OK. Now let's get serious.
Let’s recap what the Catechism actually says at this point:
Neque enim ea dilatio periculum, quod quidem pueris imminere supra dictum est, coniunctum habet; cuм illis, qui rationis usu praediti sunt, baptismi suscipiendi propositum atque consilium, et male actae vitae poenitentia satis futura sit ad gratiam et iustitiam, si repentinus aliquis casus impediat, quo minus salutari aqua ablui possint.
Which translates to:
Nor, in fact, does that delay hold the associated danger, which was said above to be certainly imminent for children, since, for those who are endowed with the use of reason, the intention as well as the resolution of receiving baptism, and repentance for a life badly spent, would be sufficient for the grace and the righteousness, if some sudden accident should impede them from being able to be washed in the water of salvation.
ad gratiam et iustitiam = for the grace and the righteousness
ie: for justification; that is to say, the end for which the sacrament of Baptism is the ordinary means.
The Catechism asserts that, for adults, the reception of the sacrament of Baptism does not have the same urgency as it does for infants.
This is because the candidate’s right disposition (use of reason, repentance, and intention to be baptised) would be sufficient to secure for him the grace of justification, in the event of his intention being permanently impeded.
You must first accept the fact that the catechism is teaching all about the necessity of receiving the sacrament worthily, it is not teaching all about the desire for receiving it as being in any way equal to reception of the sacrament itself. Remember, this catechism is echoing the teachings from Council of Trent.
If you can keep your line of reasoning focused on the fact that it is strictly teaching about the necessity of the sacrament, you will not be able to take anything out of context as you do now.
Start a few paragraphs prior in the same catechism and you will find it teaches:
Necessity of Baptism
If the knowledge of what has been hitherto explained be, as it is, of highest importance to the faithful, it is no less important to them to learn that the law of Baptism, as established by our Lord, extends to all, so that unless they are regenerated to God through the grace of Baptism, be their parents Christians or infidels, they are born to eternal misery and destruction. Pastors, therefore, should often explain these words of the Gospel: Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Pay special attention to the above paragraph. There is no need to interpret it, simply read it as it was written and you will understand the teaching they are trying to convey.
As the heading states, it is teaching about the necessity of the sacrament, not a desire for it being equal to the sacrament. Note it teaches that the law of baptism extends to
all - according to the words of Our Lord in John 3:5. No hidden or alternate meaning and no exceptions, no one can possibly be honest and say that John 3:5 does not mean exactly what it says, namely, unless we are baptized, we will go to hell - that is what
"eternal misery and destruction" means. That's why they said "eternal" misery.
It then goes on to reaffirm the necessity of the sacrament in infants:
Infant Baptism: It's Necessity
That this law extends not only to adults but also to infants and children, and that the Church has received this from Apostolic tradition, is confirmed by the unanimous teaching and authority of the Fathers.
This partial snip confirms that the sacrament is a necessity for not only all adults, but also for all infants
...."is confirmed by the unanimous teaching and authority of the Fathers."Again, simply read the teaching as it is written, then accept the teaching for what it says. When you do this, you will find it is teaching that the sacrament is a necessity - no other interpretation is possible.
Baptism Of Adults
With regard to those of adult age who enjoy the perfect use of reason, persons, namely, born of infidel parents, the practice of the primitive Church points out that a different manner of proceeding should be followed. To them the Christian faith is to be proposed; and they are earnestly to be exhorted, persuaded and invited to embrace it.
*Now* they start to teach about *the necessity of the desire* for the sacrament in adults - something an infant is incapable of. As such, for those adults who were never baptized as infants, they are not to be baptized as an infant would be baptized for the simple reason that adults can; 1) refuse the sacrament altogether, 2) receive the sacrament unworthily, i.e. because the fiancee demands it or for an inheritance or for some other such purely selfish motive.
Bottom line is that the adult to be baptized needs to honestly desire to be baptized.
They Should Not Delay Their Baptism Unduly
If converted to the Lord God, they are then to be admonished not to defer the Sacrament of Baptism beyond the time prescribed by the Church. For since it is written, delay not to be converted to the Lord, and defer it not from day to day, they are to be taught that in their regard perfect conversion consists in regeneration by Baptism. Besides, the longer they defer Baptism, the longer are they deprived of the use and graces of the other Sacraments, by which the Christian religion is practised, since the other Sacraments are accessible through Baptism only.
They are also deprived of the abundant fruits of Baptism, the waters of which not only wash away all the stains and defilements of past sins, but also enrich us with divine grace which enables us to avoid sin for the future and preserve righteousness and innocence, which constitute the sum of a Christian life, as all can easily understand.
Here again, Trent is explaining that adults need to be baptized and why it should be done without undue delay. Note all the graces and fruits they who are not baptized are deprived of.
Up to this point we can easily see that Trent is teaching about the necessity of the sacrament - and if you were to go back further than just the few paragraphs I posted, you would see this necessity is taught from the beginning over and over again. The same thing is true if you were to continue reading, over and over again Trent is teaching about the necessity of the sacrament.
NOW, if you accept the fact that up to this point, Trent has taught over and over again about why the sacrament is an absolute necessity, you will understand the teaching below has not in anyway changed from what Trent has taught up to this point.
Ordinarily They Are Not Baptised At Once
On adults, however, the Church has not been accustomed to confer the Sacrament of Baptism at once, but has ordained that it be deferred for a certain time. The delay is not attended with the same danger as in the case of infants, which we have already mentioned; should any unforeseen accident make it impossible for adults to be washed in the salutary waters, their intention and determination to receive Baptism and their repentance for past sins, will avail them to grace and righteousness.
Nay, this delay seems to be attended with some advantages. And first, since the Church must take particular care that none approach this Sacrament through hypocrisy and dissimulation, the intentions of such as seek Baptism, are better examined and ascertained. Hence it is that we read in the decrees of ancient Councils that Jєωιѕн converts to the Catholic faith, before admission to Baptism, should spend some months in the ranks of the catechumens.
Furthermore, the candidate for Baptism is thus better instructed in the doctrine of the faith which he is to profess, and in the practices of the Christian life. Finally, when Baptism is administered to adults with solemn ceremonies on the appointed days of Easter and Pentecost only greater religious reverence is shown to the Sacrament.
Not only is this delay to receive the sacrament mandatory to a certain extent, ( for the purpose of preparatory education and entrance into the Church for the adult ), it teaches the reasons why this delay is advantageous - this delay can help be the cause for the adult to have an even greater desire to receive the sacrament then if there were no delay or an insufficient delay - in a word, call it, anticipation.
THAT is what
"their intention and determination to receive Baptism and their repentance for past sins, will avail them to grace and righteousness." is about.
"their intention and determination to receive Baptism and their repentance for past sins, is a necessary requirement for the adult who is about to receive the sacrament - and yes, this requirement will, as Trent teaches, avail them to sanctifying grace, but Trent does not teach that this requirement for the worthy reception of the sacrament will put them in the state of sanctifying grace without the sacrament, nor does Trent teach that this requirement for the worthy reception of the sacrament rewards the adult salvation.
But to the BODer, they somehow are able to ignore or completely reject all the teachings that repeat over and over again about the necessity of the sacrament that they just got done reading, including the explicit teaching that state whoever does not get baptized will suffer
"eternal misery and destruction" - which was under the heading named:
Necessity of Baptism!
Comparison of the two cases (infant baptism v. adult baptism) indicates that the reassurance inherent in the text, would take effect in the event of the candidate dying before receiving the sacrament.
The Doctrine of Divine Providence teaches that one who sincerely desires to be baptized in order to become a Catholic, a child of God and an heir to heaven, will be baptized with water before they die. Whoever cannot accept that, has very weak or no faith at all.
7 Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you.
8 *For every one that asketh, receiveth: and he that seeketh, findeth: and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.
9 Or what man is there among you, of whom if his son shall ask bread, will he reach him a stone?
10 Or if he shall ask a fish, will he reach him a serpent?
11 If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more will your Father, who is in heaven, give good things to them that ask him?
* 8. Whatever we ask necessary to salvation with humility, fervour, perseverance, and other due circuмstances, we may be assured God will grant when it is best for us. If we do not obtain what we pray for, we must suppose it is not conducive to our salvation, in comparison of which all else is of little moment. (Haydock)
Topic: Decision Time BODers, no more Grays (Read 4783 times)