杏MAP导航

By Linda Bordoni

杏MAP导航 Francis has invited all Christians to mark the date of their Baptism and to celebrate it as the day when the Lord gave them the Holy Spirit to guide them in their lives.

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

The 杏MAP导航 was addressing the crowds gathered in St. Peter鈥檚 Square for the  immediately after having baptized 34 babies in the Sistine Chapel, an annual event that marks the feast day of Jesus鈥� Baptism in the River Jordan.

Reminding those present that today鈥檚 celebration of the Baptism of the Lord concludes the time of Christmas, the 杏MAP导航 said it invites us to think about our own Baptism.

All Christians should take note of the date of their own Baptism

He conceded that it is impossible to actually remember that day but he invited all believers to go home and find out that significant date in their lives because, he said, it is when the Father gave them the gift of the Spirit who 鈥渙pens the eyes of the heart to truth鈥�.

Describing Jesus鈥� baptism as a manifestation of His humility and availability to immerse Himself in the river of humanity, the 杏MAP导航 explained that along the banks of the River Jordan, God kept his promise to take charge of the fate of human beings, and Jesus is the tangible and definitive sign.

鈥淕od, he said, has taken charge of our fate鈥� he said.

The gift of the Holy Spirit

He has done so through the Spirit, the 杏MAP导航 said, who is the gift the Father has given each of us on the day of our Baptism: 鈥淚t is the Spirit who transmits to us the tenderness of divine forgiveness. And it is still the Holy Spirit, who causes the revealing Word of the Father to resound鈥�.

Thus, Francis said, the Feast of Jesus鈥� Baptism invites every Christian to remember his or her own Baptism, because to forget it means to expose ourselves to the risk of losing our memory of what the Lord has done in us.

Thanks to our Baptism we are able to love and to forgive

Thank s to our Baptism, the 杏MAP导航 said, not only do we become new creatures 鈥渃lothed with Christ鈥�, but we are also able 鈥渢o forgive and love those who offend us and do us harm; we are able to recognize in the last and in the poor the face of the Lord who visits us and is close to us鈥�.

The 杏MAP导航 concluded his address expressing his joy at having just baptized some children and invoking upon them the protection of Our Lady 鈥渉elped by the example of their parents and godparents鈥� so they may grow up as disciples of the Lord.