Baptisms...
Baptisms are conducted on the second
Sunday of the month, following the 10:00 am Mass. Please contact the rectory
well in advance at 353-2380 for baptism preparation information.
Catechism of the Catholic Church
PART TWO: THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY
SEC. TWO: "I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT"
CH. ONE: THE SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION
ARTICLE 1: THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
IN BRIEF
1275 Christian
initiation is accomplished by three sacraments together: Baptism which is
the beginning of new life; Confirmation which is its strengthening; and the
Eucharist which nourishes the disciple with Christ's Body and Blood for his
transformation in Christ.
1276 "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, teaching them to observe all that I
have commanded you" (Mt
28:19-20).
1277 Baptism is
birth into the new life in Christ. In accordance with the Lord's will, it is
necessary for salvation, as is the Church herself, which we enter by
Baptism.
1278 The essential
rite of Baptism consists in immersing the candidate in water or pouring
water on his head, while pronouncing the invocation of the Most Holy
Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
1279 The fruit of
Baptism, or baptismal grace, is a rich reality that includes forgiveness of
original sin and all personal sins, birth into the new life by which man
becomes an adoptive son of the Father, a member of Christ and a temple of
the Holy Spirit. By this very fact the person baptized is incorporated into
the Church, the Body of Christ, and made a sharer in the priesthood of
Christ.
1280 Baptism
imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual sign, the character, which
consecrates the baptized person for Christian worship. Because of the
character Baptism cannot be repeated (cf. DS 1609 and DS 1624).
1281 Those who die
for the faith, those who are catechumens, and all those who, without knowing
of the Church but acting under the inspiration of grace, seek God sincerely
and strive to fulfill his will, can be saved even if they have not been
baptized (cf. LG
16).
1282 Since the
earliest times, Baptism has been administered to children, for it is a
grace and a gift of God that does not presuppose any human merit; children
are baptized in the faith of the Church. Entry into Christian life gives
access to true freedom.
1283 With respect
to children who have died without Baptism, the liturgy of the Church invites
us to trust in God's mercy and to pray for their salvation.
1284 In case of
necessity, any person can baptize provided that he have the intention of
doing that which the Church does and provided that he pours water on
the candidate's head while saying: "I baptize you in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
