Why does the Catholic Church baptize babies rather than wait until they are older and capable of choosing this sacrament for themselves?
Salvation requires faith, and it can be challenging to understand how an infant accepts the truths of the Catholic Faith at the moment of Baptism.
Today Fr. Mike uses an example from Mark’s Gospel to help us understand how the profession of faith by our parents at the moment of our Baptism prepares us to receive the gift of salvation later in our lives.
Meet Fr. Mike Schmitz
Fr. Mike Schmitz serves as Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Duluth and as chaplain for the Newman Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
He is a presenter in Ascension’s Chosen, Altaration, and The 99 programs, and has a channel on Ascension Presents. He is also the host of the Ascension podcasts The Bible in a Year and The Catechism in a Year.
God is love
It’s wrong to force ANY religion on someone; especially a child.
Obviously you didn’t read the article and Bible passage why you Baptist a young infant. My wife was Baptist and now Catholic. She was also Baptized as an infant. Before you comment educate yourself.
That’s like saying it’s wrong to teach your child anything, Your child is a blank slate and you must leave him that way until he figures out the world himself? At any rate, you are not “forcing religion on your child,” you are sharing the gift of your faith. Your child is free to reject it, as many parents well know.
Is it wrong to teach your child to speak your native language? Should a parent leave it to chance that a child learns to ride a bike, solve a math problem or act politely in society?