BAPTISM
The Sacrament of Baptism is the first and most important Sacrament that one can receive. It is the so called "gateway" to all the other Sacraments. Most Catholics are baptized as infants. By the pouring of water (or immersion), and the spoken words: "I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" a whole new world opens up for the newly baptized. One is freed from Original Sin, is incorporated into the Catholic Church, are made members of Christ and become sharers of Christ's mission in this world.
If the person is baptized later on in life, at that moment also all the sins of one's life are being washed away, as well as all the punishment due to sin is take away too.
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Every person on earth is called to: "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." (as St. Peter spoke in Acts 2:38).
St. Paul also baptized whole families as seen while he was in prison in Philippi. The jailer "was baptized at once, with all his family." (Acts 16:31-33)
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To have your child baptized at St Francis de Sales or St Joseph, please contact Fr. Peter.
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There is a Baptismal class that both parents and sponsors/god-parents will have to take.
BAPTISM (Cann. 849 - 878)
Can. 849 Baptism, the gateway to the sacraments and necessary for salvation by actual reception or at least by desire, is validly conferred only by a washing of true water with the proper form of words. Through baptism men and women are freed from sin, are reborn as children of God, and, configured to Christ by an indelible character, are incorporated into the Church.
CHAPTER I.
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THE CELEBRATION OF BAPTISM
Can. 850 Baptism is administered according to the order prescribed in the approved liturgical books, except in case of urgent necessity when only those things required for the validity of the sacrament must be observed.
Can. 851 The celebration of baptism must be prepared properly; consequently:
1/ an adult who intends to receive baptism is to be admitted to the catechumenate and is to be led insofar as possible through the various stages to sacramental initiation, according to the order of initiation adapted by the conference of bishops and the special norms issued by it;
2/ the parents of an infant to be baptized and those who are to undertake the function of sponsor are to be instructed properly on the meaning of this sacrament and the obligations attached to it. The pastor personally or through others is to take care that the parents are properly instructed through both pastoral advice and common prayer, bringing several families together and, where possible, visiting them.