Catholics/baptismal lines

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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 7/14/2007


Question
Greetings,

In a film about a girl who was on the point of starting at her Catholic primary school in Ireland in the 1950s, the priest said that he’d got the baptismal lines (or something like that).

What might “baptismal lines” mean in such a context, please?

All the best,

Simon

Answer
Hi, Simon, and thanks for the question.

I am not certain, but my best GUESS it that the Priest was probably making reference to having obtained an issue of her Baptismal Certificate for part of her "official" school record.
Taking place in Ireland in the 1950s, it probably was not so much a matter of "verifying" whether the child was Catholic or not, as it was a formality for purposes of verifying things such as Date of Birth, parents' names, whether or not the child had been born in wedlock, the names of the godparents, etc.
For example in my own experience, I must quite often look up names in the Parish Baptismal Register. They are like a number of "lines" across in kind of "fill-in-the-box" blanks.  It is from this information that one is able to issue an "official" Certificate that includes all of this information, with the current date, and the signature of the Pastor, or the one authorized to issue such a certificate.  I hope this is helpful, though again, it is my best GUESS.  I am NOT 100% certain I am correct.

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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Fr. Timothy Johnson

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A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.

Experience

I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001.

Organizations
Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)

Education/Credentials
Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology; MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary; 2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality. BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy; BA - Liberal Arts; AA - General Studies.

Past/Present Clients
I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15. Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office. I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church. Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.

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