Infant Baptism

"Where there is no scarcity of water the stream shall flow through the baptismal font or pour into it from above; but if water is scarce,
whether on a constant condition or on occasion, then use whatever water is available. Let them remove their clothing. Baptize first the
children, and if they can speak for themselves let them do so. Otherwise, let their parents or other relatives speak for them."

HIPPOLYTUS, The Apostolic Tradition [A.D. 215]

According to the usage of the Church, Baptism is given even to infants. And indeed if there were nothing in infants which required a
remission of sins and nothing in them pertinent to forgiveness, the grace of Baptism would seem superfluous.

ORIGEN, Homilies on Leviticus, Homily 8, 3 [A.D. 185-253]

The Church received from the Apostles the tradition of giving Baptism even to infants. For the Apostles, to whom were committed the
secrets of divine mysteries, knew that there is in everyone the innate stains of sin, which must be washed away through water and the
Spirit.

ORIGEN, Commentaries on Romans 5:9 [A.D. 185-253]

2. But in respect of the case of the infants, which you say ought not to be baptized within the second or third day after their birth, and
that the law of ancient circumcision should be regarded, so that you think that one who is just born should not be baptized and
sanctified with in the eighth day, we all thought very differently in our council. For in this course which you thought was to be taken,
no one agreed; but we all rather judge that the mercy and grace of God is not to be refused to any one born of man. For as the Lord says
in His Gospel, "The Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them," as far as we Can, We must strive that, if possible,
no soul be lost. For what is wanting to him who has once been formed in the womb by the hand of God? To us, indeed, and to our eyes,
according to the worldly course of days, they who are born appear to receive an increase. But whatever things are made by God, are
completed by the majesty and work of God their Maker.

5. For which reason we think that no one is to be hindered from obtaining grace by that law which was already ordained, and that
spiritual circumcision ought not to be hindered by carnal circumcision, but that absolutely every man is to be admitted to the grace of
Christ, since Peter also in the Acts of the Apostles speaks, and says, "The Lord hath said to me that I should call no man common or
unclean." But if anything could hinder men from obtaining grace, their more heinous sins might rather hinder those who are mature and
grown up and older. But again, if even to the greatest sinners, and to those who had sinned much against God, when they
subsequently believed, remission of sins is granted--and nobody is hindered from baptism and from grace--how much rather ought we
to shrink from hindering an infant, who, being lately born, has not sinned, except in that, being born after the flesh according to Adam,
he has contracted the contagion of the ancient death at its earliest birth, who approaches the more easily on this very account to the
reception of the forgiveness of sins--that to him are remitted, not his own sins, but the sins of another.

CYPRIAN, Epistle 58:2,5, To Fidus on the Baptism of Infants [A.D. 200-258]

You see how many are the benefits of Baptism, and some think its heavenly grace consists only in the remission of sins; but we have
enumerated ten honors. For this reason we baptize even infants, though they are not defiled by sin [or though they do not have personal
sins] so that there may be given to them holiness, righteousness, adoption, inheritance, brotherhood with Christ, and that they may be
His members.

JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, Baptismal Catecheses quoted by Augustine in Contra Iulianum 1:6:21 [A.D. 347-407]

CANON LXXII. (Greek lxxv.) Of the baptism of infants when there is some doubt of their being already baptized. ITEM, it seemed good
that whenever there were not found reliable witnesses who could testify that without any doubt they were baptized and when the
children themselves were not, on account of their tender age, able to answer concerning the giving of the sacraments to them, all such
children should be baptized without scruple, lest a hesitation should deprive them of the cleansing of the sacraments.

CANON CX. (Greek cxii. bis) That infants are baptized for the remission of sins. LIKEWISE it seemed good that whosoever denies that
infants newly from their mother's wombs should be baptized, or says that baptism is for remission of sins, but that they derive from
Adam no original sin, which needs to be removed by the layer of regeneration, from whence the conclusion follows, that in them the
form of baptism for the remission of sins, is to be understood as false and not true, let him be anathema.

COUNCIL OF CARTHAGE, Canon 72 and 110 [A.D. 419]

Have you an infant child? Do not let sin get any opportunity, but let him be sanctified from his childhood; from his very tenderest age let
him be consecrated by the Spirit. Fearest thou the Seal on account of the weakness of nature? O what a small-souled mother, and of how
little faith!

GREGORY NAZIANZEN, Oration 40:17 [A.D. 325-389]

Be it so, some will say, in the case of those who ask for Baptism; what have you to say about those who are still children, and conscious
neither of the loss nor of the grace? Are we to baptize them too? Certainly, if any danger presses. For it is better that they should be
unconsciously sanctified than that they should depart unsealed and uninitiated.

GREGORY NAZIANZEN, Oration 40:28 [A.D. 325-389]

The blessed Cyprian, indeed, said, in order to correct those who thought that an infant should not be baptized before the eighth day, that
it was not the body but the soul which behoved to be saved from perdition -- in which statement he was not inventing any new doctrine,
but preserving the firmly established faith of the Church; and he, along with some of his colleagues in the episcopal office, held that a
child may be properly baptized immediately after its birth.

AUGUSTINE, Letter 166, Chapter 8:23 [354-430]