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Toby Webster wrote:

Hi, guys —

I was dating a woman a few years ago and she was never baptized, as an adult. She doesn't believe in any organized religion even though she and her family would always go to Christmas Mass at a Catholic church.

Even though I am a sorry excuse for a Catholic, while she slept, I used Holy Water and spoke the words:

I baptize thee in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

and performed the Sign of the Cross over her and asked God to see what I was doing and recognize this as a valid Baptism.

I figured if an infant can be baptized without them agreeing to it, it was OK for her, because it wasn't her fault that her mother or grandmother didn't have her baptized.

My question is:

  • Did God recognize the Baptism I gave her?

Toby

  { Did God recognize the validity of the Baptism I did on my friend though she was unaware of this? }

Bob replied:

Toby,

There is a question as to whether this Baptism was valid because you did not have her consent, and you have no authority over her. Parents have authority over the infant they baptize, so God honors their authority.

As the covenantal head of house, the Father especially has the right to baptize his household (Acts 2:38, 1 Corinthians 1:14-16) so since it was not her desire to be baptized, and you had no authority to substitute your will, for hers, this appears to be a likely impediment to the validity of the Baptism.

Bob
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