In this e-weekly:
- Something to Do For a Family at a Time of Loss (Helpful Hints for Life)
- Queen of Queens: The Pieta's Epic Journey from Rome to America (Diocesan News and Beyond)
- Sunday Mass Readings with Reflections for Self, Couples, and Families (At end of e-weekly)
- Something to Do For a Family at a Time of Loss (Helpful Hints for Life)
- Queen of Queens: The Pieta's Epic Journey from Rome to America (Diocesan News and Beyond)
- Sunday Mass Readings with Reflections for Self, Couples, and Families (At end of e-weekly)
Dear friends in Christ Jesus,
After the Epiphany, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. This festive day liturgically concludes the season of Christmas. The Church recalls this, our Lord's second manifestation or 'epiphany,' which occurred on the occasion of His baptism in the Jordan. Jesus descended into the River to sanctify its waters and to give them the power to beget sons and daughters of God in all time and places. The event takes on the importance of a second creation in which the entire Trinity intervenes.
After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." -Matthew 3:16-17
Many of the incidents which accompanied Christ's baptism are symbolical of what happened at our Baptism. At Christ's baptism the Holy Spirit descended upon Him; at our Baptism the Holy Trinity took its abode in our soul. At His baptism Christ was proclaimed the "Beloved Son" of the Father; at our Baptism we become the loved, adopted sons and daughters of God. At Christ's baptism the heavens were opened; at our Baptism heaven was opened to us. At His baptism Jesus prayed; after our Baptism we must pray to avoid actual sin.
Christ has sanctified the waters that set us free from sin and makes us children of the Father. He does this because He loves us. Will you and I now sanctify the world through our Mother, the Church, so that we will be the one family of humanity?
Peace and prayers in Jesus through Mary, loved by Saint Joseph,
Father Robert
P.S. This Sunday is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. The readings can be found at: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011225.cfm
After the Epiphany, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. This festive day liturgically concludes the season of Christmas. The Church recalls this, our Lord's second manifestation or 'epiphany,' which occurred on the occasion of His baptism in the Jordan. Jesus descended into the River to sanctify its waters and to give them the power to beget sons and daughters of God in all time and places. The event takes on the importance of a second creation in which the entire Trinity intervenes.
After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." -Matthew 3:16-17
Many of the incidents which accompanied Christ's baptism are symbolical of what happened at our Baptism. At Christ's baptism the Holy Spirit descended upon Him; at our Baptism the Holy Trinity took its abode in our soul. At His baptism Christ was proclaimed the "Beloved Son" of the Father; at our Baptism we become the loved, adopted sons and daughters of God. At Christ's baptism the heavens were opened; at our Baptism heaven was opened to us. At His baptism Jesus prayed; after our Baptism we must pray to avoid actual sin.
Christ has sanctified the waters that set us free from sin and makes us children of the Father. He does this because He loves us. Will you and I now sanctify the world through our Mother, the Church, so that we will be the one family of humanity?
Peace and prayers in Jesus through Mary, loved by Saint Joseph,
Father Robert
P.S. This Sunday is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. The readings can be found at: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011225.cfm
252. What names are given to the first sacrament of initiation? (Catechism of the Catholic Church, CCC 1213-1216, 1276-1277)
a) Baptism
b) Confirmation
c) Holy Eucharist
d) none of the above
253. How is Baptism prefigured (foreshadowed, pointed to) in the Old Covenant? (CCC 1217-1222)
a) anointing of King David
b) coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
c) in the passing of Israel through the Red Sea
d) when Joseph fed the world with grain from Egypt
254. Who brought to fulfillment those prefigurations (foreshadowings)? (CCC 1223-1224)
a) John the Baptist
b) Jesus Christ
c) the Holy Spirit
d) Blessed Virgin Mary
255. Starting when and to whom has the Church administered Baptism? (CCC 1226-1228)
a) Pentecost, to anyone who believes in Jesus Christ
b) river Jordan, to anyone who came
c) First Council of Jerusalem, whoever attended
d) after the Crucifixion, to whoever did not deny Jesus Christ (Answers below at end)
a) Baptism
b) Confirmation
c) Holy Eucharist
d) none of the above
253. How is Baptism prefigured (foreshadowed, pointed to) in the Old Covenant? (CCC 1217-1222)
a) anointing of King David
b) coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
c) in the passing of Israel through the Red Sea
d) when Joseph fed the world with grain from Egypt
254. Who brought to fulfillment those prefigurations (foreshadowings)? (CCC 1223-1224)
a) John the Baptist
b) Jesus Christ
c) the Holy Spirit
d) Blessed Virgin Mary
255. Starting when and to whom has the Church administered Baptism? (CCC 1226-1228)
a) Pentecost, to anyone who believes in Jesus Christ
b) river Jordan, to anyone who came
c) First Council of Jerusalem, whoever attended
d) after the Crucifixion, to whoever did not deny Jesus Christ (Answers below at end)
Catholic Terms
Baptism ( from Greek baptisma "a dipping")
- the Sacrament in which, by water and the word of God, a person is cleansed of all sin and reborn and sanctified in Christ to everlasting life as a son or daughter of the Father
[Christ was not sanctified by John's Baptism, but Jesus sanctified the waters of the river Jordan, since He was the source of sanctity.]
Feast (plural of festum " festival," from neuter of festus " solemn")
-days set apart by the Church for giving special honor to God, the Savior, angels, saints, and sacred mysteries and events.
[Some are fixed festivals, such as Christmas and the Immaculate Conception; others are movable, occurring earlier or later in different years. Festivals are now divided, since the Second Vatican Council, into solemnity (solemnitas), feast (festum), and memorial (memoria) in descending order of dignity. Memorials are further classified as prescribed or optional. Below these are ferial, or week, days with no special ritual rank. And in a class by themselves are the Sundays of the year, and the various liturgical seasons, such as Advent and Lent. All of these represent what is called "sacred times," whose religious purpose is to keep the faithful mindful throughout the year of the cardinal mysteries and persons of Christianity. ]
- the Sacrament in which, by water and the word of God, a person is cleansed of all sin and reborn and sanctified in Christ to everlasting life as a son or daughter of the Father
[Christ was not sanctified by John's Baptism, but Jesus sanctified the waters of the river Jordan, since He was the source of sanctity.]
Feast (plural of festum " festival," from neuter of festus " solemn")
-days set apart by the Church for giving special honor to God, the Savior, angels, saints, and sacred mysteries and events.
[Some are fixed festivals, such as Christmas and the Immaculate Conception; others are movable, occurring earlier or later in different years. Festivals are now divided, since the Second Vatican Council, into solemnity (solemnitas), feast (festum), and memorial (memoria) in descending order of dignity. Memorials are further classified as prescribed or optional. Below these are ferial, or week, days with no special ritual rank. And in a class by themselves are the Sundays of the year, and the various liturgical seasons, such as Advent and Lent. All of these represent what is called "sacred times," whose religious purpose is to keep the faithful mindful throughout the year of the cardinal mysteries and persons of Christianity. ]
"Lord, I believe, help my unbelief ."
–prayer of Saint Augustine of Hippo
–prayer of Saint Augustine of Hippo
"Helpful Hints of Life"
Blessed Are The Sorrowing, They Shall Be Consoled
It has long been the custom in many places that the neighbors and friends of a family that has lost a loved one would bring food over for the grieving family. In the shock of grief one does not feel like doing much of anything let alone cooking, yet food is needed for strength during such a trying time, so friends and neighbors do this charity for the sorrowing. Food, plastic utensils, paper plates, napkins, paper towels, bottled water, etc. are just a few of the things that one can bring to a family at time of loss to assist them as they will likely have family and friends who they would also like to see to the needs of. It is one more thing along with praying that you and I can do for those experiencing loss.
Also, if they seem to have plenty of the above. A grieving basket might be in order. It can be filled with comforting and soothing things: a prayer book, a scented candle, homeopathic calming drops, a journal for memories of the loved one, lip balm, quality tissues, massage oil, herbal tea bags, a crystal 'hope' ornament, and a cuddly teddy bear, etc. You can invite them to keep it nearby and use it whenever they need it.
'All the Old Covenant prefigurations find their fulfillment in Christ Jesus. He begins his public life after having himself baptized by Saint John the Baptist in the Jordan. After His resurrection Christ gives this mission to His apostles: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." '
-Catechism of the Catholic Church 1223
Also, if they seem to have plenty of the above. A grieving basket might be in order. It can be filled with comforting and soothing things: a prayer book, a scented candle, homeopathic calming drops, a journal for memories of the loved one, lip balm, quality tissues, massage oil, herbal tea bags, a crystal 'hope' ornament, and a cuddly teddy bear, etc. You can invite them to keep it nearby and use it whenever they need it.
'All the Old Covenant prefigurations find their fulfillment in Christ Jesus. He begins his public life after having himself baptized by Saint John the Baptist in the Jordan. After His resurrection Christ gives this mission to His apostles: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." '
-Catechism of the Catholic Church 1223
Pope Francis' Vatican Webpage
http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en.html
The Vatican's website on Pope Francis includes pictures, upcoming events, and all his writings.
Our Lord voluntarily submitted Himself to the baptism of Saint John, intended for sinners, in order to "fulfill all righteousness". Jesus' gesture is a manifestation of His self-emptying. The Spirit who had hovered over the waters of the first creation descended then on the Christ as a prelude of the new creation, and the Father revealed Jesus as His "beloved Son."
-Catechism of the Catholic Church 1224
http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en.html
The Vatican's website on Pope Francis includes pictures, upcoming events, and all his writings.
Our Lord voluntarily submitted Himself to the baptism of Saint John, intended for sinners, in order to "fulfill all righteousness". Jesus' gesture is a manifestation of His self-emptying. The Spirit who had hovered over the waters of the first creation descended then on the Christ as a prelude of the new creation, and the Father revealed Jesus as His "beloved Son."
-Catechism of the Catholic Church 1224
Queen of Queens: The Pietà’s Epic Journey from Rome to America
The iconic sculpture’s journey from the Vatican to the 1964 World’s Fair in New York was a monumental feat of faith and logistics.
The iconic sculpture’s journey from the Vatican to the 1964 World’s Fair in New York was a monumental feat of faith and logistics.
The book cover of ‘Our Lady of the World’s Fair’ by Ruth D. Nelson, with a detail of Michelangelo’s 1499 Pietà at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome (photo: Cornell University Press / Shutterstock)
Aaron Lambert Features
January 1, 2025
The Pietà, Michelangelo’s masterful marble sculpture that so mournfully depicts the Virgin Mary cradling Christ’s lifeless body after his crucifixion, is one of history’s most revered and recognizable works of Christian art. It dwells behind a glass encasement in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, where it has been for as long as most can remember.
Since its astonishing creation, it has never left the Eternal City — except for once, that is.
The amazing story of when, why and how is chronicled in Our Lady of the World’s Fair, a new book written by Ruth Nelson, which recounts the time Michelangelo’s Pietà made the transatlantic journey from St. Peter’s Basilica to Queens, New York, for the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair. The likelihood of such a feat occurring in today’s internet age is next to impossible, making this tale from history all the more charming.
Through the book’s 12 chapters, Nelson goes into incredibly well-researched and painstaking detail about all of the logistical, financial and practical hurdles that had to be overcome to bring the Pietà to American shores.
While the cast of players is broad, two figures, in particular, can be credited with pulling it off: the highly influential public official and urban planner Robert Moses, whose ambitious vision the 1964-65 World’s Fair owes its success to, and Cardinal Francis Spellman, who served as Archbishop of New York from 1939 until his death in 1967. Cardinal Spellman’s esteemed reputation with ecclesial hierarchy played a crucial role in convincing the Vatican to loan their most precious sculpture to New York.
The experiences of these two men and their integral involvement in bringing the Pietà to the World’s Fair are described at length throughout the book. More than just a cursory glimpse into a particularly important period of Church history — after all, 1964 and 1965 were the final years of the Second Vatican Council, in which Cardinal Spellman was a participant — these chapters also provide a nostalgic and candid look at American culture in the 1960s and the Herculean efforts on the part of Moses, Cardinal Spellman and countless others to plan and execute a truly global event like the World’s Fair.
As Nelson writes in her preface for the book, “The 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair introduced us to the World of Tomorrow, the world we live in today. There never was nor ever could be a better fair, and that is the memory I have carried since that family vacation brought us to the Queens fairgrounds in 1964.”
Indeed, those fairgrounds must have been something to behold. The World’s Fair was much more than a few tents with mediocre attractions; as the book describes, a virtual small city was constructed from the ground up to accommodate the larger-than-life attractions that drew visitors from all over the world.
Even among an impressive array of attractions that included the famed Unisphere and exhibits from Disney, General Motors and Coca-Cola, it’s hard to compete with a masterpiece like the Pietà. The Vatican Pavilion, which housed the Pietà and many other Catholic works of art, was one of the most popular attractions for the tens of millions of visitors to the fair over its two seasons. The lines were always long, but eager pilgrims had no problem waiting to experience the lasting spiritual balm of the Pietà.
In those days, because hopping on a plane to Rome wasn’t as easy as it is today, seeing the Pietà in the flesh was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most. It would be the first time, and the last time, the Pietà would ever leave Rome, for the Vatican banned the loan of any of its art in 1965.
The book is replete with anecdotes and details about the World’s Fair, which makes it worth reading from a purely historical perspective alone. However, the chapter titled “Moving Marble,” which gives a play-by-play of how the Pietà was transported across the ocean, is an astounding read in and of itself.
Prepping, packing and shipping a priceless marble sculpture without damage was a daunting task. But through rigorous planning and careful preparation, they managed to do it, and how they did it has all the makings of a great Hollywood film. It may not be readily apparent what X-rays, tracking devices, buoyant containers, explosive bolts and foam beads have to do with transporting a precious sculpture halfway across the world, but all of the above were involved in a feat that simply must be read to be believed.
The bringing of the Pietà to America — and indeed, the entire New York World’s Fair — was such a remarkable feat that it also served as the impetus for another monumental first for the Church. On Oct. 4, 1965, Pope Paul VI visited New York City, which marked “the first-ever visit of any pope to the Western Hemisphere, or, for that matter, the New World.” The inaugural papal visit to the U.S. is described in great detail by Nelson, and again, serves as a nostalgic and fascinating window into both Church and American history.
The 1960s were a volatile time in American history. The Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War hovered over America and the rest of the world like a dark cloud, and President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. It is against this backdrop that the World’s Fair took place, which was a welcome respite to counter all the darkness and anxiety that seemed to envelop the globe. It served as a moment of unity for America and the world, coming together as one common human family to showcase the true, the good and the beautiful.
It was also, as Our Lady of the World’s Fair shows, a testament to the unitive and healing power of the Catholic faith, the presence of which, represented by the Pietà, transformed the fair into a truly transcendent occasion.
Aaron Lambert Features
January 1, 2025
The Pietà, Michelangelo’s masterful marble sculpture that so mournfully depicts the Virgin Mary cradling Christ’s lifeless body after his crucifixion, is one of history’s most revered and recognizable works of Christian art. It dwells behind a glass encasement in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, where it has been for as long as most can remember.
Since its astonishing creation, it has never left the Eternal City — except for once, that is.
The amazing story of when, why and how is chronicled in Our Lady of the World’s Fair, a new book written by Ruth Nelson, which recounts the time Michelangelo’s Pietà made the transatlantic journey from St. Peter’s Basilica to Queens, New York, for the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair. The likelihood of such a feat occurring in today’s internet age is next to impossible, making this tale from history all the more charming.
Through the book’s 12 chapters, Nelson goes into incredibly well-researched and painstaking detail about all of the logistical, financial and practical hurdles that had to be overcome to bring the Pietà to American shores.
While the cast of players is broad, two figures, in particular, can be credited with pulling it off: the highly influential public official and urban planner Robert Moses, whose ambitious vision the 1964-65 World’s Fair owes its success to, and Cardinal Francis Spellman, who served as Archbishop of New York from 1939 until his death in 1967. Cardinal Spellman’s esteemed reputation with ecclesial hierarchy played a crucial role in convincing the Vatican to loan their most precious sculpture to New York.
The experiences of these two men and their integral involvement in bringing the Pietà to the World’s Fair are described at length throughout the book. More than just a cursory glimpse into a particularly important period of Church history — after all, 1964 and 1965 were the final years of the Second Vatican Council, in which Cardinal Spellman was a participant — these chapters also provide a nostalgic and candid look at American culture in the 1960s and the Herculean efforts on the part of Moses, Cardinal Spellman and countless others to plan and execute a truly global event like the World’s Fair.
As Nelson writes in her preface for the book, “The 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair introduced us to the World of Tomorrow, the world we live in today. There never was nor ever could be a better fair, and that is the memory I have carried since that family vacation brought us to the Queens fairgrounds in 1964.”
Indeed, those fairgrounds must have been something to behold. The World’s Fair was much more than a few tents with mediocre attractions; as the book describes, a virtual small city was constructed from the ground up to accommodate the larger-than-life attractions that drew visitors from all over the world.
Even among an impressive array of attractions that included the famed Unisphere and exhibits from Disney, General Motors and Coca-Cola, it’s hard to compete with a masterpiece like the Pietà. The Vatican Pavilion, which housed the Pietà and many other Catholic works of art, was one of the most popular attractions for the tens of millions of visitors to the fair over its two seasons. The lines were always long, but eager pilgrims had no problem waiting to experience the lasting spiritual balm of the Pietà.
In those days, because hopping on a plane to Rome wasn’t as easy as it is today, seeing the Pietà in the flesh was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most. It would be the first time, and the last time, the Pietà would ever leave Rome, for the Vatican banned the loan of any of its art in 1965.
The book is replete with anecdotes and details about the World’s Fair, which makes it worth reading from a purely historical perspective alone. However, the chapter titled “Moving Marble,” which gives a play-by-play of how the Pietà was transported across the ocean, is an astounding read in and of itself.
Prepping, packing and shipping a priceless marble sculpture without damage was a daunting task. But through rigorous planning and careful preparation, they managed to do it, and how they did it has all the makings of a great Hollywood film. It may not be readily apparent what X-rays, tracking devices, buoyant containers, explosive bolts and foam beads have to do with transporting a precious sculpture halfway across the world, but all of the above were involved in a feat that simply must be read to be believed.
The bringing of the Pietà to America — and indeed, the entire New York World’s Fair — was such a remarkable feat that it also served as the impetus for another monumental first for the Church. On Oct. 4, 1965, Pope Paul VI visited New York City, which marked “the first-ever visit of any pope to the Western Hemisphere, or, for that matter, the New World.” The inaugural papal visit to the U.S. is described in great detail by Nelson, and again, serves as a nostalgic and fascinating window into both Church and American history.
The 1960s were a volatile time in American history. The Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War hovered over America and the rest of the world like a dark cloud, and President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. It is against this backdrop that the World’s Fair took place, which was a welcome respite to counter all the darkness and anxiety that seemed to envelop the globe. It served as a moment of unity for America and the world, coming together as one common human family to showcase the true, the good and the beautiful.
It was also, as Our Lady of the World’s Fair shows, a testament to the unitive and healing power of the Catholic faith, the presence of which, represented by the Pietà, transformed the fair into a truly transcendent occasion.
By CNA Staff
Rome, Italy, Jan 8
It was one of the viral Vatican moments of 2021: a boy in a black tracksuit, spectacles, and a face mask spontaneously walking up to greet Pope Francis in the middle of a general audience.
But there was more to the impromptu encounter in October than met the eye: the 10-year-old suffered from epilepsy and autism. His health had recently declined so severely that doctors feared he might have a brain tumor.
Rome, Italy, Jan 8
It was one of the viral Vatican moments of 2021: a boy in a black tracksuit, spectacles, and a face mask spontaneously walking up to greet Pope Francis in the middle of a general audience.
But there was more to the impromptu encounter in October than met the eye: the 10-year-old suffered from epilepsy and autism. His health had recently declined so severely that doctors feared he might have a brain tumor.
“He stumbled a little, two or three times, but he immediately had the instinct to get up again. The Lord was with him that day, close by, He had given him His hand, I’m convinced of it.”
"And Jesus tells us: 'You too, if you do not behave like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven'. The courage to approach the Lord, to be open to the Lord, not to be afraid of the Lord: I thank this child for the lesson he has given us all." @Pontifex pic.twitter.com/lJAbZ6GKYP
— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) October 20, 2021When Paolo approached Francis, the pope smiled and clasped the boy’s hand.
Msgr. Leonardo Sapienza, the regent of the Prefecture of the Papal Household, who sits to the pope’s right at general audiences, rose and gave his seat to Bonavita. Pilgrims applauded and Paolo joined them, enthusiastically clapping his hands.
"And Jesus tells us: 'You too, if you do not behave like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven'. The courage to approach the Lord, to be open to the Lord, not to be afraid of the Lord: I thank this child for the lesson he has given us all." @Pontifex pic.twitter.com/lJAbZ6GKYP
— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) October 20, 2021When Paolo approached Francis, the pope smiled and clasped the boy’s hand.
Msgr. Leonardo Sapienza, the regent of the Prefecture of the Papal Household, who sits to the pope’s right at general audiences, rose and gave his seat to Bonavita. Pilgrims applauded and Paolo joined them, enthusiastically clapping his hands.
‘The impossible does not exist for you’
Morra, who lives in southeast Italy, was staying with Paolo at a hotel near St. Peter’s Square. On the morning of the general audience, they had breakfast and left the hotel, planning to take an open-top sightseeing bus tour of Rome.
As they passed the Vatican, they noticed a long line of people. When Morra asked what was happening, she was told that it was the queue for the pope’s general audience. She wanted to attend but was informed that it was impossible without a reservation.
Morra, who lives in southeast Italy, was staying with Paolo at a hotel near St. Peter’s Square. On the morning of the general audience, they had breakfast and left the hotel, planning to take an open-top sightseeing bus tour of Rome.
As they passed the Vatican, they noticed a long line of people. When Morra asked what was happening, she was told that it was the queue for the pope’s general audience. She wanted to attend but was informed that it was impossible without a reservation.
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Daniel Ibáñez/CNA.
Later, Pope Francis greeted Morra. He took her hand and said: “Signora, forza! The impossible does not exist for you. I will be close to you in prayer. Keep going. You have done so much for your son. You are a super mom.”
Later, Pope Francis greeted Morra. He took her hand and said: “Signora, forza! The impossible does not exist for you. I will be close to you in prayer. Keep going. You have done so much for your son. You are a super mom.”
According to a report from the police office of San Miguel de Tucumán, capital of the northwestern province of Tucumán, "the event took place around 10:00 pm on December 31 2020: a 9-year-old boy named Tiziano, from the neighborhood of Las Talitas, checked in with his father into the ER of the Baby Jesus Hospital in the southern part of the capital city with a superficial wound in the thorax, produced by a firearm."
“After being checked thoroughly by several doctors on staff for 48 minutes, the boy was released," the report says.
Tiziano's family contacted José Romero Silva, a journalist from Telefé, Jan. 1 to explain how the boy's life was saved: the bullet hit in the middle of the small metal crucifix that the boy received as a gift from his father. Tiziano's aunt sent Silva a picture of how the bullet damaged the crucifix, which prevented the bullet from causing any real damage, except for a minor superficial wound.
https://twitter.com/Josecitors/status/1345172600113262593/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1345172600113262593%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicnewsagency.com%2Fnews%2Fargentine-boy-saved-from-stray-bullet-by-crucifix-28882
Silva shared the picture in his Twitter account, writing: “New Year's Miracle: yesterday, minutes before 00 hours a stray bullet hit the chest of a boy from Las Talitas. But it hit in a crucifix the minor was wearing."
“After being checked thoroughly by several doctors on staff for 48 minutes, the boy was released," the report says.
Tiziano's family contacted José Romero Silva, a journalist from Telefé, Jan. 1 to explain how the boy's life was saved: the bullet hit in the middle of the small metal crucifix that the boy received as a gift from his father. Tiziano's aunt sent Silva a picture of how the bullet damaged the crucifix, which prevented the bullet from causing any real damage, except for a minor superficial wound.
https://twitter.com/Josecitors/status/1345172600113262593/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1345172600113262593%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicnewsagency.com%2Fnews%2Fargentine-boy-saved-from-stray-bullet-by-crucifix-28882
Silva shared the picture in his Twitter account, writing: “New Year's Miracle: yesterday, minutes before 00 hours a stray bullet hit the chest of a boy from Las Talitas. But it hit in a crucifix the minor was wearing."
At Mass in the Sistine Chapel Sunday, Pope Francis baptized 27 babies, reminding their parents that the first space in which children learn and witness the faith is at home.
“Yes, when they go to catechism class, they will study the faith well, they will learn catechesis,” he said Jan. 13. “But before being studied, faith must be transmitted, and this is a job that is up to you.”
Preparing to baptize the 27 babies – 15 girls and 12 boys – Francis urged their parents “to transmit the faith by example, by words, by teaching [them] to make the sign of the Cross. This is important.”
“The important thing is to transmit the faith with your life of faith: that they see the love of the spouses, that they see the peace of the house, that they see that Jesus is there,” he said.
Francis gave the brief, impromptu homily during Mass for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, when there is a tradition of baptizing a group of babies in the Sistine Chapel, a custom started by St. Pope John Paul II.
In his homily, he said that it is the parents’ task to pass the faith along to their children, beginning at home, “because faith must always be transmitted ‘in dialect:’ the dialect of the family, the dialect of the house, in the atmosphere of the home.”
Asking if he could give a little advice, he went on to urge the couples not to fight in front of their children. He noted that it is perfectly normal for a husband and wife to quarrel but recommended trying to keep arguments out of the view and hearing of their kids.
“This, I dare, is a piece of advice that will help you pass on the faith,” he said.
The pope also commented on the “chorus of tears,” that could be heard coming from the over two dozen babies in the chapel and said mothers should not be ashamed to breastfeed if their child is hungry.
“And so, we go forward in this ceremony, in peace, with the awareness that the transmission of the faith is your responsibility,” he said.
Following Mass, the pope reflected on the Baptism of Christ before leading the Angelus, noting that before Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan river took place, he was “in the midst of the people.”
This element of the story “is not only a background of the scene, but is an essential component of the event,” he said. “Before plunging into the water, Jesus ‘plunges’ into the crowd, joins it and fully assumes the human condition, sharing everything except sin.”
“In his divine holiness, full of grace and mercy, the Son of God became flesh to take upon himself and take away the sin of the world,” he continued.
Explaining that Jesus’ baptism marks the start of his public life and mission, Francis noted that the mission of the Church and each person to be “faithful and fruitful,” calls for a “grafting” onto the mission of Jesus.
“It is a matter of continuously regenerating evangelization and apostolate in prayer, to make a clear Christian witness. Not according to human projects, but according to God’s plan and style,” he said.
“The feast of the Baptism of the Lord is a favorable opportunity to renew with gratitude and conviction the promises of our Baptism, committing ourselves to live daily in harmony with it.”
“Yes, when they go to catechism class, they will study the faith well, they will learn catechesis,” he said Jan. 13. “But before being studied, faith must be transmitted, and this is a job that is up to you.”
Preparing to baptize the 27 babies – 15 girls and 12 boys – Francis urged their parents “to transmit the faith by example, by words, by teaching [them] to make the sign of the Cross. This is important.”
“The important thing is to transmit the faith with your life of faith: that they see the love of the spouses, that they see the peace of the house, that they see that Jesus is there,” he said.
Francis gave the brief, impromptu homily during Mass for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, when there is a tradition of baptizing a group of babies in the Sistine Chapel, a custom started by St. Pope John Paul II.
In his homily, he said that it is the parents’ task to pass the faith along to their children, beginning at home, “because faith must always be transmitted ‘in dialect:’ the dialect of the family, the dialect of the house, in the atmosphere of the home.”
Asking if he could give a little advice, he went on to urge the couples not to fight in front of their children. He noted that it is perfectly normal for a husband and wife to quarrel but recommended trying to keep arguments out of the view and hearing of their kids.
“This, I dare, is a piece of advice that will help you pass on the faith,” he said.
The pope also commented on the “chorus of tears,” that could be heard coming from the over two dozen babies in the chapel and said mothers should not be ashamed to breastfeed if their child is hungry.
“And so, we go forward in this ceremony, in peace, with the awareness that the transmission of the faith is your responsibility,” he said.
Following Mass, the pope reflected on the Baptism of Christ before leading the Angelus, noting that before Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan river took place, he was “in the midst of the people.”
This element of the story “is not only a background of the scene, but is an essential component of the event,” he said. “Before plunging into the water, Jesus ‘plunges’ into the crowd, joins it and fully assumes the human condition, sharing everything except sin.”
“In his divine holiness, full of grace and mercy, the Son of God became flesh to take upon himself and take away the sin of the world,” he continued.
Explaining that Jesus’ baptism marks the start of his public life and mission, Francis noted that the mission of the Church and each person to be “faithful and fruitful,” calls for a “grafting” onto the mission of Jesus.
“It is a matter of continuously regenerating evangelization and apostolate in prayer, to make a clear Christian witness. Not according to human projects, but according to God’s plan and style,” he said.
“The feast of the Baptism of the Lord is a favorable opportunity to renew with gratitude and conviction the promises of our Baptism, committing ourselves to live daily in harmony with it.”
Vatican City, Jan 10 (EWTN News/CNA) -
Pope Francis said Wednesday that moments of silence in the Mass should be intentional times of prayer, recollection and communion with God, rather than being viewed as times to just be quiet or not speak.
“Silence is not reduced to the absence of words, but (is) the availability to listen to other voices: that of our heart and, above all, the voice of the Holy Spirit,” the Pope said Jan. 10.
In silence, then, we discover “the importance of listening to our soul and then opening it to the Lord.”
Continuing his general audience catechesis on the topic of the Mass, Pope Francis reflected on the nature of the different moments of silence found within the celebration, especially in the recitation of the collect.
The collect, which is prayed after the Gloria, or if the Gloria is omitted, following the Penitential Act, is a short prayer which goes from praise to supplication, and is generally inspired from the day’s Scripture passages, the Pope said.
This prayer, which varies according to the day and time in which the Mass is being said, begins with the priest saying to the people, “Let us pray,” followed by a brief silence.
“I strongly recommend priests observe this moment of silence, which without wanting to, we risk neglecting,” Francis noted.
In this moment the congregation is exhorted to come together in silence, to become aware of the presence of God, and to bring out, “each one in his own heart, the personal intentions with which he participates in Mass.”
“Perhaps we come from days of toil, of joy, of sorrow, and we want to tell the Lord, to invoke his help, to ask that he be near us; we have family members and friends who are ill or who are going through difficult trials; we wish to entrust to God the fate of the Church and the world.”
“For this we need the brief silence beforehand, that the priest, gathering the intentions of each one, expresses in a loud voice to God, in the name of all, the common prayer that concludes the rites of introduction, making, indeed, a ‘collection’ of individual intentions.”
These silences are written right into the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, the Pope pointed out. There it says that in the Penitential Act and again after the invitation to pray, everyone is supposed to spend a moment in recollection.
And in the silences following a reading or the homily, everyone is called to meditate briefly on what they have heard. After Communion they should praise and pray to God in their hearts.
The Gloria, another kind of prayer, is either recited or sung before the collect on Sundays - except during Lent and Advent - and on feasts and solemnities.
Here, “the feelings of praise that run through the hymn are intertwined with the confident pleading of divine benevolence, to end with the Trinitarian doxology, which characterizes the whole liturgical celebration,” he said.
The recitation or singing of the Gloria, the Pope emphasized, “constitutes an opening of the earth to heaven.”
By meditating on the prayers of the Mass, the liturgy can become for us, the Pope concluded, a “true school of prayer.”
Pope Francis said Wednesday that moments of silence in the Mass should be intentional times of prayer, recollection and communion with God, rather than being viewed as times to just be quiet or not speak.
“Silence is not reduced to the absence of words, but (is) the availability to listen to other voices: that of our heart and, above all, the voice of the Holy Spirit,” the Pope said Jan. 10.
In silence, then, we discover “the importance of listening to our soul and then opening it to the Lord.”
Continuing his general audience catechesis on the topic of the Mass, Pope Francis reflected on the nature of the different moments of silence found within the celebration, especially in the recitation of the collect.
The collect, which is prayed after the Gloria, or if the Gloria is omitted, following the Penitential Act, is a short prayer which goes from praise to supplication, and is generally inspired from the day’s Scripture passages, the Pope said.
This prayer, which varies according to the day and time in which the Mass is being said, begins with the priest saying to the people, “Let us pray,” followed by a brief silence.
“I strongly recommend priests observe this moment of silence, which without wanting to, we risk neglecting,” Francis noted.
In this moment the congregation is exhorted to come together in silence, to become aware of the presence of God, and to bring out, “each one in his own heart, the personal intentions with which he participates in Mass.”
“Perhaps we come from days of toil, of joy, of sorrow, and we want to tell the Lord, to invoke his help, to ask that he be near us; we have family members and friends who are ill or who are going through difficult trials; we wish to entrust to God the fate of the Church and the world.”
“For this we need the brief silence beforehand, that the priest, gathering the intentions of each one, expresses in a loud voice to God, in the name of all, the common prayer that concludes the rites of introduction, making, indeed, a ‘collection’ of individual intentions.”
These silences are written right into the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, the Pope pointed out. There it says that in the Penitential Act and again after the invitation to pray, everyone is supposed to spend a moment in recollection.
And in the silences following a reading or the homily, everyone is called to meditate briefly on what they have heard. After Communion they should praise and pray to God in their hearts.
The Gloria, another kind of prayer, is either recited or sung before the collect on Sundays - except during Lent and Advent - and on feasts and solemnities.
Here, “the feelings of praise that run through the hymn are intertwined with the confident pleading of divine benevolence, to end with the Trinitarian doxology, which characterizes the whole liturgical celebration,” he said.
The recitation or singing of the Gloria, the Pope emphasized, “constitutes an opening of the earth to heaven.”
By meditating on the prayers of the Mass, the liturgy can become for us, the Pope concluded, a “true school of prayer.”
Washington D.C., Jan 16 (EWTN News/CNA) - Martin Luther King Day is a time to promote racial harmony in America and honor the slain civil rights leader who was “inspired by the teachings of Christ,” said the head of the Knights of Peter Claver.
“Considering that so many 'church-going folks' were supporting segregation and Jim Crow laws during the civil rights movement, it is wonderful that King dedicated his life to employing Christ's teachings to resist and counter the very social sins of prejudice, racial discrimination and segregation,” Supreme Knight F. DeKarlos Blackmon told EWTN News.
He said Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. a Baptist minister, was “a man of faith and deep conviction” who studied Catholic theology and was “particularly impressed” with St. Augustine.
King’s famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” cited St. Augustine's saying “An unjust law is no law at all.”
From 2010-2016 Blackmon headed the Knights of Peter Claver, a New Orleans-based Catholic fraternal order present in about 39 states and in South America. It takes as its model the Spanish Jesuit priest St. Peter Claver, who ministered to slaves in Colombia in the 1600s. Its membership is significantly African-American but the order is open to all practicing Catholics without regard to race or ethnicity.
The organization was founded in Mobile, Ala. in 1909 by four priests of the Josephite Fathers and three Catholic laymen to serve African-Americans and other racial minorities. Its founders were concerned the Catholic Church would lose black individuals to fraternal and secular organizations, at a time when local racism kept many out of the Knights of Columbus.
The order has six divisions: the Ladies of Peter Claver, two separate junior divisions for young men and young women, the Fourth Degree Knights and the Fourth Degree Ladies of Grace.
The Knights of Peter Claver and the Ladies Auxiliary opposed segregation and worked to transform how communities and cities thought about race, equality and justice, Blackmon said. They worked with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the National Urban League.
The order's leadership and members were “intimately involved” in the civil rights movement. Civil rights attorney A.P. Tureaud, a national secretary and national advocate of the order, worked with future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall to help overturn legal segregation.
The now demolished Claver Building in New Orleans, which was the Knights’ headquarters from 1951 to 1974, hosted early meetings “that ultimately launched the civil rights movement,” Blackmon added.
Today, members of the order organize Martin Luther King Day activities like Masses of Unity, prayer services, days of unity, and programs commemorating King's vision in addition to their other charitable works.
Blackmon said King challenged America “to live out its creed that all men are created equal.” He said the observance is an opportunity for American Catholics to remember King's life and work and to realize the challenge to work towards Jesus’ prayer that the Catholic Church “may all be as one.”
He said African-American Catholics should use the day to remember those who have accomplished “something for the larger community and the greater good.” He mentioned African-American Catholic bishops like the late New Orleans auxiliary Bishop Harold Perry and Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta, former president of the U.S. bishops’ conference.
Blackmon praised the rise of African-Americans in professions like law, medicine, higher education and politics.
“We have realized numerous African-American and Hispanic cabinet officials, legislators, and federal judges. We have realized a black president in the White House,” he said.
However, he added, “there is still yet more to be effected.”
“By the grace of almighty God, by the arduous work of our hands, by the standing up to be a witness to the saving power of God, we will overcome prejudice, racism, intolerance, bias, narrow-mindedness, and chauvinism,” he said.
He said Christians must be “ever mindful of our role in not only welcoming, but also embracing and helping ‘the stranger’ among us.”
The Knights of Peter Claver aim to serve God and the Catholic Church. They assist the needy, the sick, and disabled, while developing their members through fellowship, recreational activities, scholarships, and charitable work.
POPE FRANCIS HAILS MOTHERHOOD AS THE 'ANTIDOTE TO INVIDIVIDUALISM'Vatican City, Jan 7 (EWTN News/CNA) - During his general audience Pope Francis lamented how mothers are often under-appreciated in their family role, and said they are key players in fighting against an individualistic, self-centered society.
“To be a mother is a great treasure. Mothers, in their unconditional and sacrificial love for their children, are the antidote to individualism; they are the greatest enemies against war,” the pontiff told pilgrims during his Jan. 7 general audience address.
Mothers, he said, “are often exploited because of their availability. Not even the Christian community values them properly, despite the eminent example of the Mother of Jesus.”
The Roman Pontiff offered his words to those gathered in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall for his first general audience after the Christmas holiday vacation.
He continued his catechesis on the family, which he initiated in December, by turning his gaze to the image of the Mother of Jesus at Christmas, who presents her son to the world.
Mary’s example provides an opportunity for the Church to reflect on the role of all mothers in society and the Church, the Pope explained, noting how despite all of the “symbolic glorification” we give to motherhood, it is still under-valued.
“All of us give credit to our mothers for life and many other things, but not always are they listened to or helped in everyday life…Their important contribution to the life of society, their daily sacrifices and their aspirations are not always properly appreciated,” he observed.
To be a mother is a gift, the Pope said, and explained that through their sacrifices, mothers assist in helping society to overcome its self-centered tendencies, as well as its lack of openness, generosity and concern for others.
“In this sense motherhood is more than childbearing; it is a life choice entailing sacrifice, respect for life, and commitment to passing on those human and religious values which are essential for a healthy society,” he said.
Pope Francis then drew attention to the phrase “martyrdom of mothers” coined by Archbishop Oscar Romero, who served as the archbishop of El Salvador and was shot and killed while saying Mass in 1980 for speaking out against social injustices committed by the government.
This maternal martyrdom, the pontiff noted, consists of a mother’s ability to offer herself in silence, prayer and total surrender, “without any fanfare,” to her motherly duties.
A mother’s sensitivity “to all that threatens human life and welfare is a source of enrichment for society and the Church,” he said, observing how it is common in moments of difficulty to encounter the tenderness, dedication and moral strength of our mothers.
“It is they, mothers, who often give the first roots of the faith, the ones that permeate deepest; without them not only would the faithful be lost, but also a good part of the deepest fire of our faith,” he explained.
Pope Francis then greeted pilgrims present from various countries around the world, including Ireland, Finland, Indonesia, Australia, the United States, Spain, Mexico and Argentina.
He concluded by asking those present to join him in thanking all mothers “for what they are and for all that they give to the Church and to our world,” and gave his blessing.
In His Passover Christ opened to all men the fountain of Baptism. He had already spoken of His Passion, which He was about to suffer in Jerusalem, as a "Baptism" with which He had to be baptized. The blood and water that flowed from the pierced side of the crucified Jesus are types of Baptism and the Eucharist, the sacraments of new life. From then on, it is possible "to be born of water and the Spirit" in order to enter the Kingdom of God. See where you are baptized, see where Baptism comes from, if not from the cross of Christ, from His death. There is the whole mystery: He died for you. In Him you are redeemed, in Him you are saved. -Catechism of the Catholic Church 1225
“Considering that so many 'church-going folks' were supporting segregation and Jim Crow laws during the civil rights movement, it is wonderful that King dedicated his life to employing Christ's teachings to resist and counter the very social sins of prejudice, racial discrimination and segregation,” Supreme Knight F. DeKarlos Blackmon told EWTN News.
He said Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. a Baptist minister, was “a man of faith and deep conviction” who studied Catholic theology and was “particularly impressed” with St. Augustine.
King’s famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” cited St. Augustine's saying “An unjust law is no law at all.”
From 2010-2016 Blackmon headed the Knights of Peter Claver, a New Orleans-based Catholic fraternal order present in about 39 states and in South America. It takes as its model the Spanish Jesuit priest St. Peter Claver, who ministered to slaves in Colombia in the 1600s. Its membership is significantly African-American but the order is open to all practicing Catholics without regard to race or ethnicity.
The organization was founded in Mobile, Ala. in 1909 by four priests of the Josephite Fathers and three Catholic laymen to serve African-Americans and other racial minorities. Its founders were concerned the Catholic Church would lose black individuals to fraternal and secular organizations, at a time when local racism kept many out of the Knights of Columbus.
The order has six divisions: the Ladies of Peter Claver, two separate junior divisions for young men and young women, the Fourth Degree Knights and the Fourth Degree Ladies of Grace.
The Knights of Peter Claver and the Ladies Auxiliary opposed segregation and worked to transform how communities and cities thought about race, equality and justice, Blackmon said. They worked with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the National Urban League.
The order's leadership and members were “intimately involved” in the civil rights movement. Civil rights attorney A.P. Tureaud, a national secretary and national advocate of the order, worked with future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall to help overturn legal segregation.
The now demolished Claver Building in New Orleans, which was the Knights’ headquarters from 1951 to 1974, hosted early meetings “that ultimately launched the civil rights movement,” Blackmon added.
Today, members of the order organize Martin Luther King Day activities like Masses of Unity, prayer services, days of unity, and programs commemorating King's vision in addition to their other charitable works.
Blackmon said King challenged America “to live out its creed that all men are created equal.” He said the observance is an opportunity for American Catholics to remember King's life and work and to realize the challenge to work towards Jesus’ prayer that the Catholic Church “may all be as one.”
He said African-American Catholics should use the day to remember those who have accomplished “something for the larger community and the greater good.” He mentioned African-American Catholic bishops like the late New Orleans auxiliary Bishop Harold Perry and Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta, former president of the U.S. bishops’ conference.
Blackmon praised the rise of African-Americans in professions like law, medicine, higher education and politics.
“We have realized numerous African-American and Hispanic cabinet officials, legislators, and federal judges. We have realized a black president in the White House,” he said.
However, he added, “there is still yet more to be effected.”
“By the grace of almighty God, by the arduous work of our hands, by the standing up to be a witness to the saving power of God, we will overcome prejudice, racism, intolerance, bias, narrow-mindedness, and chauvinism,” he said.
He said Christians must be “ever mindful of our role in not only welcoming, but also embracing and helping ‘the stranger’ among us.”
The Knights of Peter Claver aim to serve God and the Catholic Church. They assist the needy, the sick, and disabled, while developing their members through fellowship, recreational activities, scholarships, and charitable work.
POPE FRANCIS HAILS MOTHERHOOD AS THE 'ANTIDOTE TO INVIDIVIDUALISM'Vatican City, Jan 7 (EWTN News/CNA) - During his general audience Pope Francis lamented how mothers are often under-appreciated in their family role, and said they are key players in fighting against an individualistic, self-centered society.
“To be a mother is a great treasure. Mothers, in their unconditional and sacrificial love for their children, are the antidote to individualism; they are the greatest enemies against war,” the pontiff told pilgrims during his Jan. 7 general audience address.
Mothers, he said, “are often exploited because of their availability. Not even the Christian community values them properly, despite the eminent example of the Mother of Jesus.”
The Roman Pontiff offered his words to those gathered in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall for his first general audience after the Christmas holiday vacation.
He continued his catechesis on the family, which he initiated in December, by turning his gaze to the image of the Mother of Jesus at Christmas, who presents her son to the world.
Mary’s example provides an opportunity for the Church to reflect on the role of all mothers in society and the Church, the Pope explained, noting how despite all of the “symbolic glorification” we give to motherhood, it is still under-valued.
“All of us give credit to our mothers for life and many other things, but not always are they listened to or helped in everyday life…Their important contribution to the life of society, their daily sacrifices and their aspirations are not always properly appreciated,” he observed.
To be a mother is a gift, the Pope said, and explained that through their sacrifices, mothers assist in helping society to overcome its self-centered tendencies, as well as its lack of openness, generosity and concern for others.
“In this sense motherhood is more than childbearing; it is a life choice entailing sacrifice, respect for life, and commitment to passing on those human and religious values which are essential for a healthy society,” he said.
Pope Francis then drew attention to the phrase “martyrdom of mothers” coined by Archbishop Oscar Romero, who served as the archbishop of El Salvador and was shot and killed while saying Mass in 1980 for speaking out against social injustices committed by the government.
This maternal martyrdom, the pontiff noted, consists of a mother’s ability to offer herself in silence, prayer and total surrender, “without any fanfare,” to her motherly duties.
A mother’s sensitivity “to all that threatens human life and welfare is a source of enrichment for society and the Church,” he said, observing how it is common in moments of difficulty to encounter the tenderness, dedication and moral strength of our mothers.
“It is they, mothers, who often give the first roots of the faith, the ones that permeate deepest; without them not only would the faithful be lost, but also a good part of the deepest fire of our faith,” he explained.
Pope Francis then greeted pilgrims present from various countries around the world, including Ireland, Finland, Indonesia, Australia, the United States, Spain, Mexico and Argentina.
He concluded by asking those present to join him in thanking all mothers “for what they are and for all that they give to the Church and to our world,” and gave his blessing.
In His Passover Christ opened to all men the fountain of Baptism. He had already spoken of His Passion, which He was about to suffer in Jerusalem, as a "Baptism" with which He had to be baptized. The blood and water that flowed from the pierced side of the crucified Jesus are types of Baptism and the Eucharist, the sacraments of new life. From then on, it is possible "to be born of water and the Spirit" in order to enter the Kingdom of God. See where you are baptized, see where Baptism comes from, if not from the cross of Christ, from His death. There is the whole mystery: He died for you. In Him you are redeemed, in Him you are saved. -Catechism of the Catholic Church 1225
A bit of humor…
Some Thoughts:
- Failure is not falling down, it is not getting up again.
-Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed.
-I have to exercise early in the morning before my brain figures out what I’m doing.
-The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and a flat tire.
-You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.
Family Matters“Why doesn’t your mother like me?” a woman asks her boyfriend.
“Don’t take it personally,” he assures her. “She’s never liked anyone I’ve dated. I once dated someone exactly like her, and that didn’t work out at all.”
“What happened?”
“My father couldn’t stand her.”
Mom's CallI was sound asleep when the telephone jarred me awake.
"Hi!" It was my peppy mother-in-law. She proceeded to rattle on about the busy day she had ahead and all the things that awaited her the rest of the week.
"Mom," I interrupted. "It’s five in the morning."
"Really? What are you doing up so early?"
63 and pregnant..................
A woman went to the emergency room, where she was seen by a young new doctor. After about 3 minutes in the examination room, the doctor told her she was pregnant.
She burst out of the room and ran down the corridor screaming. An older doctor stopped her and asked what the problem was; after listening to her story, he calmed her down and sat her in another room.
Then the doctor marched down the hallway to the first doctor's room. 'What on earth is wrong with you?' he demanded. 'This woman is 63 years old, she has two grown children and several grandchildren, and you told her she was pregnant?!!
The new doctor continued to write on his clipboard and without looking up said:
'Does she still have the hiccups?'
FROM THE MOUTHS OF CHILDREN:
Ms. Terri asked her Sunday School class to draw pictures of their favorite Bible stories.
She was puzzled by Kyle's picture, which showed four people on an airplane, so she asked him which story it was meant to represent.
"The Flight to Egypt ," was his reply.
Pointing at each figure, Ms. Terri said,
"That must be Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus. But who's the fourth person?"
"Oh, that's Pontius - the pilot!"
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A boy was watching his father, a pastor, write a sermon.
"How do you know what to say?" he asked.
"Why, God tells me."
"Oh, then why do you keep crossing things out?"
Some Thoughts:
- Failure is not falling down, it is not getting up again.
-Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed.
-I have to exercise early in the morning before my brain figures out what I’m doing.
-The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and a flat tire.
-You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.
Family Matters“Why doesn’t your mother like me?” a woman asks her boyfriend.
“Don’t take it personally,” he assures her. “She’s never liked anyone I’ve dated. I once dated someone exactly like her, and that didn’t work out at all.”
“What happened?”
“My father couldn’t stand her.”
Mom's CallI was sound asleep when the telephone jarred me awake.
"Hi!" It was my peppy mother-in-law. She proceeded to rattle on about the busy day she had ahead and all the things that awaited her the rest of the week.
"Mom," I interrupted. "It’s five in the morning."
"Really? What are you doing up so early?"
63 and pregnant..................
A woman went to the emergency room, where she was seen by a young new doctor. After about 3 minutes in the examination room, the doctor told her she was pregnant.
She burst out of the room and ran down the corridor screaming. An older doctor stopped her and asked what the problem was; after listening to her story, he calmed her down and sat her in another room.
Then the doctor marched down the hallway to the first doctor's room. 'What on earth is wrong with you?' he demanded. 'This woman is 63 years old, she has two grown children and several grandchildren, and you told her she was pregnant?!!
The new doctor continued to write on his clipboard and without looking up said:
'Does she still have the hiccups?'
FROM THE MOUTHS OF CHILDREN:
Ms. Terri asked her Sunday School class to draw pictures of their favorite Bible stories.
She was puzzled by Kyle's picture, which showed four people on an airplane, so she asked him which story it was meant to represent.
"The Flight to Egypt ," was his reply.
Pointing at each figure, Ms. Terri said,
"That must be Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus. But who's the fourth person?"
"Oh, that's Pontius - the pilot!"
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A boy was watching his father, a pastor, write a sermon.
"How do you know what to say?" he asked.
"Why, God tells me."
"Oh, then why do you keep crossing things out?"
Collect for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
Almighty ever-living God, who, when Christ had been baptized in the River Jordan and as the Holy Spirit descended upon him, solemnly declared him your beloved Son, grant that your children by adoption, reborn of water and the Holy Spirit, may always be well pleasing to you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Prayer for Our Government by Bishop John Carroll (1791)
Almighty ever-living God, who, when Christ had been baptized in the River Jordan and as the Holy Spirit descended upon him, solemnly declared him your beloved Son, grant that your children by adoption, reborn of water and the Holy Spirit, may always be well pleasing to you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Prayer for Our Government by Bishop John Carroll (1791)
We pray, O almighty and eternal God, who through Jesus Christ has revealed thy glory to all nations, to preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church, being spread through the whole world, may continue with unchanging faith in the confession of your name.
We pray Thee, who alone are good and holy, to endow with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal and sanctity of life, our chief bishop, the pope, the vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the government of his Church; our own bishop, all other bishops, prelates and pastors of the Church; and especially those who are appointed to exercise among us the functions of the holy ministry, and conduct your people into the ways of salvation.
We pray O God of might, wisdom and justice, through whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment decreed, assist with your Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude the president of these United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness and be eminently useful to your people over whom he presides; by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; and by restraining vice and immorality.
Let the light of your divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety and useful knowledge; and may perpetuate to us the blessing of equal liberty.
We pray for his excellency, the governor of this state, for the members of the assembly, for all judges, magistrates, and other officers who are appointed to guard our political welfare, that they may be enabled, by your powerful protection, to discharge the duties of their respective stations with honesty and ability.
We recommend likewise, to your unbounded mercy, all our brethren and fellow citizens throughout the United States, that they may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of your most holy law; that they may be preserved in union, and in that peace which the world cannot give; and after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal.
Finally, we pray to you, O Lord of mercy, to remember the souls of your servants departed, who are gone before us with the sign of faith and repose in the sleep of peace; the souls of our parents, relatives and friends; of those who, when living, were members of this congregation, and particularly of such as are lately deceased; of all benefactors who, by their donations or legacies to this Church, witnessed their zeal for the decency of divine worship and proved their claim to our grateful and charitable remembrance. To these, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ, grant, we beseech you, a place of refreshment, light and everlasting peace, through the same Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior.
Amen.
+JMJ+
SUNDAY BIBLICAL MASS READINGS AND QUESTIONS
for Self-Reflection, Couples or Family Discussion
Feast of the Baptism of the Lord – Sunday, January 12, 2025
The First Reading - Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7
Thus says the LORD: Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations, not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street, a bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching. I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.
Reflection
The section of Isaiah from which our reading for today comes is the beginning of the conclusion to what has been called the Book of Consolation. The Bible often uses the symbol of a banquet to describe God’s love. The Passover out of Egypt is celebrated with a family banquet (Exodus 12) as well as the Sinai covenant (Exodus 24:5, 11). The abundance of heaven in the end times is often described as a heavenly banquet (Isaiah 25:6; 65:11-15; Psalm 22:5). All are invited to this eschatological banquet described here, all that is needed is a thirst for God and obedience to His call (Heed me and you shall eat well).
Adults - How do you envision the heavenly banquet?
Teens - What feelings/thoughts does the imagery of a banquet evoke in you?
Kids - Why do you think heaven is sometimes described as a heavenly banquet?
Responsorial- Psalm 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Give to the LORD, you sons of God,
give to the LORD glory and praise,
Give to the LORD the glory due his name;
adore the LORD in holy attire.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The voice of the LORD is over the waters,
the LORD, over vast waters.
The voice of the LORD is mighty;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The God of glory thunders,
and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
The LORD is enthroned above the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as king forever.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Reflection
The Lord gives us all peace - not the peace of the world, but His own peace which is rooted in faith and hope. Ask God to bless you with his peace this week.
The Second Reading- Acts 10:34-38
Peter proceeded to speak to those gathered in the house of Cornelius, saying: “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him. You know the word that he sent to the Israelites as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”
Reflection - The essence of the 1st letter of John is that of the love of God and the love of the brethren which is the hallmark of the Christian. For “If anyone says ‘I love God’, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that he who loves God should love his brother also” (1 John 4:20-21). As we see in many places, the commandment of fraternal love is an old commandment: God always wanted us to love others and he made this a basic commandment for the people of the Old Covenant (Leviticus 19:18). It is also a “new” commandment because it finds its fullest meaning in Christ’s life and teaching. Saint Jerome tells us that when John was a very old man his only message was “little children, love one another.” When his disciples asked him why he was always saying the same thing he always replied, “My children, this is what the Lord commands; if we do this, nothing else is necessary.” Our reading for today is a reaffirmation of love in action.
-Practice seeing the image of Christ in everyone you encounter this week, and see how it changes your interactions.
The Holy Gospel according to Mark 1:7-11
This is what John the Baptist proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me.I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Reflection The fact of Jesus’ baptism has been a christological and theological issue to be reckoned with almost since it happened. After all, why would Jesus, who was sinless, participate in a rite for sinners? Also, why would Jesus, the Messiah and clearly superior to John the Baptist, submit to the authority of John? Jesus identifies Himself with sinful humanity by undergoing John’s purificatory rite. He cleanses the waters so that they will be fit to baptize all of His followers throughout history. The heavens open and the heavenly voice speaks. Jesus is being called to fulfill His vocation as Son by being the well-beloved Son after the pattern of Isaac who was prepared to sacrifice his life to ensure the blessings of God for mankind (Genesis 22:2, 12,16).
Adults - How does the Baptism of Jesus speak to His humility?
Teens - Why is Baptism the doorway to all other Sacraments?
Kids - What do you know about your own Baptism?
LIVING THE WORD OF GOD THIS WEEK! – “The Baptism in the Jordan returns to the great Christmas theme of ‘Christification,’ Jesus of Nazareth's spiritual anointing, His presentation as the Anointed One par excellence, the Messiah or the One sent by the Father for the salvation of mankind. The Spirit that descended on Jesus shows and seals in an incontrovertible way the ‘Christification’ of Jesus’ humanity that the Word had already fulfilled from the first moment of His miraculous conception by Mary. Jesus, from the very beginning, was always the Lord’s Christ, He was always God. Yet, His one, true humanity, that which is perfect in every way, as the Gospel records, constantly grew in natural and supernatural perfection. ‘And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and with men’ (Lk2:52). In Israel at 30 years of age, one reached full maturity and therefore could become a master. Jesus came of age and the Spirit, descending and remaining on Him, definitively consecrated His whole being as the Christ.
The same Spirit, that descended on the water of the River Jordan wafted over the waters during the first creation (Gen 1:2). Therefore, the Baptism in the Jordan presents yet another truth: that Jesus has started a new creation. He is the second man (1 Cor 15:47) or the last Adam (1 Cor 15:45), that comes to repair the first Adam’s guilt. He does this as the Lamb of God that takes away our sins. ‘Looking at the events in light of the Cross and Resurrection, the Christian people realised what happened: Jesus loaded the burden of all mankind’s guilt upon His shoulders; he bore it down into the depths of the Jordan. He inaugurated his public activity by stepping into the place of sinners’ (Joseph Ratzinger, Jesus of Nazareth, Bloomsbury 2007, p 18).” --Excerpted from the Congregation for the Clergy
252. What names are given to the first sacrament of initiation? a) Baptism
This sacrament is primarily called Baptism because of the central rite with which it is celebrated. To baptize means to “immerse” in water. The one who is baptized is immersed into the death of Christ and rises with him as a “new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17). This sacrament is also called the “bath of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5); and it is called “enlightenment” because the baptized becomes “a son of light” (Ephesians 5:8).
253. How is Baptism prefigured in the Old Covenant?c) in the passing of Israel through the Red Sea
In the Old Covenant Baptism was pre-figured in various ways: water, seen as source of life and of death; in the Ark of Noah, which saved by means of water; in the passing through the Red Sea, which liberated Israel from Egyptian slavery; in the crossing of the Jordan River, that brought Israel into the promised land which is the image of eternal life.
254. Who brought to fulfillment those prefigurations? b) Jesus Christ
All the Old Covenant prefigurations find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. At the beginning of his public life Jesus had himself baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan. On the cross, blood and water, signs of Baptism and the Eucharist, flowed from his pierced side. After his Resurrection he gave to his apostles this mission: “Go forth and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
255. Starting when and to whom has the Church administered Baptism? a) Pentecost, to anyone who believes in Jesus Christ
From the day of Pentecost, the Church has administered Baptism to anyone who believes in Jesus Christ.
We pray Thee, who alone are good and holy, to endow with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal and sanctity of life, our chief bishop, the pope, the vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the government of his Church; our own bishop, all other bishops, prelates and pastors of the Church; and especially those who are appointed to exercise among us the functions of the holy ministry, and conduct your people into the ways of salvation.
We pray O God of might, wisdom and justice, through whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment decreed, assist with your Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude the president of these United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness and be eminently useful to your people over whom he presides; by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; and by restraining vice and immorality.
Let the light of your divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety and useful knowledge; and may perpetuate to us the blessing of equal liberty.
We pray for his excellency, the governor of this state, for the members of the assembly, for all judges, magistrates, and other officers who are appointed to guard our political welfare, that they may be enabled, by your powerful protection, to discharge the duties of their respective stations with honesty and ability.
We recommend likewise, to your unbounded mercy, all our brethren and fellow citizens throughout the United States, that they may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of your most holy law; that they may be preserved in union, and in that peace which the world cannot give; and after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal.
Finally, we pray to you, O Lord of mercy, to remember the souls of your servants departed, who are gone before us with the sign of faith and repose in the sleep of peace; the souls of our parents, relatives and friends; of those who, when living, were members of this congregation, and particularly of such as are lately deceased; of all benefactors who, by their donations or legacies to this Church, witnessed their zeal for the decency of divine worship and proved their claim to our grateful and charitable remembrance. To these, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ, grant, we beseech you, a place of refreshment, light and everlasting peace, through the same Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior.
Amen.
+JMJ+
SUNDAY BIBLICAL MASS READINGS AND QUESTIONS
for Self-Reflection, Couples or Family Discussion
Feast of the Baptism of the Lord – Sunday, January 12, 2025
The First Reading - Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7
Thus says the LORD: Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations, not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street, a bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching. I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.
Reflection
The section of Isaiah from which our reading for today comes is the beginning of the conclusion to what has been called the Book of Consolation. The Bible often uses the symbol of a banquet to describe God’s love. The Passover out of Egypt is celebrated with a family banquet (Exodus 12) as well as the Sinai covenant (Exodus 24:5, 11). The abundance of heaven in the end times is often described as a heavenly banquet (Isaiah 25:6; 65:11-15; Psalm 22:5). All are invited to this eschatological banquet described here, all that is needed is a thirst for God and obedience to His call (Heed me and you shall eat well).
Adults - How do you envision the heavenly banquet?
Teens - What feelings/thoughts does the imagery of a banquet evoke in you?
Kids - Why do you think heaven is sometimes described as a heavenly banquet?
Responsorial- Psalm 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Give to the LORD, you sons of God,
give to the LORD glory and praise,
Give to the LORD the glory due his name;
adore the LORD in holy attire.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The voice of the LORD is over the waters,
the LORD, over vast waters.
The voice of the LORD is mighty;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
The God of glory thunders,
and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
The LORD is enthroned above the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as king forever.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Reflection
The Lord gives us all peace - not the peace of the world, but His own peace which is rooted in faith and hope. Ask God to bless you with his peace this week.
The Second Reading- Acts 10:34-38
Peter proceeded to speak to those gathered in the house of Cornelius, saying: “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him. You know the word that he sent to the Israelites as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”
Reflection - The essence of the 1st letter of John is that of the love of God and the love of the brethren which is the hallmark of the Christian. For “If anyone says ‘I love God’, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that he who loves God should love his brother also” (1 John 4:20-21). As we see in many places, the commandment of fraternal love is an old commandment: God always wanted us to love others and he made this a basic commandment for the people of the Old Covenant (Leviticus 19:18). It is also a “new” commandment because it finds its fullest meaning in Christ’s life and teaching. Saint Jerome tells us that when John was a very old man his only message was “little children, love one another.” When his disciples asked him why he was always saying the same thing he always replied, “My children, this is what the Lord commands; if we do this, nothing else is necessary.” Our reading for today is a reaffirmation of love in action.
-Practice seeing the image of Christ in everyone you encounter this week, and see how it changes your interactions.
The Holy Gospel according to Mark 1:7-11
This is what John the Baptist proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me.I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Reflection The fact of Jesus’ baptism has been a christological and theological issue to be reckoned with almost since it happened. After all, why would Jesus, who was sinless, participate in a rite for sinners? Also, why would Jesus, the Messiah and clearly superior to John the Baptist, submit to the authority of John? Jesus identifies Himself with sinful humanity by undergoing John’s purificatory rite. He cleanses the waters so that they will be fit to baptize all of His followers throughout history. The heavens open and the heavenly voice speaks. Jesus is being called to fulfill His vocation as Son by being the well-beloved Son after the pattern of Isaac who was prepared to sacrifice his life to ensure the blessings of God for mankind (Genesis 22:2, 12,16).
Adults - How does the Baptism of Jesus speak to His humility?
Teens - Why is Baptism the doorway to all other Sacraments?
Kids - What do you know about your own Baptism?
LIVING THE WORD OF GOD THIS WEEK! – “The Baptism in the Jordan returns to the great Christmas theme of ‘Christification,’ Jesus of Nazareth's spiritual anointing, His presentation as the Anointed One par excellence, the Messiah or the One sent by the Father for the salvation of mankind. The Spirit that descended on Jesus shows and seals in an incontrovertible way the ‘Christification’ of Jesus’ humanity that the Word had already fulfilled from the first moment of His miraculous conception by Mary. Jesus, from the very beginning, was always the Lord’s Christ, He was always God. Yet, His one, true humanity, that which is perfect in every way, as the Gospel records, constantly grew in natural and supernatural perfection. ‘And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and with men’ (Lk2:52). In Israel at 30 years of age, one reached full maturity and therefore could become a master. Jesus came of age and the Spirit, descending and remaining on Him, definitively consecrated His whole being as the Christ.
The same Spirit, that descended on the water of the River Jordan wafted over the waters during the first creation (Gen 1:2). Therefore, the Baptism in the Jordan presents yet another truth: that Jesus has started a new creation. He is the second man (1 Cor 15:47) or the last Adam (1 Cor 15:45), that comes to repair the first Adam’s guilt. He does this as the Lamb of God that takes away our sins. ‘Looking at the events in light of the Cross and Resurrection, the Christian people realised what happened: Jesus loaded the burden of all mankind’s guilt upon His shoulders; he bore it down into the depths of the Jordan. He inaugurated his public activity by stepping into the place of sinners’ (Joseph Ratzinger, Jesus of Nazareth, Bloomsbury 2007, p 18).” --Excerpted from the Congregation for the Clergy
252. What names are given to the first sacrament of initiation? a) Baptism
This sacrament is primarily called Baptism because of the central rite with which it is celebrated. To baptize means to “immerse” in water. The one who is baptized is immersed into the death of Christ and rises with him as a “new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17). This sacrament is also called the “bath of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5); and it is called “enlightenment” because the baptized becomes “a son of light” (Ephesians 5:8).
253. How is Baptism prefigured in the Old Covenant?c) in the passing of Israel through the Red Sea
In the Old Covenant Baptism was pre-figured in various ways: water, seen as source of life and of death; in the Ark of Noah, which saved by means of water; in the passing through the Red Sea, which liberated Israel from Egyptian slavery; in the crossing of the Jordan River, that brought Israel into the promised land which is the image of eternal life.
254. Who brought to fulfillment those prefigurations? b) Jesus Christ
All the Old Covenant prefigurations find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. At the beginning of his public life Jesus had himself baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan. On the cross, blood and water, signs of Baptism and the Eucharist, flowed from his pierced side. After his Resurrection he gave to his apostles this mission: “Go forth and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
255. Starting when and to whom has the Church administered Baptism? a) Pentecost, to anyone who believes in Jesus Christ
From the day of Pentecost, the Church has administered Baptism to anyone who believes in Jesus Christ.