VATICAN - May the feast of the Baptism of the Lord be an opportune occasion for Christians to rediscover with joy the beauty of their Baptism which, if lived with faith, is a reality always relevant: Pope Benedict XVI says at the Angelus prayer

Monday, 9 January 2006

Vatican City (Fides Service) - On the Sunday on which the Church celebrates the feast of the Baptism of Jesus, at the end of the liturgical season of Christmas, the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI called Christians to contemplate Jesus and so rediscover the beauty of Christian baptism. After celebrating Mass and administrating the sacrament of baptism to ten babies in the Sistine Chapel the Holy Father came to his window to pray the Angelus prayer with the crowds gathered in St Peter’s Square and to bless them.
When Jesus was baptised in the River Jordan - the Pope said - the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove and John the Baptist recognised Him as the Christ, "the Lamb of God" who comes to take away the sin of the world. Therefore the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan is another "epiphany", a manifestation of the Messianic identity of the Lord and of his work of redemption which will culminate in another "baptism" that of his death and resurrection through which the whole world will be purified in the fire of divine mercy”.
Referring to the baptism of the babies earlier in the morning Pope Benedict XVI said “the baptism of infants expresses and realises the mystery of new birth in divine life in Christ... the gift received by the infants must be welcomed by them freely and responsibly when they become adults: this process of maturation will lead them to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation which in fact confirms that of Baptism and places on each the seal of the Holy Spirit.
The Pope then said: “may the feast of the Baptism of the Lord be an opportune occasion for Christians to rediscover with joy the beauty of their Baptism which, if lived with faith, is a reality always relevant: may it renews us continually in the image of the new man, holy in thought and deed. Baptism unites Christians of all confessions. As baptised Christians we are all children of God in Jesus Christ, our Master and Lord. May Our Lady help us to be ever more aware of the value of our Baptism and to bear witness to it with a worthy style of life.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 9/1/2006 - righe 25, parole 368)


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