A: Baptism is a sacrament by which we are born again to the grace of God, and become Christians.
A: The sacrament of Baptism confers first sanctifying grace by which original sin is washed away, as well as all actual sin if any such exists; it remits all punishment due on account of such sins; it imprints the character of a Christian; it makes us children of God, members of the Church, and heirs to Paradise, and enables us to receive the other sacraments.
A: The matter of Baptism is natural water which is poured on the head of the person to be baptized in such a quantity as to flow.
A: The form of Baptism is: "I baptize thee in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost."
A: To confer Baptism belongs by right to bishops and parish priests, but in case of necessity any person, whether man or woman, even a heretic or an infidel, can administer it, provided he carries out the rite of Baptism, and has the intention of doing what the Church does.
A: If it were necessary to baptize a person in danger of death, and if several people were present, a priest, if such were at hand, should administer the Sacrament, and, in his absence, one of the inferior clergy; and in the absence of such, a layman in preference to a woman, unless in the case in which the greater skill on the part of the woman, or the claims of propriety, should demand otherwise.
A: The person baptizing should have the intention of doing what Holy Church does in baptizing.
A: Baptism is given by pouring water on the head of the person to be baptized -- and if it cannot be poured on the head, then on some other principal part of the body -- saying at the same time: "I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
A: If one poured the water and another said the words the person would not be baptized; because it is necessary that the person who pours the water should pronounce the words.
A: When in doubt whether the person is dead, he should be baptized conditionally, saying: "If thou art alive I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
A: Infants should be brought to the Church to be baptized as soon as possible.
A: There should be the greatest anxiety to have infants baptized because, on account of their tender age, they are exposed to many dangers of death, and cannot be saved without Baptism.
A: Yes, fathers and mothers who, through negligence, allow their children to die without Baptism sin grievously, because they deprive their children of eternal life; and they also sin grievously by putting off Baptism for a long time, because they expose them to danger of dying without having received it.
A: An adult who is being baptized, besides faith, should have at least imperfect contrition for the mortal sins he may have committed.
A: If an adult was baptized in mortal sin without such sorrow he would receive the character of Baptism, but not the remission of his sins nor sanctifying grace. And these two effects would be suspended, until the obstacle is removed by perfect contrition or by the sacrament of Penance.
A: Baptism is absolutely necessary to salvation, for our Lord has expressly said: "Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God."
A: The absence of Baptism can be supplied by martyrdom, which is called Baptism of Blood, or by an act of perfect love of God, or of contrition, along with the desire, at least implicit, of Baptism, and this is called Baptism of Desire.
A: The person baptized is bound to always profess the faith and observe the Law of Jesus Christ and of His Church.
A: In receiving holy Baptism we renounce, for ever, the devil, his works and pomps.
A: By the works and pomps of the devil we mean sin and the maxims of the world that are contrary to the maxims of the Gospel.
A: To him who is being baptized is given the name of a saint in order to put him under the protection of a heavenly patron and to animate him to imitate that saint's example.
A: The godfathers and godmothers in Baptism are those persons who, in accordance with the decree of the Church, hold the infants at the font, answer for them, and become guarantees in the sight of God for their Christian education, especially in the absence of the parents.
A: We are certainly obliged to observe the promises and renunciations made for us by our sponsors, because it is only on this condition that God has received us into His grace.
A: There should be chosen as godfathers and godmothers Catholics of good life, and obedient to the laws of the Church.
A: Godfathers and godmothers are bound to see that their spiritual children are instructed in the truths of faith, and live as good Christians and they should edify them by their good example.
A: Sponsors contract a spiritual relationship with the baptized and with the parents of the baptized, which causes an impediment to marriage with these persons.