Article — Merkelbach, Summa Theologiae Moralis
Article II: On Children to Be Baptized
S. Th. III, q. 68, a. 3 and 9.
147. Principle I. Infants are capable of Baptism. - This is of faith, as is established from the profession of faith imposed by Innocent III on the Waldensians, from Lateran Council IV, cap. Firmiter, Vienne, and Trent, sess. 7, on Baptism, can. 13, against the Anabaptists, and from the whole tradition and practice of the Church from the beginning.
It is proved: that children be baptized 1. is necessary, because they are born in original sin, which is cleansed by Baptism; 2. is fitting, "so that, nourished from childhood in those things which belong to the Christian life, they may persevere in it more firmly"; 3. is fruitful, because the sacraments produce grace in all who place no obstacle; but children cannot place an obstacle (a. 9).
Nor should you say that children cannot receive faith, but lack the faith and intention by which adults are led to Baptism. For although they do not receive actual faith, nevertheless they receive the habit; but they do not need an actual disposition or intention, but are led to Baptism by the faith and intention of the Church.
This is established from Pope Siricius (384-398), ep. to Himerius, 2; from the Council of Florence, decree for the Jacobites, which "admonishes that sacred Baptism is not to be deferred for forty or eighty days or some other time according to the observance of certain persons; but it ought to be conferred as soon as can conveniently be done"; from Trent, sess. 7, can. 12, pronouncing anathema on the Baptists who said "that no one is to be baptized except at the age at which Christ was baptized, or in the very article of death"; likewise from the Roman Ritual, tit. II, c. 1, n. 39; from Benedict XIV, Const. Omnium sollicitudinum, September 12, 1744; from the Holy Office, January 11, 1899, and from Leo XIII, ep. August 13, 1899, who most vehemently reproves the custom of deferring the Baptism of infants, than which "nothing... is more unjust, nothing more contrary to ecclesiastical sanctions...: this detestable usage, impious at once toward God and toward men, wherever it has unhappily prevailed, we condemn and execrate from our soul."
St. Thomas gives the reason: "If children are to be baptized, Baptism is not to be deferred: 1. indeed, because in them greater instruction, or even fuller conversion, is not awaited; 2. on account of danger of death, because they cannot be helped by any other remedy, except through the sacrament of Baptism" (a. 3).
From these things it is clear that Baptism is to be conferred on infants as soon as morally, i.e. conveniently, it can be done, for example within three days; and that to defer it for a long time is a grave sin. And therefore parents gravely sin who without a just reason, out of negligence, put off the Baptism of infants for a notable time, for example for a month, or perhaps for 10-15 days; and even for a shorter time if there is a special danger for the infant, or scandal, or a particular precept of the region or diocese.
Hence: 1. "Let infants be baptized as soon as possible, and let pastors and preachers frequently admonish the faithful concerning this grave obligation of theirs" (can. 770).
- It cannot be sustained, as it pleased some, such as Ballerini, Genicot, and Noldin, that a delay of Baptism, even a notable one, is not a grave sin where danger of death is not to be feared. Namely, this is not conformable to the words of the Ritual, of the Code, and of Leo XIII. Hence in the new editions of Noldin's work this was emended by Fr. Schmitt.