You're listening to Catholic Sprouts, the daily podcast for January 8th, 2020. This week on the Catholic Sprouts

podcast, we are talking about sacraments and starting at the very beginning with the

sacrament of baptism. Now, chances are if you have only received

one sacrament, the sacrament you have received is baptism. Also, I would wager that if you have

only ever witnessed other people receiving one sacrament, it is a sacrament of baptism. What happens at baptism?

Well, generally babies are baptized, but of course people of any age can be baptized. What happens

is that people, usually the parents, make a profession of faith, and then the priest takes water and baptizes in the name

of the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit. And usually a person is anointed with oil after they

have been baptized. Usually also a white gown is placed on the person that has been baptized, and their godparents

are given a candle.

Now, all of these things are rich and symbol, and there is much that we can say.

But here is what I want you to remember about baptism.

Baptism is like a door.

Baptism is the door that we walk through to enter the church.

It is also the door that we must pass through in order to begin the sacramental life and to receive all other sacraments.

It is the first door. For this reason, you could never go to confession before you're baptized.

You could also never receive the Eucharist before you're baptized.

It is an important first step.

Now, the reason why this is so important is because of what it means to be a Christian.

I hope by now, sprouts, that you've realized that being a Christian is about a lot more than just being a nice person.

Yes, be nice to people, love people, feed the poor, visit people that are lonely.

These are all incredible things.

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