What are the effects of Baptism?

The effects of Baptism are truly monumental: The individual is filled with the presence of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Because all sin-original and personal, if any-is taken away completely, the individual has a complete and fresh start in his or her spiritual life. Also, the person becomes an adoptive child of God, a member of the Body of Christ and a Temple of the Holy Spirit. By this fact, he or she is incorporated in the Church, the Body of Christ, and is made a sharer in the priesthood of Christ. Finally, Baptism imprints on the soul an indelible sign, the character (a kind of identity) that consecrates a person for Christian worship (thus, Baptism is never repeated). It is significant that the Church sees Baptism as a gift of God, as is faith. That is why we have no hesitation in baptizing infants though they may not be conscious of what is happening. As they grow, they will make many acts of faith in God, in the Eucharist and more, and respond to the gift of God's life they received as infants.