Papal thoughts on Baptism

Yesterday's General Audience began at 10:30am in Saint Peter's Square.  The Holy Father, Pope Francis met there with groups of pilgrims and the faithful from various parts of Italy and all parts of the world.

In his discourse, spoken in Italian, the Holy Father provided a meditation on the Sacrament of Baptism.

Following the syntheses of the catechesis, spoken in various languages, the Holy Father greeted the various linguistic groups of pilgrims.  He then issued a call for the dramatic situation still facing Syria, remembering especially the children on the school bus who were killed by mortar fire in Damascus two days previously.  The Pope also called for solidarity and closeness to the people of the Philippines who have been affected by the typhoon.

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

Catechesis of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

for the General Audience

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In the Creed, through which every Sunday we make our profession of faith, we affirm: I believe in one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. It is the only explicit reference to a Sacrament within the Creed. In fact Baptism is the door of faith and of the Christian life. The Risen Jesus left this task to the Apostles: Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved (Mark 16:15-16). The mission of the Church is to evangelize and to remit sins through the baptismal sacrament. But let us return to the words of the Creed. The expression can be divided in three points: I believe; in one Baptism; for the forgiveness of sins.

I believe. What does this mean? It is a solemn term that indicates the great importance of the object, namely Baptism. In fact, by pronouncing these words we affirm our true identity as children of God. In a certain sense, Baptism is the identification card of the children of God, our certificate of birth, it is the birth certificate of the Church. All of you know the day you were born and celebrate your birthday, right? We all celebrate our birthday. I will ask you a question, that I have asked other times before, but I will ask again: Who among you remembers the date of their Baptism? Raise your hand: there are very few (and I won’t ask the Bishops to not embarrass them…). But let us do something: today, when you return home, ask what day you were baptized, search, because this is your second birthday. The first birthday is when you were born into life and the second birthday is when you were born into the Church. Will you do this? It is a task to do at home: to look for the day in which you were born into the Church and thank the Lord because on the day of your Baptism the doors of the Church were opened to you. At the same time, Baptism is linked to our faith in the remission of sins. The Sacrament of Penance or Confession is, in fact, like a second Baptism, which refers always to the first to consolidate and renew it. In this sense the day of our Baptism is the point of departure of a journey of conversion that lasts our whole life and which is continually sustained by the Sacrament of Penance. Think of this: when we go to confess our weaknesses, our sins, we are asking forgiveness of Jesus, but we also go to renew our Baptism with this forgiveness. And this is beautiful, it is like celebrating the day of your Baptism in every Confession. Therefore, Confession is not being seated in a torture room, rather it is a feast. Confession is for the baptized! To keep clean the white garment of our Christian dignity!

The second element: in one Baptism. This expression recalls that of Saint Paul: one Lord, one faith, one Baptism (Ephesians 4:5). The word baptism means literally immersion, and, in fact, this Sacrament constitutes a true spiritual immersion in the death of Christ, from which we are raised with Him as new creatures (cf. Romans 6:4). It is a cleansing of regeneration and illumination. Regeneration because it effects that birth of water and the Spirit without which no one can enter the Kingdom of Heaven (cf. John 3:5). Illumination because, through Baptism, the human person is filled with the grace of Christ, true light that enlightens every man (John 1:9) and scatters the darkness of sin. For this reason, in the Baptismal ceremony, the parents are given a lit candle, to signify this illumination; Baptism illuminates us from within with the light of Jesus. In virtue of this gift, the baptized is called to become light himself - the light of the faith he has received is for the sake of his brothers, especially for those who are in darkness and do not perceive glimmers of light on the horizon of life.

Let us ask ourselves: is Baptism for me an event of the past, isolated in one date (for which you will search today) or a living reality, that concerns my present life in every moment? Do you feel strong, with the strength given to you by Christ with His death and His Resurrection? Or do you feel beaten, without strength.  Do you feel illuminated, with that light that comes from Christ? Are you a man or woman of light? Or are you a dark person, without the light of Jesus? You must take the grace of Baptism, that is a gift, and become light for all!

Finally, a brief reference to the third element: for the forgiveness of sins. In the Sacrament of Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, as well as all punishment for sin. With Baptism the door opens to an effective newness of life that is not oppressed by the weight of a negative past, but now feels again the beauty and the goodness of the Kingdom of Heaven. It is a powerful intervention of the mercy of God in our life, to save us. This salvific intervention does not take weakness away from our human nature - we are all weak and we are all sinners; and it does not take away the responsibility to ask for forgiveness every time that we err! I cannot be baptized more than once, but I can confess my sins and renew the grace of Baptism. It is as if I am baptized twice. The Lord Jesus is so good and he never tires of forgiving us. Even when the door that Baptism opened to enter into the Church is closed a bit because of our weakness and our sins, Confession reopens it, because it is like a second Baptism that forgives us all and illuminates us to go forward with the light of the Lord.  Let us go forward, joyful, because life is lived with the joy of Jesus Christ; and this is a grace of the Lord.

Following the syntheses of the catechism, spoken in various languages, the Holy Father greeted the pilgrims present according to their linguistic groupings.  To English-speaking pilgrims, he said:

I offer an affectionate greeting to all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present at today's Audience, including those from England, Scotland, Denmark, Australia, Japan, Taiwan and the United States.  May Jesus Christ confirm you in faith and make you witnesses of his love and mercy to all people.  God bless you all!

At the end of his address, the Holy Father issued a call for particular prayer and spiritual closeness to the people of Syria and the Philippines:

Brothers and sisters, I have learned with particular sadness that two days ago, in Damascus, mortar bombs killed some children who were returning from school as well as the driver of their school bus.  Other children were also wounded.  Please, such tragedies should never happen!  Pray ardently!

In these days, we are praying for and uniting our efforts to assist our brothers and sisters in the Philippines, who were affected by the typhoon.  These are the real battles that we should fight.  Always for life; never for death!