Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on Epiphany Sunday.
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 1282.
There are some people who have refused to have their children baptized, saying “I will let them make their own decision.” Consistency would require such parents to also let their children decide whether or not to go to the pediatrician, dentist or school. To bring the child to the saving waters is good spiritual healthcare, safeguarding from the infection of sin worse than cavities and allows the child to learn in the school of the Lord’s service.
That the Sacrament of Baptism has been administered to children even in ancient times appears evident in view of Scripture which teaches that Lydia and “her household” were baptized upon hearing the preaching of Saint Paul (cf. Acts 16:15) as was the “household of Stephanus” (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:16). My brother’s household includes his wife and their children, my nieces and nephew. Refusal of Baptism to infants or children would be to discount them from the household of believers.
The Lord Jesus teaches us that we are to become like little children that we might enter the Kingdom of Heaven (cf. Matthew 18:3). Baptism is the sacrament whereby we enter Mother Church and are made adopted children of the eternal heavenly Father and citizens of the heavenly Kingdom. The Lord Jesus Himself did not forbid the children to come to Him, rather He teaches us that His Kingdom is for such as them (cf. Matthew 19:13–14; Mark 10:13–14; Luke 18:16). It would be to thwart the plan of God, refusing children to come to Jesus’ saving waters. It was the desire of the Lord Jesus to gather the children of Jerusalem as a hen gathers her chicks (cf. Matthew 23:37). Jesus gathers us to Himself and His mystical body the Church through Baptism.
What better gifts might parents give to their children than the gifts of grace and faith and redemption and divine adoption all of which come through the Sacrament of Baptism (cf. Matthew 7:11; Luke 11:13)? What parents would not want their children to be equal to the angels and children of God and of the resurrection (cf. Luke 20:36)? In Baptism we are made higher than the angels, not only citizens of Heaven, not merely creatures, but adopted children of God. Disallowal of children who have Original Sin or any others who are repentant access to the saving waters of Baptism would be to despise Christ, His bath of new life (cf. Luke 10:16).
We enter into Christian life in the Church, pillar and bulwark of the truth, by Baptism and are baptized into Christ Jesus who is Himself, the way, the truth and the life who sets us free to act in freedom as children of God (cf. John 8:32; 14:6; Romans 8:21; Galatians 3:26; 4:31; Ephesians 4:5; 1 Timothy 3:15).
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr