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Office Of Readings | Week 19, Friday, Ordinary Time | A Reading From The Sermon Of Saint Pacian On Baptism | A New Christian Morality | Holy Spirit Of Jesus Christ
‘We must practise a new Christian morality by the Holy Spirit.’
Saint Pacian, Bishop of Barcelona in the fourth century, presents baptism as the decisive passage from the old humanity of Adam to the new life in Jesus Christ. Drawing from Romans 5:12–21 and 1 Corinthians 15:45, he sets up a parallel: through Adam’s disobedience, sin and death entered the human race; through Christ’s obedience, grace and eternal life are offered to all. Pacian insists that just as Adam’s descendants inherit his fallen condition by birth, so believers receive Christ’s life by a different kind of descent—not physical but spiritual.
He answers an anticipated objection: ‘We are not physically descended from Christ, so how can his righteousness save us?’ Pacian’s reply rests on the imagery of marriage from Ephesians 5:31–32. Christ’s union with human nature, received from Mary, is also the union of Christ and his Church—‘two in one flesh.’ From this mystical marriage, the Christian people are born. The Holy Spirit is the ‘seed’ that generates new life within the womb of the Church, and Christ himself gives that life at baptism.
Baptism, chrismation (the anointing with holy oil), and the ministry of the priest together form the means by which this new birth is effected. The waters of the font wash away sin, the chrism pours out the Spirit’s gifts, and the priest’s hands and voice enact and declare the sacrament. Faith ‘presides’ over the whole rite, ensuring that the outward signs are matched by inward assent.
For Pacian, baptism is not merely a ritual washing but a genuine rebirth: the whole person—body and soul—is renewed. Just as Christ rose from the tomb, so the baptised are called to ‘walk in newness of life’ (Romans 6:4), leaving behind the ‘errors of the old life’ to follow a new way in the power of the Spirit. Salvation, then, is not a private possession but an incorporation into Christ’s body, the Church, where the Spirit continually begets and nourishes believers until they reach eternal life.
A Reading From The Sermon Of Saint Pacian On Baptism | A New Christian Morality | Holy Spirit Of Jesus Christ
The sin of Adam had come into all men. Through one man, the Apostle says, sin entered and through sin, death. Thus it has come to all men. Therefore, the justice of Christ must enter into men; and as the old Adam ruined his descendants through sin, so Christ must bring new life to all men through justice. The Apostle stresses this theme when he says: As through the disobedience of one man, many were made sinners, so too, through the obedience of one man, many were made just. And, as sin brought death to the offender, so grace through justice brings birth to life eternal.
Someone may say to me: ‘But the sin of Adam is justifiably transmitted to his posterity. Since they were descended from him, and since we are not descended from Christ, how can we be saved because of him?’ Do not think in physical terms about descent, then you will see how Christ is our father. In these times of salvation, Christ received body and soul from Mary. He came to save this soul, not to leave it in hell. He united it with his spirit and made it his own. And this is the marriage of the Lord, the union of two in one flesh, so that according to that great mystery, two become one flesh, Christ and his Church.
From this marriage the Christian people are born, by the descent of the spirit of the Lord. The essential nature of the soul, engendered by heavenly seed, grows in the womb of our mother, the Church, and at birth is given life by Christ. Therefore, the Apostle says: The first Adam was a living soul, the new Adam a life-giving spirit. Thus Christ continues in the Church through his priests, as the same Apostle says: In Christ, I have begotten you. And so, the seed of Christ, that is, the Spirit of God, brings forth the new man, nourished in the womb of his mother, welcomed at his birth at the font through the hands of the priests, while faith presides over the ceremony.
Christ must, therefore, be received in order to beget, for the apostle John says: To all who received him he gave the power to become sons of God. But these things cannot be accomplished except by the sacrament of the font, the chrism and the priest. For sin is washed away by the waters of the font; the Holy Spirit is poured forth in the chrism; and we obtain both of these gifts through the hands and the mouth of the priest. Thus the whole man is reborn and renewed in Christ. Just as Christ rose from the dead, so we shall walk in the newness of life, that is we put away the errors of our old lives and we follow the new way through the Spirit in Christ.
Christian Prayer With Jesus Christ
Lord Jesus Christ, new Adam and life-giving Spirit,
you have joined our humanity to your divinity,
and in the waters of baptism you have made us children of God.
By your grace, help us to renounce the errors of our old life
and to walk in the new way through your Spirit.
May we remain faithful members of your Body, the Church,
until we share in the fullness of life with you for ever.
Amen.
Glossary Of Christian Terms
Adam – The first human being in biblical tradition; his disobedience brought sin and death into the world.
New Adam – A title for Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:45), who reverses the effects of Adam’s sin by his obedience.
Justice – In biblical and theological terms, the state of being made right with God, also called righteousness.
Grace – The free and undeserved gift of God’s life and help.
Mystical marriage – The spiritual union between Christ and his Church, likened to a marriage (Ephesians 5:31–32).
Font – The vessel or pool in which baptism is performed.
Chrism – Consecrated oil used in certain sacraments, symbolising the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Life-giving Spirit – A title for Jesus Christ in his risen, glorified life, through whom believers receive the Holy Spirit.
Faith – Trust in God and assent to his truth, the foundation of Christian life and sacramental participation.
Walk in newness of life – A phrase from Romans 6:4, meaning to live in a way transformed by Christ’s resurrection.
John 4:13-14 (KJV) ‘Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.’ Introduction to the Life of Saint Bernadette Saint Bernadette Soubirous, a humble peasant girl from Lourdes, France, lived her life of faith, humility, and divine grace. Born on January 7, 1844, in the small town of Lourdes, Bernadette was the eldest of nine children in a poor and struggling family. Her father, François Soubirous, was a miller, and her mother, Louise, a laundress. The family lived in a former prison cell known as the Cachot, a damp and cramped space, according to their dire financial situation. Despite their poverty, the Soubirous family was deeply rooted in their Christian faith, a foundation that would profoundly shape Bernadette’s life and spiritual journey. Bernadette’s early years were marked by significant health challenges. She suffered from asthma and other respiratory ailments, which often left her weak and unable to attend school regularly. This lack of formal education meant that Bernadette struggled with reading and writing, and her understanding of Christian doctrine was limited. Nevertheless, she possessed a remarkable simplicity and purity of heart, qualities that would make her an ideal recipient of divine revelations. Bernadette’s life changed irrevocably on February 11, 1858, when she experienced the first of eighteen apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the grotto of Massabielle. On that cold winter day, Bernadette, her sister Toinette, and a friend were gathering firewood near the grotto when she heard a rustling sound and saw a beautiful lady dressed in white with a blue sash, holding a rosary. The lady, who later identified herself as the Immaculate Conception, appeared to Bernadette over the course of several months, delivering messages of penance, prayer, and the need for a chapel to be built at the site. Despite initial skepticism from her family and the local authorities, Bernadette remained steadfast in her account of the apparitions, enduring intense scrutiny and even ridicule. The apparitions drew enormous attention. Soon, people from all over France and beyond began to visit Lourdes, hoping to witness a miracle. One of the most significant messages conveyed by the Virgin Mary to Bernadette was the instruction to dig in the ground near the grotto, which led to the discovery of a spring. This spring, believed to have healing properties, became the focal point of the pilgrimage to Lourdes. Many miraculous healings have been attributed to the waters of Lourdes, reinforcing the belief in Bernadette’s visions and the sanctity of the site. As the apparitions concluded, Bernadette’s life took a different turn. In 1866, she joined the Sisters of Charity in Nevers, taking the name Sister Marie-Bernard. Her time in the convent was marked by continued poor health and humility, as she carried out menial tasks and lived a life of quiet service. Despite her physical suffering, Bernadette remained devout and accepted her hardships with grace, often repeating the phrase, “I am happier here in my little corner of the convent.” Her unwavering faith and dedication to her religious duties exemplified the depth of her spiritual commitment. Bernadette Soubirous passed away on April 16, 1879, at the age of 35, after a prolonged battle with tuberculosis. Her legacy, however, endured far beyond her earthly life. In 1933, she was canonized as a saint by Pope Pius XI, recognized for her humility, faith, and the miraculous events associated with her life. Today, millions of pilgrims flock to Lourdes each year, seeking spiritual renewal and physical healing at the site of her visions. Saint Bernadette’s life continues to inspire countless individuals around the world, reminding us of the power of faith, the virtue of humility, and the enduring presence of divine grace in our lives. To Visit Lourdes Visiting Lourdes, in the picturesque foothills of the Pyrenees in southwestern France, is an experience that transcends the physical journey, drawing pilgrims into a profound spiritual adventure. The small town, known for the Marian apparitions witnessed by Saint Bernadette Soubirous in 1858, has become one of the world’s most revered pilgrimage sites. As we approach the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, the atmosphere is imbued with a palpable sense of reverence and anticipation. The grand basilicas, the tranquil Grotto of Massabielle and the gently flowing waters of the miraculous spring together create a sacred environment that invites reflection, prayer, and a deep connection with the divine. The focal point of any visit to Lourdes is the Grotto, where Bernadette experienced the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Here, pilgrims can touch the rock face, light candles, and drink or bathe in the spring’s water, believed to possess healing properties. The profound silence and sense of sacredness at the Grotto allow visitors to contemplate their faith, seek solace and find spiritual renewal. The Rosary Basilica, with its mosaics, and the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, perched above the Grotto, offer spaces for communal worship and personal meditation. The nightly candlelight processions, where pilgrims from around the globe unite in prayer and song, highlight the universal bond of faith and hope that Lourdes represents. Beyond its physical beauty and historical significance, visiting Lourdes offers a deeply personal and transformative experience. Pilgrims often arrive burdened with ailments, grief, or spiritual crises, seeking comfort and miracles. The stories of healing and faith that emerge from Lourdes are testimonies to the enduring power of belief and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The communal aspect of the pilgrimage—sharing meals, prayers, and stories with fellow believers—fosters a sense of solidarity and mutual support. For many, the visit to Lourdes is a journey of healing, not only of the body but also of the soul, providing a renewed sense of purpose, peace, and spiritual clarity that lingers long after returning home. Prayer With Saint Bernadette Prayer for Intercession Dear […]
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