Baptism serves as the first sacrament one receives when entering the Catholic Faith. It is a sacrament of initiation (which you can only receive one time), meaning once you received it, you officially enter into the body of Christ, the Catholic Church. The recipient receives justifying and sanctifying grace when baptized, and the Holy Spirit begins to dwell within them.
3MC – Episode 36 – What is Baptism? (3:27)
What Baptism Does
St. Paul describes baptism as the “first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:14). According to aboutcatholic.com baptism does five things:
- It forgives all sins that were committed before baptism including original, mortal, and venial sin.
- It makes the baptized a new creature.
- It turns the baptized into a newly adopted son or daughter of God and a member of the Church.
- It brings them to share in the royal priesthood of Christ. (1 Peter 2:9)
- It leaves a spiritual mark (or character) of belonging to Christ on the soul of the baptized.
Rite of Baptism (7:17)
Why Jesus Was Baptized
The origin and foundation of Christian Baptism is Jesus. Before starting his public ministry, Jesus submitted himself to the baptism given by John the Baptist. The waters did not purify him; he cleansed the waters. “He comes to sanctify the Jordan for our sake . . . to begin a new creation through the Spirit and water” (St. Gregory Nazianzen, Liturgy of the Hours, I, 634). Jesus’ immersion in the water is a sign for all human beings of the need to die to themselves to do God’s will. Jesus did not need to be baptized because he was totally faithful to the will of his Father and free from sin. However, he wanted to show his solidarity with human beings in order to reconcile them to the Father. By commanding his disciples to baptize all nations, he established the means by which people would die to sin—Original and actual—and begin to live a new life with God.
Sophia SketchPad: Baptism (6:39)
How to prepare for Baptism
Since the Sacrament of Baptism is the first step of a life long journey of faith, all parents are encouraged to call the Church and make arrangements to speak with the pastor. Whether this sacrament is celebrated within or outside of Mass, all parents must make the necessary arrangements well in advance.
First time parents are required to attend the parish baptism prep session to become familiar with their responsibilities, obligations and duties in the religious education and spiritual formation of their child(ren).
“The soul is regenerated in the sacred waters of baptism and thus becomes God’s child.” — Saint Maximilian Kolbe
Why Baptizing Your Baby Is the Most Important Thing You Can Do (7:35)
Qualifications of Baptism Godparents/Sponsors
- Be designated by the candidate, by the parents or guardians, or the pastor.
- Have the qualifications and intention of performing the role of sponsor.
- Be at least 16 years of age.
- Be a fully initiated Catholic (received the Sacraments of Initiation: baptism, Eucharist, and confirmation.)
- Lead a life in harmony with faith and role of a sponsor (i.e., be a registered member of a parish, attend Mass on Sundays and holy days, not be in an irregular/invalid marriage, etc.)
- Not be bound by a canonical penalty.
- Not be the father or mother of the one to be baptized.
The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown requires proof of eligibility for sponsorship (in accord with the qualifications above) from the parish in which the sponsor is registered.
Belonging: Baptism in the Family of God | Role of Godparents (5:58)
Number of Godparent(s)/Sponsor(s)
- Only one sponsor is required for baptism. If there is only one sponsor, this sponsor must be a practicing Catholic able to provide a letter of eligibility.
- If two sponsors are chosen, one must be male and the other female, and one must be Catholic. The second sponsor may be a Christian Witness.
- A Christian Witness is a non-Catholic Christian. Baptized Catholics who have left the Catholic Church to join a non-Catholic Christian denomination or, have entered into an irregular/invalid marriage, are ineligible to be a sponsor.
In the event that neither the candidate, nor the parents or guardians are able to select a sponsor, the pastor may appoint a member of the parish community to fill the role of sponsor. Many parents are often concerned that they cannot find a suitable sponsor for a variety of reasons (i.e., unavailability of family members, being new to the parish or unfamiliar with the other parishioners, etc.)
In such cases, pastors have the responsibility of assisting parents and candidates in the selection of a parishioner to be a sponsor.
