Baptism

What is the sacrament of Baptism?

Baptism is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. It is the first sacrament a person receives, and the Church teaches that through this sacrament, a person becomes a Christian and enters the Catholic Church.

For the sacrament to be considered valid, the person conferring the sacrament (normally a priest or deacon) must pour water on the person's head and baptize him or her in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (that is, the Trinity).

The Church teaches that "baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1257). As for those who die before having the opportunity to be baptized, the Church teaches that God's mercy inspires hope that they, too, may be saved — but it admits that it knows of no other means but baptism to be assured of salvation.

The practice of infant baptism has been practiced throughout Church history.