Q: I was wondering if you could offer your guidance on a matter that we are struggling to find clarity on in my parish in the British Isles?  We have a number of candidates for RCIA.  This year, more than any other, we have several candidates who are presenting themselves having been baptised into other Christian denominations.  We have two who were baptised using the Trinitarian formula by immersion (one in a church and the other in the North Sea off Amsterdam).  Having checked the Code and sought advice, there seems to be differing opinions on whether or not baptism by immersion should be one immersion or three immersions.  Would you be able to provide any clarity around this please?  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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A: This is a canonical issue, which I usually dodge, but I consulted a couple of canonists and decided to share what one of them found because I found it so interesting:

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The ‘argument regarding validity of single immersion (versus triple)’ usually goes back to St Gregory the Great to Leander,Bishop of Hispalis (Seville). April 591 A.D.  

Book I, Letter 43:

“But in respect to the triple immersion of Baptism, no truer response can be given than what you have already sensed, that where there is one faith a variation in usage does no harm to holy Church…It cannot be in any way reprehensible to immerse an infant in baptism either thrice or once, since with three immersions the Trinity of persons may be signified, and in one, the singleness of Their Divinity.  Yet, inasmuch as it has until now been the custom of heretics to baptize infants with a triple immersion,  I am of the opinion that this should not be done among you, lest, while the heretics divide the immersions, they should divide also the Divinity, and while they continue to do as they are accustomed to do, they should boast of having got the priority of our custom….”

Clearly illicit to the Rite of Baptism, but arguable regarding validity….  Hard pressed, however, to deny validity declared previously by a saint pope as the Church absolutely desires valid sacraments, particularly baptism for the salvation of souls….

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Me again: I don’t recommend people baptize with one pour, but if someone has done it, it probably had no impact on the validity of the sacrament.

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