Catholic Church

====Baptism====
[[File:Baptême Cathédrale de Troyes 290308.jpg|left|thumb|Baptism of [[Augustine of Hippo]] as represented in a sculptural group in [[Troyes Cathedral]] (1549), France]]
As viewed by the Catholic Church, Baptism is the first of three sacraments of initiation as a Christian.<ref>{{Cite CCC|2.1|1275}}</ref> It washes away all sins, both [[original sin]] and personal actual sins.<ref>{{Cite CCC|2.1|1263}}</ref> It makes a person a member of the church.<ref>{{Cite CCC|2.1|1267}}</ref> As a gratuitous gift of God that requires no merit on the part of the person who is baptized, it is [[infant baptism|conferred even on children]],<ref>{{Cite CCC|2.1|1282}}</ref> who, though they have no personal sins, need it on account of original sin.<ref>{{Cite CCC|2.1|1250}}</ref> If a new-born child is in a danger of death, anyone—be it a doctor, a nurse, or a parent—may baptize the child.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lazowski|first=Philip|year=2004|title=Understanding Your Neighbor's Faith: What Christians and Jews Should Know About Each Other|publisher=KTAV Publishing House|url={{googlebooks|HIhIPIYLQ6QC|page=157|plainurl=y}}|isbn=978-0-88125-811-0|page=157}}</ref> Baptism marks a person permanently and cannot be repeated.<ref>{{Cite CCC|2.1|1272}}</ref> The Catholic Church recognizes as valid baptisms conferred even by people who are not Catholics or Christians, provided that they intend to baptize ("to do what the Church does when she baptizes") and that they use the [[Trinitarian formula#Use in baptism|Trinitarian baptismal formula]].<ref>{{Cite CCC|2.1|1256}}</ref>