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Objection 1: It seems that a child can be baptized while yet in its
mother's womb. For the gift of Christ is more efficacious unto
salvation than Adam's sin unto condemnation, as the Apostle says
(Rm. 5:15). But a child while yet in its mother's womb is
under sentence of condemnation on account of Adam's sin. For much
more reason, therefore, can it be saved through the gift of Christ,
which is bestowed by means of Baptism. Therefore a child can be
baptized while yet in its mother's womb.
Objection 2: Further, a child, while yet in its mother's womb,
seems to be part of its mother. Now, when the mother is baptized,
whatever is in her and part of her, is baptized. Therefore it seems
that when the mother is baptized, the child in her womb is baptized.
Objection 3: Further, eternal death is a greater evil than death of
the body. But of two evils the less should be chosen. If,
therefore, the child in the mother's womb cannot be baptized, it
would be better for the mother to be opened, and the child to be taken
out by force and baptized, than that the child should be eternally
damned through dying without Baptism.
Objection 4: Further, it happens at times that some part of the
child comes forth first, as we read in Gn. 38:27: "In the
very delivery of the infants, one put forth a hand, whereon the
midwife tied a scarlet thread, saying: This shall come forth the
first. But he drawing back his hand, the other came forth." Now
sometimes in such cases there is danger of death. Therefore it seems
that that part should be baptized, while the child is yet in its
mother's womb.
On the contrary, Augustine says (Ep. ad Dardan.): "No one
can be born a second time unless he be born first." But Baptism is a
spiritual regeneration. Therefore no one should be baptized before he
is born from the womb.
I answer that, It is essential to Baptism that some part of the body
of the person baptized be in some way washed with water, since Baptism
is a kind of washing, as stated above (Question 66, Article
1). But an infant's body, before being born from the womb, can
nowise be washed with water; unless perchance it be said that the
baptismal water, with which the mother's body is washed, reaches the
child while yet in its mother's womb. But this is impossible: both
because the child's soul, to the sanctification of which Baptism is
ordained, is distinct from the soul of the mother; and because the
body of the animated infant is already formed, and consequently
distinct from the body of the mother. Therefore the Baptism which the
mother receives does not overflow on to the child which is in her womb.
Hence Augustine says (Cont. Julian. vi): "If what is
conceived within a mother belonged to her body, so as to be considered
a part thereof, we should not baptize an infant whose mother, through
danger of death, was baptized while she bore it in her womb. Since,
then, it," i.e. the infant, "is baptized, it certainly did not
belong to the mother's body while it was in the womb." It follows,
therefore, that a child can nowise be baptized while in its mother's
womb.
Reply to Objection 1: Children while in the mother's womb have not
yet come forth into the world to live among other men. Consequently
they cannot be subject to the action of man, so as to receive the
sacrament, at the hands of man, unto salvation. They can, however,
be subject to the action of God, in Whose sight they live, so as,
by a kind of privilege, to receive the grace of sanctification; as was
the case with those who were sanctified in the womb.
Reply to Objection 2: An internal member of the mother is something
of hers by continuity and material union of the part with the whole:
whereas a child while in its mother's womb is something of hers through
being joined with, and yet distinct from her. Wherefore there is no
comparison.
Reply to Objection 3: We should "not do evil that there may come
good" (Rm. 3:8). Therefore it is wrong to kill a mother that
her child may be baptized. If, however, the mother die while the
child lives yet in her womb, she should be opened that the child may be
baptized.
Reply to Objection 4: Unless death be imminent, we should wait
until the child has entirely come forth from the womb before baptizing
it. If, however, the head, wherein the senses are rooted, appear
first, it should be baptized, in cases of danger: nor should it be
baptized again, if perfect birth should ensue. And seemingly the same
should be done in cases of danger no matter what part of the body appear
first. But as none of the exterior parts of the body belong to its
integrity in the same degree as the head, some hold that since the
matter is doubtful, whenever any other part of the body has been
baptized, the child, when perfect birth has taken place, should be
baptized with the form: "If thou art not baptized, I baptize
thee," etc.
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