杏MAP导航

By Linda Bordoni

"God never disowns his children" 杏MAP导航 Francis said to the pilgrims gathered in a cloudy St. Peter鈥檚 Square on Wednesday: 鈥淗e loves us so much - like a Father - and does not leave us alone鈥�.

And explaining that this relationship is definitive, the 杏MAP导航 said that thanks to the rite of Baptism, it is sealed with an indelible mark on the soul: 鈥渁n indelible spiritual seal that is not erased by any sin.鈥�

And reiterating that the seal of Baptism in never lost 鈥渆ven if a person becoms a criminal who kills people, who perpetrates injustice,鈥� Francis said that seal is not erased. But,  he warned,  鈥渟in prevents Baptism from bearing the fruits of salvation.鈥�

Living one鈥檚 life according to Jesus

Even when man, 鈥渙ut of his own shame鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 said, commits serious sins and 鈥済oes against God鈥�, he 鈥渃ontinues to be a child of God鈥� because 鈥淕od never disowns his children鈥�.

However, he added, as members of Christ鈥檚 body, we are committed to avoid sin and to conform our lives to Him by witnessing our faith and love. 

Following our rebirth in the waters of baptism, he said, we are anointed with sacred chrism as a sign of our sharing in Christ鈥檚 role as priest, prophet and king, and we, as members of God鈥檚 priestly people, are called to imitate Him in loving service to our brothers and sisters.

Baptism opens the door to a life of resurrection

Through Baptism, he said, we were buried together with Jesus in death so that 鈥渏ust as Christ was raised from the dead, so we too can walk in a new life鈥�.

鈥淏aptism, Francis concluded, opens the door for us to a life of resurrection, not a worldly life. A life according to Jesus.鈥�