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 great importance of the Sacrament of Baptism. In today’s passage of the Gospel Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan and at that moment a voice came from heaven saying: “You are my Son, the Beloved; with You I am well pleased”. We have also become beloved children of God since through Baptism the Heavenly Father has adopted us. 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 sign (character) that consecrates the baptized person for Christian worship. Because of that character 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 adults but also infants in the faith of their parents because we want them to become the adopted children of God and to receive all the fruits flowing from this Sacrament at the beginning of their lives. By this reason, the Church does not recommend postponing Baptism too far. Adults and children who have already reached the age of 7 attend a special preparation course called RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) before they are baptized. As a rule, adults receive all the three Sacraments of Christian Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion, at the same time. It is customary that this takes place during the solemn Mass of Paschal Vigil.
From tomorrow we begin Ordinary Time in the liturgy and change to green liturgical vestments with some exceptions for memorials and feasts. This week we celebrate:
Wednesday, January 12th, Memorial of Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys, Virgin. She was born in France in 1620. In 1653 having crossed the Atlantic, she came to the land called “New France”. She is often referred to as the “Mother of Colony” for her contributions to the establishment of Ville-Marie, the place we now know as Montreal. Marguerite was a founder of the Congregation of Notre Dame of Montreal. She committed herself to 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. Margeurite is a patron saint of poor people.
Thursday, January 13th, Memorial of Saint Hilary of Poitiers, Bishop and doctor of the Church. Hilary was born around 320 in Poitiers, Gaul (today France). He is known for his defence of Christianity against the heresy of Arianism in the 4th century. Arius and his followers questioned the divinity of the Son of God and consequently the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. Hilary was exiled by the emperor to the East due to his steadfast orthodoxy and the influence that Arians had on the ruler. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1851. He is the patron saint of lawyers.

God bless,

Fr. Peter