Lesson 22: Baptism
When the priest baptizes, it is Christ who baptizes through the priest.
1. What are the three Sacraments of Christian Initiation?
The three Sacraments of Christian Initiation are Baptism, the Eucharist and Confirmation
2. Why is baptism called the gateway to the other sacraments?
Baptism is called the gateway to the other sacraments because without baptism none of the other Sacraments may be received.
3. Who is able to baptize?
The ordinary ministers of baptism are the bishop, the priest, and the deacon. In case of necessity any person, even someone not baptized, can baptize, if he has the intention of doing what the church does; and properly performs the rite of baptism.
4. How is the Sacrament of Baptism conferred?
The person to be baptized is immersed in water three times, or water is poured over the head of the person three times. The minister at the same time says, “N., I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” As each Person of the Holy Trinity is named, the candidate is immersed, or water is poured over his head.
5. Is baptism necessary for salvation?
Yes, baptism is necessary for salvation. The Lord Himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation: “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.” (John 3:5)
Those who suffer death for the sake of Christ without having received Baptism are baptized by their death for Christ. This is called the Baptism of Blood. Those who desired Baptism, but had not yet received the Sacrament before they died, received salvation through the Baptism of Desire.
6. What about those who through no fault of their own did not know about Christ and His Church – can they be saved?
“Every man who is ignorant of the Gospel of Christ and of his Church, but seeks the truth and does the will of God in accordance with his understanding of it, can be saved. It may be supposed that such persons would have desired Baptism explicitly if they had known of its necessity.” (CCC 1260)
7. What about infants who die before the age or reason?
“The great mercy of God who desires that all men should be saved (cf. 1 Timothy 2:24), and Jesus’ tenderness toward children which caused Him to say: “Let the children come to Me, do not hinder them” (Mark 10:14), allow us to hope that there is a way of salvation for children who have died without Baptism.” (CCC 1261)
Nonetheless the Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are ‘reborn of water and the Spirit.’” (CCC 1257)
8. How soon should a baby be baptized?
The baby should be baptized as soon as reasonably possible, certainly within the first month after birth.
It is a mortal sin to delay the Baptism of a baby for a long time.
9. What are the principal effects of Baptism?
The principal effects of baptism are:
-The forgiveness of sin
-The conferral of Sanctifying Grace and the indwelling of the Holy Trinity
-The conferral of a character that will never be destroyed. The character gives us the capacity to receive the other Sacraments validly
-The conferral of the Sacramental Grace, which helps us to live as holy children of God, friends of Christ, and members of the Church.
10. What sins are forgiven?
We are forgiven of:
-Original sin
-All personal sins
-The punishment due to all sins
11. Do any consequences of original sin still remain after baptism?
Certain consequences of original sin will still remain as long as we are in this world:
-Ignorance
-Suffering, illness, and death
-An inclination to sin and selfishness called concupiscence. Because of this man is in a spiritual battle.
These consequences of sin will all disappear only in heaven.
12. What is the indwelling of the Holy Trinity and Sanctifying Grace?
At baptism the Holy Trinity comes to dwell within the person: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you.” (1 Corinthians 6:19)
The indwelling Holy Trinity also creates and sustains within the soul Sanctifying Grace – the life of Jesus in our souls. Sanctifying Grace is real. It transforms the soul .It makes us and all of our good actions holy and pleasing to God.
Flowing from Sanctifying Grace are the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and love; the gifts of the Holy Spirit; and the infused moral virtues.
-By faith, we are able to believe in God and all that He has revealed; by hope, we are able to hope in God’s mercy and his promises, especially the promise of heaven; and by love, we are able to love God and our neighbor as He Himself loves us.
-By the gifts of the Holy Spirit we have the power to live and act under the promptings of the Holy Spirit
– By the infused moral virtues, we are able to imitate Jesus more closely in all of our thoughts, words, actions.
Baptism also gives us a character, a spiritual mark that will never be destroyed.
13. What new relationships does Baptism give us?
Baptism makes us the adopted children of God, so that we can call him “Abba”, Baptism make us children of the Mother of God.
Baptism makes us brothers and sisters of all the saints and angels in heaven, and of all the members of the Church on earth and in purgatory.
Baptism makes heaven our true “home”.
Baptism makes us member of the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ.
Baptism gives us a deep communion with Christ, making us share in his mission as priest, prophet and king.
14. Through Baptism, what is God calling us to do?
Through Baptism we are called to die to sin and live a holy life.
Through baptism, and the union with Christ that it produces, we are called to work for the salvation of the world through our prayers, sufferings, words, and deeds.
