Infant Baptism or Infant Presentation?

May 15, 2017

Question:

I came across this question a few times. Some non-Catholic churches don't baptize infants, they only present them. What is the difference between them? Jesus was presented too, so why don't Catholics get presented to God?

Answer: 

Low church Protestants practice baby dedication, or baby presentation, this is a Jewish O.T. practice (cf. https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-baby-dedication-700149). Jesus was presented in the Temple as a Jewish baby (cf. Matt 5:17). Our Lord told the apostles (and us by extension) right before he ascended into heaven - "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matt 28:19). Catholics obey Jesus, we baptize everyone including babies, low church protestants listen and follow the Jewish practice of presenting their babies. The Catholic practice of infant baptism also presents our babies to the Lord but we go even further than that. Our babies receive the sacrament which gives them sanctifying grace, removal of original sin and makes them children of God. Its not either ‘baby presentation’ or ‘infant baptism’, its both.