Thanks to iBreviary.
Unusual article from Antonio Borelli.
I would like to learn from the writer from the past.
iBreviary has the gallery of Baptism of Jesus pictures.
Baptism of Jesus
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The feast of the Baptism of Jesus, has always been the best opportunity to reflect on the Baptism of Christians; The Fathers of the Church said that Jesus descending into the waters of the Jordan, ideally has sanctified the waters of all Baptisteries; from simple and modern, at the entrance of the churches, those that rise to the eternal glory of Sacramento and art, close to the great cathedrals of the past centuries.
Martyrology: Feast of the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ, in which he admirably declared God's Son, the beloved, the waters are sanctified, man is purified and all creation rejoices.
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Writing of the Baptism of Jesus, it is the task of theologians and exegetes, because in the act of baptism that Jesus endured, there is all the symbolism of the doctrine of Christianity, that lacing up the Tradition of the Old Testament, paves the way for the new concept of " sons of God "and then shared with Christ the joy of the Father, through the Holy Spirit.
In the year of the reign of Tiberius XV (ie between 28 and 29, or between 27 and 28 AD), John the Baptist, the Precursor , the last of the Prophets of the Old Testament, he arrived in the desert south of Judah, near the Dead Sea, where it joins the River Jordan, preaching the coming of the Kingdom of God, exhorting to conversion and administering a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
This was done by immersion in the river, as Ezekiel prophesied: "The nations will know that I am the Lord, when I shall be sanctified in you before them. I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle water and be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. "
The prophet Ezekiel explained to Israel that if after sin to God, for which he received the exile, wants to revive again in connection with his God and receive His Spirit, to be totally redone, purified, saying the symbolism of water, "I will sprinkle with water and be clean."
And with this spirit of purification that John baptized, many flocked to him from Jerusalem, from all Judea and from regions around the Jordan.
And two thousand years ago on the banks of the river appeared the young Jesus, about 30 years old, a citizen of Galilee which was a province of the vast Roman Empire and watched the crowd of penitents who were heading to the rite of purification and forgiveness; while John was saying at all, because it was rumored that he was the Messiah: "I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I, who am not worthy to untie the thong sandals; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire .... "
Even Jesus, innocent of all guilt, wanted to get closer to receive Baptism, to show solidarity with those penitents in search of salvation and sanctification of the soul with his presence the act, which does not will be more than one purification, but also the coming of the Spirit of God in everyone and be the reconciliation of God with mankind, after original sin.
John recognized him, drew back, saying: "I have need to be baptized by you, and you come from me? "and Jesus said," Allow it now, it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. " Then John baptized him; just out of the water, the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3: 13-17).
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and retreated to the desert for forty days in meditation before beginning his public life in Galilee.
We complete this brief note, however, that go in-depth consultation with the reflections of competent scholars, by describing the importance of which in the Sacrament Catholic Church.
Founded by Jesus Christ with his direct Baptism The ritual consists of ablution accompanied by the Trinitarian formula: "I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit";matter of Baptism is natural water and its use as mentioned above is a symbol of purification of the soul; can be applied in three different ways "immersion" in use in the Eastern Churches and the Ambrosian liturgy; for "infusion" water that is poured on the head of the baptized (generally used by the fifteenth century in the Western Church); "Spray" (water thrown on the person of the baptized, in special cases).
The baptism erases original sin and the sins committed up to the day that you receive, puts all the pains, makes the baptized share in the grace of God, capable of faith, a member of the Church;giving it the indelible character of Christian.
It is the first of the seven sacraments; is administered to infants up to the age of reason, with only the consent of the parents and the presence of at least a godfather, with which the baptized person contracts a spiritual relationship; Adults will receive at their request, after receiving proper religious instruction.
The sacrament is administered routinely by ministers (bishop, priest, deacon), but in case of danger of death, any person including non-Christian can baptize , provided they act according to the intention of the Church.
We add that the official theology also recognizes the baptism of desire, namely the baptismal grace obtained by a vote to receive baptism, even if circumstances prevented; then the baptism of blood, that is, the martyrdom took place before you receive.
With the ceremony of baptism is necessary in the name baptized, mostly Christian, chosen by the parents if it is minor.
The Baptism constituted, as regards the West , the official registration of the birth of a child, in the parish archives; active in the early centuries, this practice was abandoned to be taken from the fifteenth century, becoming law with the Council of Trent. In Italy the recording in the parish offices, worked until it was established the Office of 'marital status' by the Kingdom of Italy.
Returning to the Baptism of Jesus, it was a ffavouritesubject of artists of all Christian centuries and the scene wheel normally around the two figures of Jesus and s. John, and takes place in the open air; Jesus was depicted initially immersed in water and then subsequently it is depicted naked, with the Baptist who pours water on his head.
In conclusion, the feast of the Baptism of Jesus, has always been the best opportunity to reflect on Baptism Christians; The Fathers of the Church said that Jesus descending into the waters of the Jordan, ideally has sanctified the waters of all Baptisteries; from simple and modern, at the entrance of the churches, those that rise to the eternal glory of Sacramento and art, close to the great cathedrals of the past centuries.
Jesus himself in the Gospel of s. Mark (16:16) says: "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."
Author: Antonio Borrelli |
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| Archbishop Heenan of Liverpool, "I slipped away from the Eternal City to see for myself what is on on here in Naples". Spring 1961 |
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