Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on the Baptism of the Lord.

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 1283.

There are three (3) sorts of Baptism which should be considered: the actual Sacrament of Baptism, with the pouring of or immersing in water together with the words “I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”; the “baptism of blood” undergone by those who suffer martyrdom before they were sacramentally baptized (Saint John the Baptist and the Holy Innocents come to mind here); and finally the “baptism of desire” which may possibly be related to those who die without either the actual Sacrament of Baptism or the “baptism of blood.”

Those who may have received the “baptism of desire” can include those children who sadly die before Holy Baptism and those catechumens who die before they receive the sacraments of initiation, including Baptism. These people were actually preparing for the saving waters, they wanted to be baptized. When considering the little children, the desire was on the part of the parents who want what is best for their children. There is nothing greater than God, and Holy Baptism incorporates us into the very mystery and life of the Trinity, God, Father, Son and Spirit.

In the Funeral Liturgy for children who die without sacramental Baptism the faithful are invited to have confidence in God’s mercy. God knows the desires of our hearts and His mysterious ways are beyond our understanding. Those weighed down by grief at the loss of a child seek to find reassurances of God’s infinite goodness. God knows that these parents would have baptized their child in a timely fashion. There is nothing which can be done to earn or deserve God’s grace and mercy. God’s grace and mercy are gifts freely given and freely received, including the gift of salvation. Those children younger than seven (7) who sadly die without the Sacrament of Baptism only have the stain of Original Sin upon them. They did not commit Original Sin, it has been inherited. This is one reason for confidence in God’s mercy. There are others.

The importance of Baptism is key here, as is our fidelity to the saving waters. The Lord Jesus reminds us of the importance of doing the will of the Father so as to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven (cf. Matthew 7:21–23). Holy Baptism is part of the Father’s will for us, made known by the Lord Jesus Himself (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16).

Anyone who gets to Heaven, gets there in God’s mercy. We are to pray not only for our own souls, our own salvation, but for everyone, even our enemies (cf. Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27–28, 35; Acts 8:22; James 5:16). All the more are we to pray for the salvation of the little ones who were not baptized (cf. John 3:5).

God bless you!

Father John Arthur Orr