The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"THE SACKAMENT OF BAPTISM. 309St. Irenseus, a disciple of Polycarp, who was adisciple of St. John the "Evangelist, says Christ:came to save all through Himself; all, I say, who areborn anew (or baptized) through Him infants andlittle ones, boys and youths, and aged persons."Origen, who lived a few years later, writes : TheChurch received the tradition from the Apostles, toagive baptism even to infants."The early church of Africa bears triumphanttestimony in vindication of infant baptism. St.Cyprian and sixty-six suffragan Prelates held acouncil in the metropolitan city of Carthage, in theyear 253. While the Council is in session, a Prelatenamed Fidus writes to the Fathers, asking themwhether infants ought to be baptized before theeighth day succeeding their birth, or on the eighthday, in accordance wmi the practice of circumcision.The Bishops unanimously subscribe to the follow"ing reply As to what : regards the baptism of infants, ... we all judged that the mercy and graceof God should be denied to no human being fromthe moment of his birth. If even to the greatestdelinquents the remission of sins is granted, howmuch less should the infant be repelled, who, beingrecently born according to Adam, has contracted athis first birth the contagion of the ancient death. *The African Council asserts here two prominentof the human racefacts, the universal contagion1Lib II. *dr. Haer.2In Ep. ad Kom,3 Epis. ad Fidum.*