Infant Baptism: God’s Choice Before Ours (Father Simon Says)

On the show Father Simon Says, a listener named Jordan asked whether Galatians 4:7 supports infant Baptism: “You are no longer a slave but a child of God… and an heir.” Fr. Richard Simon unpacked the Greek word doulos, meaning “slave,” and St. Paul’s insistence that in Christ we are not just servants but heirs. That opened the deeper question: why baptize someone who cannot yet speak for himself? Some Christians argue you must first “profess your faith” for baptism to be valid. But, Fr. Simon said, “baptism is not our choice for Christ, it’s Christ’s choice for us.” Grace comes first; trust grows over time. He reminded listeners that sacraments actually do something serve a real purpose. “They aren’t just rituals that talk about our joining a club or making a decision. They are actual actions that bless body, mind and spirit with grace.” That’s why the Sacrament of Baptism is more than a symbol; it really marks us as God’s own. Still, he gently discouraged grandparents from secretly baptizing grandchildren whose parents refuse the Faith, since that places a child in a covenant he or she may never be taught to live. Instead, he urged them to trust God’s mercy, pray – even the Surrender Novena – and remember that “the baptism of children is not only valid, it’s important.” The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.