When the water is poured once, rather than in a threefold manner
VALID but illicit: No need for conditional baptism.
VALID but illicit: No need for conditional baptism.
Authorities
“Trine immersion is universally observed in Baptism: and consequently anyone baptizing otherwise would sin gravely, through not following the ritual of the Church. It would, however, be valid Baptism.”
St Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica III 66.8 (Reminder: we earn through Amazon links)
“It is necessary in baptizing to make use of a threefold ablution in conferring this sacrament, by reason of the prescription of the Roman ritual. This necessarily refers, however, to the liceity, not to the validity of the ceremony, as St. Thomas (III:66:8) and other theologians expressly state.”
William Fanning, ‘Baptism’, The Catholic Encyclopaedia 1918
“Although it pertains to the lawful administration only [i.e., it does not affect validity – editor], it is probably a grave obligation.”
Nicholas Halligan OP, The Administration of the Sacraments, Alba House 1964, pp 33-34
“The proximate lawful matter in the Western Church consists in the triple infusion, i.e., the one baptizing pours water three times on the head of the one being baptized while pronouncing the form. This practice obliges under mortal sin. [Ed: That it is required for liceity, not for validity.]”
Heribert Jone, Moral Theology, The Newman Press 1962, n. 467.4
“One such ceremonial washing suffices for validity and in case of necessity even for liceity.”
Thomas Donlan OP et al, Christ and His Sacraments, The Priory Press, Dubuque, Iowa, 1958, pp 335-7
“In Christian antiquity a triple immersion or triple infusion of water took place, so that St. Basil said that this rite was received ‘from the tradition of the Apostles.’ However, this rite was not thought to be necessary for the essence of the sacrament, as is clear from the declaration of St. Gregory the Great to St. Leander.”
Joseph A. de Adalma SJ et al, Summa Theologiae Sacrae IVA (1956), Keep the Faith Press 2015. 45, p 146.
If you suspect that your baptism may have been defective—whether in form, matter, or intention—then speak to a traditional Catholic priest.
We cannot provide personal advice on such cases.
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Very interesting. My daughter was baptized by a traditional bishop, and for the 3rd ablution, the water in the cruet ran empty, such that the 3rd ablution was only a sprinkling. According to these sources, therefore, this baptism was valid, but illicit. It had been in the back of my mind ever since (7 years), and I consulted several traditional priests, all of whom opined in favor of validity, but did not supply any sources. This article supplies the sources, and I am more at peace with the conclusion having seen the authorities upon which the conclusion rests. Thank you!