Baptism takes away original sin, and also actual sins and all the punishment due to them, if the person baptized be guilty of any actual sins and truly sorry for them.
1. Baptism is the only sacrament that can remit original sin. It cleanses us from all sin, original and actual, and remits all punishment due.
- If an adult receives baptism with the proper dispositions, that is, with faith and contrition, his actual sins are taken away with original sin, as well as all temporal punishment due to his actual sins. Thus if an adult dies immediately after baptism, he goes straight to heaven, whatever the sins he may have committed.
2. When Baptism takes away original sin, it gives our souls the new life of sanctifying grace. Thus by Baptism we are born again.