The Holy Mystery of Baptism (Sacrament of Baptism)

The first Holy Mystery (Sacrament) of the Church is baptism. Baptism is one of the three Holy Mysteries of Initiation. Initiation meaning the beginning of something. By being baptized we begin our Catholic Christian life.

Baptism brings a person into the Catholic Church and makes them a member of the Body of Christ. All baptized Catholics are part of the same body. That body is what we call the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Church teaches that baptism cleanses a person of all sin, both original and personal, and makes them a new creation in Christ. Baptism is necessary for salvation, as Jesus taught, and it makes a person a member of the Church and a child of God. Once baptized we become God's own children and we begin our walk toward heaven where we will one day meet our Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.