This Sunday we observe the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord that concludes the Christmas season in the Church. This feast also reminds us of the importance of Baptism. While Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan a voice came from heaven saying: “You are my Son, the Beloved; with You I am well pleased”. We also become beloved children of God through Baptism. The Catechism of The Catholic Church teaches us that “Baptism is birth into the new life in Christ. In accordance with the Lord’s will, it is necessary for salvation, as is the Church herself, which we enter by Baptism” (1277). It also tells us about the fruit of Baptism: “The fruit of Baptism, or baptismal grace, is a rich reality that includes forgiveness of original sin and all personal sins, birth into the new life by which man becomes an adoptive son of the Father, a member of Christ and a temple of the Holy Spirit” (1279). By Baptism one receives on his or her soul an indelible spiritual mark (the best translation from latin is the word character) that consecrates the baptized person for Christian worship. Because the character (mark) of baptism never leaves the baptised Christian, the Sacrament of Baptism is unrepeatable. Baptism is the first sacrament and without it we cannot receive any other sacrament.

In the Catholic Church we baptize not only adult persons but also infants in the faith of their parents because we want them to become the children of God and receive all the fruits flowing from this Sacrament at the beginning of their life. By this reason, the Church does not recommend postponing Baptism too long. Adults and children who have already completed the age of 7 are to attend a special preparation course called RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) before they are baptized. As a rule, adults receive at the same time all the three Sacraments of Christian Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion. It is customary that this takes place during the solemn Mass of Paschal Vigil.

Let us praise the Lord for the gracious gift of Baptism!

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. This feast is commonly known as Three Kings’ Day and belongs to the oldest Christian celebrations. It has been observing since the end of the second century, even before Christmas was celebrated. The word ‘Epiphany’ comes from Greek and means “manifestation’ or ‘showing forth’. It is held on January 6th but in some regions, including Canada, is transferred to the Sunday that falls between January 2nd and 8th. This year January 6th falls on Sunday so all the local Churches celebrate together.
On this feast the Church reminds the faithful that Jesus Christ came to be revealed to all the nations and the salvation that He brought is available for everyone. This is inseparably connected with the missionary work of the Church for Christ’s mission is to be continued by His Church and the Gospel has to be proclaimed to all peoples as the Lord commended His disciples. Although we say about the three kings or three wise men that visited Baby Jesus, the Gospel neither says that there were three people nor they were kings nor calls them wise. The Gospel calls them magi and their number, origin and time of the visit remain unknown. On the other hand, in Cologne, Germany, the relics of the Three Kings are kept in a beautiful golden reliquary in St. Peter’s Cathedral.

Pope Francis asks the faithful to pray this month for the intentions of the Evangelization, that young people, especially in Latin America, follow the example of Mary and respond to the call of the Lord to communicate the joy of the Gospel to the world.
On Saturday, January 12th we observe a memorial of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys. She was the French founder of the Congregation of Notre Dame of Montreal in the colony of New France, now part of Québec. She lived in Fort Ville-Marie (now Montreal) as of 1653, educating young girls, the poor, and natives until her death on January 12th, 1700. She is also significant for developing one of the first uncloistered religious communities in the Catholic Church. She was canonized by Pope St. John Paul II in 1982. There are numerous stories associated with the time preceding her death. One of them says that a priest on the day following her departure wrote these words: ”If saints were canonized as in the past by the voice of the people and of the clergy, tomorrow we would be saying the Mass of St. Marguerite of Canada”. Her shrine is located in the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel in the district of Old Montreal in Montreal, Québec.

God bless,
Father Peter

The celebration of the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time reminds us that this liturgical year is approaching to an end. Next Sunday we will celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King and in two weeks the First Sunday of Advent that begins a new liturgical year. Usually when a period of time is about to be concluded we summarize what we have done within it and look forward to a new beginning. So, the liturgical readings do the same by telling us about the day when we see the Son of Man coming in clouds (Mark 13:26).

This Wednesday, November 21st, we observe a memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast was celebrated in Jerusalem in the 6th century and was observed mostly in the Eastern Church. In the 16th century it became a feast of the Universal Church. This feast recalls the day when, in according to tradition and apocryphal literature, 3-year old Mary was presented to the Lord in the Jerusalem Temple by her parents Joachim and Anna. This was to carry out the promise made to God when Anna was still childless. Although this event cannot be proven historically it has a profound theological purpose. It continues the impact of the mystery of the Immaculate Conception. It emphasizes that the holiness conferred on Mary from the very beginning of her earthy life was continued through her early childhood and beyond. This encourages us to follow Mary’s example of holiness from the childhood up to the end of our earthly pilgrimage.

Mary, Holy Mother of God, pray for us!

God bless,
Fr. Peter