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1275 Christian initiation is accomplished by three sacraments together: Baptism which is the beginning of new life; Confirmation which is its strengthening; and the Eucharist which nourishes the disciple with Christs Body and Blood for his transformation in Christ. 1276 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 (Mt 28:1920). 1277 Baptism is birth into the new life in
Christ. In accordance with the Lords will, it is
necessary for salvation, as is the Church herself, whIch we
enter by Baptism. 1278 The essential rite of Baptism consists in
immersing the candidate in water or pouring water on his
head, while pronouncing the invocation of the Most Holy
Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 1279 The fruit of Baptism, or baptismal grace, is
a rich reality that includes forgiveness of original sin and
all personal sins, birth into the new l~fe by which man
becomes an adoptive son of the Father, a member of Christ
and a temple of the Holy Spirit. By this veryfact the person
baptized is incorporated into the Church, the Body of
Christ, and made a sharer in the priesthood of Christ. 1280 Baptism imprints on the soul an indelible
spiritual sign, the character, which consecrates the
baptized person for Christian worship. Because of the
character Baptism cannot be repeated (cf. DS 1609 and DS
1624). 1281 Those who die for the faith, those who are
catechutnens, and all those who, without knowing of the
Church but acting under the inspiration of grace, seek God
sincerely and strive to fulfil his will, can be saved even
they have not been baptized (cf. LG i6). 1282 Since the earliest times, Baptism has been
administered to children,for it is a grace and a gift
of God that does not presuppose any human merit;
children are baptized in the faith of the Church. Entry into
Christian l~[e gives access to true freedom. 1283 With respect to children who have died
without Baptism, the liturgy of the Church invites us to
trust in Gods mercy and to pray for their salvation. 1284 In case of necessity, any person can baptize
provided that he have the intention of doing that which
the Church does and provided that he pours water on the
candidates head while saying: I baptize you in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit. THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION ~ ~ Baptism, the Eucharist and the sacrament of
Confirmation
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