Infant Baptism
Infant baptism is practised in the Catholic Church. It is stated in the Canon Law (the guidelines and regulations given by the Catholic Church authority) that parents are obliged to ensure their infant children are baptised within the first few weeks from their birth. It goes as far as to state that parents are to approach the priest in their church to ask for this sacrament for their child as soon as possible after his/her birth. Thus, infant baptism is seen as an urgent and important sacrament for young children in the Church today.
In Catholic churches, after infant baptism, children undergo years of catechism class, where they learn more about the faith and who God is, before they receive the sacraments of the Eucharist, and Confirmation. This differs from adult baptism, where the sacraments of Baptism, the Eucharist and Confirmation happen consecutively. As such, infant baptism is seen as the start of their Christian initiation and there is a need for growth in faith and understanding after baptism.
How did infant baptism come about?
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), “the practice of infant baptism is an immemorial tradition of the Church”. (CCC 1252) The earliest records of it date back to the 2nd century but it has likely been practised since the preaching by Jesus’ Apostles in the early years of the Church. There are biblical references to the practice of baptising infants. In the New Testament, when whole households were baptised by the apostles, infants are likely to also have been baptised at the same time. Thus, infant baptism has its roots in both Tradition and Scripture.
Why do we baptise infants?
Children, just like adults, need baptism to fully receive the grace of salvation from God. In the Catholic Church, we believe that everyone is born with a fallen human nature and a tendency to sin, as we are tainted with the stain of original sin (the sin we “inherited” from Adam and Eve). Therefore children also need the new birth in baptism, which frees them from original sin and gives them the freedom to be children of God and receive from the Holy Spirit.
Baptism does not need to be “earned” as it is freely given to us by God, simply because He loves us and wants us to be saved as well! As such, children can receive the salvation brought about by baptism freely even though they have not yet reached maturity. Additionally, although baptism is the sacrament of faith, young children do not need to explicitly declare their faith or have a mature faith to be baptised. “The faith required for baptism is not a perfect and mature faith, but a beginning that is called to develop”. (CCC 1253) Infants are baptised on the faith of the Church, their parents, and their Godparents. Thus, parents bring their children to baptism by professing a belief in Christ on behalf of their child, promising to raise him/her in the faith. This belief that God extends His grace to individuals based on the faith of others comes from biblical stories where Jesus brought healing to the sick and suffering through the faith of others.
In sum, baptism has been administered to young children since biblical times as it is a grace and gift from God that does not presuppose human merit. Children are baptised through the faith of others so that they too can be freed from original sin and freely receive God’s graces.
References:
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Code of Canon Law http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0017/_P2W.HTM
Why Does the Church Baptise Babies? https://www.simplycatholic.com/why-baptize-babies/