MyCatholicSource.com - 'Quick Help' Page: Visitor Says Baptism Of Desire Is Modernist

Answer / Resources:

[click link(s) below, as applicable]

Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry that you were troubled by content on our site. The quote you saw on the MCS Daily Digest...

Q. What is Baptism of desire?

A. Baptism of desire is an ardent wish to receive Baptism and to do all that God has ordained for our salvation.

...is from the Baltimore Catechism, which is a highly regarded publication that was in common use before Vatican II and is still frequently in use (especially by tradition-minded Catholics). This is a traditional publication and it bears an imprimatur dated well before the Second Vatican Council.

With regard to your point that...

"The Catholic Church has always taught that receiving Baptism is the ONLY way into Christ's Church, outside of which there is NO SALVATION."

...we would agree with you. However, please note that baptism by both blood and desire HAVE been recognized by the Church. For example, consider this quote from the 1917 Code of Canon Law (the Church's law that was in force BEFORE Vatican II)... [emphasis added]

"Can. 737. Baptism, the door and foundation of the sacraments and necessary for the salvation of all in actual fact ***OR AT LEAST BY DESIRE*** (in voto), is not validly conferred unless true and natural water issued with the prescribed formula of words." (1917 Code of Canon Law)

This item alone should hopefully provide sufficient proof for you that this is a genuine teaching of the Church as it was 'on the Church's official law book' before the Second Vatican Council.

Likewise, you can find the following in Denzinger... [emphasis added]

"847 Can. 4. If anyone shall say that the sacraments of the New Law are not necessary for salvation, but are superfluous, and that, although all are not necessary for every individual, without them OR WITHOUT THE DESIRE OF THEM through faith alone men obtain from God the grace of justification; let him be anathema." (Council of Trent)

Also, various saints have recognized baptism by blood & desire (I am actually *not* aware of ANY saint who explicitly rejects baptism of blood or desire). For example, consider the quotes below which are from some of the most learned saints of the Church...

"Blood and desire, both are called baptisms, for they supply the place of baptism and produce its effect, though neither are sacraments, since they are not official signs." (St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church and "greatest theologian in the history of the Church")

"If any man receive not baptism, he hath no salvation; except only martyrs, who even without the water receive the kingdom." (St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Doctor of the Church, 4th century A.D.)

"For whenever unbaptized persons die confessing Christ, this confession is of the same efficacy for the remission of sins as if they were washed in the sacred font of baptism." (St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church, 5th century A.D.)

"Consequently, apart from baptism by water, a person may obtain the grace of baptism from Christ's passion because he is made like to Christ in His sufferings... For a similar reason a person who is baptized neither by water nor by blood may obtain the grace of baptism through the power of the Holy Spirit, because the Spirit moves his heart to believe God and love Him and be contrite for his sins. This is called the baptism of penitence [or desire]." (St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church and "greatest theologian in the history of the Church")

"But I hear you lamenting because he had not received the sacraments of Baptism. Tell me, what else could we have, except the will to it, the asking for it? He too had just now this desire; and after he came into Italy it was begun, and a short time ago he signified that he wished to be baptized by me. Did he, then, not have the grace which he desired? Did he not have what he eagerly sought? Certainly, because he sought it, he received it. What else dos it mean: 'Whatever just man shall be overtaken by death, his soul shall be at rest'?" (St. Ambrose of Milan, Doctor of the Church, 392 A.D.)

"The sacrament or Baptism may be wanting to someone in two ways. First, both in reality and in desire; as is the case with those who neither are baptized, nor wished to be baptized: which clearly indicates contempt of the sacrament, in regard to those who have the use of the free-will. Consequently those to whom Baptism is wanting thus, cannot obtain salvation: since neither sacramentally nor mentally are they incorporated in Christ, through Whom alone can salvation be obtained. Secondly, the sacrament of Baptism may be wanting to anyone in reality but not in desire: for instance, when a man wishes to be baptized, but by some ill-chance he is forestalled by death before receiving Baptism. And such a man can obtain salvation without being actually baptized, on account of his desire for Baptism, which desire is the outcome of faith that worketh by charity, whereby God, Whose power is not tied to visible sacraments, sanctifies man inwardly. Hence Ambrose says of Valentinian, who died while yet a catechumen: 'I lost him whom I was to regenerate: but he did not lose the grace he prayed for.'" (St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church and "greatest theologian in the history of the Church")

Furthermore, even pre-Vatican II popes have recognized baptism by blood & desire. For example, consider these quotes...

"You have, to be sure, intimated that a certain Jew, when at the point of death, since he lived only among Jews, immersed himself in water while saying: 'I baptize myself in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.' We respond that, since there should be a distinction between the one baptizing and the one baptized, as is clearly gathered from the words of the Lord, when he says to the Apostles: 'Go baptize all nations in the name etc.' [cf. Matt. 28:19], the Jew mentioned must be baptized again by another, that it may be shown that he who is baptized is one person, and he who baptizes another ... If, however, such a one had died immediately, he would have rushed to his heavenly home without delay because of the faith of the sacrament, although not because of the sacrament of faith." (Pope Innocent III, 1206 A.D.)

"To your inquiry we respond thus: We assert without hesitation (on the authority of the holy Fathers Augustine and Ambrose) that the priest whom you indicated (in your letter) had died without the water of baptism, because he persevered in the faith of holy mother the Church and in the confession of the name of Christ, was freed from original sin and attained the joy of the heavenly fatherland. Read (brother) in the eighth book of Augustine's 'City of God' where among other things it is written, 'Baptism is ministered invisibly to one whom not contempt of religion but death excludes.' Read again the book also of the blessed Ambrose concerning the death of Valentinian where he says the same thing. Therefore, to questions concerning the dead, you should hold the opinions of the learned Fathers and in your [parish] you should join in prayers and you should have [Masses] offered to God for the priest mentioned." (Pope Innocent II, "Apostolicam Sedem", c. 1140 A.D.)

You may be interested to know that we have the following note on our site where the above quotes appear (see here)...

Note: The Church holds that Baptism of desire ("an ardent wish to receive Baptism and to do all that God has ordained for our salvation") and Baptism of blood ("the shedding of one's blood for the faith of Christ") are sufficient when it is impossible to receive the Baptism of water. Such cases would be extraordinary occurrences and the faithful are called to partake of the regular means of baptism (by water) whenever possible. Note also that not just any faith is required, but true faith in Christ and in His Church. As the Council of Trent states: "Besides a wish to be baptized, in order to obtain the grace of the Sacrament, faith is also necessary. Our Lord and Savior has said: He that believes and is baptized shall be saved... Another necessary condition is repentance for past sins, and a fixed determination to avoid all sin in the future." And as Pope Pius XII explains regarding membership in the Church: "Actually only those are to be included as members of the Church who have been baptized and profess the true faith, and who have not been so unfortunate as to separate themselves from the unity of the Body, or been excluded by legitimate authority for grave faults committed... As therefore in the true Christian community there is only one Body, one Spirit, one Lord, and one Baptism, so there can be only one faith. And therefore, if a man refuse to hear the Church, let him be considered - so the Lord commands - as a heathen and a publican. It follows that those who are divided in faith or government cannot be living in the unity of such a Body, nor can they be living the life of its one Divine Spirit." (Pope Pius XII, "Mystici Corporis Christi", 1943 A.D.)

Regarding your point...

"The Pope defined the FORM for this sacrament as WATER, not as WATER OR DESIRE OR BLOOD"

...no one is saying baptism of desire or baptism by blood is actually a sacrament, only that they can have the same effect as the sacrament in certain cases (kind of like perfect contrition isn't a sacrament, but one can receive an effect similar to a sacramental confession by having perfect contrition...but this doesn't excuse one from going to confession, of course).

Also, please note that it is not possible to state with certainty which specific persons are in heaven or hell (excluding Judas/hell and canonized saints/heaven). That is for God alone to judge. In that vein, please note these quotes from Bl. Pope Pius IX...

"For, it must be held by faith that outside the Apostolic Roman Church, no one can be saved; that this is the only ark of salvation; that he who shall not have entered therein will perish in the flood; but, on the other hand, it is necessary to hold for certain that they who labor in ignorance of the true religion, if this ignorance is invincible, are not stained by any guilt in this matter in the eyes of God. Now, in truth, who would arrogate so much to himself as to mark the limits of such an ignorance, because of the nature and variety of peoples, regions, innate dispositions, and of so many other things? For, in truth, when released from these corporeal chains 'we shall see God as He is' (1 John 3:2), we shall understand perfectly by how close and beautiful a bond divine mercy and justice are united; but, as long as we are on earth, weighed down by this mortal mass which blunts the soul, let us hold most firmly that, in accordance with Catholic teaching, there is 'one God, one faith, one baptism' (Eph. 4:5); it is unlawful to proceed further in inquiry." (Bl. Pope Pius IX, "Singulari Quadem," 1854 A.D.)

"And here, beloved Sons and Venerable Brothers, We should mention again and censure a very grave error in which some Catholics are unhappily engaged, who believe that men living in error, and separated from the true faith and from Catholic unity, can attain eternal life. Indeed, this is certainly quite contrary to Catholic teaching. It is known to Us and to you that they who labor in invincible ignorance of our most holy religion and who, zealously keeping the natural law and its precepts engraved in the hearts of all by God, and being ready to obey God, live an honest and upright life, can, by the operating power of divine light and grace, attain eternal life, since God who clearly beholds, searches, and knows the minds, souls, thoughts, and habits of all men, because of His great goodness and mercy, will by no means suffer anyone to be punished with eternal torment who has not the guilt of deliberate sin. But, the Catholic dogma that no one can be saved outside the Catholic Church is well-known; and also that those who are obstinate toward the authority and definitions of the same Church, and who persistently separate themselves from the unity of the Church, and from the Roman Pontiff, the successor of Peter, to whom 'the guardianship of the vine has been entrusted by the Savior,' cannot obtain eternal salvation. But, God forbid that the sons of the Catholic Church ever in any way be hostile to those who are not joined with us in the same bonds of faith and love; but rather they should always be zealous to seek them out and aid them, whether poor, or sick, or afflicted with any other burdens, with all the offices of Christian charity; and they should especially endeavor to snatch them from the darkness of error in which they unhappily lie, and lead them back to Catholic truth and to the most loving Mother the Church, who never ceases to stretch out her maternal hands lovingly to them, and to call them back to her bosom so that, established and firm in faith, hope, and charity, and 'being fruitful in every good work' (Col. 1:10), they may attain eternal salvation." (Bl. Pope Pius IX, "Quanto Conficiamur Moerore", 1863 A.D.)

BTW, please note that we have the following clearly indicated on our site regarding invincible ignorance...

Note: It should be noted that invincible ignorance may excuse one from the guilt of / punishment for certain sins (e.g. heresy), it is not on that account a "means of salvation".

We would recommend you not consider your non-Catholic relatives or friends as 'certainly lost'. It could happen that a validly baptized Protestant may die with perfect contrition (not that it is necessary likely, but also it is not impossible). Any given friend or relative may in fact be lost, but in my opinion it would seem more charitable to hope they might be in Purgatory somehow - that way you may do the kindness of praying for them. (If you don't, who will?) Certainly you would not be intending to deny any point of Catholic doctrine by having hope, rather you would simply be recognizing that God alone judges souls.

I hope this clarifies matters.

Reminder: We make no guarantee whatsoever regarding any item herein. Items herein may be the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect our views. All applicable items may be subject to change at any time without notice. Utilize any link(s) appearing on this page at your own risk. For more terms information, see "Important Notice" below.