We Receive the Holy Spirit at Baptism

Yes, we receive the Holy Spirit at baptism and are thereby made adopted sons and daughters of God (Catechism 1265). On the day of Pentecost, the birthday of the Church (CCC 1076), St. Peter tells his fellow Jews to “repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Likewise, Paul says elsewhere that baptism is “the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5; see 1 Peter 3:21, CCC 1215).

So the Holy Spirit dwells within us at baptism. Confirmation completes the grace we receive at baptism, since we receive a “special strength of the Holy Spirit” (CCC 1285ff.)