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How do Catholic children get baptized? Can a Catholic be a godfather? I decided to convert myself to Catholicism when my Catholic friend was not allowed to baptize my child
In the Catholic Church, a special sacrament is dedicated to the sacrament of Baptism. church service— Liturgy of the Baptism of Children. Baptized most often on Sunday. The difference between the Catholic rite is that both the parents of the child and his godparents must be present at the baptism. Small children are baptized according to the faith of their parents. Churching of the family and understanding of the Catholic dogma plays an important role. The service begins with the rite of acceptance of the child into the church community. The rite of acceptance is a dialogue between the priest and the parents, in which the parents testify to their faith and understanding of the meaning of the church and the sacraments.
The priest asks: "What name have you chosen for your child?" The parents name. Priest: "What are you asking the Church of God for (name)?" Parents answer: "Baptism." The priest can start the dialogue in a different way, parents are not required to respond according to the generally accepted formula. They speak in this case what they think. To the second question, they can answer: "God's grace", "Eternal life" or "Acceptance into the bosom of the Church of Christ." The priest continues, addressing his parents: Dear Parents By asking for the adoption of a child into the bosom of the Church, you take upon yourself the responsibility of raising him in the faith of Christ, you must teach him to love God and his neighbors, to keep the commandments. Are you aware of your responsibilities? Parents answer: We understand. After that, the performer of the sacrament addresses the recipients: Dear recipients, are you ready to help your parents in Christian upbringing this child? The receivers answer: ready. The priest says that the community of such and such a temple gladly accepts (the name of the child) and overshadows him with the sign of the cross. It is noteworthy that the parents and godparents, following the priest, make the mark of the cross on the forehead of the child. The child becomes a member of the church community and the second part of the baptismal service begins - the Liturgy of the Word. The priest reads passages from the New Testament and delivers a short sermon in which he speaks in more detail about the duties of parents and godparents in raising children. Then the priest calls all those present to a common prayer. The primate reads the texts of prayers, and all those praying at the invocations answer “Hear us, Lord!” The Liturgy of the Word ends with prayers to all the saints.
The third part - the Liturgy of the Sacrament - begins with the procession of all the worshipers, led by the primate, to the font. The priest performs the rite of consecrating the water, reads thanksgiving prayers, and then the rite of renunciation of the forces of evil takes place. The priest's questions are answered by both parents and godparents. The priest asks: "Do you renounce sin in order to live in the freedom of the children of God?" Parents and recipients answer together: "We renounce." After renouncing the temptations and forces of evil, questions about the profession of faith follow, which are also answered by parents and godparents.
The whole family and beneficiaries approach the font and the priest once again asks the ritual question: “Do you want (child’s name) to be baptized in the Christian faith that we just professed together?” Parents answer: "We wish." The priest plunges the child into the font three times. The baptismal formula in Catholicism sounds like this: "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit." After that, the godparents take the child from the font. If baptism is performed by pouring water on the head of a child, both parents and godparents can hold it.
The sacrament ends with the dressing of the child in white clothes which the godparents must prepare in advance. White clothes can be replaced with a separate element - a white scarf, cape. The priest lights a baptismal candle from Easter and hands it to the parents with the words: "Receive the light of Christ." Then the whole procession goes to the altar, in front they carry the child's baptismal candle. Everyone sings prayers. In conclusion, the priest delivers a parting sermon and blesses the parents of the child, as well as the godson himself.
The Sacrament of Chrismation in the Catholic Church
The Catholic teaching says: “The faithful ... through the sacrament of chrismation are more perfectly united with the Church, are endowed with the special power of the Holy Spirit, and thus, as true servants of Christ, they accept a stronger obligation to spread and defend the faith in word and deed.”
Chrismation or the rite of confirmation takes place in the Latin Church when the child reaches 13 or 14 years of age. Confirmation ("confirmatio") in translation from Latin means "approval". In Catholic teaching, this has the meaning of a conscious affirmation in faith.
The bishop performs the sacrament. The priest can perform it only in an emergency, on behalf of the bishop. Since confirmation involves a conscious confession of faith, a person can participate in it after reaching a conscious age.
The Sacrament of Confirmation includes reading Holy Scripture(Liturgy of the Word), confession by candidates of the desire to receive the Holy Spirit, and renewal of baptismal vows.
The liturgy of the sacrament is performed by the laying on of hands on the candidates and the recitation of special prayers. Then the bishop imposes on each forehead the sign of the cross - he anoints with holy myrrh and says: "Receive the sign of the gift of the Holy Spirit." The anointed one answers: "Amen."
The rite of confirmation is often performed before a holy mass, at which all those who have been confirmed are given the sacrament of the Holy Mysteries. Outside the mass, the sacrament of chrismation ends with the blessing of the bishop.
Even unbelievers often bring newborns to the temple: this is the tradition or the grandmother asked. Whether this is correct and how parents should prepare for the sacrament of baptism, Komsomolskaya Pravda asked Vladimir Drobyshevsky, a cleric of the Gomel Orthodox Church, Holy Righteous John of Kormyansky, and priest Slavomir Laskovsky, dean of the Gomel Roman Catholic deanery.
It is better to baptize a child in a month and a half
Orthodox believe that it is best to baptize a newborn on the 40th day after birth. But the sacrament can be performed on another day.
I would like to advise parents not to delay the baptism of a child until two or even five years old. The already grown child unfamiliar place begins to get nervous, capricious and cry, which does not please him or his godparents, who are trying in vain to calm him down, says Father Vladimir.
Parents who delay baptism until the child's conscious age can be called weak believers. This means that they do not know what gift the Lord gives to their child with the sacrament of baptism. Instead of baptizing a child, parents close the doors for grace in his life, - Father Slavomir believes.
Orthodox baptize on any day, but do not advise combining the sacrament with big holidays because the priests are already very busy these days. Catholics do not perform the sacrament on Fridays, during Great Lent and Advent, but on the main holidays, on the contrary, they recommend scheduling baptism:
Or on Sunday, when the entire parish community gathers in the church, because this event is not only in the life of a child, the joy is not only of his family, but of the entire community, because one more person is added to it, - stressed the Catholic priest.
Is it necessary to hide the name under which the child was baptized?
Both Catholics and Orthodox recommend that parents not create confusion in the name of the child and name him at birth in the same way as at future baptism. Any Christian name is suitable for baptism in the church (but if the girl is called, for example, Isaura, then the priest will offer to add a second, more familiar name), and the church will require that it be in the calendar - a list of names of Orthodox saints.
And it is not true that the name given at baptism should be hidden - on the contrary, they should be proud of!
Can a priest refuse to baptize a child?
Orthodox: if parents are not involved in the life of the church, this cannot be an obstacle to the baptism of their child. And if the parents belong to another confession or sect, the priest will try to find out the reasons that prompted them to baptize their child, since it is important not just to perform the sacrament, but to further educate the child in the spirit of Orthodoxy. Baptism may not take place if the godfather is drunk.
Catholics: unbaptized and adherents of other religions will not be able to baptize a child in the church. Children are baptized in the faith of their parents, and if both of them do not lead a Christian lifestyle, do not keep the commandments and do not want to change anything, the priest may refuse to perform the sacrament. If at least one of the parents is a practicing Catholic, the sacrament will take place.
Parents must understand what they will ask at the time of the baptism of the baby: faith and eternal life, and not health, happiness, well-being, the Catholic priest recalled.
If the parents belong to the Orthodox Church, then the priest will send them to the priest. And if the parents are unbaptized, but want to restore their relationship with God, then the priest will first prepare them for the sacrament, and then baptize the child.
The baptism of an adult is not inferior in importance to the baptism of a child, but for Catholics, the preparation for the sacrament in this case will be deeper and may last more than a year.
If a priest demands a lot, appoints long preparations - this is a good priest. If, on the contrary, he does not require anything, it means that he does not take the sacrament seriously. And it is fundamental, the Church from the very beginning prepared for baptism very seriously, - explains the priest.
Will a single mother's child be baptized?
In both denominations, they will be able to satisfy the request of the mother to baptize a child born out of wedlock, even if the father is of a different faith or not a believer at all. But you need to be prepared for the fact that the priest wants to find out all the questions that interest him. He will try to get assurances that the child will be brought up in the faith and that godparents will not be hindered from fulfilling their duties.
It will not be an obstacle even if the parents are not married in a church. True, the priest will also consider such cases individually and try to find out for what reason the couple does not want to get married.
Can mom be at baptism?
The church only welcomes the presence of the mother at the baptism of her child, but in many Orthodox parishes, the mother will be asked not to come to the sacrament. This is done for the sake of the subsequent churching of the child, during which special prayers are read for the mother, only after that she is allowed to participate in the sacraments.
Who to choose godparents?
Orthodox: only people baptized in Orthodoxy can become them. The duties of godparents include the task of raising a child in such a way that he would become a part of Christ.
Catholics: one of the godparents is allowed to be Orthodox, but the other must be Catholic. Godparents must be believers and lead a Christian lifestyle, in order to later help parents in raising their child in the faith.
Can godparents get married later?
In Orthodoxy, marriage godparents not desirable. They do not have to be spouses, bride and groom. Catholics, on the contrary, believe that if godparents are or will become one family in the future, this can only help them to better participate in the upbringing of the godson. By the way, unmarried girl can also become a godmother.
If you offer to be a godfather, you can not refuse?
The priest sees nothing wrong if a person refuses a request to become a godfather:
Perhaps he understands that for some reason he will not be able to properly participate in the upbringing of the child or has one or two godchildren, so there will not be enough strength to participate in the spiritual life of the third.
Batiushka sees no reason to refuse: praying for your godson is available to everyone. But you can also refuse to become a godfather.
By the way, the fact that all the sins of the godson committed before the age of 18 fall on the godfather is not true. Everyone is personally responsible for their own sins.
Should the baptismal garment be kept for life?
Both in the church and in the church they baptize in two ways: by pouring water and lowering into the font. In the latter case, parents need to prepare a towel and a change of clothes. You can bring a child in any clothes, of course, clean and smart, but not necessarily new. In the church you can buy special white clothes for baptism. It is not at all important for both Catholics and Orthodox to keep it: you can wear this clothes or set it aside for the baptism of the next child. But the candle in both denominations is advised to cherish until the end of life.
How to celebrate christening?
Priests of both confessions recommend christening with joy and in a festive way, inviting relatives and friends, but in no case arrange a feast with booze! And to put a child on a fur coat with fur up, you don’t need to follow other superstitions at all:
I often notice red threads around the wrists during baptism on children. Grandmothers nod - this is from the evil eye. At best, they do stupid things, at worst - a magical attitude towards faith. We must decide: either believe in the red thread, or in Christ, advises Father Vladimir. - With our amulets, evil eyes, we offend the Lord with our unbelief.
Which cross to choose?
People say that it is better to make a silver cross for the sacrament, because "gold is a dirty metal associated with sin." Catholics and Orthodox argue that these are inventions and you need to buy a cross only according to your means. Father reminds:
The main thing is that the image of the crucifixion be canonical. Often there are crosses that you don’t even want to consecrate. The most common mistakes: the image on the crucifix does not have the inscription "Ic Xc", there is no halo.
If the child did not cry after baptism - is it bad?
The baby can and should be fed before the start of the Divine service, so as not to be distracted later and not make him cry. If this was not possible, the priest will always provide an opportunity to feed the baby.
It happens that babies, on the contrary, do not cry even after dipping into the water. But contrary to popular belief Nothing wrong with that.
This is neither bad nor good, just a calm child. At the time of my baptism, I just sobbed, and now I became a priest! - priest Slavomir jokes.
How much do you need to pay for a baptism?
In some Orthodox parishes, there is no clear amount of payment, and people donate at their own discretion and to the extent possible. But more often they ask for a certain amount for baptism. If it will be great for you - do not be shy, talk to the priest, he is unlikely to refuse.
Catholics do not have fixed rates. Everyone understands that the church needs to be maintained, heated, and puts in the basket for voluntary donations as much as they see fit.
Next Friday, February 11, read in Komsomolskaya Pravda the advice of priests and psychologists on how to talk to a child about God, what prayers even a first grader can learn, and what children can be taught in Sunday schools at churches.
Thank you. I got it
girls, who knows - is it possible for the Orthodox to take a Catholic as a godfather? Or does it depend on income?
Discussion
Snake, I'm a Catholic godmother Orthodox child. And the funny thing is that my child’s godparents will most likely be Orthodox ... And they certainly won’t be baptized in Orthodox faith...
As the father of my godson explained, it is important that the godfather of the boy was Orthodox ...
Dear little snake, the meaning of the godfather or godfather is a person who, along with parents, will be responsible for the soul of the child. Those. the function of the godfather in instructing the child in the faith in which he is baptized and, of course, prayer for the child. A good godfather can be a support for a child in life.
This discovery makes it clear who the proto-Christians were who baptized or, as it is now increasingly said, who certified Jesus Christ.
It has now been proven that the proto-Christians, the Essenes, were also engaged in the social sciences, sociology, and issues of social organization.
So, two versions of the Charter of the future society were discovered: the kingdom of high morality ("Kingdom of Heaven").
Questions of economics, finance and politics, apparently, were also not alien to the "first academics". The so-called "Copper Scroll" was also found and sawn, which contained extremely secret information about secret burials in the cities of the Mediterranean, about 180 tons of gold and silver, obviously prepared for social reforms, which Jesus Christ specifically speaks of in his famous .and almost no one correctly read the Sermon on the Mount, where he first of all mentions the Beggars, who are strong in their intellect (spirit). Well, that's another conversation.
Such an answer to the question about the age of baptism will be, in my opinion, the most constructive: if a child is baptized after the beginning of reading, then this will give Orthodoxy a new impetus to the origins - to enlightenment and intellect, as the basis of true spirituality. Of course, a more comprehensive set of recommendations and baptismal supplies is needed. On this basis, in 1996 - 1999, a development and upbringing program was developed: "Gifted and talented children for every family." - [link-1]
As I understand it, there are three versions of the "Baptismal Kit" according to the new, modern rite of baptism, which will inevitably replace the old one - depending on what kind of future the parent wants to give the child? The most important thing is to give the child giftedness through baptism after the child begins to read, before walking ...
But I believe that it is necessary to baptize when the child receives his first higher education- in new system this happens at the age of 11 - 12 years - then it will be a truly conscious choice.
And if you have a desire to go to the Temple - go by all means. Tomsik Oh, and if you can't turn your back to the altar, how do you get out??? go_romanovs Normal and calm. You can not stand with your mouth open, with your back to the altar during the service. Inanna Do not complicate, your desire is saving... come in, stand, listen to the liturgy. No one will force you to make the sign of the cross. Candles can be put, they are sold at the porch, in a small shop. You can also order prayers there. We have Holy Water in the Temple, in the baptismal. Our father does not leave for another 2 hours after the service, everyone goes to him for advice, many strangers, he does not refuse anyone. Do not be afraid. Of course, you need to be in a headdress, preferably in a skirt. And remarks, if they suddenly do, do not take it as a slap in the face, but as ur ...
Christening baby
At the entrance to the temple there is a vessel with consecrated water, or an assayer, into which the fingers are dipped. right hand and then they are baptized. Immediately upon entering the temple, kneeling (the right knee) is performed in front of the tabernacle. And subsequently, passing by the tabernacle, they kneel, or at least bow their heads. Catholics are baptized in a different order from the Orthodox - first the left shoulder, then the right. There are no special moments outside the liturgy when it is required to make the sign of the cross. In the temple there are rows of prayer benches, and below - low benches (they kneel on them during worship). Confession in a Catholic church is made in special confessionals - small booths for the priest and the confessor. If in the confessional...
No conveyor. In general, in the prayer house of the Evangelists, the atmosphere is pacifying, a bright spacious room without icons, beautiful chants, prayers in a simple accessible language, children do not behave forcedly during the service - they walk around the hall, sit down, sing, and no one hisses at them, does not "put pressure ". I am not ready for my baptism. There is a temptation to baptize an adopted son, becoming his godmother (they say "the godmother's prayer will absolve all sins, raise them from the bottom of the sea"), for example, in a Catholic church (at the beginning of construction, in the midst of indignant public debate, Dimochka once said that he would go there, but did not have time). I don’t understand the division into religions at all - Orthodox, Catholics, Protestants, Baptists, Witnesses, ... - everyone believes in ONE God and His son Jesus, and just accept divisions ...
...I am not ready for my baptism. There is a temptation to baptize an adopted son, becoming his godmother (they say "the godmother's prayer will absolve all sins, raise them from the bottom of the sea"), for example, in a Catholic church (at the beginning of construction, in the midst of indignant public debate, Dimochka once said that he would go there, but did not have time). I don’t understand the division into religions at all - Orthodox, Catholics, Protestants, Baptists, witnesses, ... - everyone believes in ONE God and His son Jesus, and divisions are just a primitive struggle for parishioners and their money, for power and influence ("in the house My father has many mansions"). Why argue in which church to baptize a child? And why baptize a baby? 2/3 will answer - so that, like everyone else, or relatives insist, or so that they shout less, or the grandmother of an unbaptized person will not take treatment if anything ...
Discussion
I completely agree with you, Natalia, and I admire your deed. So be it! Although it is very difficult, and most of us completely go into the depths of our grief, but in fact there is only one way to get out of it - to try to help the other person. Not being religious, I am sure that this is exactly what God wants from us - so that we never give up, do not become embittered and return to happiness through love, and not through leaving the world for a monastery, etc. Otherwise, why did he give us this world ?
I still can't go to church. I don't understand many things:
According to Christians, some people atone for the sins of other people with their suffering (starting with Jesus). Once, in a children's hospital, I read an article by a priest on a stand about the meaning of serious illnesses in children. So, maybe they do not need to be treated? Some kind of pagan attitude - to make a sacrifice, and everything will be decided (and the sacrifice is not a lamb, but a child!). One can gain wisdom and understanding oneself through suffering. How can someone else do this for you?
After reading the Gospel, I asked myself another question: why does the Christian church exist at all? Jesus commanded:
- do not build temples on earth, but only in the human soul;
- do not fast, do not pray, but rather go and make peace with your neighbor;
- and if there is a desire to pray, enter quietly into your house and pray there so that no one sees you.
Is not it?
That is why I would like everyone, like Natalya, to go to God (= to understanding life and their place in it) through love for people, for children, for their child, and not on the advice of priests. Even if they good people, pure in soul, etc. - Well, who can wisely manage your life, your thoughts, your feelings for you? And if the priest is a bad person or simply indifferent? There are a lot of them.
“Don’t allow one thing for the patient to consider the affairs of life as material for obedience to the Enemy. If you have made the world an end, and faith a means, a person is already almost in your hands and it is completely indifferent what goal he pursues. If only rallies, pamphlets,
political campaigns, movements and deeds mean more to him than prayer,
sacrament and mercy - he is ours."
This is a quote from "The Letters of Balamut" by K.S. Lewis (C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters). At one time, this book pushed me to finally get baptized, and I highly recommend reading it to anyone who sincerely wants to find answers, and not just "hang out". (If anyone does not understand, these are the advice of an old sophisticated demon to a young and beginner).
As for the last statement - "if you believe in Christ and go to Christ, then only not through Orthodoxy" - I very often hear this. Indeed, in a modern satanic society, it is permissible to be anyone - a Catholic, a Sandeist, a fire worshiper, or even a pagan - but not Orthodox! Well, for me this is another proof that Orthodox Christianity is the true faith.
Well, what is it!! It's time for the child to be baptized ... Throughout the pregnancy, I was sure that my girlfriend would have a godmother (we have been family friends for a long time). But for some reason she didn’t tell her about it, she took it for granted ... - I understand it’s my own fault: ((Here she was told, and she refused! They say she doesn’t go to church, she doesn’t follow the laws, she doesn’t know how and what , and it’s scary for her ... And what to do? I can’t think of anyone else: ((I wanted to be a godfather with a loved one, with whom I often see, communicate ... Is it possible ...
Question to all those who know: We are going to baptize our son, we have a godmother, but there are problems with the godfather ... We don't have such a person except ... grandfather (ie my father). Tell me, according to Orthodox Christian laws, can a child's grandfather become his godfather? Or can you get by with one godmother? For example, among Catholics, even two grandmothers of a child can be godmothers to him (I personally know such an example).
Discussion
I wanted to baptize my son after 40 days, as soon as possible. Purely for my own comfort, because I believe. The husband initially agreed, and then protested, like, let him grow up and decide for himself which faith he wants to belong to. In principle, he may be right. But you can change your faith at any age. In short, I will give a free baptismal set for a boy, new, up to 3 months. Shipping at your expense
I was going to baptize the child, and one of the godparents was supposed to be my friend. He is a Roman Catholic. And we didn't "bother" about it, we thought that Christians seemed to be all the same and the sacraments were the same. Already in the church before Baptism, the priest, having learned that the candidate for godparents was a Catholic, "rejected" his candidacy, and as the only option suggested that he "be baptized" into Orthodoxy. This greatly upset us, and we postponed Baptism. The money paid for Baptism according to the tariff was not returned to us (I did not particularly insist on it). After thinking about this situation, I decided that since a Christian, both by religion and by life, was "rejected" by the Church as a godfather, then I would baptize the child in another Church, in the Catholic Church. And in the future I myself will undergo catechesis and convert to Catholicism (without crossing!). And now I would like to know how correctly and according to the teachings the priest acted in my case, refusing to be godfather to a catholic? I'm not talking about the moral Christian norms, but at least according to the teachings and canons of the Russian Orthodox Church?
entrepreneur
Dear Yuri, recognizing the act of the priest (in the form that you described) is not fully consistent with the official position of our Church, which allows, firstly, the presence of one non-Orthodox successor, while the other will be Orthodox, and, secondly, does not imply the acceptance of Catholics into Orthodoxy through Baptism (acceptance is allowed either by the third rite, through repentance, or by the second, through chrismation), I cannot help but ask another question: what, in fact, is your Orthodoxy? If, because of an episode, even if emotionally brightly negative, but in no way connected with the essence of our faith, or with the nature of the doctrinal differences between Orthodoxy and Catholicism, you decide without hesitation to change your confession, what is Orthodoxy for you? If the priest had been polite and delicate, you would have stayed in Orthodox Church? With such a measure of irresponsibility, of course, our faith will hold out until the first rude priest or an impolite candlestick ... You can find anything among Catholics after catechism. Will you go further to the Baptists? To the Moonies, to the Jehovists? We must base our religious worldview, our self-determination on something more fundamental than the infirmities or virtues of certain clergymen.
