What is the significance of Baptism?

Baptism is regarded as a Sacrament, and in common with all other Sacraments, it conveys grace to those who receive it worthily. This Sacrament is necessary for salvation and has the following effects:

1. It joins the recipient to the Church and is one of the Sacraments of initiation (the others are Confirmation and the Eucharist).
2. It takes away all sin and thus confers sanctifying grace.
3. It imparts an indelible mark upon the soul (known as a Sacramental Character) and cannot be repeated.