259. What is required of one who is to be baptized?

259. What is required of one who is to be baptized?   

(Comp 259) Everyone who is to be baptized is required to make a profession of faith. This is done personally in the case of an adult or by the parents and by the Church in the case of infants. Also the godfather or the godmother and the whole ecclesial community share the responsibility for baptismal preparation (catechumenate) as well as for the development and safeguarding of the faith and grace given at baptism.

“In brief”  

(CCC 1246) "Every person not yet baptized and only such a person is able to be baptized" (CIC, can. 864; cf. CCEO, can. 679).

To deepen and explain  

(CCC 1253) Baptism is the sacrament of faith (Cf. Mk 16:16). But faith needs the community of believers. It is only within the faith of the Church that each of the faithful can believe. The faith required for Baptism is not a perfect and mature faith, but a beginning that is called to develop. The catechumen or the godparent is asked: "What do you ask of God's Church?" the response is: "Faith!" (CCC 1254) For all the baptized, children or adults, faith must grow after Baptism. For this reason the Church celebrates each year at the Easter Vigil the renewal of baptismal promises. Preparation for Baptism leads only to the threshold of new life. Baptism is the source of that new life in Christ from which the entire Christian life springs forth. 

 On reflection  

(CCC 1255) For the grace of Baptism to unfold, the parents' help is important. So too is the role of the godfather and godmother, who must be firm believers, able and ready to help the newly baptized - child or adult  - on the road of Christian life (Cf. CIC, cann. 872-874). Their task is a truly ecclesial function (officium) (Cf. SC 67). The whole ecclesial community bears some responsibility for the development and safeguarding of the grace given at Baptism. (CCC 168) It is the Church that believes first, and so bears, nourishes and sustains my faith. Everywhere, it is the Church that first confesses the Lord: "Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you", as we sing in the hymn Te Deum; with her and in her, we are won over and brought to confess: "I believe", "We believe". It is through the Church that we receive faith and new life in Christ by Baptism. In the Rituale Romanum, the minister of Baptism asks the catechumen: "What do you ask of God's Church?" and the answer is: "Faith." "What does faith offer you?" "Eternal life" (Roman Ritual, Rite of baptism of adults).

(Next question: Who can baptize?)