What is Baptism?
Baptism is the first sacrament received and it is called, along with Confirmation and Eucharist, a Sacrament of Christian Initiation. This sacrament lays the very foundation of the Christian life. 
Baptism means a “plunging or immersion into the water symbolizing a burial into Christ’s death and arising as a new creature as in Christ’s resurrection” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1214). It is also called the washing of regeneration and renewal, because in the case of adults, not only original sin but also personal sins are removed completely through the sacrament (Catechism, #1215).

The trinitarian formula is used for the sacrament while the water is poured over the person’s head or during his immersion into water: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” It should be noted that when Baptism is administered in any other Christian denomination using the pouring of water and the trinitarian formula, the Church considers that Baptism valid and will not baptize that person again if he or she becomes Catholic.

What are the effects of Baptism?
The effects of Baptism are truly monumental: The individual is filled with the presence of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Because all sin-original and personal, if any-is taken away completely, the individual has a complete and fresh start in his or her spiritual life. Also, the person becomes an adoptive child of God, a member of the Body of Christ and a Temple of the Holy Spirit. By this fact, he or she is incorporated in the Church, the Body of Christ, and is made a sharer in the priesthood of Christ. Finally, Baptism imprints on the soul an indelible sign, the character (a kind of identity) that consecrates a person for Christian worship (thus, Baptism is never repeated).

It is significant that the Church sees Baptism as a gift of God, as is faith. That is why we have no hesitation in baptizing infants though they may not be conscious of what is happening. As they grow, they will make many acts of faith in God, in the Eucharist and more, and respond to the gift of God’s life they received as infants.

What else is notable about Baptism?
We believe that Baptism is necessary for salvation because of Jesus’ own words: “No one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit ” (Jn 3:5). However, the Church also rightly teaches that while God binds salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, he himself is not bound by the sacraments (Catechism, #1257). The reason for this is that God would never bind anyone to do what is impossible. For example, infants who die in the womb or at birth before Baptism, aborted and miscarried fetuses, all of whom never had a chance to fulfill Jesus’ command, the Church confidently places in God’s mercy and love. Remember Jesus’ own words, “Let the children come to me, do not prevent them” (Mk 10:14).

There are also those who, while not baptized in water, suffer death for the faith and receive the Baptism of Blood. And even those who, through no fault of their own, cannot come to know Christ, but seek the truth and do the will of God in accordance with his understanding of it, can be saved (Catechism, #1258-1260). This is called Baptism of Desire. It is important to note that the Church sees salvation open to all by means of one of these three forms of Baptism.

Some Christian denominations by their doctrines indicate salvation for very few people. Our faith opens the possibility of salvation to all. “God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him” (Jn 3:17 ff). John speaks of the whole world. God wants everyone saved! It is, after all, the reason for which he created every person.

The Sacrament of Baptism initiates us into our journey of life with God. It is God who leads and God who guides, and God who waits to embrace us for all eternity.