Graces from baptismby Father David Esquiliano
Judicial Vicar (Lea la traducción en español abajo) One of the most difficult situations I have faced as a priest has been ministering to parents who have experienced the death of a child. Nothing can prepare a parent for such a tragedy. Sometimes, the loss is aggravated by uncertainty when the child dies before baptism. Often it is not that baptism was delayed, but it was never possible because there was a miscarriage or the child was stillborn. The church teaches, “The Lord himself affirms that baptism is necessary for salvation. He also commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them. Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament. “The church does not know of any means other than baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude. This is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are ‘reborn of water and the Spirit.’ God has bound salvation to the sacrament of baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments.” (CCC 1257) |