“Then Jesus approached [the Apostles] and said to them, ‘All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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.’”

- Matthew 28:18-20

The Sacrament of Baptism is the first Sacrament as it opens one to receive the rest of them. It is also one of the Sacraments of Initiation along with Confirmation and Eucharist.

Baptism gives a person birth into new life. It is necessary for salvation. Baptism gives one entrance into the Church.

The rite of Baptism consists of immersing the person in water three times or pouring water on their head three times while invoking the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The effects of Baptism are the cleansing of sin (Original and personal), adoption as a child of God, being made a member of Christ and a temple of the Holy Spirit, entrance into the Church, and being made a sharer in Christ’s mission as priest, prophet and king.

Baptism leaves a permanent spiritual mark identifying one as belonging to Jesus. Because of this it can only be done once and one cannot be unbaptized or de-baptized.

Who can be baptized?

Anyone who has not yet been baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity. This includes adults, children, and infants. Persons who have received a Trinitarian baptism in another Christian faith tradition do not need to be re-baptized.

Why can infants be baptized? Don’t they need faith?

Infants have been baptized since the time of the Apostles. When an adults came to faith and were baptized in the Acts of the Apostles, it says the whole household, presuming even infants and children, were baptized. The early Church witnesses to this practice. Infants have Original Sin and need to be freed from it and welcomed into the Church, where they have access to the fullness of the means of salvation. It is the parents and godparents who supply the faith for the Sacrament. What about children who die without Baptism? The Church entrusts them to the tender mercy of God who wills that all people be saved. Jesus says “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14). Because of this the Church confidently hopes for the salvation of children who die without Baptism.