Q. 1. What is the Sacrament of Baptism?

A. 1. Baptism is the Sacrament that gives our soul the new life of sanctifying grace by which we become children of God and heirs of heaven.

Baptism takes away original sin; and also actual sin and all the punishment due to them, if the person baptized be guilty of any actual sins and truly sorry for them.

The effects of the character imprinted on the soul by Baptism are that we become members of the Church, subject to its laws, and capable of receiving other sacraments.

[Source: The New Saint Joseph Baltimore Catechism, # 315-17]