Spiritual Life and Social Action
Sacraments: Baptism
I Baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit
Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism: - We are freed from sin and reborn children of God
- We become members of Christ
- We are incorporated into the Church
and sharers in her mission The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation (Jn 3:5). He also commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them. Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for the sacrament. The Church knows of no other means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; however,
God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments.
(Catechism of the Catholic Church ¶1257) Baptism is the first of the three Sacraments of initiation which include: If you are a non-Catholic who finds Baptism a comforting and appealing idea, then please consider learning more about the Catholic faith by joining our RCIA program (Rites of Catholic Initiation of Adults).
If you would like to have your child baptized, please contact either:
More on Baptism
The essential rite of Baptism consists in immersing the candidate in water or pouring water on his head, while pronouncing the invocation of the Most Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The fruits of Baptism, or baptismal grace, is a rich reality that includes forgiveness of original sin and all personal sins, birth into the new life by which man becomes an adoptive son of the Father, a member of Christ and a temple of the Holy Spirit. By this very fact the person baptized is incorporated in the Church, the Boy of Christ, and made sharer in the priesthood of Christ.
Baptism imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual sign, the character, which consecrates the baptized person for Christian worship. Because of this character Baptism cannot be repeated.
Since the earliest times, Baptism has been administered to children, for it is a grace and a gift of God that does not presuppose any human merit; children are baptized in the faith of the Church. Entry into Christian life gives access to true freedom. | 
Baptism
detail from
The Seven Sacraments
by Rogier | "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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you"
(Mt 28:19-20) |
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