C
sacraments of Christian initiation. The Catechism of the Catholic
Church says, “It must be explained to the faithful that the recep-
baptismal grace.” (CCC 1285)
imprints: a spiritual seal-
tion “imprints on the soul an indelible spiritual mark, the ‘character,’
which is the sign that Jesus Christ has marked a Christian with the seal
of his Spirit by clothing him with power from on high so that he may be
his witness.” (CCC 1304)
place, “For centuries, Latin custom has indicated ‘the age of discre-
become effective.” (CCC 1308) In other words, people of any age can
receive the sacrament and, regardless of age, are sealed with the Holy
Spirit.
In the Eastern Rite, “ordinarily the priest who baptizes also immediately
(CCC 1312-1313)
Church desires that none of her children, even the youngest, should depart
this world without having been perfected by the Holy Spirit with the
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gift of Christ’s fullness.” (CCC 1314)
For further study:
CCC 1285-1321