Baptism

The Catechism of the Catholic Church on Baptism

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. 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." (CCC 1213)
Baptism of Infants
Infant baptism is offered to children up to age 6. Parents and godparents are required to attend a pre-Baptism instruction which helps familiarize them with their role in the celebration of this Sacrament. 

Baptism of Elementary School-Age Children
If parents wait until their child is of school age (grades 1-12), extended instruction in the Catholic-Christian faith is required. Often times, this may be up to 2 years. Elementary –grade students should enroll in a Religious Education Program and participate in a RCIC program, which is geared towards non-baptized children.  
Baptism of Adults
Adults who are previously baptized in another Christian denomination but who wish to become Catholic, also participate in the RCIA process. The Catholic Church honors all Christian baptisms.  Therefore, the person who wishes to convert to Catholicism will celebrate the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.
For more information about receiving the Sacrament of Baptism, please contact your local parish.

USCCB Baptism Handout

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Videos on Baptism

Early Church Fathers on Baptism

St. Ambrose
Things which are impossible with men are possible with God; and God is able whensoever He wills to forgive us our sins, even those which we think cannot be forgiven. And so it is possible for God to give us that which it seems to us impossible to obtain. For it seemed impossible that water should wash away sin…But that which was impossible God made to be possible, Who gave us so great grace. In like manner it seemed impossible that sins should be forgiven through repentance, but Christ gave this power to His apostles¸ which has been transmitted to the priestly office.  That, then, has become possible which was impossible.
On Repentance, Book 2, Chapter 2                                           
St. Ambrose
Therefore read that the three witnesses in baptism, the water, the blood, and the Spirit, are one (1 John 5:8), for if you take away one of these, the Sacrament of Baptism does not exist. For what is water without the cross of Christ? A common element, without any sacramental effect. Nor, again, is there the Sacrament of Regeneration without water: ‘For except a man be born again of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God’ (John 3:5). Now, even the catechumen believes in the cross of the Lord Jesus, wherewith he too is signed; but unless he be baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit¸ he cannot receive remission of sins nor gain the gift of spiritual grace.
On the Mysteries, Chapter 4:20
St. Augustine
Whoever says that those children who depart out of this life without partaking of the sacrament shall be made alive in Christ, certainly contradicts the apostolic declaration, and condemns the universal Church, in which it is the practice to lose no time and run in haste to administer baptism to infant children, because it is believed, as an indubitable truth¸ that otherwise they cannot be made alive in Christ.
Letters, 166:7:21
St. Cyril of Jerusalem
For you go down into the water, bearing your sins, but the invocation of grace¸ having sealed your soul, suffers you not afterwards to be swallowed up by the terrible dragon. Having gone down dead in sins, you come up quickened in righteousness.
Catecheses 3:12
St. John Chrysostom
Weep for the unbelievers; weep for those who differ in nowise from them, those who depart hence without the illumination, without the seal! They indeed deserve our wailing, they deserve our groans; they are outside the Palace, with the culprits, with the condemned: for, ‘Verily I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven’ (John 3:5). Mourn for those who have died in wealth and did not from their wealth think of any solace for their soul¸ who had power to wash away their sins and would not…Let us weep for these; let us assist them according to our power; let us think of some assistance for them, small though it be, yet still let us assist them. How and in what way? By praying and entreating others to make prayers for them, by continually giving to the poor on their behalf…Not in vain did the Apostles order that remembrance should be made of the dead in the dreadful Mysteries. They know that great gain results to them, great benefit; for when the whole people stands with uplifted hands, a priestly assembly, and that awful Sacrifice lies displayed, how shall we not prevail with God by our entreaties for them And this we do for those who have departed in faith.
Homilies on Philppians, 3:4
St. Irenaeus
The Lord also promised to send the comforter, who should join us to God (John 16:7). For as a compacted lump of dough cannot be formed of dry wheat without fluid matter, nor can a loaf possess unity, so, in like manner, neither could we, being many be made one in Christ Jesus without the water from heaven. And as dry earth does not bring forth unless it receive moisture, in like manner we also, being originally a dry tree, could never have brought forth fruit unto life without the voluntary rain from above. For our bodies have received unity among themselves by means of that laver which leads to incorruption; but our souls by means of the Spirit. Wherefore both are necessary, since both contribute towards the life of God.
Against Heresies, Book 3, Chapter 17
St. Leo the Great
Men’s souls did not exist until they were breathed into their bodies, and they were not there implanted by another than God, Who is the Creator both of souls and of the bodies. And because through transgression of the first man the whole stock of the human race was tainted, no one can be set free from the state of the old Adam save through Christ’s sacrament of baptism.
Letters, No. 15:10
St. Methodius
For I think that the Church is here said to give birth to male; since the enlightened receive the features¸ and the manliness of Christ¸ the likeness of the form of the Word being stamped upon them, and begotten in them by a true knowledge and faith, so that in each one Christ is spiritually born. And, therefore, the Church swells and travails in birth until Christ, has been born a Christ. According to which meaning it is said in certain scripture, ‘Touch not my anointed, and do my prophets no harm’ (Psalm 104:15), as though those who were baptized into Christ had been made Christs by communication of the Spirit, the Church contributing here their clearness and transformation into the image of the Word.
The Banquet of the Ten Virgins, Chapter 8:8
St. Theophilus of Antioch
The things proceeding from the waters were blessed by God, that this also might be a sign of men’s being destined to receive repentance and remission of sins, through the water and laver of regeneration (Titus 3:5), --as many as come to the truth, and are born again, and receive blessing from God.
To Autolycus, Chapter 2:16
St. Cyril of Jerusalem
If any man receive not Baptism, he has not salvation; except only Martyrs, who even without the water receive the kingdom.
Catechetical Lectures/Catecheses, 3:10

Scripture - Baptism

Matthew 28:19
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,
Mark 16:16
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.
John 3:5
Jesus answered, "Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.
Acts 2:38
Peter (said) to them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit.
Acts 2:41
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day.
Acts 8:12
but once they began to believe Philip as he preached the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, men and women alike were baptized.
Acts 8:38
Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and he baptized him.
Acts 10:48
He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

Jesus sets the example of baptism

Matthew 3:16
After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened (for him), and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove (and) coming upon him.
Mark 1:9
It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John.
Luke 3:21
After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened

Baptism is regenerative

John 3:5, 22
Jesus answered, "Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.
After this, Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, where he spent some time with them baptizing.
Romans 6:3-4
Or are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. 
Acts 2:37-38
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, "What are we to do, my brothers?" Peter (said) to them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit.
Acts 22:16
Now, why delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away, calling upon his name.'
1 Corinthians 6:11
That is what some of you used to be; but now you have had yourselves washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
Ephesians 5:26
to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word
Colossians 2:12
You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. 
Hebrews 10:22
let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.
Titus 3:5
not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, he saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the holy Spirit
1 Peter 3:21
This prefigured baptism, which saves you now. It is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ

Baptism takes away all sin

Mark 1:4
John (the) Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 
Mark 16:16
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Luke 3:3
He went throughout (the) whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins
John 1:33
I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the holy Spirit.'
John 3:5
Jesus answered, "Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.
Acts 2:38
Peter (said) to them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit.
Acts 22:16
Now, why delay? Get up and have yourself baptized and your sins washed away, calling upon his name.'

Baptism NOT to be repeated

Hebrews 6:4-6
For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift and shared in the holy Spirit and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to bring them to repentance again, since they are recrucifying the Son of God for themselves and holding him up to contempt. 
Ephesians 4:5
one Lord, one faith, one baptism

Baptism to be administered to children (infant baptism)

Mark 10:14
When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 
Matthew 19:14
but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
Matthew 18:14
In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.
John 3:5
Jesus answered, "Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.
Mark 16:16
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.
1 Corinthians 1:16
(I baptized the household of Stephanas also; beyond that I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)
Acts 18:8
Crispus, the synagogue official, came to believe in the Lord along with his entire household, and many of the Corinthians who heard believed and were baptized.
Acts 16:30-33
Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved." So they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house. He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds; then he and all his family were baptized at once.
Acts 16:15
After she and her household had been baptized, she offered us an invitation, "If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home," and she prevailed on us.
Luke 18:15-17
People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them, and when the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. Jesus, however, called the children to himself and said, "Let the children come to me and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it."

Baptism is necessary for salvation

John 3:5
Jesus answered, "Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 
Mark 16:16
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Acts 16:30, 33
Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds; then he and all his family were baptized at once.
1 Peter 3:21
This prefigured baptism, which saves you now. It is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ

CATECHISM

SECTION TWO THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH

CHAPTER ONE THE SACRAMENTS OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION

Article 1 THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

I. What is This Sacrament Called?

II. Baptism in the Economy of Salvation

III. How is the Sacrament of Baptism Celebrated?

IV. Who can Receive Baptism?

V. Who can Baptize?

VI. The Necessity of Baptism

VII. The Grace of Baptism

IN BRIEF

CANON LAW

PART I. THE SACRAMENTS

TITLE I. BAPTISM (Cann. 849 - 878)

CHAPTER I. THE CELEBRATION OF BAPTISM

CHAPTER II. THE MINISTER OF BAPTISM

CHAPTER III. THOSE TO BE BAPTIZED

CHAPTER IV. SPONSORS

CHAPTER V. THE PROOF AND REGISTRATION OF THE CONFERRAL OF BAPTISM