October 2, 2009
The Christian Journey
A proposal to develop a ‘Rite of Christian Initiation for Infants
BY FATHER JIM SAUER
Do you remember when the bishop came to our parishes to confirm the children, how all the adults, baptized that year, processed in behind the children to be confirmed in the same ceremony? The mixture of children and adults always seemed odd to me. Thankfully, this custom ended with the introduction of the RCIA in 1972. Priests now have permission to both baptize and confirm adults upon their initiation or reception into the Church.
The Catholic Church’s Canon Law recognizes children over the age of reason (considered five or six years of age) as “adults” (although some children seem able to reason even at an earlier age). Therefore, when we baptize or receive into the Church any child over the age of reason, the priest is also to administer the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist in the same ceremony. The National Statutes for the Catechumenate approved by the U.S. Bishops’ Conference on Nov. 11, 1986, specify very clearly that these children are not to receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist “in any sequence other than that determined in the ritual of Christian initiation” (Paragraph 19). This means that we are not to postpone their First Communion or Confirmation so they can “make them with their classmates.”
The primary reason why the bishop always confirmed adult baptized members along with the children was that they reserved to themselves the right to confirm since they are the successors of the Apostles upon whom the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost. In extreme circumstances such as danger of death, however, every priest had the right to baptize and confirm.
As the Christian community became more established in Roman society, the Church baptized more infants than adults. Somewhere after the fifth century, the RCIA also no longer played an important role in the Church’s life. Eventually, the Church developed a Rite of Infant Baptism, which was also used for adults. After Vatican II, the RCIA is now the typical (normative) way in which the Catholic Church initiates children over the age of reason and any adult into our faith communities.
After 32 years of pastoral experience and study, it is my hope that the Catholic Church (either worldwide or for the United States) will develop a Rite of Christian Initiation of Infants patterned on the RCIA for adults. This “extended” period of infant initiation would then allow parishes to evangelize and catechize parents, which is crucial for the life and growth of our Church for the following reasons.
First, many parents have not received an updating in the teachings of the Catholic Church since completing their religious education classes.
Second, parishes have a wonderful opportunity to minister to parents who have grown lax in the practice of their faith. Since parents promise to raise their children in the practice of the faith, how can parents pass on what they themselves do not believe or practice?
Third, gathering new parents for a longer time produces the potential for them to form a continuing support group once they celebrate their babies’ baptisms. (These new parent support groups would gather for further faith sharing and study, enjoy social events, and be of service to other new parents in our parishes.)
Fourth, a longer initiatory process for parents seeking baptism for their infants emphasizes that the real goal is not baptism in itself, but rather deepening our commitment to be active members in the visible Body of Christ.
In the weeks ahead: Stay tuned as we explore further advantages of a Rite of Christian Initiation of Infants, as well as questions and concerns surrounding the development of such a rite.