The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that “Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments.” St. Gregory of Nazianzus said the following about baptism:
“Baptism is God’s most beautiful and magnificent gift…. We call it gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal, and most precious gift. It is called a gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own; grace since it is given even to the guilty; Baptism because sin is buried in water; anointing for it is priestly and royal as are those who are anointed; enlightenment because it washes; and seal as it is our guard and the sign of God’s Lordship.”