An Apologetical Explanation of

Infant Baptism

Why does the Church baptize infants, who are incapable of sin?

[Paul and Silas] spoke the word of the Lord to [the jailer] and to all that were in his house.  And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, with all his family.  (Acts 16:32-33)

Infants and young children, although incapable of actual sin, are conceived with Original Sin and require the sanctifying grace bestowed in the Sacrament of Baptism.  Infant Baptism has been practiced since the earliest days of the Church.

The Church baptizes infants because everybody is born with a human nature that has been disordered by the stain of Original Sin, i.e., without sanctifying grace in the soul.  Even though infants and young children under the age of reason cannot sin willfully, they still have need of the sanctifying grace bestowed in the Sacrament of Baptism so they might have new life in Christ and the graces to overcome concupiscence, the tendency toward sin, which is a consequence of Original Sin.  (Cf. CCC 1250)

Both adults and infants have received the Sacrament of Baptism since the earliest days of the Church.  The New Testament records instances of whole households receiving Baptism, and the authors make no effort to exclude young children from such households (cf. Acts 16:15, 33; 18:8; 1 Cor 1:16; CDF, Pastoralis Actio).  Moreover, the practice of infant Baptism is attested to in early Church writings: St. Irenæus, writing about AD 180, taught, “All who through Christ are born again to God, infants and children and boys and young men and old men are born again to God” (Against Heresies, 2:22:4).  St. Hippolytus, writing about AD 215, stated, “Baptize first the children, and if they can speak for themselves let them do so.  Otherwise, let their parents or other relatives speak for them”  (Apostolic Tradition, 21:15).  (Cf. CCC 1252, 1282)

In the case of infants, the Church recognizes their need of the priceless gift of Baptism, as well as the responsibility of parents, as nurturers of the life that God has entrusted to them, to have their children baptized.  Therefore, Baptism should be administered as soon as possible after birth.  (Cf. CCC 1251, 1257)

Because Baptism is necessary for salvation, the Church commits infants who die without being baptized to the mercy of God.  The Church expresses great hope that these children who lack the Sacrament through no fault of their own will enjoy eternal life.  (Cf. CCC 1261, 1283)

The Catechism addresses this question in paragraph 1252.

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