Why do Catholics baptize babies?

In some non-Catholic Christian denominations, baptizing infants is viewed as a premature act that takes away the child’s ability to choose his faith for himself. Many of these religions believe that salvation is granted simply to those who have faith in Jesus as their Lord; to them, baptism is simply a sign demonstrating one’s belief, but it itself is not essential for salvation. Therefore, these Christians hold that children should not be baptized before they have matured their sense of reason and can choose what to believe in. Catholics, on the other hand, have a very different view on what baptism obtains and signifies.

Catholics believe that the Christian life begins at the moment of baptism, not when personal belief has been formed. Through baptism, an infant is freed from original sin, receives sanctifying grace, and becomes a member of Christ and the Church. The sacrament is essential for salvation, thus this great gift should be given to every soul as soon as possible!

The Church teaches that baptism:

cleanses original sin;

gives supernatural or sanctifying grace;

unites the person to Christ;

incorporates the person into the Church;

begins participation in divine life.

Though an infant has committed no personal sin, all of humanity inherits original sin at the moment of conception due to the separation between God and man caused by the fall of Adam and Eve. Baptism redeems the soul of this inherited stain, welcomes the new addition into Christ’s Church, and marks the beginning of their relationship with God.

Waiting can unnecessarily postpone the gift of divine life. Baptism is described by the Church as both necessary for salvation and a sign of God’s prevenient love—that is, God’s love that comes first, before a person can respond.

At baptism, parents and godparents profess the faith on the child’s behalf and promise to provide Christian formation, but this does not eliminate the child’s freedom. As the child grows, he or she must personally appropriate the faith and live according to the promises made at Baptism. This development is especially expressed through later catechesis and the Sacrament of Confirmation.

The Church’s intention is not to make a child a Christian against his or her will, but to give the child the grace of Christ and place the child within the community of faith from the beginning. The child will eventually need to respond freely to that grace.

The earliest indication of infant baptism is found in the New Testament. The Acts of the Apostles records entire families, such as the households of Lydia and the jailer at Philippi, being baptised together at once–this no doubt included the babies of the family.

St. Augustine wrote on the subject stating that the tradition is as old as old as the Church herself.

“The custom of Mother Church in baptizing infants is certainly not to be scorned, nor is it to be regarded in any way as superfluous, nor is it to be believed that its tradition is anything except apostolic.” (De Genesi ad litteram, 10:23:39)

To Catholics, baptism is not simply a ceremony in order to demonstrate one’s faith; rather, it is a visible manifestation of the invisible gift of grace. This sacrament allows God to mark his claim on our soul and resembles the beginning of our relationship with him. It prepares the recipient for a life of friendship with the Lord and allows him to grow deeper in love and understanding of God.