a) What is Baptism?
Baptism is the sacrament that gives our souls new life in Christ. Its principal effects are: it takes away original sin and all other sins, together with all the punishment due to them; it gives us the grace of being born again and the virtues infused by God in the soul; it makes us children of God; it makes us members of the Church, with the right and duty to do apostolate; it enables us to receive the other sacraments; it gives us the baptismal character and the right to go to heaven.
Baptism is administered by pouring water thrice on the forehead of the person to be baptized, or through a triple immersion, while saying the words, “N. [State the name of the person], I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Children should be baptized within the first weeks after birth. Those in danger of death should be baptized without delay: by anyone with the right intention, even a nonChristian, if no priest or deacon is available.
b) Why should an Altar Server understand the need for Baptism?
Baptism is our first step towards the life of intimate union with God. The Altar Server should frequently thank God for this grace.
Baptism gives us the right and duty to learn our faith and explain it to others. We do not need to wait for a priest or a bishop to tell us to do apostolate with our friends, that is, to serve and bring them closer to Christ, because Christ himself already gave us this mandate when we were baptized.