Feast of the Baptism of the Lord ...

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord 
This brings to an end the season of Christmas

"Looking at the events in light of the Cross and Resurrection, the Christian people realised what happened: Jesus loaded the burden of all mankind’s guilt upon His shoulders; he bore it down into the depths of the Jordan. He inaugurated his public activity by stepping into the place of sinners." - J Ratzinger, Jesus of Nazareth, Bloomsbury 2007, p18

"Many of the incidents which accompanied Christ's baptism are symbolical of what happened at our Baptism. At Christ's baptism the Holy Spirit descended upon Him; at our Baptism the Trinity took its abode in our soul. At His baptism Christ was proclaimed the "Beloved Son" of the Father; at our Baptism we become the adopted sons of God. At Christ's baptism the heavens were opened; at our Baptism heaven was opened to us. At His baptism Jesus prayed; after our Baptism we must pray to avoid actual sin." - Msgr. Rudolph G. Bandas 

The light from the Holy Spirit appears to be falling directly into the shell being used to pour the water of baptism over Jesus' head. Instead of dipping the shell into the river, the Baptist seems to be lifting up the shell to receive in its hollow, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Anointing from above.  Likewise, in its hollow, the chalice at Mass receives the gift of the Holy Spirit.  (Artist: Domenico Tintoretto)

"Today let us do honor to Christ's baptism

and celebrate this feast in holiness.

Be cleansed entirely and continue to be cleansed. 

Nothing gives such pleasure to God

as the conversion and salvation of men,

for whom His every word and every revelation exist.
He wants you to become a living force for all mankind, 
lights shining in the world.
You are to be radiant lights as you stand beside Christ, the great light,
bathed in the glory of Him who is the light of heaven."
 

St Gregory of Nazianzus

Excerpts from: Second Reading, Office of Readings

for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Breathe into me Holy Spirit, that all my thoughts may be holy. 

Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. 

Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy.

Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy.

Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.  Amen.

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord ...

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord 
This brings to an end the season of Christmas

"Looking at the events in light of the Cross and Resurrection, the Christian people realised what happened: Jesus loaded the burden of all mankind’s guilt upon His shoulders; he bore it down into the depths of the Jordan. He inaugurated his public activity by stepping into the place of sinners." - J Ratzinger, Jesus of Nazareth, Bloomsbury 2007, p18

"Many of the incidents which accompanied Christ's baptism are symbolical of what happened at our Baptism. At Christ's baptism the Holy Spirit descended upon Him; at our Baptism the Trinity took its abode in our soul. At His baptism Christ was proclaimed the "Beloved Son" of the Father; at our Baptism we become the adopted sons of God. At Christ's baptism the heavens were opened; at our Baptism heaven was opened to us. At His baptism Jesus prayed; after our Baptism we must pray to avoid actual sin." - Msgr. Rudolph G. Bandas 

The light from the Holy Spirit appears to be falling directly into the shell being used to pour the water of baptism over Jesus' head. Instead of dipping the shell into the river, the Baptist seems to be lifting up the shell to receive in its hollow, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Anointing from above.  Likewise, in its hollow, the chalice at Mass receives the gift of the Holy Spirit.  (Artist: Domenico Tintoretto)

"Today let us do honor to Christ's baptism

and celebrate this feast in holiness.

Be cleansed entirely and continue to be cleansed. 

Nothing gives such pleasure to God

as the conversion and salvation of men,

for whom His every word and every revelation exist.
He wants you to become a living force for all mankind, 
lights shining in the world.
You are to be radiant lights as you stand beside Christ, the great light,
bathed in the glory of Him who is the light of heaven."
 

St Gregory of Nazianzus

Excerpts from: Second Reading, Office of Readings

for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Pope baptizes 34 infants in Sistine Chapel today

"Giving baptism is the first step to transmit the faith. 
We need the Holy Spirit to transmit the faith. ...

The transmission of the faith can only take place in a dialect, 

in the dialect of the family, of father and mother, 
of grandfather and grandmother. 
Then the catechists will later develop this transmission 
with ideas and explanations... And if the dialect is missing, 
if the language of love is not spoken at home, the transmission is not so easy, 
it will not be possible. Do not forget this.  Your task is to transmit the faith, 
but by doing it with the dialect of love, of your home, of the family."

 Pope Francis
8 January 2018, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
Homily excerpt

Breathe into me Holy Spirit, that all my thoughts may be holy. 

Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. 

Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy.

Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy.

Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.  Amen.

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord ...

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord 
This brings to an end the season of Christmas

"Looking at the events in light of the Cross and Resurrection, the Christian people realised what happened: Jesus loaded the burden of all mankind’s guilt upon His shoulders; he bore it down into the depths of the Jordan. He inaugurated his public activity by stepping into the place of sinners." - J Ratzinger, Jesus of Nazareth, Bloomsbury 2007, p18

"Many of the incidents which accompanied Christ's baptism are symbolical of what happened at our Baptism. At Christ's baptism the Holy Spirit descended upon Him; at our Baptism the Trinity took its abode in our soul. At His baptism Christ was proclaimed the "Beloved Son" of the Father; at our Baptism we become the adopted sons of God. At Christ's baptism the heavens were opened; at our Baptism heaven was opened to us. At His baptism Jesus prayed; after our Baptism we must pray to avoid actual sin." - Msgr. Rudolph G. Bandas

The light from the Holy Spirit appears to be falling directly into the shell being used to pour the water of baptism over Jesus' head. Instead of dipping the shell into the river, the Baptist seems to be lifting up the shell to receive in its hollow, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Anointing from above.  Likewise, in its hollow, the chalice at Mass receives the gift of the Holy Spirit.  (Artist: Domenico Tintoretto)

"Today let us do honor to Christ's baptism

and celebrate this feast in holiness.

Be cleansed entirely and continue to be cleansed. 

Nothing gives such pleasure to God

as the conversion and salvation of men,

for whom His every word and every revelation exist.
He wants you to become a living force for all mankind, 
lights shining in the world.
You are to be radiant lights as you stand beside Christ, the great light,
bathed in the glory of Him who is the light of heaven."
 

St Gregory of Nazianzus

Excerpts from: Second Reading, Office of Readings

for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Pope Francis baptizes 28 babies in the Sistine Chapel

 "Through Baptism, the Church will give faith to your children. 

And you have the task to make it grow, preserve it, and ensure it becomes 

a witness to all the others.  This is the meaning of this ceremony. 

This is what I wanted to tell you: keep the faith, make it grow,

so that it can be a witness to others." 

 Pope Francis
9 January 2017, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
Homily excerpt

Breathe into me Holy Spirit, that all my thoughts may be holy. 

Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. 

Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy.

Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy.

Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.  Amen.

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord 

‘Looking at the events in light of the Cross and Resurrection, the Christian people realised what happened: Jesus loaded the burden of all mankind’s guilt upon His shoulders; he bore it down into the depths of the Jordan. He inaugurated his public activity by stepping into the place of sinners.’ - J Ratzinger, Jesus of Nazareth, Bloomsbury 2007, p18

"Many of the incidents which accompanied Christ's baptism are symbolical of what happened at our Baptism. At Christ's baptism the Holy Spirit descended upon Him; at our Baptism the Trinity took its abode in our soul. At His baptism Christ was proclaimed the "Beloved Son" of the Father; at our Baptism we become the adopted sons of God. At Christ's baptism the heavens were opened; at our Baptism heaven was opened to us. At His baptism Jesus prayed; after our Baptism we must pray to avoid actual sin." - Msgr. Rudolph G. Bandas

The light from the Holy Spirit appears to be falling directly into the shell being used to pour the water of baptism over Jesus' head. Instead of dipping the shell into the river, the Baptist seems to be lifting up the shell to receive in its hollow, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Anointing from above.  Likewise, in its hollow, the chalice at Mass receives the gift of the Holy Spirit.  (Artist: Domenico Tintoretto)

"Today let us do honor to Christ's baptism

and celebrate this feast in holiness.

Be cleansed entirely and continue to be cleansed. 

Nothing gives such pleasure to God

as the conversion and salvation of men,

for whom His every word and every revelation exist.
He wants you to become a living force for all mankind, 
lights shining in the world.
You are to be radiant lights as you stand beside Christ, the great light,
bathed in the glory of Him who is the light of heaven."
 

St Gregory of Nazianzus

Excerpts from: Second Reading, Office of Readings

for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Pope Francis baptized 26 babies today in Rome at St Peter's Basilica

"The Holy Spirit is the principle architect in Christian Baptism, He is the One that burns and destroys original sin, restoring the beauty of divine grace.  He is the One who delivers us from the dominion of darkness, that is, of sin, and transports us into the realm of light, that is love, truth and peace.  This is the light. Think of what dignity Baptism lifts us to!"

 Pope Francis
10 January 2016, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Breathe into me Holy Spirit, that all my thoughts may be holy. 

Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. 

Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy.

Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy.

Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.  Amen.

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord 

 

"As we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord this Sunday, let us ask Him to renew in us the grace of our baptism and to make us, with all our brothers and sisters, true children of God and living members of His body, the Church." - Pope Francis, General Audience, St Peter's Square, 01/08/14

 

 

 

"Jesus comes out of the water, drawing the world with Him and raising it up when it had hitherto been sunk in the abyss... Here all is in perfect harmony, for the testimony comes from heaven, just as He to whom the Spirit bears witness has come down from heaven."- St Gregory Nazianus

‘Looking at the events in light of the Cross and Resurrection, the Christian people realised what happened: Jesus loaded the burden of all mankind’s guilt upon His shoulders; he bore it down into the depths of the Jordan. He inaugurated his public activity by stepping into the place of sinners.’ - J Ratzinger, Jesus of Nazareth, Bloomsbury 2007, p18

COMMUNION ANTIPHON (Today's Liturgy)

Behold the One of whom John said:  I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION (Today's Liturgy)

Nourished with these sacred gifts,

we humbly entreat your mercy, O Lord,

that, faithfully listening to your Only Begotten Son,

we may be your children in name and in truth.

Through Christ our Lord.

 

 

"Many of the incidents which accompanied Christ's baptism are symbolical of what happened at our Baptism. At Christ's baptism the Holy Spirit descended upon Him; at our Baptism the Trinity took its abode in our soul. At His baptism Christ was proclaimed the "Beloved Son" of the Father; at our Baptism we become the adopted sons of God. At Christ's baptism the heavens were opened; at our Baptism heaven was opened to us. At His baptism Jesus prayed; after our Baptism we must pray to avoid actual sin." - Msgr. Rudolph G. Bandas

“ … the risk is to lose the memory of that which the Lord has done in us, the memory of the gift that we have received. We end up considering it as only an event that happened in the past - and not even by our own will, but that of our parents -, that no longer has any effect in our present … We must awaken the memory of our Baptism!” – Pope Francis, General Audience, St Peter’s Square, 01/08/14.  The full text of the pope's audience remarks is available online in English and Spanish.