The Sacraments of Christian Initiation

The Sacrament of Baptism

1213 Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), (cf. Council Of Florence: DS 1314: Vitae cf. 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. (Roman Catechism II, 2,5; cf. Council of Florence: DS 1314; Code of Canon Law, Canons 204 § 1; 849; Corpus Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium, Canon 675 § 1)

I. What is this sacrament called?

1214 This sacrament is called Baptism, after the central rite by which it is carried out: to baptize (Greek baptizein) means to plunge or immerse; the plunge into the water symbolizes the catechumen's burial into Christ's death, from which he rises up by resurrection with him, a new creature. (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; cf. Romans 6:20-23; Colossians 2:12)

1215 This sacrament is also called the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit, for it signifies and actually brings about the birth of water and the Spirit without which no one can enter the kingdom of God. (Titus 3:5; John 3:5)

1216 "This bath is called enlightenment, because those who receive this [catechetical] instruction are enlightened in their understanding . . . . (St. Justin, Apol. 1,61,12:PG 6,421) "Having received in Baptism the Word, the true light that enlightens every man, the person baptized has been enlightened, he becomes a son of light, indeed, he becomes light himself: (John 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:5; Hebrews 10:32; Ephesians 5:8)

Baptism is God's most beautiful and magnificent gift. . . .We call it gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal, and most precious gift. It is called gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own; grace since it is given even to the guilty; Baptism because sin is buried in the water; anointing for it is priestly and royal as are those who are anointed; enlightenment because it radiates light; clothing since it veils our shame; bath because it washes; and seal as it is our guard and the sign of God's Lordship.

St. Gregory Of Nazianzus, Oratio 40,3-4:PG 36,361C

"A New Creature!"

1265 Baptism not only purifies from all sins, but also makes the neophyte a new creature, an adopted son of God, who has become a partaker of the divine nature, (2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Peter 1:4; cf. Galatians 4:5-7) member of Christ and co-heir with him, (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:15; 1 Corinthians 12:27; Romans 8:17) and a temple of the Holy Spirit. (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:19)

1266 The Most Holy Trinity gives the baptized sanctifying grace, the grace of justification:

• enabling them to believe in God, to hope in him, and to love him through the theological virtues;
• giving them the power to live and act under the prompting of the Holy Spirit through the gifts of the Holy Spirit;
• allowing them to grow in goodness through the moral virtues.
  

Thus the whole organism of the Christian's supernatural life has its roots in Baptism.

Incorporated into the Church, the Body of Christ

1267 Baptism makes us members of the Body of Christ: Therefore . . . we are members one of another. (Ephesians 4:25) Baptism incorporates us into the Church. From the baptismal fonts is born the one People of God of the New Covenant, which transcends all the natural or human limits of nations, cultures, races, and sexes: For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. (1 Corinthians 12:13)

1268 The baptized have become living stones to be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood. (1 Peter 2:5) By Baptism they share in the priesthood of Christ, in his prophetic and royal mission. They are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that [they] may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called [them] out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9) Baptism gives a share in the common priesthood of all believers.

1269 Having become a member of the Church, the person baptized belongs no longer to himself, but to him who died and rose for us. (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 5:15) From now on, he is called to be subject to others, to serve them in the communion of the Church, and to "obey and submit" to the Church's leaders, (Hebrews 13:17) holding them in respect and affection. (cf. Ephesians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 16:15-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; John 13:12-15) Just as Baptism is the source of responsibilities and duties, the baptized person also enjoys rights within the Church: to receive the sacraments, to be nourished with the Word of God and to be sustained by the other spiritual helps of the Church. (cf. Vatican II, Lumen Gentium 37; Code of Canon Law, canons 208-223; Corpus Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium, canon 675: 2)

1270 Reborn as sons of God, [the baptized] must profess before men the faith they have received from God through the Church and participate in the apostolic and missionary activity of the People of God. (Vatican II, Lumen Gentium 11; cf. Vatican II, Lumen Gentium 17; Vatican II, Ad Gentes 7, 23)