Pope Francis reflects on the Holy Spirit and the Sacrament of Baptism
January 11, 2016
In his Angelus address on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Pope Francis reflected on the Holy Spirit as the “principal architect” in Christian baptism.
“It is He who burns and destroys original sin, restoring to the baptized the beauty of divine grace; it is He who delivers us from the dominion of darkness, that is to say, of sin, and transfers us into the realm of light, that to say of love, truth and peace,” the Pope told the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
“This stupendous reality of being children of God involves a responsibility of following Jesus, the obedient Servant, and reproduce in ourselves his features: that meekness, humility, tenderness,” the Pope continued. “And this is not easy, especially when all around us there is so much intolerance, arrogance, harshness. But with the strength that comes from the Holy Spirit, it is possible.”
The Pope added:
The Holy Spirit, received for the first time on the day of our baptism, opens our hearts to the truth, the whole truth. The Spirit pushes our life down a demanding path, but one joyous in charity and solidarity toward our brothers. The Spirit gives us the tenderness of God’s forgiveness and pervades us with the invincible power of the Father’s mercy. Do not forget that the Holy Spirit is a living presence and is life-giving in those who welcome Him, and prays in us and fills us with spiritual joy.
Encouraging his hearers to complete the “homework” assignment of finding out the day of their baptism, Pope Francis concluded by stating that “the Virgin Mary, the first disciple of her Son, Jesus, helps us to live our baptism with joy and apostolic zeal, receiving, every day, the gift of the Holy Spirit, who makes us children of God.”
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Further information:
- Angelus Domini - 2016.01.10 (YouTube Vatican)
- Le parole del Papa alla recita dell’Angelus, 10.01.2016 (Holy See Press Office)
- ANGELUS ADDRESS Jan. 10: On Our Baptism (Zenit)
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Posted by: claire5327 -
Jan. 11, 2016 11:35 PM ET USA
God is merciful as well as being Just. If God has only Mercy to offer withiut Justice that would makes Our Heavenly a wimp! That wiuld have dpoiled us all! If that is to be case Jesus Our Lord and God needed not to be born, suffered as He did and died in the worst fform of Death was never known to mankind. The abuse of the Mercy of God makes some of us tremble.We should be in sack clothe with our rosaries united I one voice seeking God`s Mercy and Justice for us to see and THINK Righteously!
