Section — Konings, Theologia Moralis
§ I. On the Remote Matter of Baptism
1251. Principles. - I. The valid matter of Baptism is natural water alone, or elementary water, apt for washing. It is of Faith. It is clear 1° from the words of Christ:1 Unless a man has been born again of water, etc. - It is clear 2° from the Councils, especially from Florence in the Decree for the Armenians, and from Trent.2 - "But what true and natural water is, although with the help of chemical analysis, confirmed by synthesis, it is sufficiently known to those skilled in natural science, nevertheless for theologians (on account especially of the difficulties which occur everywhere in defining the nature of mixtures) it seems that in place of a principle the admonition of the illustrious Author De re Sacrament. Tom. I. must rather be held, that concerning true and natural water judgment must be made from the common use of men, not from the disputes of philosophers."3 (W) p. 416.
II. The licit matter of Baptism, outside the case of necessity, is blessed or consecrated water alone, and mixed with chrism according to the rite of the Church, at least for solemn Baptism. This is clear from Canon Law (see below concerning the Ceremonies of Baptism). But he certainly sins gravely by the sin of sacrilege who without grave necessity uses impure, turbid, or foul water, although this is valid matter.4 (co) p. 401.
It is said: 1° outside the case of necessity, which case sometimes occurs in Missions. Concerning this the S. C. de P. F. wrote in 1806 to the Apostolic Vicar of Tonkin: "Where to preserve water blessed according to the prescribed rite would be of grave inconvenience or danger, in that case it will be lawful for Missionaries or anyone else who, according to the opportunity of things, is apt for conferring this Sacrament, to use common water, especially if it has been blessed,"5 for water of the baptismal font, which cannot be had except with grave inconvenience or danger.6
It is said: 2° according to the rite of the Church. - Concerning this, note that although water, as our Councils admonish,7 is to be blessed by the form in the Roman Ritual, if water thus blessed, because of the absence of a baptismal font in places where Baptisms are rare, is lacking, or has failed, or has been corrupted, it can also be blessed by that shorter formula which was approved for the use of our Missionaries by Pius VIII, and is found in the little book Excerpta ex Rit.,8 etc.
It is said: 3° impure, turbid, or foul water. - On this matter note the response of the S. C. Ing., Feria IV, 17 April 1839: "Baptisms conferred with" blessed "corrupted water were valid, although illicit outside the case of necessity; and in a case of necessity natural water is to be preferred; but provision must be made for the renewal of the water of the baptismal font, according to the Roman Ritual."9
III. In danger of death, if certainly valid matter cannot be had, doubtful matter ought to be used under this condition: If this matter is sufficient.... Then even a slight probability concerning the value of the matter suffices, because in necessity one must assist the neighbor in the best way in which it can be done. But if one baptized thus has survived, once there is availability of certainly valid matter, he ought to be baptized again under this condition: If thou art not baptized, I baptize thee, etc. - Common.
Appendix annotation (Psi), to n. 1251. I. p. 23. col. 1. The common sense of the faithful in matters of Faith and morals, furnished with the required conditions, constitutes the passive infallibility, or the infallibility of the learning Church. - The common practice of the faithful, that is, legitimate custom, moderates the laws of the Church, n. 186. - The common use or estimation of men: 1° interprets ecclesiastical laws, as custom does, and this not rarely against the opinions of physiologists; as when, in interpreting the law of ecclesiastical fast, it holds beer, which for physiologists is food, as drink, or when, in interpreting the law of the natural fast to be observed before the reception of the Eucharist, it does not care about the drawing in of the fumes of foods in a kitchen; 2° sometimes also interprets the divine laws of the Sacraments, insofar as it shows in what signification the matter of some Sacrament is to be taken, for example water in Baptism, n. 1251. I, or wine in the Eucharist. For although some artificial wine perhaps may be true wine for physiologists, nevertheless wine from the vine, even granted that the Church had defined nothing about this matter, would be pronounced by the common estimation or use of men to be understood by the word wine. For Christ is to be judged to have used words in that sense in which the common use of men understands them. Let that text be an example, John 12. 24: "Unless the grain of wheat, falling into the earth, has died." Linz. Past. Bl. Appendix annotation (sigma), to n. 1251. II. p. 28. col. 1. Wherefore a physician and a midwife, in the case in which they are compelled to administer Baptism, are bound under grave obligation beforehand, insofar as it can be done, to cleanse the hands from blood and other filth, or to pour clean water from some vessel. Capellmann, Past.-Med., p. 138.
1252. Resolves. - 1° Valid matter is: 1) water of springs, wells, rivers, the sea, pools, marshes, lakes, cisterns; 2) water dissolved from ice, snow, or hail, because it preserves the same substance, although it has been accidentally changed as regards color, taste, or odor; 3) sulphurous or mineral water, water collected from vapor, dew, or flowing in stormy weather from a wall, leaves, etc.; 4) water simply distilled with roses or other flowers, yet not licit per se; 5) turbid water mixed with another substance, provided water is the truly and certainly predominant matter, so that according to the use or estimation of men it can still be called water.10
2° Invalid matter is: 1) milk, blood, tears, sweat, saliva, spittle, urine; 2) wine, oil, beer, thick broth from fat, etc.; 3) mud, ink. (2) p. 416.
3° Doubtful matter is: 1) very thin broth, lye, thin beer (water from dissolved salt?); 2) liquid flowing from a vine and other plants; 3) snow, ice, hoarfrost, and other similar things not yet dissolved,1 coffee, tea.
Notes to n. 1252 - note sequence 1. (1) John 3. 5. (2) Session 7, canon 2. (3) Gury, Ed. Rom. 1873. P. II. n. 236. (4) L. VI. 102. (5) Ib. (6) Anal. I. P. Ser. 8. col. 1571. n. 95. (7) Conc. Pl. Balt. II. a. 234. (8) p. 239. Ed. 1872; p. 231. Ed. 1874. (9) Anal. I. P. Ser. 8. col. 1571. n. 95. (10) L. VI. 103. 104. Notes to n. 1252 - note sequence 2. (1) 5. 26. Appendix annotation (Omega), to n. 1252. p. 24. col. 1; n. 1254. q. 4°. p. 24. col. 2. Scented waters in which the very substance of the water has been changed are not valid matter of Baptism. Nevertheless dying infants in the case in which, on account of the resistance of unbelieving parents, etc., they cannot be baptized in another way, can and must be baptized with water varied even as to color by some mixture, which nevertheless does not change the substance of the water, by way of washing, "douche," cleansing, remedy, etc., in such a way, however, that at least part of the water flows over the head, or, if this is absolutely impossible, over some principal member of the infant. But if the matter, whether remote or proximate, which was used in the case of necessity, was doubtful, the infant, if perhaps he has recovered, should again be baptized under condition and instructed in whatever better way can be done. S. C. S. Officii, Collect. p. 116 n. 181. - The same is to be resolved if someone baptized a dying infant by wiping his forehead with his hand dipped in natural water, or with a finger or cloth similarly wet, without the water flowing or running down. Ib. p. 117 n. 182.