Expert: J.M.J. West - 9/28/2008

Question
QUESTION: Why do Catholics crisan babies???? My husband is Catholic and wants our children to be crisaned. I don't belive in that because I come from a Baptist background.  Can you tell me the definition of the word crisan.

ANSWER: Suzanne,

I'm sorry, but I'm not aware of any process of "crisan"...

Given this is happening to Children, and you're opposed due to your Baptist upbringing, I'm going to take a stab and guess that you're referring to Infant/Child Baptism and then the anointing with "Chrism", which is a special oil.  I'll deal with baptism first, as I assume that this is the real issue, but then I'll touch on "Chrism".

We know that baptism is for everybody, young and old, because the bible teaches this, as does the Church founded by Christ, which is the Catholic Church; we see this historically being the practice of the church too.

In the first place,  Paul calls baptism the new circumcision (Col 2:11).  But who was circumcised under the old covenant?  Primarily BABIES, after the initial wave of conversions.  Same with Baptism.

We see entire households are baptized:
1.  Lydia was converted by Paul’s preaching and that "She was baptized, with her household" (Acts 16:15).
2.  The jailer whom Paul and Silas had converted to the faith "the same hour of the night . . . he was baptized, with all his family" (Acts 16:33).
3.  Paul recalled that, "I did baptize also the household of Stephanas" (1 Cor. 1:16).

Luke 18:15-16 tells us that "they were bringing even infants [Gk: brephe]" to Jesus; and he himself related this to the kingdom of God: "Let the children come to me…for to such belongs the kingdom of God."

And the early churh, again, was unanimous in this:

"For He came to save all through means of Himself--all, I say, who through Him are born again to God--infants, and children, and boys, and youths, and old men." Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 2,22:4 (A.D. 180).

"Baptize first the children, and if they can speak for themselves let them do so. Otherwise, let their parents or other relatives speak for them" (Hippolytus, The Apostolic Tradition 21:16 [A.D. 215])

Chrism is just the oil we use as an act of blessing; one which is pre-figured often in the Old Testament, and in the practice of the New Testament Church too.  

You might find these sites helpful:
http://www.scripturecatholic.com/
http://www.catholic.com

I hope that helps.  If not, or if you have further questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Peace of Christ,

-J.M.J. West

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I'm sorry I spelled it wrong the first time.I still do not understand the purpose of baptizing infants. There are several places in the Bible that suggest that one has to have a mature understanding of Christ before baptismal takes place. I think that by allowing a child to be baptized is forcing something on them and they do not have the option of agreeing to it. So I guess what I really want to know is why do Catholics believe that you should baptize infants? Do they believe that if the infant is not baptized before death that they will go to hell? If my husband and I decide not to go through with the baptism of our children, will we be looked down on by the Catholic church? I need help trying to figure out if I am willing to force a religion on my children. I want them to have the choice of what religion they want to practice.

Answer
Suzanne,

Great questions!  I'll do my best to answer them:

>>There are several places in the Bible that suggest that one has to have a mature understanding of Christ before baptismal takes place. I think that by allowing a child to be baptized is forcing something on them and they do not have the option of agreeing to it.<<

The parent's job is to form the child in MANY different ways that the child has no choice in, and religion is one of the most important ways, if it is true.  As it is, children who are raised in the faith still have to make it their own at some point, or they will fall away, so there is no harm in raising them in the faith as the decision to keep the faith will become their decision.

More over, sometimes our faith DOES directly affect the faith of others.

In Mark 2, we read the story of the paralytic who is lowered through the roof by his friends.  The text says "when Jesus saw THEIR faith (i.e. the faith of his friends), he said to the boy 'your sins are forgivin.'"  

And in 1 Cor 7:14 St. Paul says: "the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy."

Clearly our faith can have a salvific effect upon others!  

>>So I guess what I really want to know is why do Catholics believe that you should baptize infants?<<

Again, in the old testament, Circumcision brought people into the faith.  The initial group of converts had to prepare themselves, and then receive circumcision - and most of the initial converts were Adults.  "Repent and be baptized" says St. Peter, speaking to an adult audience.  But more than adults received circumcision.  All males in the house received  it, and any who didn't were out of the covenant.

So too in the early Christians who converted baptize their whole households, as baptism replaced Circumcision, and because "Baptism now saves you" (1 Peter 3:21)

Acts 2:38 - Peter says to the multitude, "If you repent, then each one who is a part of you and yours must each be baptized” (“Metanoesate kai bapistheto hekastos hymon.”) Babies are baptized based on their parents’ faith.  In the next verse, Peter then says baptism is specifically given to children as well as adults. “Those far off” refers to those who were at their “homes” (primarily infants and children). God's covenant family includes children. The word "children" that Peter used comes from the Greek word "teknon" which also includes infants (cf Luke 1:59, which speaks of the circumcision of John the Baptist)

And again, entire households were baptized, as cited above.

>>Do they believe that if the infant is not baptized before death that they will go to hell?<<

The church believes that Baptism is NORMATIVELY necessary.  Jesus says in John 3 "Unless you are born of water and the spirit you cannot enter the kingdom", which speaks specifically of baptism (and confirmation).  In the past, some church fathers have interpreted it to mean just that, but the official teaching of the church is this:

"'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 Church, 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.

"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 to present little children coming to Christ through the gift of holy Baptism." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1260-1)

God has given us the sacraments, and we MUST use them if we have avail of them.  BUT God is not himself limited to the sacraments to dispense his grace.

>>If my husband and I decide not to go through with the baptism of our children, will we be looked down on by the Catholic church?<<

If you are married in the Catholic Church, you are obliged to raise your children in the faith (this obligation would then fall upon your husband, primarily), because the Church is True.

>>I need help trying to figure out if I am willing to force a religion on my children. I want them to have the choice of what religion they want to practice.<<

Will you "force" manners on your kids?  
Will you "force" Math?
Will you "force" potty training (i.e. not let them be in diapers until their 18)?
If you are willing to do all of these things, even "against their will" for the sake of their own betterment, how much more baptism and faith which will reward them infinitely more than such things.

...

I hope that was helpful.  Feel free to ask any further questions.

Peace of Christ,

-J.M.J. West