“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 (and daughters) of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission.” (CCC 1213)
“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” (Romans 6:3-4).
At Christ the King we offer Baptisms on an as-need basis.
Adults seeking Baptism please visit the OCIA Page.
For infant Baptism, please fill out the Baptismal Inquiry Form and return it to the CTK office.
The Godparent Form can also be returned to the CTK office once completed.
FAQs
The Catholic Church’s practice of infant Baptism stems from her teachings regarding original sin (what we have) and Baptism (what we do about it).
After the sin of Adam and Eve in the garden, all people are now born with original sin due to our fallen human nature. Through the gift of grace in Baptism, God washes away this stain of original sin and makes us a part of His family and offer us eternal life.
Children, who are born with the stain of original sin, are also in need of Baptism, in order to free them from the bondage of original sin and make them children of God. Our loving Father does not wish to withhold His love and grace from anyone, including children. Baptism simply requires openness.
“The Church and the parents would deny a child the priceless grace of becoming a child of God were they not to confer Baptism shortly after birth.” (CCC 1250)
Baptism effects three things:
- Removes original sin
- Marks the soul as God’s own, initiating that soul’s into the life of the Church and giving them a right to all the other sacraments
- And infuses sanctifying grace from which flows virtue, the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and makes us children of God.
Since (1) and (2) can only occur once, Baptism can only be validly received once.
However, sanctifying grace (3) is lost each time we commit a mortal sin. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, this life of grace and friendship with God can is restored.
For any sacrament to be validly confected (“put together”), it must have three elements: form, matter and intention.
- The form is the ‘how’ of the sacrament. It is these exact words said out loud “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit”.
- The matter is the ‘what’ or visible thing. In this case it is the water poured three times over the head or bodily immersion.
- The intention is for the minister to intend or do what the Church intends for each sacrament, to baptize according to the Church.
If all three are present, even if performed outside a Catholic Church, the Baptism is valid.
In the case of children, the role of the Godparent is to be that of a “spiritual guardian” who takes up any “slack” in the child’s religious instruction, helps ensure that his/her Godchild learns the Catholic Faith, and prays for the Godchild throughout their life.
This is a very solemn obligation, not one to be entered into lightly. Parents should choose their child’s Godparents very carefully and select Catholics who know the Faith, understand the obligations of Godparenting, and are willing and able to live up to them.
Parents and Godparents should work together for the goal of helping the child to know, love, and serve God!