Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – On the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, January 10, the Holy Fahter Benedict XVI administered the Sacrament of Baptism to a group of infants in the Sistine Chapel. Then, at Noon, he recited the Angelus with faithful gathered in Saint Peter's Square. “This custom is linked to the Baptism of the Lord, with which the liturgical season of Christmas concludes. The Baptism of the Lord suggests quite well the general sense of the Christmas festivity in which the theme of "becoming sons of God" thanks to the only-begotten Son's taking on of our humanity constitutes a dominant element. He became man so that we could become sons of God. God is born so that we could be re-born.”
Through the Sacrament of Baptism, “man really becomes son -- son of God,” born into a new life. “Born to new life through baptism, the Christian too begins his journey of growth in the faith, which will carry him to consciously invoke God as "Abba -- Father," turning to him with gratitude and living in the joy of being his son. A model of society is also derived from baptism: that of being brothers,” the Pope said. “We recognize ourselves as brothers through a humble but profound awareness of being sons of the one heavenly Father. As Christians, thanks to the gift of the Holy Spirit received in baptism, we have the gift and task of living as sons of God and brothers, to be like "leaven" in a new humanity, united and rich in peace and hope.”
Following the Marian prayer, the Holy Father continued with these words: “Two things drew my attention in a particular way recently: the case of migrants, who are seeking a better life in countries that need them for various reasons, and the conflicts in various parts of the world where Christians are the object of attacks, even violent ones. We must start again from the heart of the problem! We must start again from the meaning of the person! An immigrant is a human being, different by provenance, culture and traditions, but a person to be respected with rights and duties, especially, in the sphere of work, where the temptation of exploitation is strongest, but also in the concrete conditions of life. Violence must never be the way for anyone to solve problems. The difficulty is first of all a human one! I invite everyone to look into the face of the other and to see that he has a soul, a story and a life: He is a person and God loves him as he loves me. I would like to propose similar considerations in regard to mankind in its religious diversity. Violence toward Christians in some countries has aroused the disdain of many, especially because it has manifested itself in the most sacred days of the Christian tradition. It is necessary that both political and religious institutions -- I emphasize this -- do not neglect their responsibility. There cannot be violence in the name of God, nor can we think that we honor him by offending the dignity and freedom of our equals." (SL) (Agenzia Fides 11/01/2009)
