Dominican Friars Baptizing Ohlone Infant

Dominican Friars Baptizing Ohlone Infant

Uknown Author

Many of the baptismal manuscripts make a distinction between solemn baptisms and private baptisms. Solemn (now known as public) baptisms were likely regular baptisms where the Thamien individual willingly accepted the rite. Private baptisms were given by friars in situations where the conversion was uncertain, such as in the case with individuals who were near death.

In these cases, often without the permission, they would perform a baptism for the individual. For example, after their first year of the Mission’s founding, forty five children were baptized privately, and to their knowledge twenty four of them had died by the time the letter had been written.

https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/articles/history-of-the-mission-san-francisco-de-asis-mission-dolores/