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MONDAY OF PASSION WEEKWhat does the Church teach/recommend for when a baby is to be baptized? In other words, how soon should a baby be baptized after he or she is born? Obviously, if there is some risk of sickness or death, the baby should be baptized immediately, but what about in ordinary situations?
For instance, a woman I know had her child on a Friday, by c-section. Both her and baby were released the following Monday. The child was baptized not the very next Sunday, but the Sunday after; 16 days following birth.
I have read some things saying that the baby must be baptized the Sunday after birth, regardless of the mother's condition, others have said the Sunday after mother and child come home, other have said as soon as possible, but within the first few weeks of life. Someone even wrote that it is ideal if a child is baptized "within the first few hours" after birth.
Is there any "official" (for lack of a better term) teaching on this?
According to The Catechism of St. Pius X:
"Infants should be brought to the Church to be Baptized as soon as possible."
My own experience:
I have had a baby baptized at Church the day he was born, we called him after the baby was born & he accommodated us ~ Deo Gratias Fr. Zendejas.
I have had one who was purposely & unnecessarily delayed by a NO Indult priest for almost 3 months before we ended up going to another NO Church that had a priest who knew how to Baptize in the Old Rite.
He got permission from the Pastor and we had a beautiful Baptism ~ Deo Gratias! (I will prudently withhold their names in case their Bishop wields an unjust punishment to them, God knows who they are).
Most recent one was done 2 months after baby was born at the SSPX Mission.
Mainly because of medical complications with recovery.
Weather also delayed getting to the Mission.
SSPX priest was worried about waiting so long, but it was unavoidable.
Baby was Baptized on the Feast of the Purification of Our Lady
(I like to think Our Lady claimed his Baptismal Day for herself). ~ Deo Gratias Fr. Doran.