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Article 1

THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

1213 Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua),4 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."5




4 Cf. Council of Florence: DS 1314: vitae spiritualis ianua.


5 Roman Catechism II, 2, 5; Cf. Council of Florence: DS 1314; CIC, cann. 204 # 1; 849; CCEO, can. 675 # 1.