Baptism is clearly stated as being important in the Catholic religion, but what does it mean? Baptism derived from the Greek word bapto or baptizo, which is to wash, dip, or immerse. "The Roman Catechism defines baptism thus: Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration by water in the work" (Catholic Encyclopedia). Catholics as well as many other Christians believe that when you are baptized you enter into the spirit of God, you are forgiven for your sins and become purified like water is pure.

Water is the matter that is most fit for baptism, it is seen as being pure, clean, and helps in was

Baptism is very important and necessary in the Roman Catholic Church. It is considered necessary because Christ commanded his Apostles to "Go and teach all nations, baptizing them" (Holy Bible). Jesus says in the New Testament (John 3:5-3:7) "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and Spirit. You must be born again." This is why baptism is a necessity in the Catholic Church and Christian religion. A person is reborn through baptism and then allowed to enter into the kingdom of heaven. This sounds easy enough, but what happens to infants who die before being baptized?

- Baptism of Desire and Baptism of Blood

"It is the teaching of the Catholic Church that when baptism of water becomes a physical or moral impossibility, eternal life may be obtained by the baptism of desire or the baptism of blood" (New Catholic Encyclopedia). The baptism of desire is when a person devotes their heart and love to God. Jesus also declared justifying acts. " He that loveth Me, shall be loved of my Father: and I will love him and manifest myself to him. If any one love me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and will make our abode with him" (Holy Bible). Baptism of blood is obtaining justifiable grace by suffering for the faith of Christ. St. Augustine said " When any die for the confession of Christ without having received the washing of regeneration, it avails as much for the remission of their sins as if they had been washed in the sacred font of baptism" (Catholic Encyclopedia).

"The Catholic Church is uncompromising on this point, that all who depart this life without baptism, be of water, or blood, or desire, are perpetually excluded from the vision of God" (Catholic Encyclopedia). Theologians have really looked over this belief and questioned if children could be saved through the beliefs and practices of their parents. Some theories say yes while some theorize that it is not possible only through baptism. It is one of those questions that is very controversial. However, infants can not be guilty of actual sin only original sin, and according to Pope Innocent III, an infant will not suffer in hell because they have never committed

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