During his first general audience of the year, Pope Francis talked about the Sacrament of Baptism, the "immersion into the Salvation of Jesus.” He said the Baptism was not just a simple rite, or official act from the Church. He then tasked all the pilgrims at St. Peter's Square to "re-awaken” the memory of their Baptism, and find out when they became a part of the Christian family.
He went on to say that Baptisms take place only inside the Church, who is like a mother who births children through this Sacrament. The Pope closed off his remarks by asking the pilgrims to look up the date of their Baptism, and know it as well as the date of their birthday, because it is "a festive day.”
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Good morning!
Today we begin a series of catecheses on the Sacraments, starting with Baptism. By happy coincidence this coming Sunday is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
The concept of “sacrament” is at the heart of our Christian faith and sends us back to an event of grace in which God makes himself present and acts in our life. The Second Vatican Council says at the beginning of the Constitution on the Church: “the Church in Christ is in the nature of sacrament - a sign and instrument, that is, of communion with God and of unity among all men” (Lumen Gentium, n. 1). This means then that the seven Sacraments take shape in the Church herself, who, like a universal sacrament, extends throughout history the salvific and life-giving action of Christ. He is the One who, by the power of the Holy Spirit, continually renews the Christian community and sends it out into the world to bring to all salvation by word and deed, through preaching and the Sacraments.
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