Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on the 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time.
My dear Parishioners,
Peace! There are ten (10) In Brief passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding the Sacrament of Baptism. The following is a reflection on article 1284.
In cases of necessity anyone may baptize anyone who has not already been baptized who is not opposed to being baptized. A case of necessity is surely already present when someone who has not been baptized is in danger of death. This often may happen in delivery rooms with sickly newborns or at accident scenes. There was a time when doctors, nurses and emergency personnel were all taught how to administer Holy Baptism in cases of necessity. Actually, all of the faithful should know how to baptize in cases of emergency.
While the ordinary minister of the Sacrament of Baptism is a Bishop, Priest or Deacon , in cases of necessity, anyone may validly administer this sacrament, even someone who is not a Christian. Even if the person doing the baptizing is a notorious criminal, atheist or the like, they may validly baptize so long as they meet a three-fold requirement: 1st have the intention of doing what the Church does when administering Baptism; 2nd pour water on the head of the candidate while; 3rd saying “I baptize you in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
The “intention of doing what the Church does” is namely to wash away Original Sin, make one an adopted child of God and member of the Church. The pouring of the water and the invocation of the Holy Trinity, naming each Divine Person individually are to occur simultaneously. The water is not to be poured only over the feet or hands or backside but must, at least, be poured over the head.
The reason why Mother Church insists on the importance and necessity of Baptism flow from the very words of Christ Jesus, spoken to Nicodemus: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God” (John 3:5). The reason why Mother Church insists on the importance and necessity of the baptismal formula, again, also flow from the very words of Christ Jesus in His great commission: “Go therefore, teach all nations, baptizing in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world” (Matthew 28:19–20).
There are both rights and responsibilities flowing from Baptism. This is why under less dire circumstances a suitable period of Christian formation (catechesis) precedes Baptism. On the day of Pentecost Saint Peter delivered to great effect a brief catechesis resulting in the Baptism of three thousand souls (cf. Acts 2:1–41). We see another very brief catechesis presented by Saint Philip followed immediately by the administration of Baptism in Acts 8:26–39.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr