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Carnation
Lv 7
Carnation asked in Society & CultureReligion & Spirituality · 9 years ago

what was the significance of putting salt in a baby's mouth at RC christenings?

I was brought up as RC. This was still the custom when my youngest sibling was baptized [1970]. But I noticed it was not done at an RC ceremony I went to in the late 80s. Can any Catholics tell me what the salt represented?

Update:

RE - Perhaps it varies in different countries. Amongst the Catholics I have known, the terms baptism and christening were used.

Update 2:

RE - The Catholics I know use both terms. I think ' christen' means 'to make [someone] a Christian, as well as 'to name.'

Update 3:

David - I know of Christians of different denominations who say it is good luck if the baby cries, as it means the devil has been driven out. The salt would be likely to make them cry!

Update 4:

Using salt to sterilize holy water makes sense.

I was 4 days old when baptized. My mother says when the priest put his finger in my mouth, to give me the salt, I just kept sucking his finger. Well - How was I to know? Sucking is instinctive for babies!

5 Answers

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  • Zog Blaster
    Lv 6
    9 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    I recommend a read of this article from the old Catholic Encyclopedia, written in the early 20th century:

    www.newadvent.org/cathen/13403b.htm

    See also: www.fisheaters.com/baptism2.html

  • Ghost Of Christmas Past
    Lv 7
    9 years ago

    It should not have been used at an infant baptism. Salt has long been regarded as an agent of purification. Salt was symbolically given to adult catechumens before their baptism and acceptance into the church. It was also added to the baptismal water to purify it (that was before the days of chlorination). Since the second Vatican Council, the use of salt at Baptism has been optional.

  • ?
    Lv 7
    9 years ago

    Salt is added to the water (holy water) which people are baptized in but I never heard of them placing salt on the mouth?

    Source(s): Catholic Christian
  • Anonymous
    9 years ago

    Catholics call it baptism

    When I was baptized in 1961 they didn't do that and I've never heard of it

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  • david
    Lv 7
    9 years ago

    Could it be to do with banishing evil as such since salt was used in middle ages as a cleansing agent, just a thought. Amen

    Source(s): Theosophy.
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