SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

PURPOSE

►Catechism of the Catholic Church #1213
 
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 as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word."

For a CCC link and printer friendly USCCB document related to the Sacrament of Baptism, please explore the sidebar. Also in the sidebar is a video from Busted Halo on the Sacrament of Baptism.

FAITH DOCTRINE REFERENCES

►CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
 
ALL BAPTISM REFERENCES
of adults, 1247-49
apostles and the mission of baptizing, 1223, 1276
Baptismal promises, 1185, 1254, 2101, 2340
of blood, 1258
catechumens, their instruction and, 281
catechumens who die without baptism and salvation, 1259, 1281
chastity and, 2345, 2348, 2355
Christian life rooted in, 1266
Christian name and, 2156, 2165
Christ's Passion and cross as the font of, 1225
the Church and, 846, 866, 1226-28, 1267
conversion and, 1427-29
desire for, 1258-60, 1280
faith and, 172, 1226, 1236, 1253-55
grace of, 1262-66, 1308
grace of Christ and, 1255, 1262-74, 1279, 1997, 1999
Holy Spirit and, 691, 694, 698, 701, 798, 1274, 2017, 2670
of infants, 403, 1231, 1233, 1250-52, 1282, 1290
infants who have died without, 1261, 1283
of Jesus, 535-37, 556, 565, 608, 701, 1223-25, 1286
of John the Baptist, 523, 720
names for, 1214-16
necessity of, 846, 1257-61, 1277
Passion of Christ and, 565, 1225
prefigurings of, 117, 527, 1094, 1217-22
profession of faith and, 14, 167, 189, 1064
religious consecration and, 916, 931, 945
as the sacrament of faith, 1236, 1253
significance of, 628, 950, 1213-14, 1220, 1227-28, 1234-45, 1262, 1617
those who can be baptized, 1246-47
unity of Christians and, 855, 1271
See also Sacrament(s)
administration and rites of Baptism
    anointing with oil and, 1294
    exorcism in the celebration of, 1673
    faculty of laypersons for conferring, 903
    godfather, godmother, parents, and, 1255, 1311
    handing on of the Lord's Prayer in, 2769
    ministers of, 1256, 1284
    rite of, 1185, 1229-45, 1278, 2769
    water and its symbolic power in, 694, 1214, 1217
Baptism and sacraments, 1113, 1210, 1535
    and Anointing of the Sick, 1523
    and Christian initiation, 1212, 1229-33, 1275, 1285, 1306, 1318, 1321, 1525, 1533
    and Confirmation, 1288-91, 1298, 1304-06, 1312-13
    and the Eucharist, 1244, 1392, 1396
    and Penance, 980, 1425, 1446-47, 2042
effects of Baptism, 1262
    apostolate, offices following from Baptism, 871, 900, 1268
    communion with the Church, 838, 846, 1267-70, 1273, 1277, 1279
    consecration to holy priesthood, 119, 1141, 1305, 1546, 1591
    entering the Church, the People of God, 782, 784, 804, 846, 950, 1185, 1277
    final salvation and Baptism, 1023, 2068
    forgiveness of sins, 403, 405, 628, 977-80, 981, 985, 1213, 1216, 1262-66, 1279, 1434, 1694, 2520
    gift of faith and of new life, 168, 1236, 1253-55
    gift of the theological virtues and the gifts of the Holy Spirit as well as the virtue of merit, 1266
    justification and Baptism, 1987, 1992, 2020, 2813
    life-giving effect of the Word of God, 1228
    makes of us members of Christ's body, 537, 818, 871, 950, 985, 1003, 1267-70, 1279, 1694, 2565, 2782, 2791, 2798
    a new creature born in the Spirit, 168, 507, 683, 1010, 1227, 1262, 1265-66, 1277, 1279
    participation in the life of the Trinity, 265
    rights and duties arising from Baptism, 1269-70
    sacramental character, an indelible spiritual mark, 1272-74, 1280
    sanctification and Baptism, 2813
    union in Baptism with Christ who died, 790, 1002, 1010, 1227