My dear Children: There is no spot in church more dear to you than the one to which you were brought during the first days of your existence and that place is the baptismal font. The gospel of this sublime feast of the Blessed Trinity today reminds you most forcibly of that great day on which by the waters of Baptism you were regenerated and born again by the Holy Ghost, and were numbered among the children of God and made heirs of heaven.
Another great grace bestowed upon you in Baptism is that you were made Christians, or followers, nay, even members of Jesus Christ. For by Baptism you are united to our Blessed Lord in a most close and intimate union. In other words you are united with Him by Baptism as closely as the branches of a tree are united with the parent stem. In the same way as it is from the parent trunk that they derive that sap and nourishment which enables them to produce leaves, and flowers, and fruit, so it is in virtue of this union with Jesus Christ that you are able, as long as you remain abiding in Him by faith and charity, to produce that abundant fruit of virtuous actions which will merit you the rewards of a blessed eternity. O happy union, which makes us all one with Jesus Christ, and renders even our most ordinary actions pleasing and meritorious before God. Yes, my dear boys and girls, to be a Christian is a far higher dignity and a greater happiness than any which the world can bestow.
The venerable Peter Ou, who suffered death for the faith in China in the year 1814, being arrested and brought before the pagan judge, the latter sought by every means to induce him to trample on the cross in token of his apostasy. “What harm,” demanded the mandarin, “can there be in this? When you leave the court you can be a Christian, if you choose, as you were before.” Great mandarin,” replied the martyr, “you have spoken the truth, though you know it not. The character of a Christian is Indelible, he may violate his law, he may deny his God, but the seal of Baptism remains on him forever. To be a Christian is the greatest honor any mortal can bear. My life is in your hands, dispose of it as you please, but it is useless to tempt me any longer to deny my faith, or to renounce a worship which I love from the bottom of my heart".
This noble profession of faith was soon followed by a sentence of death, the generous confessor being condemned to be strangled. With eyes filled with tears, he cried out, "Heaven is opened to me; there is my country, I see its glory. Yes, my Saviour, I now see Thee in reality. Executioner, hasten to procure me this happiness."
With these words on his lips the fatal cord was drawn, and his soul flew to heaven to receive its crown. Children, when you and I and your parents were in front of the font we took the oath of faith in the most solemn hour of our life. Before God, the priest, and the invisibly present angels, we vowed to believe constantly and without doubt in the triune God, and in His holy infallible Church. Oh, let us bear in mind, therefore, all the days of our life this solemn promise and remain faithful to it until death.
In Baptism we promise to God, in return for so many precious graces which He bestows upon us, that we on our part will give up all that may lead us to be unfaithful to our duties as Christians; in other words we engage to renounce the devil with all his works and pomps. By the works of the devil we mean sin, because it is his daily and constant work to lead us to offend God. By his pomps we mean the empty vanities and deceitful pleasures of the world, which are the means which he makes use of to draw us into sin. All these we solemnly promise to renounce and shun; and as we are not then able, on account of our tender age, to speak or act for ourselves, our godfather and our godmother answer for us, undertaking in our name those obligations which are necessary to enable us to receive the precious grace of Baptism. When we are old enough to understand the engagements which our sponsors have undertaken in our name, we should ourselves confirm and may violate his law, he may deny his God, but the seal of Baptism remains on him forever. To be a Christian is the greatest honor any mortal can bear. My life is in your hands, dispose of it as you please, but it is useless to tempt me any longer to deny my faith, or to renounce a worship which I love from the bottom of my heart"
This noble profession of faith was soon followed by a sentence of death, the generous confessor being condemned to be strangled. With eyes filled with tears, he cried out, "Heaven is opened to me; there is my country, I see its glory. Yes, my Saviour, I now see Thee in reality. Executioner, hasten to procure me this happiness." With these words on his lips the fatal cord was drawn, and his soul flew to heaven to receive its crown.
Children, when you and I and your parents were in front of the font we took the oath of faith in the most solemn hour of our life. Before God, the priest, and the invisibly present angels, we vowed to believe constantly and without doubt in the triune God, and in His holy infallible Church. Oh, let us bear in mind, therefore, all the days of our life this solemn promise and remain faithful to it until death.
In Baptism we promise to God, in return for so many precious graces which He bestows upon us, that we on our part will give up all that may lead us to be unfaithful to our duties as Christians; in other words we engage to renounce the devil with all his works and pomps. By the works of the devil we mean sin, because it is his daily and constant work to lead us to offend God. By his pomps we mean the empty vanities and deceitful pleasures of the world, which are the means which he makes use of to draw us into sin. All these we solemnly promise to renounce and shun; and as we are not then able, on account of our tender age, to speak or act for ourselves, our godfather and our godmother answer for us, undertaking in our name those obligations which are necessary tonenable us to receive the precious grace of Baptism. When we are old enough to understand the engagements which our sponsors have undertaken in our name, we should ourselves confirm and ratify them, but above all we should be ever careful to make them the guiding rule of our lives.
An American captain, with his three children, lived in a Catholic family. The children attended the nuns school, and after an instruction on the necessity of Baptism, William, the eldest, speaking to one of the children of the Catholic family, said, “Have you been baptized?” “Yes,” replied the other, “in my infancy.” “Then baptize me,” said William, “for I might die tonight, and I want to go to Heaven.” And it was done; then he in turn baptized his two younger sisters. When at length the father returned home, all three rushed up to him to tell him what they had done, and to beg him also to be baptized. To please them he consented, and was baptized. Would to God it may have been serious and formal, for three days later he had a sudden death, and appeared before his Maker.
When King Clovis, who was a pagan and had a Christian wife by the name of Clotildis, after being successful in battle, was baptized by St. Remigius, archbishop of Rheims, he was addressed thus: “Henceforth adore what you have burned, and burn what you have hitherto adored.” Before Baptism we were by original sin slaves of the devil, and enemies of Jesus Christ. Henceforth we must renounce the devil and be true Christians, faithful servants of our Lord. Oh, how happy we should be, if we could carry the white robe of Baptismal innocence unspotted before the judgment seat of God, like a St. Aloysius, a St. Stanislaus, a St. Agnes, and many other saints.
St. Francis de Sales, when yet a child, was distinguished alike for his lively and cheerful disposition and for his sincere piety. At one time he would join with all the ardor of youth in the games of his playmates; at another he would gather them about thim, and with a sweet and engaging air tell them some pious story. Sometimes he would lead them to the parish church, and arrange them in a circle around the sacred font where they had in infancy received the Sacrament of Baptism. “See, my dear companions,” he would then say, “this is a spot which ought to be dearer to us than any other in the whole world, for here it was that we were made children of God. Come let us sing together the Glory be to the Father!" The little band would then join in singing this verse of thanksgiving, and would afterwards on bended knees respectfully kiss the font.
Children, with the holy martyrs, let us be willing to suffer everything, even to die, rather than by infidelity separate ourselves from God and become traitors to the baptismal vows. If seducers, in sheep's clothing, wish to approach you flee from them as from serpents. For they are murderers of the soul, robbers, who wish to snatch from you that which is highest and most precious, your holy faith, and with it your happiness in life, your bliss in eternity. And should you be insulted, slandered, yes, even deprived of your occupation by which you earn your daily bread, tremble not nor grow faint. Remember, it is not as much as the holy martyrs suffered. Prize above all the treasure of faith, promised in Baptism to God and the Church, and before friend and foe profess it as your greatest glory; esteem it your greatest happiness to be children of the Catholic Church.
Source: Story Sermonettes for the Children's Mass, Imprimatur 1921
Another great grace bestowed upon you in Baptism is that you were made Christians, or followers, nay, even members of Jesus Christ. For by Baptism you are united to our Blessed Lord in a most close and intimate union. In other words you are united with Him by Baptism as closely as the branches of a tree are united with the parent stem. In the same way as it is from the parent trunk that they derive that sap and nourishment which enables them to produce leaves, and flowers, and fruit, so it is in virtue of this union with Jesus Christ that you are able, as long as you remain abiding in Him by faith and charity, to produce that abundant fruit of virtuous actions which will merit you the rewards of a blessed eternity. O happy union, which makes us all one with Jesus Christ, and renders even our most ordinary actions pleasing and meritorious before God. Yes, my dear boys and girls, to be a Christian is a far higher dignity and a greater happiness than any which the world can bestow.
The venerable Peter Ou, who suffered death for the faith in China in the year 1814, being arrested and brought before the pagan judge, the latter sought by every means to induce him to trample on the cross in token of his apostasy. “What harm,” demanded the mandarin, “can there be in this? When you leave the court you can be a Christian, if you choose, as you were before.” Great mandarin,” replied the martyr, “you have spoken the truth, though you know it not. The character of a Christian is Indelible, he may violate his law, he may deny his God, but the seal of Baptism remains on him forever. To be a Christian is the greatest honor any mortal can bear. My life is in your hands, dispose of it as you please, but it is useless to tempt me any longer to deny my faith, or to renounce a worship which I love from the bottom of my heart".
This noble profession of faith was soon followed by a sentence of death, the generous confessor being condemned to be strangled. With eyes filled with tears, he cried out, "Heaven is opened to me; there is my country, I see its glory. Yes, my Saviour, I now see Thee in reality. Executioner, hasten to procure me this happiness."
With these words on his lips the fatal cord was drawn, and his soul flew to heaven to receive its crown. Children, when you and I and your parents were in front of the font we took the oath of faith in the most solemn hour of our life. Before God, the priest, and the invisibly present angels, we vowed to believe constantly and without doubt in the triune God, and in His holy infallible Church. Oh, let us bear in mind, therefore, all the days of our life this solemn promise and remain faithful to it until death.
In Baptism we promise to God, in return for so many precious graces which He bestows upon us, that we on our part will give up all that may lead us to be unfaithful to our duties as Christians; in other words we engage to renounce the devil with all his works and pomps. By the works of the devil we mean sin, because it is his daily and constant work to lead us to offend God. By his pomps we mean the empty vanities and deceitful pleasures of the world, which are the means which he makes use of to draw us into sin. All these we solemnly promise to renounce and shun; and as we are not then able, on account of our tender age, to speak or act for ourselves, our godfather and our godmother answer for us, undertaking in our name those obligations which are necessary to enable us to receive the precious grace of Baptism. When we are old enough to understand the engagements which our sponsors have undertaken in our name, we should ourselves confirm and may violate his law, he may deny his God, but the seal of Baptism remains on him forever. To be a Christian is the greatest honor any mortal can bear. My life is in your hands, dispose of it as you please, but it is useless to tempt me any longer to deny my faith, or to renounce a worship which I love from the bottom of my heart"
This noble profession of faith was soon followed by a sentence of death, the generous confessor being condemned to be strangled. With eyes filled with tears, he cried out, "Heaven is opened to me; there is my country, I see its glory. Yes, my Saviour, I now see Thee in reality. Executioner, hasten to procure me this happiness." With these words on his lips the fatal cord was drawn, and his soul flew to heaven to receive its crown.
Children, when you and I and your parents were in front of the font we took the oath of faith in the most solemn hour of our life. Before God, the priest, and the invisibly present angels, we vowed to believe constantly and without doubt in the triune God, and in His holy infallible Church. Oh, let us bear in mind, therefore, all the days of our life this solemn promise and remain faithful to it until death.
In Baptism we promise to God, in return for so many precious graces which He bestows upon us, that we on our part will give up all that may lead us to be unfaithful to our duties as Christians; in other words we engage to renounce the devil with all his works and pomps. By the works of the devil we mean sin, because it is his daily and constant work to lead us to offend God. By his pomps we mean the empty vanities and deceitful pleasures of the world, which are the means which he makes use of to draw us into sin. All these we solemnly promise to renounce and shun; and as we are not then able, on account of our tender age, to speak or act for ourselves, our godfather and our godmother answer for us, undertaking in our name those obligations which are necessary tonenable us to receive the precious grace of Baptism. When we are old enough to understand the engagements which our sponsors have undertaken in our name, we should ourselves confirm and ratify them, but above all we should be ever careful to make them the guiding rule of our lives.
An American captain, with his three children, lived in a Catholic family. The children attended the nuns school, and after an instruction on the necessity of Baptism, William, the eldest, speaking to one of the children of the Catholic family, said, “Have you been baptized?” “Yes,” replied the other, “in my infancy.” “Then baptize me,” said William, “for I might die tonight, and I want to go to Heaven.” And it was done; then he in turn baptized his two younger sisters. When at length the father returned home, all three rushed up to him to tell him what they had done, and to beg him also to be baptized. To please them he consented, and was baptized. Would to God it may have been serious and formal, for three days later he had a sudden death, and appeared before his Maker.
When King Clovis, who was a pagan and had a Christian wife by the name of Clotildis, after being successful in battle, was baptized by St. Remigius, archbishop of Rheims, he was addressed thus: “Henceforth adore what you have burned, and burn what you have hitherto adored.” Before Baptism we were by original sin slaves of the devil, and enemies of Jesus Christ. Henceforth we must renounce the devil and be true Christians, faithful servants of our Lord. Oh, how happy we should be, if we could carry the white robe of Baptismal innocence unspotted before the judgment seat of God, like a St. Aloysius, a St. Stanislaus, a St. Agnes, and many other saints.
St. Francis de Sales, when yet a child, was distinguished alike for his lively and cheerful disposition and for his sincere piety. At one time he would join with all the ardor of youth in the games of his playmates; at another he would gather them about thim, and with a sweet and engaging air tell them some pious story. Sometimes he would lead them to the parish church, and arrange them in a circle around the sacred font where they had in infancy received the Sacrament of Baptism. “See, my dear companions,” he would then say, “this is a spot which ought to be dearer to us than any other in the whole world, for here it was that we were made children of God. Come let us sing together the Glory be to the Father!" The little band would then join in singing this verse of thanksgiving, and would afterwards on bended knees respectfully kiss the font.
Children, with the holy martyrs, let us be willing to suffer everything, even to die, rather than by infidelity separate ourselves from God and become traitors to the baptismal vows. If seducers, in sheep's clothing, wish to approach you flee from them as from serpents. For they are murderers of the soul, robbers, who wish to snatch from you that which is highest and most precious, your holy faith, and with it your happiness in life, your bliss in eternity. And should you be insulted, slandered, yes, even deprived of your occupation by which you earn your daily bread, tremble not nor grow faint. Remember, it is not as much as the holy martyrs suffered. Prize above all the treasure of faith, promised in Baptism to God and the Church, and before friend and foe profess it as your greatest glory; esteem it your greatest happiness to be children of the Catholic Church.
Source: Story Sermonettes for the Children's Mass, Imprimatur 1921
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