Yesterday morning in the Sistine Chapel, His Holiness, Pope Francis celebrated Mass and baptized 32 children. After the proclamation of the gospel, the Holy Father shared the following homily.
Jesus had no need to be baptized, but the first theologians say that in His Baptism, with His body and His divinity he blessed all the waters, so that the waters would have the power to give Baptism. And then, before ascending to Heaven, Jesus told us to go out to the whole world to baptize. And from that day until today, this has been an uninterrupted chain: children were baptized, and then their children, and then these children’s children … And today also, this chain continues.
These children are a link in the chain. You, parents, have a baby boy or a baby girl to be baptized, but in a few years, they will be the ones who will have a child or a grandchild to be baptized. Such is the chain of faith! What does this mean? I would like to say only this to you: you are the ones who transmit the faith, the transmitters. You have the duty to transmit the faith to these children. The faith is the most beautiful inheritance you will leave them! Only this. Take this thought home with you today. We must be transmitters of the faith. Think of this, think always about how to transmit the faith to the children.
Today the choir is singing, but the most beautiful choir is this one of the children, who make noise. Some will cry because they are not comfortable or because they are hungry. If they are hungry, mothers, give them something to eat, don’t worry, because they are the heroes here. And now, with this awareness of being transmitters of the faith, we continue the ceremony of Baptism.
Homily of His Holiness, Pope Francis
for the Mass celebrated on
the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
Jesus had no need to be baptized, but the first theologians say that in His Baptism, with His body and His divinity he blessed all the waters, so that the waters would have the power to give Baptism. And then, before ascending to Heaven, Jesus told us to go out to the whole world to baptize. And from that day until today, this has been an uninterrupted chain: children were baptized, and then their children, and then these children’s children … And today also, this chain continues.
These children are a link in the chain. You, parents, have a baby boy or a baby girl to be baptized, but in a few years, they will be the ones who will have a child or a grandchild to be baptized. Such is the chain of faith! What does this mean? I would like to say only this to you: you are the ones who transmit the faith, the transmitters. You have the duty to transmit the faith to these children. The faith is the most beautiful inheritance you will leave them! Only this. Take this thought home with you today. We must be transmitters of the faith. Think of this, think always about how to transmit the faith to the children.
Today the choir is singing, but the most beautiful choir is this one of the children, who make noise. Some will cry because they are not comfortable or because they are hungry. If they are hungry, mothers, give them something to eat, don’t worry, because they are the heroes here. And now, with this awareness of being transmitters of the faith, we continue the ceremony of Baptism.
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