Justification by faith- infant Baptism
Brother Ignatius,
I have a question about justification. My understanding of the Catholic position on justificaiton is as follows: We are justified by faith; not a dead faith like James talks about (Ja. 2:26) but one thats active in love ("works").
Now we also believe that we are justified at our Baptism, and of course we baptize infants. So aren't we contradicting the notion of "justification by faith" here? An infant has no faith (to begin with at least), so if the infant is justified at Baptism then justification really isn't by faith, it's purely by grace- is this not correct?
When I explain the Catholic position on justification to Protestants I usually explain as I did above: justification is by faith that works in love. But what if a Protestant responded with "How can justification be by faith if a person with no faith (infant) can be justified?" I wouldn't no how to respond. I do understand why we baptize infants, I just don't know how we can claim justification is by faith if we can call an infant with no faith, justified.
Thanks for your help,
QUESTION from Jim on March 23, 2004
Jim
ANSWER by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM on March 25, 2004
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Dear Jim: Babies are baptized as a sign of the covenant according to the faith of the parents. The baby will have a chance to make his own personal statement of faith at Confirmation. This is no different that the Jewish tradition. Jewish baby boys were circumcised as a sign of the covenant according to the parents faith. Later the boys expressed their personal faith in the bar mitzvah. Since babies were baptized in the New Testament, and the Church Fathers refer to infant baptism, this issue was a non-issue to the early Christians.
God Bless, |