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Author Topic: Valid baptism?  (Read 265 times)

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Offline AnthonyPadua

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Valid baptism?
« on: May 17, 2025, 11:21:18 PM »
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    • My nephew got baptised today however when the 'priest' poured the water, he poured it on the top-crown/back of his head. I did not see any water on his forehead or face. I wasn't standing close but I did have a good view. Is this invalid?
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    Offline Stubborn

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    Re: Valid baptism?
    « Reply #1 on: Yesterday at 05:40:48 AM »
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    • As long as it was poured on the head and flowed, it is valid - but that's pretty stupid of the priest. Why not on the forehead?
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    Offline AnthonyPadua

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    Re: Valid baptism?
    « Reply #2 on: Yesterday at 06:30:29 AM »
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    • Quote from: Stubborn on Yesterday at 05:40:48 AM
    As long as it was poured on the head and flowed, it is valid - but that's pretty stupid of the priest. Why not on the forehead?
    It was novus ordo
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    Offline Marcellinus

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    Re: Valid baptism?
    « Reply #3 on: Yesterday at 02:08:46 PM »
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    • At least a drop of water must “flow” on actual skin.  This is why we pour water  on the forehead. 

    If the child had thick hair, and the water was poured on the hair, the baptism should be repeated conditionally. 
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    Offline AnthonyPadua

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    Re: Valid baptism?
    « Reply #4 on: Yesterday at 05:05:28 PM »
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    • Quote from: Marcellinus on Yesterday at 02:08:46 PM
    At least a drop of water must “flow” on actual skin.  This is why we pour water  on the forehead.

    If the child had thick hair, and the water was poured on the hair, the baptism should be repeated conditionally.
    He is still a baby so his hair wouldn't be too thick. Since I wasn't close I can't be certain how far the water penetrated.

    I did see some older children with long thick hair get baptised the same way, for them I would be certain the water didn't touch their skin.
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    Offline Ladislaus

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    Re: Valid baptism?
    « Reply #5 on: Yesterday at 05:39:13 PM »
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    • Quote from: AnthonyPadua on Yesterday at 05:05:28 PM
    He is still a baby so his hair wouldn't be too thick. Since I wasn't close I can't be certain how far the water penetrated.

    I did see some older children with long thick hair get baptised the same way, for them I would be certain the water didn't touch their skin.

    It would be very unusual for it to happen to a baby where at least a drop of water would not make it to the skin and move / flow on the skin ... if the baby did not have unusually thick hair.  So the move/flow part is really just to explain the notion of washing, but if water touches the skin it's simply not possible that it not move (be perfectly stationary) since the baby's head is not perfectly flat and "gravity" would be involved.
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    Offline Ladislaus

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    Re: Valid baptism?
    « Reply #6 on: Yesterday at 05:42:47 PM »
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    • Quote from: AnthonyPadua on Yesterday at 05:05:28 PM
    I did see some older children with long thick hair get baptised the same way, for them I would be certain the water didn't touch their skin.

    Even that's a tough one ... where the only way that really could happen would be if their heads were tilted and the water just made a glancing blow off the hair, or else they had some incredibly tough hair spray.

    SOME water is going to make it through to the skin in nearly all cases.

    ... again, except the glancing blow scenario, which I have actually seen once, where a thick-headed teenager had his head turn sideways and the water just coursed off the back of his thick hair.

    Why are the new generations of priests so stupid?  They hardly educate them on some of the most basic things.  Yeah, I'm sure they have all kinds of lessons on how to do counseling of drug addicts or whatnot ... thing which are better left to professionals (with Catholic faith).
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    Offline AnthonyPadua

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    Re: Valid baptism?
    « Reply #7 on: Yesterday at 05:46:09 PM »
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    • Quote from: Ladislaus on Yesterday at 05:42:47 PM
    Even that's a tough one ... where the only way that really could happen would be if their heads were tilted and the water just made a glancing blow off the hair, or else they had some incredibly tough hair spray.

    SOME water is going to make it through to the skin in nearly all cases.

    ... again, except the glancing blow scenario, which I have actually seen once, where a thick-headed teenager had his head turn sideways and the water just coursed off the back of his thick hair.

    Why are the new generations of priests so stupid?  They hardly educate them on some of the most basic things.  Yeah, I'm sure they have all kinds of lessons on how to do counseling of drug addicts or whatnot ... thing which are better left to professionals (with Catholic faith).
    The children were held sideways while the 'priest' poured water on their crown, the water flowing either down the back of head or off the hair.
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