Skipping Mass before the Baptism?
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Anonymous
How Christian of you. |
Anonymous
IMO this would be fine if you were telling the priest that the family is thinking of attending Saturday Mass due to baby's naptime. Otherwise, basically you're saying to the priest that you're doing a drive-by for the Sacrament. If the nap is that important, everyone except the baby and ONE parent should attend the Mass, with that parent and the baby arriving when Mass is over. But, personally I agree that parents and godparents and baby need to be at the Mass. If baby is fussy, you bring a bottle or someone takes her out in the vestibule and shushes, walks, cradles her. You don't skip altogether. |
Anonymous
OP what are your options to attend a Saturday evening mass all together? |
Anonymous
More Christian than denying the Eucharist to non-Catholics. |
Anonymous
What is wrong with denying the Eucharist to non-Catholics? Non-Catholics do not believe what Catholics believe about the Eucharist - that through transubstantiation, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. At best, Protestants believe it to be a "remembrance" of what happened at the Last Supper. And by the way, this is all on the honor code - no one is going to actually check whether you are Catholic or not at Mass. So if you want to go ahead and participate in something you don't believe in, by all means have at it. OP - at first I was with you, but now I am swayed by PPs who said you can technically go to any Mass you want. I know how hard it can be to get to Mass with a baby. We have been anywhere from 20 minutes early to 20 minutes late. BUT it doesn't seem like your in-laws make, or are going to make any kind of effort to actually bring your niece up in the Catholic Church and are just baptizing her to check a box (seriously how does baptism give a baby the "option" of a religious life?!). So, I agree with you that they need to be at Mass. It's the least they can do. Obviously as a godparent you are supposed to play a role in the child's religious upbringing. Since it doesn't seem like your niece will be getting any guidance from her parents, can you take on the religious education of your niece in a more substantial way than what a godparent usually does? Would your brother and SIL allow that? |
Anonymous
This is blatantly false. Some Protestants consider a memorial. My church does not - it's a sacrament. Please don't spread lies about us. |
Anonymous
I thought only Catholics believed in transubstantiation. |
Anonymous
| Eh I think this is your brothers call. Having baptized two babies in the Catholic Church at different parishes they are quite clear on when and where you need to be. I'm sure it will become quite obvious. My oldest I did at 3 mos and she was a dream. I did my youngest st 10 mos at it was crazy - she was in a baptismal gown but wanted to be crawling around the floor. Pics are of us holding a child trying to launch herself out of our arms. There is limited chance your brother and wife will even see much of mass with a 9 mo - they'll be in crying room or lobby with a fussy tired child. My kids needed dark and quiet to nap. |
Anonymous
They do. But many other churches believe in the Real Presence, which is not a memorialist view. The gifts are consecrated and we believe Christ is present, we just don't believe the bread and wine physically change. Lutherans, Anglicans, and Methodists all believe this. Maybe Presbyterians. But it's not a memorial. |
Anonymous
Where, exactly, is Christ present? standing next to you? over you? next to the officiant? and what do you mean "it's not a memorial"? |
Anonymous
The real question for OP is if she is comfortable watching her B and SIL lie to the priest when they have to say "yes" and promise on the altar to raise their child in the Catholic faith. If I were OP I would call the church and clarify the set up like I was just a clueless wanna be baptizer before I asked my brother. Also just personally there is no way I would be so rude as to sneak in at the end. Let them do what they want, but I would be at the church without them for myself and my respect for the church. |
Anonymous
Why would I answer a question that's specifically intended to make fun? I gave you to the term, if yoiu were really curious, you'd go do your own homework. |
Anonymous
Which protestant deniminations believe in transubstantiation? Wasn't NOT believing in transubstantiation one of the primary reasons motivating a split from Catholicism. I wasn't aware that any protestant faith traditions believe and teach transubstantiation. |
Anonymous
There are beliefs in between memorialism and transubstaniation. Lutherans, Methodists, and Anglicans all believe in the middle. |