THE SACRAMENTS OF

INITIATION
The Sacrament of Baptism: Gateway to New
Life
Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist are the sacraments by which we
become full members of the Church, the body of Christ. They provide
the foundation for the other sacraments of the Church: the
sacraments of healing (Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick) and
the sacraments of vocation (Marriage and Holy Orders).
WHAT is BAPTISM?
Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian
life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door
which gives access to the other sacraments.
Through Baptism we are freed from sin and
reborn as children of God; we become members
of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and
made sharers in her mission: Baptism is a
sacrament of regeneration through water in the
word.” (Catechism 1213). Through baptism, we
become part of the royal, priestly people of God,
called to holy lives of prayer and service.
BAPTISM of YOUNG CHILDREN
Parents/Guardians and godparents are
asked to participate in a Baptism
preparation class to update their
understanding of baptism and the important
responsibilities of Christian parenting, and to
learn more about the many ways our parish
supports families.
• Church law requires that there is at least one godparent for
the child baptized. Godparents need to be active, practicing
and confirmed Catholics, at least 16 years of age. Godparents
need to submit written proof of registration from their parish
and participate in a baptism preparation class. Only Catholics
can be godparents because they are asked to promise to help
support raising the child in the Catholic faith. A non-Catholic
Christian can witness the baptism as long as there is one
Catholic godparent. A non-baptized person cannot be a
godparent or witness.
ORIGINAL SIN OBLITERATED BY
GRACE
• The point needs to be emphasized because many people remember the
effects of Baptism only in negative terms: “It takes away original sin.”
• Baptism does take away original sin, of course. Also, in the case of an
adult, it takes away all mortal and venial sins & the punishment due for
them, if the person baptized is truly sorry for them. Baptism makes a
clean sweep of everything.
• But the “taking away” is not a negative removal, like the emptying of a
trash can by the garbage collector. Sin and its
consequences disappear when God comes into the soul, just as darkness
disappears when the light is turned on.
• Sin is a spiritual emptiness which is obliterated by the coming of grace.
BAPTISM IS NECESSARY FOR
SALVATION
• Baptism is necessary for salvation for anyone who has heard the Gospel of Christ
and has the possibility of requesting Baptism.
• If a man has lived to be a hundred and had a healthy and “successful” life, it
means nothing without Baptism. Once he dies, how could health or worldly
success matter at all if this person has missed out on the one thing for which he
was made—eternal union with God?
• There is no escaping the absolute necessity of Baptism.
• “Unless a man be born again of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the
kingdom of God,” Jesus told Nicodemus (John 3:5). And His command to the
Apostles was: “Go into the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature.
He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who does not believe”
(and, by inference, is not baptized) “shall be condemned” (Mark 16: 15-16).
Who can baptize?
• The ordinary minister of Baptism is a priest or a deacon.
• But in an emergency, anyone can baptize—even a non-
Catholic or non-Christian. All that is required is that the
person baptizing:
• Intend to do what the Catholic Church does in this sacrament
• Pour water upon the head (ordinary tap water is fine in an
emergency)
• Say audibly the words of Baptism while pouring water,
similar to: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
• These are words that every Catholic should know as well as
he knows his own name. Someone’s eternal salvation may
one day depend upon the knowing of these words.
THE SYMBOLS OF BAPTISM
• Baptism, like all the Sacraments, involves the use of material
elements, words and songs, symbolic gestures and non-verbal signs
that, when taken together, give life to this precious and indispensable
celebration in the life of a Christian.
In particular, it is worth examining a few of the symbolic elements:
The water of the immersion
The chrism
The oil of the catechumens
The light of the candle
The white robe
THANK YOU!