Being Born Again

Catholics will sometimes be asked by Protestants if they have been "born again." How is a Catholic suppose to reply to this question?  What does it mean to be "born again"?  Let's take a look at what the Bible says about being "born again," and see how Catholics should answer this question.

The term "born again" comes from John chapter 3 where Jesus says to Nicodemus, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (verse 3). Nicodemus seems to be confused about what Jesus is saying, so Jesus expounds upon it and says, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God (verse 5). Notice that in these two statements, Jesus equates being born of water and the Spirit with being born again.  They are the same thing.  So if we can understand what it means to be born of water and the Spirit, then we will understand what it means to be born again.