What day of the week are babtisms on?

CathyMoran

Hope nobody minds me asking, what age are are babtisms done in the RC church, also what day(s) of the week are they held on? Thanks.

postcynical

CathyMoran wrote: »

Hope nobody minds me asking, what age are are babtisms done in the RC church, also what day(s) of the week are they held on? Thanks.

Any age from birth to death as far as I know. Typically babies are about 3 months old or so for practical reasons but if a child is very sick they are often baptised earlier.

Most baptisms I've been to have been on a Sunday, after Mass, but I'd say that's just for practical reasons. They can take place on any day I'm pretty sure.

CathyMoran

postcynical wrote: »

Any age from birth to death as far as I know. Typically babies are about 3 months old or so for practical reasons but if a child is very sick they are often baptised earlier.

Most baptisms I've been to have been on a Sunday, after Mass, but I'd say that's just for practical reasons. They can take place on any day I'm pretty sure.

Thanks - was not sure.

postcynical

Afraid the standard stock answer is on its way - maybe check with the local priest! Fairly sure the above is accurate though. God bless.

RAMADAN

CathyMoran wrote: »

Hope nobody minds me asking, what age are are babtisms done in the RC church, also what day(s) of the week are they held on? Thanks.

Baptisms can be done anytime, but normally only in a church (emergencies excepted). If you know the local priest, he may accommodate you, or if you can bring in a "priest-friend", then there should be no problem. Saturdays or Sundays are the usual days, and many parishes stipulate the First Sunday or Third Saturday only or some such restriction. Sadly this has more to do with laziness and intransigence than any liturgical or sacramental reasoning. I'd certainly shop around.

Stephentlig

IV. WHO CAN RECEIVE BAPTISM?

1246 "Every person not yet baptized and only such a person is able to be baptized."46

The Baptism of adults

1247 Since the beginning of the Church, adult Baptism is the common practice where the proclamation of the Gospel is still new. The catechumenate (preparation for Baptism) therefore occupies an important place. This initiation into Christian faith and life should dispose the catechumen to receive the gift of God in Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist.

1248 The catechumenate, or formation of catechumens, aims at bringing their conversion and faith to maturity, in response to the divine initiative and in union with an ecclesial community. The catechumenate is to be "a formation in the whole Christian life . . . during which the disciples will be joined to Christ their teacher. The catechumens should be properly initiated into the mystery of salvation and the practice of the evangelical virtues, and they should be introduced into the life of faith, liturgy, and charity of the People of God by successive sacred rites."47

1249 Catechumens "are already joined to the Church, they are already of the household of Christ, and are quite frequently already living a life of faith, hope, and charity."48 "With love and solicitude mother Church already embraces them as her own."49

The Baptism of infants

1250 Born with a fallen human nature and tainted by original sin, children also have need of the new birth in Baptism to be freed from the power of darkness and brought into the realm of the freedom of the children of God, to which all men are called.50 The sheer gratuitousness of the grace of salvation is particularly manifest in infant Baptism. The Church and the parents would deny a child the priceless grace of becoming a child of God were they not to confer Baptism shortly after birth.51

1251 Christian parents will recognize that this practice also accords with their role as nurturers of the life that God has entrusted to them.52

1252 The practice of infant Baptism is an immemorial tradition of the Church. There is explicit testimony to this practice from the second century on, and it is quite possible that, from the beginning of the apostolic preaching, when whole "households" received baptism, infants may also have been baptized.53

Faith and Baptism

1253 Baptism is the sacrament of faith.54 But faith needs the community of believers. It is only within the faith of the Church that each of the faithful can believe. The faith required for Baptism is not a perfect and mature faith, but a beginning that is called to develop. The catechumen or the godparent is asked: "What do you ask of God's Church?" The response is: "Faith!"

1254 For all the baptized, children or adults, faith must grow after Baptism. For this reason the Church celebrates each year at the Easter Vigil the renewal of baptismal promises. Preparation for Baptism leads only to the threshold of new life. Baptism is the source of that new life in Christ from which the entire Christian life springs forth.

1255 For the grace of Baptism to unfold, the parents' help is important. So too is the role of the godfather and godmother, who must be firm believers, able and ready to help the newly baptized - child or adult on the road of Christian life.55 Their task is a truly ecclesial function (officium).56 The whole ecclesial community bears some responsibility for the development and safeguarding of the grace given at Baptism.

V. WHO CAN BAPTIZE?
1256 The ordinary ministers of Baptism are the bishop and priest and, in the Latin Church, also the deacon.57 In case of necessity, anyone, even a non-baptized person, with the required intention, can baptize58 , by using the Trinitarian baptismal formula. The intention required is to will to do what the Church does when she baptizes. The Church finds the reason for this possibility in the universal saving will of God and the necessity of Baptism for salvation.59
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p2s2c1a1.htm

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Baptism can be performed Cathy at any time.
God bless you and take care
Stephen.