Scholion II. On Baptism of Blood

I. Notion. Baptism of blood is martyrdom endured by one not baptized.

II. Suppletive Character. 1. Martyrdom in little children not baptized is not a suppletive means of Baptism, that is, it does not justify them dependently on a desire for Baptism. With respect to the fruitful martyrdom of adults, even if you posit that a desire for Baptism is contained in such martyrdom, nevertheless it seems doubtful whether justification takes place dependently on the aforesaid desire; in a word: it is doubtful whether or not Baptism of blood was instituted by God as a suppletive means of the sacrament; perhaps the desire for Baptism is required only as removing an obstacle, with respect to the infusion of grace.

III. Suppletive Force. Martyrdom in the non-baptized, both adults and infants, supplies the place of Baptism with respect to the remission of all guilt and punishment (vol. I, n. 418).

IV. The requisites for Baptism of blood to justify. 1. In little children no disposition is required.

2. In adults there are required the same things which are required for martyrdom strictly so called (vol. I, n. 418). Besides, if the adult has committed grave personal sin, according to some there are required acts of charity or perfect contrition; according to others attrition suffices; according to others, per se an act of charity or perfect contrition is required, while per accidens attrition suffices (cf. St. Alphonsus, VI, 98).

V. The manner in which Baptism of blood produces its effects. According to some, justification in itself is effected ex opere operantis, while from a quasi ex opere operato there is given a higher degree of justification; similarly, some remission of punishment is given ex opere operantis, while total remission of punishment is granted by a quasi ex opere operato. According to others, both justification and the remission of all punishment are effected by a quasi ex opere operato. According to others, the effects are produced in the manner of the former opinion if the martyr elicits an act of charity or perfect contrition; in the manner of the latter opinion if he is only attrite; wherefore the dogmatic theologians should be consulted.

Corollary. An adult who knows that martyrdom is imminent is certainly bound, if he can, to receive Baptism; likewise, if he is a sinner and baptized, to confess, or, if he cannot confess, to elicit perfect contrition, and this already because according to what has been said mere attrition with martyrdom probably does not suffice for justification; and so the hope of martyrdom does not free them from these things.