It's more than just that; in adults, the will needs to cooperate with the Sacrament.  Even if you had an adult who had committed no actual sin, you shouldn't baptize them unless they were willing to receive the Sacrament.

Catholics in frequent contact with the dying such as nurses, were encouraged to baptize the Non-Catholic dying person even if they were unconscious (think, for example the wounded in battle).  So regardless of the willingness of the person, it seems possible to baptize a Non Catholic adult right before dying.  

A Baptism against someone's will would not be valid.
Best advice is to pray for her and in her last hours try to bring a good priest to her bedside and with God's grace the proper sign might be revealed and he can assist her upon discerning that signal of her consent.

If you are close to her she may trust in you enough at that time to open her heart to God's mercy.

God bless you for caring about this most difficult problem. I will pray for you both and that moment of grace.

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The problem with baptizing someone against their will is, they could then carry the mark of remission of original sin with them into hell, where it would serve to their additional torment.  Certainly their own, personal sins would not be forgiven because they had no desire to be contrite for those sins, for they did not want baptism.  

But if the person is unconscious, it seems to me that it might be okay to use a conditional form, in the event that they do want to be baptized.  For they might have changed their mind when they lost consciousness.  That would be, "I conditionally baptize thee (or 'you' -- insert name) in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost."  You must say the words and pour the water at the same time.  Someone else can't be the one pouring the water.  The water has to run over the skin for each of the 3 divine Persons.

But there is a responsibility here -- you would have to stick around to be sure that if the person comes to, he or she would then need to be told that they were conditionally baptized, and after you explain all that to them, then stay nearby to supply them with any answers to their questions they might have.  So it's not a light matter.  You could become responsible to teach them the Faith from that day forward.  So it's not just a game or something.  

In this case, the "conditionally" refers to the possibility that the unconscious, dying person does want to be baptized, but didn't make that known for whatever reason.  If he (or she) did NOT want baptism, then the conditional sacrament would not be effective, most tragically.  

Can you imagine the scandal of being that close to heaven and losing it like that?

The DESIRE FOR BAPTISM is a very important thing.  It is really a signal grace of predestination.  Any priest on a battle field faces this dilemma.  He would have no idea if all the dead soldiers lying there had been baptized or wanted to be or had changed their mind at the last moment.  So his standard form would be the Conditional Baptism, since he can't know all the particulars, and there are so many victims to help all at once.  The mere sight of a priest doing that should be enough to convert any observers, and if not, it would be to their serious culpability.


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I feel for you 2Vermont.

But have you ever thought that it might be God's justice that only those who love Him have a chance of going to heaven? My mother is also an unbeliever, and the last time I spoke to her she ridiculed the notion that there is a hell. I am the only Catholic in the family, and if she is saved it will have something to do with me, but I do not expect her to convert, for she hates the church with an unholy passion, and is entirely ignorant also, despite claiming the name "Catholic" for herself.

I just pray for the conversion of my enemies, for I have many. But I do not mention them by name, for it would destroy me. Sometimes I think they deserve hell for all they have done, and that would be God's justice. But I still pray for the conversion of my enemies. It is up to God now. If it serves His plan for the world, He will do it. I can do nothing without His supernatural help.

I feel for you 2Vermont.

But have you ever thought that it might be God's justice that only those who love Him have a chance of going to heaven? My mother is also an unbeliever, and the last time I spoke to her she ridiculed the notion that there is a hell. I am the only Catholic in the family, and if she is saved it will have something to do with me, but I do not expect her to convert, for she hates the church with an unholy passion, and is entirely ignorant also, despite claiming the name "Catholic" for herself.

Actually, my father is probably more in this group, sad to say.  Whereas I think my mother has some inklings, my father is totally closed minded about religion in general.  I pray for both (Dad is 82), but Mom is just in another "place" and because of that I have more hope with her.  

A Baptism against someone's will would not be valid.
Best advice is to pray for her and in her last hours try to bring a good priest to her bedside and with God's grace the proper sign might be revealed and he can assist her upon discerning that signal of her consent.

If you are close to her she may trust in you enough at that time to open her heart to God's mercy.

God bless you for caring about this most difficult problem. I will pray for you both and that moment of grace.

Thank you.  This thread has brought tears to my eyes.  Other than my husband, she is the most important person in my life.  It's going to be hard enough to lose her in this life.

Right now my mother is healthy and for all I know has a number of years left here on Earth.  She is Jєωιѕн, but has always seemed more open to the Catholic Faith than your stereotypical Jєωιѕн mother.  In fact, in response to a prayer of mine years ago, I believe/she believes she had a vision of the Virgin Mary. She has also attended mass with me before. Anyway, regardless, she is not baptized and at this time doesn't want to be baptized.  

What is the Church's teaching on baptizing someone against their will.  I would like to think that before she dies, God will grace her with the desire to be baptized, but if she does not, can I even baptize her?  For example, let's say she is not conscious at some point.  Is a baptism even valid in this sort of scenario?  I know we baptize babies without them knowing, but is this really the same thing?

Thanks in advance.

I share your pain, desire, and sentiment.  My aged mother, a hard-hearted Southern Baptist, lives with our family, and I pray daily for her conversion.  But.....you cannot do it.

In March of this year, my mother was very ill, near death.  I talked to my priest about my feelings and concerns.  He made me ask my mother if she desired to be Catholic, in those words.  My mother replied that she didn't see the point and that was that.

As much as we desire it, we cannot convert or, in your case, baptize our loved ones.  As adults, they have to knowingly and willingly desire to belong to Christ's Church.  If they do not desire this, there is nothing we can do except pray, offer reparation for their obstinance, and fast.  

It is more painful to me now that my mother has slipped into early Alzheimer's disease.  Some days her mind is very clear and other days she is completely lost.  I fear it is too late.  

Again, I share your pain and frustration.  I will pray for your mother's conversion and your peace of heart.  Please pray for my mother's as well.