THE BIBLICAL FOUNDATION OF CATHOLIC STAND ON INFANT BAPTISM by Rev. Fr. Abe P. Arganiosa, CRS

The Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple, the Holy Family with Old Simeon

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The Catholic Church is frequently under attack for her decision to baptize children. The Anti-Catholics are arguing that children don’t deserve Baptism because they don’t have the required knowledge and faith yet. Our question however is: Where in the Bible is it stated that Children must not be baptized? Chapter and verse please!

That prohibition of Baptism for Infants and Children is a Protestant invention. It is nowhere found in the Bible and therefore it is a product of their own mind prone to doctrinal heresies. Even though the Scriptures didn't categorically and explicitly teach that Children must be baptized or not, the Sacred Scriptures gave us more than enough reason to be convinced that Infant Baptism is a Biblical practice.

Here are the testimonies of Scriptures:

1. Babies are gifted with special knowledge. They are graced with Wisdom and Understanding not given even to the learned.

Mt 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

2 Tim 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Ha, ha, ha... St. Timothy knew the Scriptures from childhood. It means that the children of INC, ADD, Born Again are ignorant, while the children of the Old Testament and the Catholic Church are knowledgeable of Scriptures. I do not intend to insult the babies of other religions but since their own parents especially religious leaders are proclaiming that children do not have knowledge of the faith then their babies by admission are IGNORANT while their Catholic counterparts are knowledgeable.

Who says that the Babies must not be baptized because they do not know anything? The enemies of the Church! The Lord Jesus on the other hand speaks differently. He declared that Babies have knowledge that surpasses those of the wise of this world.

2. Children Praise God – They have basic element of Faith. In fact, they utter PERFECT Praise to God.

Ps 8:2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

Mt 21:16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

If babies can praise God then they have faith. It is a faith that is visible to God but not to the senses of the human adults. Thus, it is wrong to say that they don’t have faith. Who are we to claim such a thing? We do not have the power to know the real spiritual value of each human person. Only God can truly know what the children can and not do. Our knowledge is limited only to the determination of the senses.

3. The Children are the exemplars of the Greatest in the Kingdom. In the eyes of God they possess Spiritual Greatness

Mt 18:1-4 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

How can the greatest in the Kingdom such as the humble children can be denied of Baptism? Being humble and greatest in the eyes of God make them more worthy than the sinful adults or equal to the adults living justly in the Lord.

4. Whoever receives a child receives Jesus.

Mt 18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. [Catholics receive the Children in Baptism and in doing so we are welcoming Christ through the Children.]

5. Children are Heirs of the Kingdom of God

Mt 19:14 but Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." [Mk 10:14/ Lk 18:15-17]

If the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to the children then they are worthy of Baptism. How come it is being deprived of them? Let us bear in mind that Baptism is the Sign of the Kingdom:

6. God wills Salvation for Children

Mt 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Why do we have to deprive them of Baptism when we know that Baptism is one of the requirements for Salvation:

Mk 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

7. The Election of the Just Starts from Conception and Infancy

Jer 1:4-5 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. [The calling and choosing of the prophet Jeremiah started in his mother’s womb. If Jeremiah was sanctified from the womb then he is deserving of Baptism.]

Lk 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. [St. John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit from before birth. So, he is deserving of Baptism.]

Gal 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace... [The calling of St. Paul started way back when he was still in his mother’s womb. For God the young Paul was already called but for the Anti-Catholics he is not worthy of the grace of Baptism. Absurd.]

WE LOVE & ACCEPT THE CHILDREN FROM WOMB AND DURING THEIR INFANCY BECAUSE ‘GOD FIRST LOVED US’ AS SHOWN ABOVE. St. John reminds us of that:

1 Jn 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

If God loved us first and that love started even from before our birth, why then we have to discriminate Infants in Sacrament of Baptism when in fact the Kingdom that it promises belongs to these Children? Each of us, adult or infant, is called to God through Baptism not because of our assent, but because He first loved us.

8. Children must be Welcomed & not Despised

Mt 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

Mt 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

The word used by Jesus here is Paidion which is properly translated as INFANTS.

Παιδίον paidion

Neuter diminutive of G3816; a childling (of either sex), that is, (properly) an infant, or (by extension) a half grown boy or girl; figuratively an immature Christian: - (little, young) child, damsel.

Prohibiting Baptism to Children is an act of Despising and Rejection because it is giving judgment that children are not worthy of God’s grace when in fact they are more deserving of it.

9. Children are part of the Promise in Baptism

2 Sam 7:11 And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.

Act 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

10. Entire household are being baptized

Acts 10:47-48 Peter baptized the entire house of Cornelius, which generally included infants and young children. There is not one word in Scripture about baptism being limited to adults.

The Faith of the Father of the Family is Operative and Effecitve for the entire Family. When he converts the entire family receives Baptism & Salvation as in the case of Cornelius’ Family:

Act 11:14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.

Acts 16:15 Paul baptized Lydia and her entire household. The word "household" comes from the Greek word "oikos" which is a household that includes infants and children.

Acts 16:32-34 - Paul baptized the jailer (an adult) and his entire household (which had to include children). Baptism is never limited to adults and those of the age of reason.

Act 16:30-34 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

Acts 18:8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house, and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

Lk 19:9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. [Children are sons of Abraham too and they are SONS & DAUGHTERS OF GOD.]

Jn 4:53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. [The Faith of the Parents is the Faith of the entire Family.]

Act 11:14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.

Gen 36:6 And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob.

Josh 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. [The decision of the Head of the House is efficacious for all its members.]

1 Chron 10:6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house died together.

These verses show that OIKOS [Household] generally includes children.

1 Cor 1:16 - Paul baptized the household ("oikos") of Stephanus. Baptism is not limited to adults.

11. THE CHILDREN, THE WEAK & THE SICK RECEIVE THE GRACE OF GOD THROUGH THEIR PARENTS, GUARDIANS OR FRIENDS

Mt 8:5-13 Jesus healed the Centurion’s servant boy because of the faith of the Centurion [Lk 7:9-10]:

Mat 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. [Jesus speaking of the Faith of the Centurion.]

Mt 8:13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour. [The Lord didn’t even assess the faith of the Sick Servant. The faith of the Centurion was enough for Him to perform a miracle.]

Mt 15:21-28 Jesus healed the Daughter of a Canaanite Woman because of the Mother’s Fatih:

Mat 15:28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. [The Faith of the Mother was enough for Jesus to perform a miracle for the sick daughter. The mother’s faith is operative and efficacious for the offspring.]

Mt 17: 21-28 Jesus healed the possessed & epileptic son after the father pleaded & knelt before him.

Mt 9:18-19, 23-25 Jesus brought the daughter back to life after her father, Jairus, pleaded with Him [Mk 5:21-43/ Lk 8:40-56]. [The Faith of the Father is efficacious for his daughter.]

Mt 9:1-8 Jesus healed the Paralytic sent to Him through the opened roof. [Lk 5:17-26]

Mt 9:2 [GNB] where some people brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a bed. When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the paralyzed man, "Courage, my son! Your sins are forgiven."

Lk 4:40 [GNB] After sunset all who had friends who were sick with various diseases brought them to Jesus; he placed his hands on every one of them and healed them all. [Here the intervention and decision of FRIENDS to bring the sick to Jesus merited healing for each of them.]

12. Parents Have Authority to Consecrate their Children to God from Childhood or Even Before Birth

Josh 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

1 Sam 1:11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. [Hannah promised to dedicate her future son Samuel to God for the rest of his life. This mother didn’t wait for the consent of her incoming son.]

Did she fulfil that promise? Did she really consecrated her son to a lifetime service to the Temple? YES!

1 Sam 1:26-28 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.

Hannah decided on her own to offer to God her Son throughout his life, yet Hannah is blessed by God as a Woman of Faith. The Catholics are offering of Infants to be consecrated to the Lord in Baptism yet the other sects look at it as evil. Let us pray that their judgment on the matter be God-like.

1 Tim 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. [Parents are rulers over their Children. They are the one deciding for their children.]

13. Through the Parents [even the father or mother alone] the Children are Consecrated to God or Sanctified

Ex 12:24-28 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. [The Passover was based on the father’s faith. If he did not kill and eat the lamb, his first-born child would have died.]

1 Cor 7:12-14 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

The faith and prayers of the Believer are effective for the sanctification of the Unbeliever. How much more the faith and prayer of the Parents for the Sanctification of their Children.

14. The Circumcision of the Jews takes place 8 days after the birth of the child. In New Testament, Baptism replaced Circumcision as the Sign of the Covenant.

Gen 17:12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.

Lev 12:3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.

Circumcision is a necessary sign of the covenant:

Gen 17:13-14 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

Lk 1:59-60 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

Lk 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

The Sign of the Covenant [In Old Testament – Circumcision] had to take place on the 8th Day – the day which in the New Testament become the Day of New Creation, The Resurrection Day of the Lord = Sunday.

Baptism replaces Circumcision as a sign of membership and entrance into the New Covenant, it is the perfection of the old sign:

Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

If Circumcision was imperative for infants then Baptism must also be imperative for infants. Christ came not to exclude children but to save all… He came not to restrict but to expand and perfect the saving plan of God:

Lk 18:15-17 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

15. From the womb Children are affected by Sin and Uncleanness, thus, they are in need of Baptismal washing, regeneration

Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned… [Paul explains that sin came through Adam and death through sin. Babies' souls are affected by Adam's sin and need baptism just like adult souls.]

Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. [Due to this presence of sin, St. Paul called us Children of Wrath. We need to remove this sin so that we can truly become Children of God.]

Ps 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.

Well, no one among creatures can wash away sin but what is impossible for men is possible for God [Mk 10:27/ Lk 18:27]:

Ps 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Ezek 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness…

Zech 13:1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.

This promise of washing from sin and from uncleanness is fulfilled in Baptism:

Act 22:16 And now, why wait any longer? Get up and be baptized and have your sins washed away by praying to him.' [Ananias to Paul]

1 Cor 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost…

Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

1 Pt 3:21 [GNB] which was a symbol pointing to baptism, which now saves you. It is not the washing off of bodily dirt, but the promise made to God from a good conscience. It saves you through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…

The denial then of Baptism to Infants is terrible act of negligence. It is allowing these innocent young human persons to remain in the state of sin for a longer period of time. It is like knowing that the baby is sick yet the parents decided not to give him the necessary medicine until the child can decide on his own.

16. Children are baptized so that they can be with Christ. So that they can share in the New Life of Christ – His Death & Resurrection

Gal 3:26-27 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

ADDENDUM:

INFANT BAPTISM IN THE HISTORY & TRADITION OF THE CHURCH

[From Scripture Catholic apologetic site by John Salza]

"And many, both men and women, who have been Christ's disciples from childhood, remain pure and at the age of sixty or seventy years..." Justin Martyr, First Apology, 15:6 (A.D. 110-165).

"And when a child has been born to one of them, they give thanks to God [baptism]; and if moreover it happen to die in childhood, they give thanks to God the more, as for one who as passed through the world without sins." Aristides, Apology, 15 (A.D. 140).

"Polycarp declared, 'Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and Saviour?" Polycarp, Martyrdom of Polycarp, 9 (A.D. 156).

"For He came to save all through means of Himself--all, I say, who through Him are born again to God--infants, and children, and boys, and youths, and old men." Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 2,22:4 (A.D. 180).

"I, therefore, brethren, who have lived sixty-five years in the Lord." Polycrates, Fragment in Eusebius' Church History, V:24:7 (A.D. 190).

"And they shall baptise the little children first. And if they can answer for themselves, let them answer. But if they cannot, let their parents answer or someone from their family." Hippolytus of Rome, Apostolic Tradition, 21 (c. A.D. 215).

"[T]herefore children are also baptized." Origen, Homily on Luke, XIV (A.D. 233).

"For this reason, moreover, the Church received from the apostles the tradition of baptizing infants too." Origen, Homily on Romans, V:9 (A.D. 244).

"Baptism is given for the remission of sins; and according to the usage of the Church, Baptism is given even to infants. And indeed if there were nothing in infants which required a remission of sins and nothing in them pertinent to forgiveness, the grace of baptism would seem superfluous." Origen, Homily on Leviticus, 8:3 (post A.D. 244).

"But in respect of the case of the infants, which you say ought not to be baptized within the second or third day after their birth, and that the law of ancient circumcision should be regarded, so that you think one who is just born should not be baptized and sanctified within the eighth day...And therefore, dearest brother, this was our opinion in council, that by us no one ought to be hindered from baptism...we think is to be even more observed in respect of infants and newly-born persons…" Cyprian, Epistle to Fidus 58(64):2, 6 (A.D. 251).

"It shows no crease when infants put it on [the baptismal garment], it is not too scanty for young men, it fits women without alteration." Optatus of Mileve, Against Parmenium, 5:10(A.D. 365).

"Have you an infant child? Do not let sin get any opportunity, but let him be sanctified from his childhood; from his very tenderest age let him be consecrated by the Spirit. Fearest thou the Seal on account of the weakness of nature?" Gregory Nazianzen, Oration on Holy Baptism, 40:17 (A.D. 381).

"Be it so, some will say, in the case of those who ask for Baptism; what have you to say about those who are still children, and conscious neither of the loss nor of the grace? Are we to baptize them too? Certainly, if any danger presses. For it is better that they should be unconsciously sanctified than that they should depart unsealed and uninitiated." Gregory Nazianzen, Oration on Holy Baptism, 40:28 (A.D. 381).

"'Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.' No one is expected: not the infant, not the one prevented by necessity." Ambrose, Abraham, 2,11:79 (A.D. 387).

"We do baptize infants, although they are not guilty of any sins." John Chrysostom, Ad Neophytos (A.D. 388).

"And if any one seek for divine authority in this matter, though what is held by the whole Church, and that not as instituted by Councils, but as a matter of invariable custom, is rightly held to have been handed down by apostolical authority, still we can form a true conjecture of the value of the sacrament of baptism in the case of infants, from the parallel of circumcision, which was received by God's earlier people, and before receiving which Abraham was justified, as Cornelius also was enriched with the gift of the Holy Spirit before he was baptized." Augustine, On Baptism against the Donatist, 4:24:31 (A.D. 400).

"While the son is a child and thinks as a child and until he comes to years of discretion to choose between the two roads to which the letter of Pythagoras points, his parents are responsible for his actions whether these be good or bad. But perhaps you imagine that, if they are not baptized, the children of Christians are liable for their own sins; and that no guilt attaches to parents who withhold from baptism those who by reason of their tender age can offer no objection to it. The truth is that, as baptism ensures the salvation of the child, this in turn brings advantage to the parents. Whether you would offer your child or not lay within your choice, but now that you have offered her, you neglect her at your peril." Jerome, Epistle to Laeta 107:6 (A.D. 403).

"Now, seeing that they [Pelagians] admit the necessity of baptizing infants,--finding themselves unable to contravene that authority of the universal Church, which has been unquestionably handed down by the Lord and His apostles,--they cannot avoid the further concession, that infants require the same benefits of the Mediator, in order that, being washed by the sacrament and charity of the faithful, and thereby incorporated into the body of Christ, which is the Church, they may be reconciled to God, and so live in Him, and be saved, and delivered, and redeemed, and enlightened. But from what, if not from death, and the vices, and guilt, and thraldom, and darkness of sin? And, inasmuch as they do not commit any sin in the tender age of infancy by their actual transgression, original sin only is left." Augustine, On forgiveness of sin and baptism, 39 [26] (A.D. 412).

"The blessed Cyprian, indeed, said, in order to correct those who thought that an infant should not be baptized before the eighth day, that it was not the body but the soul which behoved to be saved from perdition -- in which statement he was not inventing any new doctrine, but preserving the firmly established faith of the Church; and he, along with some of his colleagues in the episcopal office, held that a child may be properly baptized immediately after its birth." Augustine, Epistle 166:8:23 (A.D. 412).

"'C. Tell me, pray, and rid me of all doubts, why little children are baptized?

A. That their sins may be forgiven them in baptism." Jerome, Against the Pelagians, 3:18 (A.D. 415).

"Likewise, whosoever says that those children who depart out of this life without partaking of that sacrament shall be made alive in Christ, certainly contradicts the apostolic declaration, and condemns the universal Church, in which it is the practice to lose no time and run in haste to administer baptism to infant children, because it is believed, as an indubitable truth, that otherwise they cannot be made alive in Christ." Augustine, Epistle 167,7,21 (A.D. 415).

"Canon 2. Likewise it has been decided that whoever says that infants fresh from their mothers' wombs ought not to be baptized...let him be anathema." Council of Carthage, Canon 2 (A.D. 418).

"Concerning the Donatists it seemed good that we should hold counsel with our brethren and fellow priests Siricius and Simplician concerning those infants alone who are baptized by Donatists: lest what they did not do of their own will, when they should be converted to the Church of God with a salutary determination, the error of their parents might prevent their promotion to the ministry of the holy altar." African Code, Canon 47/51 (A.D. 419).

"[T]his concupiscence, I say, which is cleansed only by the sacrament of regeneration, does undoubtedly, by means of natural birth, pass on the bond of sin to a man's posterity, unless they are themselves loosed from it by regeneration." Augustine, On Marriage and Concupiscence, 1:23 (A.D. 420).

"Believest thou this?...When a newborn child is brought forward to receive the anointing of initiation, or rather of consummation through holy baptism." Cyril of Alexandria, Commentary on John, 7 (A.D. 428).

"Question XIX. Concerning those who after being baptized in infancy were captured by the Gentiles, and lived with them after the manner of the Gentiles, when they come back to Roman territory as still young men, if they seek communion, what shall be done?

Reply: If they have only lived with Gentiles and eaten sacrificial food, they can be purged by fasting and laying on of hands, in order that for the future abstaining from things offered to idols, they may be partakers of Christ's mysteries. But if they have either worshipped idols or been polluted with manslaughter or fornication, they must not be admitted to communion, except by public penance." Leo the Great [regn. A.D. 440-461], Epistle to Rusticus 167 (A.D. 459).

"But with respect to trine immersion in baptism, no truer answer can be given than what you have yourself felt to be right; namely that, where there is one faith, a diversity of usage does no harm to holy Church. Now we, in immersing thrice, signify the sacraments of the three days' sepulture; so that, when the infant is a third time lifted out of the water, the resurrection after a space of three days may be expressed." Gregory the Great [regn. A.D. 590-604], Epistle to Leander 43 (A.D. 591).