The Sacrament of Baptism

When John the Baptist baptized Jesus, God showed to everyone present that Jesus was 'the
One Who is anointed by God', the One Who God had promised to send to save the people He
loved. Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and the power of God. (Mt. 3:16-7; Mk. 1:24;
Jn. 6:69; Acts 3:14) (C.C.C. # 438).
The public life of Jesus began with His Baptism and ended with Jesus commanding the Apostles to "go and make disciples of all, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the
Holy Spirit" [Mt. 28:19-20] (C.C.C. # 1223) These words of Jesus from the Holy Bible teach
Christians the great importance of the Sacrament of Baptism.
(excerpt: catholicism.about.com)
The Sacrament of Baptism is often called "The door of the Church," because it is the first of
the seven sacraments not only in time (since most Catholics receive it as infants) but in
priority, since the reception of the other sacraments depends on it. Once baptized, a person becomes a member of the Church. Baptism has six primary effects, which are all supernatural graces:
1.The removal of the guilt of both Original Sin (the sin imparted to all mankind by the Fall of
Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden) and personal sin (the sins that we have committed
ourselves).
2.The remission of all punishment that we owe because of sin, both temporal (in this world and
in Purgatory) and eternal.
3.The infusion of grace in the form of sanctifying grace; the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit; and the three theological virtues.
4.Becoming a part of Christ.
5.Becoming a part of the Church, which is the Mystical Body of Christ on earth.
6.Enabling participation in the sacraments, the priesthood of all believers, and the growth in
grace.
(catholicdoors.com)