Baptism is the one sacrament that all Christian denominations have in common. In the Catholic Church, infants are baptized to welcome them into the Catholic faith. Baptism is not just for infants, though, and can be received by a person at any age. Although the Sacrament of Baptism frees you from original, more significantly it is a rebirth into the family of God.

Baptisms in the Catholic Church are performed by the parish priest or deacon. The priest will anoint you with oil and the pour blessed water over you three times, not just once. This is an important distinction from some other Christian Baptisms. In the eyes of the Catholic Church, any Baptism that uses water and the invocation of the Holy Trinity (I Baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit) is considered a valid Baptism. So if you have been baptized in this way and wish to become a Catholic, you would not need to be re-baptized.

When an infant is baptized, they are usually dressed in a white baptismal gown. This is to symbolize purity of faith and the cleansing power that Baptism has. When adults are baptized, they usually are given a full-length gown/robe to wear. Water is either poured over your head or you are completely submerged in a baptismal pool. As stated above, the priest will do this three times.

Every person who is baptized must have a godparent. Adults being baptized usually have only one godparent while infants usually have two, one from each side of the family. The role of the godparent is to give good Christian witness and be a role model for the person being baptized. The godparents should regularly and faithfully practice the Catholic Faith.

It is important to remember that the Sacrament of Baptism confers an indelible mark on your soul. No one can ever be un-baptized.