Sebastian R. Fama - St. Patrick's Basilica

Baptism
It is through the sacrament of Baptism that we become Christians, "For by one
Spirit we were all baptized into one body" (1 Corinthians 12:13). Baptism also
takes away sin: "Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins" (Acts 22:16).
Baptism and Confirmation are the sacramental elements of being born again, and
the normal means by which we receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells us in John 3:5,
"Unless one is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God."
And in Acts 2:38-39, Peter says, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in
the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to
all that are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Him."
The issue of infant Baptism is not discussed explicitly in the Bible, but it is likely
that there were babies in the households of Lydia, Stephanus and the jailer at
Philippi, where Paul baptized entire families (Acts 16:14-15, Acts 16:29-34 and 1
Corinthians 1:16). In Colossians 2:11-12 Paul alludes to infant baptism when he
tells us that Baptism has replaced circumcision. Circumcision took place on the
eighth day after birth (Genesis 17:12). We know that early Christians baptized
their infants on the eighth day after birth because the third Council of Carthage
decreed in the year 252, "that baptism of children need not be deferred until the
eighth day after birth as some maintained, but might be administered as soon as
possible" (Cyprian, Epistle 64 (59), 2).
The Waldenses and the Cathari (around the 12th century) first raised objections to
infant Baptism. Modern day objections can be traced to Thomas Munzer. In
1521, he deduced from his private interpretation of the Bible that Baptism should
not be administered to infants but only to adults after conversion and a personal
commitment to Christ. Even Martin Luther denounced him and he was expelled
from Wittenberg.
The Holy Spirit is the dispenser of grace. At Baptism there is an infusion of
grace. If the grace a baby receives at Baptism is nourished (in a Christian
atmosphere) it grows; if not, it dies. The saving grace of God enables us to hear
and accept the Gospel, not only as adults but also as children hearing it for the
first time. That babies can benefit spiritually is clearly indicated in Luke 18:15-
16: "Now they were bringing even infants to Him that He might touch them. And
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