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Dear Father Angelo,

I met an unbaptized Chinese girl who wanted to be baptized, but she didn’t have the time and the possibility to follow the very long preparation course.

She asked me to baptize her and, since I am baptized, I did it, blessing her with the sign of the cross on her forehead with the holy water, saying: I baptize you in the Name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Is this valid? Now, she confesses every week at Sunday Mass, receives the Holy Communion and every day she makes two hours of Eucharistic Adoration reading the Holy Bible.

Dearest,

1. The Baptism you gave is valid but illicit. What do these words mean: valid, illicit?

2. Let’s see what St. Thomas says about it. This great theologian and doctor of the Church refers above all to the thought of the Holy Fathers and says: “Pope Gelasius I and Isidore say that “it is often permissible for Christian laymen to baptize, in cases of urgent necessity.”” (Summa Theologiae, III, 67, 3, sed contra).

And he brings the motivation: “It is due to the mercy of He who “will have all men  be saved”(1 Tim 2:4), that in those things which are necessary for salvation, man can easily find the remedy.”

Now the most necessary among all the sacraments is Baptism, which is man’s regeneration unto spiritual life: since for children there is no substitute, while adults cannot otherwise than by Baptism receive a full remission both of guilt and of its punishment. Consequently, lest man should have to go without so necessary a remedy, it was ordained, both that the matter of Baptism should be something common that is easily obtainable by all, i.e. water; and that the minister of Baptism should be anyone, even not in orders, lest from lack of being baptized, man should suffer loss of his salvation” (Summa theologicae, III, 67, 3).

3. And he adds: “To baptize belongs to the priestly order by reason of a certain appropriateness and solemnity; but this is not essential to the sacrament. Consequently, if a layman were to baptize even outside a case of urgency; he would sin, yet he would confer the sacrament; nor would the person thus baptized have to be baptized again.” (Reply to Ob. 1).

4. He would sin: actually, it is a serious sin that must be confessed. In fact, outside the case of necessity such as the danger of life, the baptized person is deprived of personal and community preparation for Baptism.

During that preparation, the Lord infuses many graces and prepares the person more and more to graft himself into Him and to change his life.

You did it all in good faith. But you had to consult with the right person.

These are too important things to proceed instinctively and on one’s own initiative.

5. Besides, although valid, that Baptism lacks many other rituals that are needed to keep the devil away and prepare better for the grace.

Let’s listen again to St. Thomas:

“In the sacrament of Baptism something is done which is essential to the sacrament, and something which belongs to a certain solemnity of the sacrament. Essential indeed, to the sacrament are both the form which designates the principal cause of the sacrament; and the minister who is the instrumental cause; and the use of the matter, namely, washing with water, which designates the principal sacramental effect. But all the other things which the Church observes in the baptismal rite, belong rather to a certain solemnity of the sacrament.

And these, indeed, are used in conjunction with the sacrament for three reasons. First, in order to arouse the devotion of the faithful, and their reverence for the sacrament. For if there were nothing done but a mere washing with water, without any solemnity, some might easily think it to be an ordinary washing.

Secondly, for the instruction of the faithful. Because simple and unlettered folk need to be taught by some sensible signs, for instance, pictures and the like. And in this way by means of the sacramental ceremonies they are either instructed or urged to seek the signification of such like sensible signs. And consequently, since, besides the principal sacramental effect, other things should be known about Baptism, it was fitting that these also should be represented by some outward signs.

Thirdly, because the power of the devil is restrained, by prayers, blessings, and the like, from hindering the sacramental effect.” (Summa Theologiae, III, 66, 10).

Well, the Baptism you gave missed all these ceremonies that bring beneficial effects.

6. Of course what the girl you baptized is doing in her Christian life is all beautiful. And we must urge her to continue like this.

However, it is right that now she introduces herself to the priest of the parish, explains what has been done and the parish priest may integrate the rites of Baptism.

At the same time, she will get a godfather and a godmother, and the baptism will be recorded in the Baptismal Register.

This last act is also important, because if she wants to receive Confirmation or to get married or consecrate herself to the Lord, she would in any case require the certificate of Baptism.

And this wasn’t there, things would get very complicated.

7. Therefore, help this young woman to take all the steps I have indicated to you.

She will be happy and will add grace upon grace to her already good Christian life.

I remind you both to the Lord and I bless you

Father Angelo