- THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
- Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the
Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua) and the door which gives access to the other sacraments.
Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of
Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: "Baptism is the
sacrament of regeneration through water in the word.
- THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
- Baptism, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of Confirmation together constitute the
"sacraments of Christian initiation," whose unity must be safeguarded. It must be explained
to the faithful that the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation is necessary for the
completion of baptismal grace. For "by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are
more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy
Spirit. Hence they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and
defend the faith by word and deed."
- THE SACRAMENT OF THE EUCHARIST
- The holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation. Those who have been raised to the
dignity of the royal priesthood by Baptism and configured more deeply to Christ by
Confirmation participate with the whole community in the Lord's own sacrifice by means of
the Eucharist.