Baptism, the gateway to membership in the Church, is the first of seven sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony) established by Jesus during his earthly ministry and entrusted to the Church he founded. Baptism is a pre-requisite for reception of the other six sacraments.
Basis and Commandment
The importance of baptism and the meaning of it are based on the baptism of Jesus as reported in Matthew 3:13-17. Present at that baptism were Jesus, The Father, and The Holy Spirit.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” – Matthew 3:13-17
The command of Jesus to the Church to baptize is in the passage known as The Great Commission, Matthew 28:19-20.
Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:19-20
The Process
The essential ingredients of Christian Baptism are immersion in or pouring on the head of water, right intent, and invocation of the Trinity. Those together effect the process of immersion into the death of Christ and rising with Him as a new creature with a share in Christ’s priesthood and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
The process begins with explanation of the sacrament to the person to be baptized, or to the parents of an infant to be baptized, resulting in understanding and a profession of faith as part of the process.
Baptism can be by total immersion in water or by pouring water over the head as a bishop, priest, or deacon says, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” The baptism is followed by an anointing which signifies and acknowledges the presence of The Holy Spirit.
In case of Emergency such as imminent death or no availability of a bishop, priest, or deacon, Any baptized Christian who has the right intention and uses the proper Trinitarian formula may validly baptize.
The Result and Responsibility
Catholic baptism is not something done by us in memory of Jesus or to follow the example of Jesus but is an act of God entrusted to the church to cleanse of and forgive sin and to bring us into the Church, the first step in our journey to a life pleasing to God.
We will never be free of sin in this life, but we can be pleasing to God once our focus is on love of God and neighbor. This goal of perfection is explained and expressed in Matthew 5:43-48.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. – Matthew 5:43-48.
That perfection is possible because we are changed by God when baptized as described in 2 Corinthians 5:16-21.
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. – 2 Corinthians 5:16-21.
Summary (Thanks to magisterium.com)
In Catholic theology, baptism is not merely a symbolic ritual; it is a sacrament instituted by Christ that, through water, the Word, and the Trinitarian invocation, forgives sin, confers sanctifying grace, and incorporates the baptized into the Body of Christ. Its rite—immersion or pouring, anointing, and the Trinitarian formula—effects a permanent spiritual seal, making the baptized a child of God, a sharer in Christ’s priesthood, and a participant in the Church’s mission. As the first sacrament of Christian initiation, it opens the way to all other sacraments and to the full life of discipleship.
Personal Comment
I was baptized March 30, 1951, age 9, at the First Baptist Church, Maryville, TN. I have that detail because, as part of my conversion in 2011 to the Catholic Church, I was asked to provide documentation of Christian baptism. That baptism was deemed valid by the Catholic Church so I was able to begin the process there with the sacrament of Confirmation. The Catholic church does not repeat valid baptisms because that would imply doubting the validity.