The primary focus of the Catholic Church is the salvation of souls. Thus, everything that Jesus' Church does is directed toward the eternal salvation of every man, woman, and child. Jesus instituted the seven Sacraments and continues to dispense all of them through His One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church; so that all who hear and live the Gospel message may spend eternity with Him in heaven.

In the early centuries of Christianity, the Church through the guidance of the Holy Spirit recognized that the full teaching of Jesus Christ was not only contained in the New Testament (NT) but also in the Old Testament (OT). The OT is a foreshadowing of the NT. There were some early century Church leaders, scholars, and followers who wanted to restrict Christian teaching to the NT. They wanted to relegate OT teaching to a back seat. This idea, if it had prevailed, would have deprived all Christians of a fact articulated by Saint Augustine back in the late 4th and early 5th centuries: the NT is hidden in the OT, and the OT is revealed in the NT. One only has to listen to the words written in Ezek 36:25-27 to see this reality. "I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statues and be careful to observe my ordinances." In this passage from Ezekiel, we hear a prophecy of what is to come. This prophecy becomes a reality when Jesus institutes the Sacrament of Baptism. Jesus tells Nicodemus in Jn 3:5, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God."

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1213) tells us, "Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in Her mission: 'Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water and in the word.'" When a person is baptized he receives the Holy Spirit, is welcomed into the Body of Christ, is given a new Christian identify, begins a lifelong process of conversion, and become an active participant in the mission of Christ. This mission of Christ is clearly stated in Mt 28:19-20 when Jesus says, "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." As baptized men and women we are called to bring others to Christ; for it is only through Christ that one can be saved. We hear this clearly stated in Mk 16:15-16 when Jesus says, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but He who doesn't not believe will be condemned."

When a person is baptized, he is buried into Christ's death; then he is raised up as a new creature by resurrection with Christ. Saint Paul tells us in Rom 6:3-4, "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." What a gift Jesus have given every man, woman, and child who has been baptized. Through this free gift of Baptism, the believer enters into communion with Christ's death, is buried with Him, and rises with Him. CCC 1239 tells us, "Baptism signifies and actually brings about death to sin and entry into the life of the Most Holy Trinity."

Who can receive Baptism? Any person not yet baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit can be baptized. (CCC 1246-1252)

Who can baptize? The usual ministers of Baptism are the bishop and priest, and in the Latin Church, also the deacon. In an emergency, anyone can baptize, even a non-baptized person, as long as he has the required intention and he uses the Trinitarian Baptismal Formula (I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit). (CCC 1256)

Why is Baptism necessary? CCC 1257 tells us, "Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament. The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are 'reborn of water and the Spirit.'" The Catechism adds these reassuring words, "God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but He Himself is not bound by His sacraments."

When a person is baptized all his sins are forgiven: original sin, all personal sins, and all punishment for sin. At the moment of baptism, the baptized person becomes a member of the Body of Christ and the gates of heaven are open to him. Saint Gregory of Nazianzus called Baptism "God's most beautiful and magnificent gift." With all that Baptism does for each one of us, it is truly a most beautiful and magnificent gift from God.

For more insight read CCC paragraphs 1213-1249, 1253-1274. Also, pull out your "Catholic" Bible and reference Is 55:10-11; Mt 28:18-20; Mk 16:15-16; Jn 3:1-6; Acts 2:38-39; 22:12-16; Rom 6:3-5; 1 Cor 6:11; 10:1-2; 12:12-13; Col 2:11-14; Tit 3:4-7; Heb 10:22; 1 Pet 3:19-21a.