Sunday, January 8, 2017

Homily of Pope Francis as he baptizes 28 babies at the Sistine Chapel

Pope’s Homily at Baptism of 28 Babies in Sistine Chapel
‘I like to think that the first ‘sermon’ of Jesus in the stable was a cry, the first … And then since the ceremony is a bit long, someone cries of hunger. So to you mothers: breastfeed! Without fear, all as normal.’
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CTV Screenshot - Pope baptizing 28 babies in Sistine Chapel
Below is a ZENIT translation of Pope Francis’ homily this morning during the Mass he celebrated for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord in the Sistine Chapel, where he baptized 28 babies (15 baby boys and 13 baby girls):
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Dear parents,
You have asked for your children’s faith. The faith that will be given in baptism. Faith … that which means the life of faith, because faith is lived, walking on the road of faith and giving witness to the faith. Faith is not only reciting the Creed at Sunday Mass. It is not only this. Faith is believing what is the truth: that God, the Father, Who sent His Son and the Spirit, gives us life. But faith is trust in God, and this, you must teach to them [your babies], by your example and by your life. Faith is light: in the baptism ceremony, you will be given a candle lit, as in the early days of the Church. At that time, baptism was called “enlightenment” because faith illuminates the heart,  makes one see things with another light.
You asked the faith, the Church of the faith, to your children through Baptism. And you have the task to make it grow, preserve it, and ensure it becomes a witness to all the others. This is the meaning of this ceremony. Only that I wanted to tell you: keep the faith, make it grow, which is witness to others.
And then, it began the concert, it is because the children are in a place you do not know, they got up earlier than usual, perhaps, he begins one note and then the others mimic … Some cry simply because another cried. Jesus did the same: I like to think that the first ‘sermon’ of Jesus in the stable was a cry, the first … And then since the ceremony is a bit long, someone cries of hunger. So to you mothers: breastfeed! Without fear, all as normal. As the Madonna nursing Jesus. Do not forget you have asked faith. To you, [is] the task of guarding the faith, making it grow, in order to be a witness for all of us. For all of us, even for us priests, priests, bishops.
[Original text: Italian] [Translation by Deborah Castellano Lubov]

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