Section I. On Remote Matter

I. The remote matter of Baptism required for validity is true and natural water. This is of faith from the Council of Trent,¹ and is declared by canon 737, § 1. By true and natural water is understood that which according to common estimation comes under the name of natural water; for attention must be paid to this more than to the assertions of chemists. Water remains valid matter even if a diverse element has been mixed in, provided the quantity mixed in is small and does not change the water substantially. Thus, for example, valid matter is water into which a thousandth part of corrosive bichloride of mercury has been mixed;² with which water many physicians in a case of necessity baptize infants, especially in the womb of the mother, namely lest the mother's uterus be affected by disease.³

Water composed by chemical art from the elements which constitute water, that is, from oxygen and hydrogen, is doubtful matter. In the case there is true water; likewise water natural according to intrinsic causes, but artificial according to the extrinsic cause. Further, it is doubted whether water of this kind is valid matter.

Corollary I. Matter certainly valid is: 1. water drawn from wells, spring water, sea water, rain water; 2. water melted from ice, snow, or hail; likewise water condensed from vapor; likewise water purified from foreign elements by distillation; 3. sulphurous, ferruginous, or mineral water, provided that according to common estimation it is still called water.

Corollary II. Matter certainly invalid is: 1. blood, milk, wine; 2. fluids of the body, such as sweat, urine, saliva; 3. ice, snow, and hail, so long as they have not yet melted; 4. the sap of plants is almost certainly invalid matter. Amniotic fluid, that is, the fluid by which the fetus enclosed in the afterbirth is surrounded, seems to be invalid matter. For it is constituted by secretions from the body of the mother and of the infant, and therefore seems to have to be equated with other secretions, such as sweat, etc. Since, however, the matter is not so certain, in a case of necessity, if Baptism cannot be conferred in a more certain way, it can be ministered with amniotic fluid.⁴

Corollary III. Doubtful matter, besides water composed by chemical art, concerning which above, is: 1. moisture flowing from a vine or other trees; 2. liquid from dissolved salt; 3. water drawn by chemical art from plants, flowers, roots, such as rose water; 4. finally, broth, beer, coffee, tea, ink, mud, lye, and artificial waters are more or less doubtfully valid, according as they are thicker or thinner, or contain a greater or lesser quantity of foreign elements (St. Alphonsus, VI, 103, 104).

¹ Session 7, On Baptism, canon 2.

² In French: chloride de mercure.

³ Holy Office, 21 August 1901, in Nederlandsche Katholieke Stemmen, 1901, p. 289.

⁴ Cf. Aertnys-Damen, Theologia moralis, vol. II, n. 47.

II. The remote matter required for liceity is water certainly valid, pure, and, if there is question of solemn Baptism, that is, Baptism which is administered with all the rites and ceremonies (can. 732, § 2), baptismal water, that is, water blessed for baptizing (can. 757, § 1). It is said:

1. Certainly valid; nevertheless, in extreme necessity only matter certainly invalid is excluded. If the matter is doubtful, Baptism should be conferred under condition: if the matter is valid; and afterwards it should be repeated under condition (St. Alphonsus, VI, 103).

2. Pure, that is, neither mixed¹ nor filthy. To use very impure water without necessity is a grave sin (St. Alphonsus, VI, 102).

3. Baptismal for solemn Baptism (can. 757, § 1); and this obligation is grave (St. Alphonsus, VI, 102). The consecration, however, must be done twice in the year, namely on Holy Saturday and on the Vigil of Pentecost, the old water having been poured into the sacrarium;² the precept of consecrating the water at the aforesaid times is grave. If lack is feared, common water can be mixed with it, even repeatedly, but in a smaller quantity (can. 757, § 2); if, however, it has become corrupted, or has flowed out, or has failed in any way whatsoever, the pastor is to pour fresh water into the font, well cleaned and neat, and bless it by the proper rite prescribed in his liturgical books (can. 757, § 3). Moreover, if the baptismal water is too cold, it can licitly be warmed or mixed with warmed common water.

With regard to the water to be used in private Baptism, it is better, if it can be done, to use baptismal water, but there is no obligation (cf. can. 757, § 3). Hence a priest called to confer private Baptism will laudably carry with him a sufficient quantity of baptismal water. "If baptismal water is not had and danger threatens, let the priest use simple water,"³ whether holy water or common water, as it is permissible to interpret this word.⁴

¹ The Holy Office, on 21 August 1901, responded that the mixture of corrosive bichloride of mercury, concerning which in the text under I, is licit only where a true danger of disease is present.

² Roman Ritual, title 2, chapter 2, n. 5; Sacred Congregation of Rites, nn. 2878, 3331.

³ Roman Ritual, title 2, chapter 2, n. 29.

⁴ The Holy Office, 20 June 1883, prefers holy water.