Pope Francis: Let grace of
Baptism bear fruit in your lives
Concluding his Wednesday General Audience reflections on the
sacrament of Baptism, Pope Francis urges us to be guided by the light of
Christ.
By Philippa Hitchen
At his general audience on Wednesday Pope
Francis concluded his series of reflections on the sacrament of Baptism,
speaking of the spiritual fruits that it brings to each believer.
Baptismal garment
The Pope noted that right from the first centuries of
Christianity, it became a tradition to dress those who had received the waters
of Baptism in a new, white clothes to symbolise the new and transfigured life
received through Christ and the Holy Spirit.
If we are clothed in Christ, St Paul reminded the early
believers in his letter to the Colossians, we must take on the virtues of
“compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience”. Bear with each
other, he said, and forgive each other as the Lord forgave you. Above all, put
on the virtue of love, which binds all together in perfect unity.
Baptismal candle
Those being baptised are also given a candle, lighted from
the Easter candle, as the priest says the words, “Receive the light of Christ”.
These words, the Pope said, remind us that we are not the light, but rather we
are called to receive the light of Christ who has risen from the dead and
overcome the shadows of evil.
Just as the Easter candle gives light to all our individual
candles, so the love of the Risen Lord inflames the hearts of all the baptised.
That is why, in the first centuries, Baptism was known as the sacrament of
Illumination.
This is our Christian vocation, Pope Francis continued, to
walk as sons and daughters of the light, persevering in faith. If children are
being baptised, then it is the task of parents and godparents to nurture the
flame, helping them to persevere in their faith. Christian education, he said,
is a right of each child so that they can gradually come to know the plan of
God for them.
The living presence of Christ in us, the Pope said, is the
lamp which lights our way, guides our decision-making and warms our hearts as
we travel together towards our encounter with the Lord. On that day, he said,
there will be no more night and we will no longer need our lamps because the
light of God will illuminate everything.
Calling on God in the Our Father
The sacrament of Baptism, the Pope said, concludes with the
Our Father, as those who are newly baptised learn to call God ‘Father’ as they
receive the fullness of his Holy Spirit.
Pope Francis concluded his catechesis with the words of his
recent Apostolic Exhortation ‘Rejoice and Be Glad’, urging his listeners to let
the grace of Baptism bear fruit in their lives.
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