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 1281.

Baptism, as all the sacraments, has to do with salvation. Our lives in Christ begin with Holy Baptism. Because there are those who have not yet received or approached the saving waters of Baptism the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) addressed the issue in the Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, 16. The Catechism similarly addresses the issue. While not using the specific terms “Baptism of Desire,” “Baptism of Blood,” here the Catechism in treating the Sacrament of Baptism seems to have them in mind. What is a “Baptism of Desire”? What is a “Baptism of Blood”? A tension exists between the necessity of Baptism (cf. John 3:5–7; Mark 16:16—-) on the one hand and God’s universal salvific will (cf. John 3:17; Romans 11:26; 1 Corinthians 10:33; 1 Timothy 2:3–4) on the other.

God is God and can save and will save whomever He will. The ordinary way God saves us is through the life of grace lived within Church, beginning with Baptism. Catechumens are those who are preparing for the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist). These people clearly desire to receive the Sacrament of Baptism and, ecclesia supplet (the Church suppling) sees the saving grace of God already at work in them, even should they sadly die before actually receiving Holy Baptism. Part of any “Baptism of Desire” includes a “sincere search for God.” If one is living without any seeking for whatever is good or true or beautiful, (cf. Philippians 4:8–9) all of which come from and lead back to God, then one may not be actually or sincerely searching for God. It is not enough for the unbaptized to only sincerely seek God, who has sought us out in Christ, but they must also (as must the baptized) exert themselves in accomplishing the Divine Will (think here of the Ten Commandments and all their parts, the Natural Law). If we willfully do evil and willfully do not repent salvation is forfeited. But, if moved by God’s grace, and that is the only way any of us keep God’s commandments, then, in His mercy and mysterious providence, God may save us even beyond the sacramental system He set up, beginning with Baptism. While God’s preferred way to administer the graces we need to be holy and pleasing in His sight, the Spirit breathes as He wants (cf. John 3:8).

Those who tragically suffer martyrdom, who are killed because of their faith in Christ, even before they might receive Baptism (think here of Saint John the Baptist [29 August] and the Holy Innocents [28 December]) are saved by God’s grace in what has been called a ‘Baptism of Blood.’ Jesus spoke of His death and the martyrdom of His Apostles as a sort of baptism (cf. Mark 10:38–39).

God bless you!

Father John Arthur Orr