Bulletins

January 13, 2013

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This second manifestation or Epiphany of Our Lord, His Baptism in the Jordan, is celebrated in both the old and new Roman calendars on the octave day of Epiphany, on which our monastic friend offers us this meditation:

O Lamb of God! thou didst enter into the stream to purify it, the Dove came down from heaven, for thy sweet meekness attracted the Spirit of love; and having sanctified the waters, the mystery of thy Baptism was over. But what tongue can express the prodigy of mercy effected by it! Men have gone down after thee into the stream made sacred by contact with thee; they return regenerated; they were wolves, and Baptism has transformed them into lambs. We were defiled by sin, and were unworthy to stand near thee, the spotless Lamb; but the waters of the holy Font have been poured upon us and we are made as the sheep of the Canticle, which came up from the washing fruitful, and none is barren among them; or as doves upon the brooks of water, white and spotless as though they had been washed with milk, sitting near the plentiful streams! Preserve us, O Jesus, in this white robe which thou hast put upon us. If, alas we have tarnished its purity, cleanse us by that second Baptism, the Baptism of Penance. Permit us, too, dear Lord, to intercede for those countries to whom thy Gospel has not yet been preached; let this river of peace, the waters of Baptism, flow out upon them, and inundate the whole earth. We beseech thee, by the glory of thy manifestation at thy Baptism, forget the crimes of men, which have hitherto caused the Gospel to be kept from those unhappy countries. Thy heavenly Father bids every creature hear thee; speak dear Jesus! to every creature.

St. John the Baptist, who leapt in the womb of his mother Elizabeth when the Blessed Virgin visited just days into her pregnancy, proclaimed the dignity of every unborn baby. For good reason we have been celebrating Christmas for several weeks now. Pray that every unborn child who mom’s celebration of the birth of Baby Jesus caused them to dance in the womb will live to see the light of day, the grace of Baptism and the dawning of eternal life and that one day soon this country will again honor every human being created by God.

God bless you.

Fr. Christopher J. Pollard