Part III. On the Effects of Baptism

The effects of Baptism are:

I. Sanctifying grace, of itself first grace, accidentally second grace (n. 6), with the infusion of all the virtues and gifts of the Holy Spirit attached.

II. Sacramental grace; this consists in the fact that the sanctifying grace which Baptism confers is both ordered to this, that man be spiritually regenerated and live Christianly, and carries with it a right to actual graces in order to living Christianly. This spiritual regeneration involves the remission of all guilt, both original and personal; the remission of all punishment, both eternal and temporal, with the things to be posited being posited, that is, sorrow for sins.

III. Character. 1. The existence of character is clear from the things said in n. 8.

2. Effects of character. Baptismal character effects that man:

a) Is deputed to the worship of God according to the rite instituted by Christ and exercised in the Church, especially with regard to the sacraments, for the reception of which, therefore, he is rendered capable by character (St. Thomas, Supplement, q. 35, a. 3; III, q. 63, a. 6; St. Alphonsus, VI, 79; cf. can. 737, § 1).

b) Becomes a member of the Church, and is obliged to lead a Catholic life, and is subjected to the authority and laws of the Church, that is, of the spiritual society instituted by Christ (cf. can. 87).

Corollary. In order that the baptized be bound to live Catholicly and obey the Church, it is not required that, after attaining the use of reason, they be asked whether they wish to hold the baptismal promises as ratified and in fact hold them as ratified.¹ Nor should you say: It is repugnant that someone be subjected to authority and laws without the consent of his will. That this is not repugnant is clear even from the fact that without the consent of their will infants are subjected to the authority and precepts of parents, and citizens to the authority and laws of their country.

¹ Council of Trent, Session 7, On Baptism, canon 14.