Catechism of the Catholic Church · Part Two › Section Two › Chapter One · Article 1 (§§1213–1284)
Paragraphs · 72
The Catechism's text is under copyright, so each paragraph is quoted briefly here with a link to the full text at vatican.va.
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), and the door which gives access to the other sacraments.vatican.va
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, as "a new creature."vatican.va
- §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."vatican.va
- §1216 — "This bath is called enlightenment, because those who receive this [catechetical] instruction are enlightened in their understanding . . " 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:vatican.va
Prefigurations of Baptism in the Old Covenant
- §1217 — In the liturgy of the Easter Vigil, during the blessing of the baptismal water, the Church solemnly commemorates the great events in salvation history that already prefigured the mystery of Baptism:vatican.va
- §1218 — Since the beginning of the world, water, so humble and wonderful a creature, has been the source of life and fruitfulness. Sacred Scripture sees it as "oveshadowed" by the Spirit of God:vatican.va
- §1219 — The Church has seen in Noah's ark a prefiguring of salvation by Baptism, for by it "a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water":vatican.va
- §1220 — If water springing up from the earth symbolizes life, the water of the sea is a symbol of death and so can represent the mystery of the cross.vatican.va
- §1221 — But above all, the crossing of the Red Sea, literally the liberation of Israel from the slavery of Egypt, announces the liberation wrought by Baptism:vatican.va
- §1222 — Finally, Baptism is prefigured in the crossing of the Jordan River by which the People of God received the gift of the land promised to Abraham's descendants, an image of eternal life.vatican.va
- §1223 — All the Old Covenant prefigurations find their fulfillment in Christ Jesus. He begins his public life after having himself baptized by St. John the Baptist in the Jordan.vatican.va
- §1224 — Our Lord voluntarily submitted himself to the baptism of St. John, intended for sinners, in order to "fulfill all righteousness." Jesus' gesture is a manifestation of his self-emptying.vatican.va
- §1225 — In his Passover Christ opened to all men the fountain of Baptism. He had already spoken of his Passion, which he was about to suffer in Jerusalem, as a "Baptism" with which he had to be baptized.vatican.va
- §1226 — From the very day of Pentecost the Church has celebrated and administered holy Baptism. Indeed St. Peter declares to the crowd astounded by his preaching: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."vatican.va
- §1227 — According to the Apostle Paul, the believer enters through Baptism into communion with Christ's death, is buried with him, and rises with him:vatican.va
- §1228 — Hence Baptism is a bath of water in which the "imperishable seed" of the Word of God produces its life-giving effect. St. Augustine says of Baptism: "The word is brought to the material element, and it becomes a sacrament."vatican.va
Christian Initiation
- §1229 — From the time of the apostles, becoming a Christian has been accomplished by a journey and initiation in several stages. This journey can be covered rapidly or slowly, but certain essential elements will always have to be present: proclamation of the Word, acceptance of the…vatican.va
- §1230 — This initiation has varied greatly through the centuries according to circumstances. In the first centuries of the Church, Christian initiation saw considerable development. A long period of catechumenate included a series of preparatory rites, which were liturgical landmarks along the path of catechumenal preparation and culminated in the celebration of the sacraments of Christian initiation.vatican.va
- §1231 — Where infant Baptism has become the form in which this sacrament is usually celebrated, it has become a single act encapsulating the preparatory stages of Christian initiation in a very abridged way.vatican.va
- §1232 — The second Vatican Council restored for the Latin Church "the catechumenate for adults, comprising several distinct steps." The rites for these stages are to be found in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).vatican.va
- §1233 — Today in all the rites, Latin and Eastern, the Christian initiation of adults begins with their entry into the catechumenate and reaches its culmination in a single celebration of the three sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist.vatican.va
- §1234 — The meaning and grace of the sacrament of Baptism are clearly seen in the rites of its celebration. By following the gestures and words of this celebration with attentive participation, the faithful are initiated into the riches this sacrament signifies and actually brings about in each newly baptized person.vatican.va
- §1235 — The sign of the cross, on the threshold of the celebration, marks with the imprint of Christ the one who is going to belong to him and signifies the grace of the redemption Christ won for us by his cross.vatican.va
- §1236 — The proclamation of the Word of God enlightens the candidates and the assembly with the revealed truth and elicits the response of faith, which is inseparable from Baptism.vatican.va
- §1237 — Since Baptism signifies liberation from sin and from its instigator the devil, one or more exorcisms are pronounced over the candidate. the celebrant then anoints him with the oil of catechumens, or lays his hands on him, and he explicitly renounces Satan.vatican.va
- §1238 — The baptismal water is consecrated by a prayer of epiclesis (either at this moment or at the Easter Vigil). the Church asks God that through his Son the power of the Holy Spirit may be sent upon the water, so that those who will be…vatican.va
- §1239 — The essential rite of the sacrament follows: Baptism properly speaking. It signifies and actually brings about death to sin and entry into the life of the Most Holy Trinity through configuration to the Paschal mystery of Christ.vatican.va
- §1240 — , I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." , is baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."vatican.va
- §1241 — The anointing with sacred chrism, perfumed oil consecrated by the bishop, signifies the gift of the Holy Spirit to the newly baptized, who has become a Christian, that is, one "anointed" by the Holy Spirit, incorporated into Christ who is anointed priest, prophet, and king.vatican.va
- §1242 — In the liturgy of the Eastern Churches, the post-baptismal anointing is the sacrament of Chrismation (Confirmation). In the Roman liturgy the post-baptismal anointing announces a second anointing with sacred chrism to be conferred later by the bishop Confirmation, which will as it were "confirm" and complete the baptismal anointing.vatican.va
- §1243 — The white garment symbolizes that the person baptized has "put on Christ," has risen with Christ. the candle, lit from the Easter candle, signifies that Christ has enlightened the neophyte.vatican.va
- §1244 — First Holy Communion. Having become a child of God clothed with the wedding garment, the neophyte is admitted "to the marriage supper of the Lamb" and receives the food of the new life, the body and blood of Christ.vatican.va
- §1245 — The solemn blessing concludes the celebration of Baptism. At the Baptism of newborns the blessing of the mother occupies a special place.vatican.va
IV. Who can Receive Baptism?
- §1246 — "Every person not yet baptized and only such a person is able to be baptized."vatican.va
- §1247 — Since the beginning of the Church, adult Baptism is the common practice where the proclamation of the Gospel is still new. the catechumenate (preparation for Baptism) therefore occupies an important place.vatican.va
- §1248 — The catechumenate, or formation of catechumens, aims at bringing their conversion and faith to maturity, in response to the divine initiative and in union with an ecclesial community.vatican.va
- §1249 — Catechumens "are already joined to the Church, they are already of the household of Christ, and are quite frequently already living a life of faith, hope, and charity."vatican.va
- §1250 — Born with a fallen human nature and tainted by original sin, children also have need of the new birth in Baptism to be freed from the power of darkness and brought into the realm of the freedom of the children of God, to which all men are called.vatican.va
- §1251 — Christian parents will recognize that this practice also accords with their role as nurturers of the life that God has entrusted to them.vatican.va
- §1252 — The practice of infant Baptism is an immemorial tradition of the Church. There is explicit testimony to this practice from the second century on, and it is quite possible that, from the beginning of the apostolic preaching, when whole "households" received baptism, infants may also have been baptized.vatican.va
- §1253 — Baptism is the sacrament of faith. But faith needs the community of believers. It is only within the faith of the Church that each of the faithful can believe.vatican.va
- §1254 — For all the baptized, children or adults, faith must grow after Baptism. For this reason the Church celebrates each year at the Easter Vigil the renewal of baptismal promises.vatican.va
- §1255 — For the grace of Baptism to unfold, the parents' help is important. So too is the role of the godfather and godmother, who must be firm believers, able and ready to help the newly baptized - child or adult on the road of Christian life.vatican.va
V. Who can Baptize?
- §1256 — The ordinary ministers of Baptism are the bishop and priest and, in the Latin Church, also the deacon. In case of necessity, any person, even someone not baptized, can baptize, if he has the required intention.vatican.va
VI. The Necessity of Baptism
- §1257 — The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation. He also commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them.vatican.va
- §1258 — The Church has always held the firm conviction that those who suffer death for the sake of the faith without having received Baptism are baptized by their death for and with Christ.vatican.va
- §1259 — For catechumens who die before their Baptism, their explicit desire to receive it, together with repentance for their sins, and charity, assures them the salvation that they were not able to receive through the sacrament.vatican.va
- §1260 — "Since Christ died for all, and since all men are in fact called to one and the same destiny, which is divine, we must hold that the Holy Spirit offers to all the possibility of being made partakers, in a way known to God, of the Paschal mystery."vatican.va
- §1261 — As regards children who have died without Baptism, the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God, as she does in her funeral rites for them.vatican.va
VII. The Grace of Baptism
- §1262 — The different effects of Baptism are signified by the perceptible elements of the sacramental rite. Immersion in water symbolizes not only death and purification, but also regeneration and renewal.vatican.va
- §1263 — By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin. In those who have been reborn nothing remains that would impede their entry into the Kingdom of God, neither Adam's sin, nor personal sin, nor the…vatican.va
- §1264 — Yet certain temporal consequences of sin remain in the baptized, such as suffering, illness, death, and such frailties inherent in life as weaknesses of character, and so on, as well as an inclination to sin that Tradition calls concupiscence, or metaphorically, "the tinder for sin"…vatican.va
- §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," member of Christ and coheir with him, and a temple of the Holy Spirit.vatican.va
- §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…vatican.va
- §1267 — Baptism makes us members of the Body of Christ: "Therefore . . we are members one of another." 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…vatican.va
- §1268 — The baptized have become "living stones" to be "built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood." By Baptism they share in the priesthood of Christ, in his prophetic and royal mission.vatican.va
- §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. From now on, he is called to be subject to others, to serve them in the communion of the Church, and…vatican.va
- §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.va
- §1271 — Baptism constitutes the foundation of communion among all Christians, including those who are not yet in full communion with the Catholic Church: "For men who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in some, though imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church.vatican.va
- §1272 — Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, the person baptized is configured to Christ. Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark (character) of his belonging to Christ.vatican.va
- §1273 — Incorporated into the Church by Baptism, the faithful have received the sacramental character that consecrates them for Christian religious worship. The baptismal seal enables and commits Christians to serve God by a vital participation in the holy liturgy of the Church and to exercise their…vatican.va
- §1274 — The Holy Spirit has marked us with the seal of the Lord ("Dominicus character") "for the day of redemption." "Baptism indeed is the seal of eternal life."vatican.va
In Brief
- §1275 — Christian initiation is accomplished by three sacraments together: Baptism which is the beginning of new life; Confirmation which is its strengthening; and the Eucharist which nourishes the disciple with Christ's Body and Blood for his transformation in Christ.vatican.va
- §1276 — "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, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" (Mt 28:19-20).vatican.va
- §1277 — Baptism is birth into the new life in Christ. In accordance with the Lord's will, it is necessary for salvation, as is the Church herself, which we enter by Baptism.vatican.va
- §1278 — The essential rite of Baptism consists in immersing the candidate in water or pouring water on his head, while pronouncing the invocation of the Most Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.vatican.va
- §1279 — The fruit of Baptism, or baptismal grace, is a rich reality that includes forgiveness of original sin and all personal sins, birth into the new life by which man becomes an adoptive son of the Father, a member of Christ and a temple of the Holy Spirit.vatican.va
- §1280 — Baptism imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual sign, the character, which consecrates the baptized person for Christian worship. Because of the character Baptism cannot be repeated (cf.vatican.va
- §1281 — Those who die for the faith, those who are catechumens, and all those who, without knowing of the Church but acting under the inspiration of grace, seek God sincerely and strive to fulfill his will, are saved even if they have not been baptized (cf.vatican.va
- §1282 — Since the earliest times, Baptism has been administered to children, for it is a grace and a gift of God that does not presuppose any human merit; children are baptized in the faith of the Church.vatican.va
- §1283 — With respect to children who have died without Baptism, the liturgy of the Church invites us to trust in God's mercy and to pray for their salvation.vatican.va
- §1284 — In case of necessity, any person can baptize provided that he have the intention of doing that which the Church does and provided that he pours water on the candidate's head while saying: "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."vatican.va
Scripture cited · 81 verses
Genesis 1:2 · Matthew 3:13 · Matthew 3:15 · Matthew 3:16 · Matthew 3:17 · Matthew 5:14 · Matthew 28:19 · Matthew 28:20 · Mark 10:38 · Mark 16:15 · Mark 16:16 · Luke 12:50 · John 1:9 · John 3:5 · John 13:12 · John 13:13 · John 13:14 · John 13:15 · John 19:34 · Acts 2:38 · Acts 2:41 · Acts 8:12 · Acts 8:13 · Acts 10:48 · Acts 16:15 · Acts 16:31 · Acts 16:32 · Acts 16:33 · Acts 18:8 · Romans 6:3 · Romans 6:4 · Romans 6:17 · Romans 8:17 · Romans 8:29 · 1 Corinthians 1:16 · 1 Corinthians 6:11 · 1 Corinthians 6:15 · 1 Corinthians 6:19 · 1 Corinthians 12:13 · 1 Corinthians 12:27 · 1 Corinthians 16:15 · 1 Corinthians 16:16 · 2 Corinthians 1:21 · 2 Corinthians 1:22 · 2 Corinthians 5:15 · 2 Corinthians 5:17 · Galatians 3:27 · Galatians 4:5 · Galatians 4:6 · Galatians 4:7 · Galatians 6:15 · Ephesians 1:13 · Ephesians 1:14 · Ephesians 4:25 · Ephesians 4:30 · Ephesians 5:8 · Ephesians 5:21 · Ephesians 5:26 · Philippians 2:7 · Philippians 2:15 · Colossians 1:12 · Colossians 1:13 · Colossians 1:14 · Colossians 2:12 · 1 Thessalonians 5:5 · 1 Thessalonians 5:12 · 1 Thessalonians 5:13 · 1 Timothy 2:4 · 2 Timothy 2:5 · Titus 3:5 · Hebrews 10:32 · Hebrews 13:17 · 1 Peter 1:23 · 1 Peter 2:5 · 1 Peter 2:9 · 1 Peter 3:20 · 2 Peter 1:4 · 1 John 5:6 · 1 John 5:7 · 1 John 5:8 · Revelation 19:9