That's so great you are willing to baptize yourself! I’ve heard some people say yes it would, but there also are people that have spoken on the matter say that it would not count. Well done, I so respect you for it! Thank you all for your support over the years and God bless. If neither parent is Catholic and the child isn’t being raised in part by Catholic relatives, it is inadvisable for the priest to allow the baptism . thistle March 17, 2009, 12:34am #2. Because Catholic Answers has limited resources, we are always evaluating our programs to determine if they provide a good return on investment. You are no longer Catholic. without the distractions which come whenever you are baptized by someone. A baptism is just water and prayer. However, submersion is gaining in popularity within the Latin Catholic Church. We got married by a priest. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains in such cases, “the desire for Baptism… brings about the fruits of Baptism without being a sacrament” (CCC 1258). So since baptism is just symbolic of washing your sins clean and being born again, after you have been saved, would you then be able to dunk yourself into the bathtub and consider yourself baptized or does it have to be officiated? My husaband and I were brought up Roman Catholic and received all sacraments. To begin with, we can immediately see why the Catholic Church wants Catholics to marry other Catholics. No you can't baptize yourself. You must be a very strong individual to have this understanding and personal relationship of your Lord, to be baptized into Him and see the significance of it 100% without the distractions which come whenever you are baptized by someone else or a church. Q. The example in scripture is for ANOTHER to baptize you. The problem is that the practice of these believers and churches contradicts their belief because there are almost no churches who recognize the baptism of an individual who has baptized himself. Second no you do not need to be baptized to go to heaven. Position yourself so your chest is next to their shoulder. While you cannot baptize yourself, rest assured that if you should die with no opportunity for baptism, your desire for it will suffice. Let me give you some background. Lv 7. Instead, it commands to get in with an established Church Body for corporate worship and not play the Lone Ranger . The Dec. 10-16, 2009, issue of the Catholic Herald carried a story on page 3 that could potentially create misunderstandings and confusion among the faithful as to the proper circumstances in which a lay person can baptize. In some situations, the person being baptized may face the audience. Parrill Apple. Answer: There is nothing in the Bible that states who can and cannot baptize someone. When asked, "Can a lay person baptize someone?" However, it won't be recognized by other religions which require you to be baptized their way and according to their strictures. Therefore, I still think a parent’s desire for baptism would apply to an infant. First, no you cannot baptize yourself. You can use what you think is appropriate, and bless the waters beforehand if you see fit. Can you baptize the dead? 868.1) states that for a child to be baptized, there must be a realistic hope that he will be brought up in the Catholic religion. Lv 7. Technically, anyone can perform a Catholic baptism. But I hold the Catholic faith and have repented of my sins. Latin Church Catholics generally baptize by affusion (pouring); Eastern Catholics usually by submersion, or at least partial immersion. That's so great you are willing to baptize yourself! 3. P.S. But most of all it helps to know that someone cares and is praying to God on your behalf. Nowhere in the Bible does it suggest staying at home . You are a former Catholic. Users who reposted OPEN LINE Fri. Oct. 16, 2015--Colin Donovan--Can you baptize yourself? I never believed that Jesus was the son of God and I still don't. You must be a very strong individual to have this understanding and personal relationship of your Lord, to be baptized into Him and see the significance of it 100% without the distractions which come whenever you are baptized by someone else or a church. You do need to have someone able to baptize as God commanded in Matthew 28:18-20. (Note that this only concerns who can baptize: not all persons should be baptized. If you substitute other formulas or if you baptize only in Jesus’ name, the baptism may be valid in some churches, but in most churches, it won’t be valid. Baptism is not some empty ritual. Author has 67 answers and 13K answer views Proper Christian Baptism is done in the name of the Most Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Technically you can baptize yourself, because the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit perform the miracle – the baptizer is simply a vessel. I am not baptised but my husband is (although done in a protestant church). If you call yourself Baptist, Calvinist, Hindu, atheist or whatever, and no longer call yourself Catholic, then you have “formally defected” from the Catholic Faith. I just woke up, so I have to get out all the questions I thought of last night now). There is no Catholic Church in my country as the government is very hostile to the Vatican. My cousin just had a baby not to long ago. We were allowed to have four Godparents per child, some not needing to attend the baptism because they live in a different country. Can you baptize yourself? I do know that is a very common perception of ‘water baptism. Some regular users of the Forums welcomed user fees. You can water-baptize yourself anywhere, anytime, you want. Similarly, your lack of access to the Sacrament of Penance need not exclude you from God’s forgiveness. Weren't you baptized as a child? Not a Catholic in good standing, but a Catholic none the less. Such a person would need to make a baptism of desire. Relevance. You are in our prayers. Liturgy and Sacraments. On Thursday December 31 at 5pm PT, Catholic Answers will close the Catholic Answers Forums (CAF). You certainly can, but it’s not required. If you would like to continue supporting the work of Catholic Answers, you can. That, is the rule of thumb. While you cannot baptize yourself, rest assured that if you should die with no opportunity for baptism, your desire for it will suffice. They just have to use the "Trinitarian formula" and water on the head. In all other cases, Catholics are instructed to contact their parish. However, in an emergency, a deacon or layperson who has been Baptised and Chrismated may confer a valid Baptism. My dad did my sister's baptism at the kitchen sink. OTOH, you don't really need a certificate to reject religion. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains in such cases, “the desire for Baptism… brings about the fruits of Baptism without being a sacrament” (CCC 1258). Recurring Patron donations will be discontinued on December 31. You can baptize your kids at home. I suppose you’re asking because you were Catholic and became Protestant or Muslim or atheist. I have made the decision to close the CAF after lengthy consultation with the Catholic Answers executive committee and board of trustees. In regards to baptism, you cannot baptize yourself. Then pray when you come up out of the water. Any Believer can baptize so "theoretically" you could baptize yourself (since you are a Believer) but since baptism is an outward show of your inward change (accepting Christ) then it doens't really make sense to baptize yourself. 7 years ago. If such a simple ceremony was forbidden to be carried out except by those who serve God fulltime, then one would be hard pressed to explain one of the greatest events that occurred on the day of Pentecost! … ). In an emergency where there is danger of imminent death, anyone (yes, anyone) who has the appropriate intention can baptize, by using the Trinitarian baptismal formula. The vast majority wished to make use of the Forums for free. If I can help, I'm willing to listen. There are no instructions to baptize yourself in the Bible, nor any examples of baptism in the Bible, not performed by another. The best they can do is pray for the Grace of Baptism through Baptism of Desire, although not equal to Sacramental Baptism it may suffice for salvation. There must be a process of accountability and evaluation. 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