Wednesday, May 2, 2018

General Audience on Baptism, a source of life

This morning's General Audience began at 9:20am in Saint Peter's Square where the Holy Father, Pope Francis met with groups of pilgrims and the faithful from Italy and from all corners of the world.

In his speech, the Pope focused his meditation on Baptism: 4. A source of life.

After having summarized his catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father addressed particular greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance.

The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic blessing.


Catechesis of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the General Audience

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Continuing our reflections on Baptism, today I want to focus on the central rites, which take place near the Baptismal font.

First let us consider the water, over which we invoke the power of the Spirit so that the water may have the strength to recreate and to reinvigorate (cf Jn 3:4 and Titus 3:5).  Water is the matrix of life and of well being, while without it there can be no fruitfulness, as we see in a desert; however, water can also be the cause of death, when is submerges people and things beneath its waves or when in great quantities it overwhelms everything; finally, water has the ability to wash, to clean and to purify.

Beginning with this symbolism in nature which is universally recognized, the Bible describes God's interventions and promises through various signs of water.  However, the power to forgive sins does not lie in the water itself, as Saint Ambrose explained to the newly baptized: You have seen the water, but not every water can heal: only water that has the grace of Christ can heal ... the action of the water, through the work of the Holy Spirit (De sacramentis, 1,15).

Thus the Church invokes the action of the Spirit over the water so that those who are baptized in it can be buried with Christ in death and rise with him to new life (Rite of Baptism of children, 60).  The prayer of blessing (for the water) says that God has prepared the water to be a sign of Baptism and recalls the main biblical prefigurations: the Spirit hovered over the water at the beginning of time in order to make it bring forth life (cf Gen 1:1-2); the waters of the flood marked an end of sin and the beginning of new life (cf Gen 7:6-8, 22); through the waters of the Red Sea, the children of Abraham were freed from their slavery in Egypt (cf Ex 14:15-31).  In relation to Jesus, the bible reminds us of his baptism in the Jordan (cf Mt 3:13-17), the blood and water that flowed from his side (cf Jn 19:31-37), and the sending forth of the disciples to baptize all people in the name of the Trinity (cf Mt 28:19).  Strengthened by these memories, we call upon God to bestow upon the waters of the font the grace of Christ who has died and risen (cf Rite of Baptism of children, 60).  And thus, the water is transformed into liquid that carries within it the strength of the Holy Spirit.  With this water, which contains the strength of the Holy Spirit, people are baptized: adults, children, everyone.

Once the water of the font has been blessed, we need to prepare our hearts for the reception of Baptism.  This takes place through the renunciation of Satan an the profession of our faith, two acts that are closely connected to each other.  According to the measure by which we say no to the devil's temptations - the one who divides us - we are more and more able to say yes to God who calls us to conform ourselves to Him in our thoughts and in our works.  The devil divides us: God always unites the community, the people become one people.  It is not possible to follow Christ conditionally.  We must detach ourselves from certain ties in order to be able to truly embrace others; either you are good with God or you are good with the devil.  This is the reason why the renunciation of sin and the act of faith go together.  We need to cut off certain bridges, leave them behind, in order to begin a new life in Christ.

The response to the question: Do you renounce Satan, and all his works, and all his empty promises? - is formulated in the first person singular: I do.  And in the same way, we profess our faith in Christ by saying: I do.  I renounce and I believe: this is the basis of Baptism.  It is a responsible choice, which needs to be translated into concrete gestures of trust in God.  The act of faith presupposes a commitment which Baptism itself will help us to maintain through perseverance throughout the various situations and trials of life.  Let us recall the ancient wisdom of Israel: Son, if you present yourself to serve the Lord, prepare yourself to be tempted (Sirach 2:1), which is to say: be prepared for a struggle.  And the presence of the Holy Spirit gives us strength to fight well.

Dear brothers and sisters, when we dip our hands into the blessed water - when we enter into a church and we touch the holy water - and we make the sign of the Cross, let us think with joy and gratitude about the Baptism that we have received - this holy water reminds us of our Baptism - and renews our Amen - I am happy - to live immersed in the love of the Holy Trinity.



The Holy Father's catechesis was then translated into various languages, and His Holiness offered particular greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance.  To English-speaking pilgrims, he said:

I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly those from the United Kingdom, India, Thailand, Canada and the United States of America. In a special way, I greet the members of the Catholic Extension Society of the United States, with gratitude for their contribution to the work of rebuilding in Puerto Rico. In the joy of the Risen Christ, I invoke upon you and your families the loving mercy of God our Father. May the Lord bless you all!

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