A Baptism Primer

Baptism is…

• the gateway to the sacraments
• necessary for salvation by actual reception or at least by desire
• conferred by washing of blessed water & proper form of words
• to be conferred without delay in danger of death

The Baptized are

• freed from all sin
• reborn as children of God & heirs of heaven
• configured to Christ by an indelible character
• incorporated into the Church
• to be given a name that is not offensive to Christian sensibilities
• as adults, must intend to be baptized and be catechized
• when adults, to receive the Eucharist & Confirmation

The celebration of Baptism

• must take place in a church or oratory, not a private house
• may take place in a hospital “in danger of death”
• may be by immersion or pouring of water
• may be on any day but is recommended on Sundays or Easter Vigil
• should ordinarily take place in one’s proper parish

The Minister of Baptism

• is a bishop, priest, or deacon
• may in emergency be anyone person with the proper intention & proper words 
• must have permission of pastor to baptism outside of his parish

Parents

• must care that infants are baptized in the first few weeks after birth
• are to be prepared for the baptism properly by the parish
• manifest the founded hope that the infant will be raised in the Catholic faith

Sponsors

• help the baptized to live a Christian life in keeping with baptism
• may be only one male or one female or one of each *
• must be Catholic, at least 16 years of age
• must have received the Holy Eucharist & Confirmation
• must lead a life in harmony with the Catholic faith
• if married, must be in a union recognized as valid by the Church
• may not be the parent(s) of the one to be baptized
• may also serve as the sponsor for the baptized at his/her Confirmation

*A person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community may not be a sponsor but may be admitted as a “Christian Witness” along with the Catholic sponsor.

[Sources:   Catechism of the Catholic Church & Code of Canon Law]