The Roman Catholic Church believes an unChristened /Baptised child ,should it die, would not go to heaven but remain in Limbo- the borderland of Hell!
Assigned to the unbaptised,and those born before Jesus-Christ- so unCHRISTened .Not heaven but not as bad as hell.
Out of concern for such children the R.C. Church baptises new born babies as soon as possible.
The C.of England is not so concerned about Limbo and is better known as the welcoming into the Church.our zMinister always says to the parents at a Christening ( or baptism) “ You have named your baby ,we welcome him/ her into the family of The Church”.
It is not a legal requirement , and now not so many people attend church many parents don’t bother,some do because they want the child to attend a Church School, which have good reputations , and those schools do require it.
Other parents want the family get together and do believe the baby will then be part of the Church family.
Others—— well honestly it is often just an excuse for a knees up.
We mostly never see them again but they are made most welcome at the time.
There is superstition attached ,older generation women really
believed babies did not thrive if not Christened!
My mother in law was of that opinion ,I was almost scared to say my son had gained twelve ounces in weight the first week of his life, and him not Christened until three weeks old !
How dare he!
Often Roman Catholic babies are Christened whilst still in hospital and just a day or two old.That is certainly common in Catholic European countries, it is the worry of them being in Limbo you see.in days gone by neo natal deaths were very common.
Sorry but that is a strong belief ,which I don’t believe.
If there is such a place as heaven an innocent baby is the most likely one to go there but I respect the age old beliefs of others.
So I am pretty sure Baptism and Christening ,especially for lay people are interchangeable words, but you are correct in saying Baptism is a sacrament whilst Christening is not ,so the welcoming of the baby by the use of water( back to John the Baptist) -Baptism and it’s washing away of original sin ie the sins we are born with- is the sacrament and the naming during that rite is
Christening.
The child is then “ known to Christ”.
Most people say a baby is being Christened very few say Baptised.
, Even Church magazines etc list Christenings ,ours is one such.
You don’t get a Baptism without the naming also and not the naming without the Baptism,well not in Church.
I don’t think I have made it any clearer have I!
Viktoria.
Viktoria.