> Date: 01-01-96
> To : Father Mateo
> From: John Metzler
>Subject: baptism of desire
>
>Can you explain what is meant by the term "baptism of desire"?
>Is there support in the Scriptures for the concept? Thank you.
Dear John,
The "Catechism of the Church" teaches:
"1257 The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for
salvation. He also commands his disciples to proclaim the
Gospel to all nations and to baptize them. Baptism is
necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been
proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this
sacrament. The Church does not know of any means other than
Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why
she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received
from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are "reborn
of water and the Spirit." GOD HAS BOUND SALVATION TO THE
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM, BUT HE HIMSELF IS NOT BOUND BY HIS
SACRAMENTS.
1258 The Church has always held the firm conviction that
those who suffer death for the sake of the faith without
having received Baptism are baptized by their death for and with
Christ. This BAPTISM OF BLOOD, like the DESIRE FOR BAPTISM,
brings about the fruits of Baptism without being a sacrament.
1259 For catechumens who die before their Baptism, their
explicit desire to receive it, together with repentance for their
sins, and charity, assures them the salvation that they were not
able to receive through the sacrament.
1260 "Since Christ died for all, and since all men are in
fact called to one and the same destiny, which is divine, we
must hold that the Holy Spirit offers to all the possibility
of being made partakers, in a way known to God, of the Paschal
mystery." Every man who is ignorant of the Gospel of Christ
and of his Chruch, but seeks the truth and does the will of
God in accordance with his understanding of it, can be saved.
It may be supposed that such persons would have DESIRED
BAPTISM EXPLICITLY if they had known its necessity.
1261 As regards children who have died without Baptism, the
Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God, as she does
in her funeral rites for them. Indeed, the great mercy of God
who desires that all men should be saved, and Jesus'
tenderness toward children which caused him to say: "Let the
children come to me, do not hinder them," allow us to hope
that there is a way of salvation for children who have died
without Baptism. All the more urgent is the Church's call not
ot prevent little children coming to Christ through the gift
of holy Baptism."
Baptism of desire (or the desire for baptism in circumstances
where actual water-baptism is impossible) is thus explained in
numbers 1258-1260 above.
You ask for scriptural support for the doctrine of baptism of
desire. The foundation text is 1st Timothy 2:4. God really does
want everyone to be saved, to be converted, to be forgiven his
sins, to inherit eternal life. But actual water baptism is
beyond the reach of many people - always has been and presumably
always will be. But the love and grace of Jesus Christ can
awaken faith and love and bring salvation to everyone who seeks
God with a sincere heart.
So the thief on the cross beside the dying Jesus repented his
sins, belived in Christ and so was saved (Luke 23:43). This is
what we mean by baptism of implicit desire. John 5:14 and 8:11
both imply a forgiveness of sin with a warning to persevere in
virtue (to work out salvation in fear and trembling, Phil 2:12).
Here again is a type of baptism of desire.
In Luke 7:47f. and John 14:21, we see the power of perfect love
to win salvation. But love of Christ, if it be perfect, very
much includes the desire to do all that Christ commands (cf.
Matt. 7:21; Luke 6:46). And such a lover of God would hasten to
be baptized if he knew God's command. This again is baptism of
desire.
Sincerely in Christ,
Father Mateo
- Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit -
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