oridinary Form of the Mass. The Tridentine Mass is the Roman Missal of 1962, or the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Please refrain from using the term, Novus Ordo. Thanks. (c) The titles of Acolyte and Lector belong exclusively to the Installed Offices of Acolyte and Lector, who are men (only) appointed by the Bishop. These roles performed by others are Altar Servers and Readers, respectively. |
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