The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM. 319pression on the mind that both received the Sacrament by aspersion or by infusion.Early ecclesiastical history records a great manyinstances in which Baptism was administered to sickpersons in their beds, to prisoners in their cells, andto persons on shipboard. And the Fathers of theChurch never called in question the validity or thelegitimacy of such Baptisms. Now, it is almost impossible to believe that candidates in such situationscould receive the rite byWe immersion.have seen, moreover, that Baptism has alwaysbeen declared necessary for salvation. It is reasonable, hence, to believe that our Lord would haveafforded the greatest facility for the reception of soessential a Sacrament.But if Baptism by immersion only is valid, howmany sick and delicate persons, how many prisonersand seafaring people, how many thousands living inthe Frigid Zone, or even in the Temperate Zone,in the depth of an inclement winter, though allcraving the grace of regeneration, would be deprivedof God s seal, or wo*uld receive it at the risk of theirlives !Surely God does not ordinarily impose Hisordinances upon us under such a penalty.Moreover, if immersion is the only valid form ofBaptism, what has become of the millions of soulswho, in every age and country, have been regenerated by the infusion or the aspersion of water inthe Christian Church ?