I take a moment just before bed and pray this prayer. There is a calming vibe in this prayer as I thank God for being with me during my waking hours, and then giving into Gods hands my sleep.
A Night Prayer
Jesus Christ, my God, I adore You and thank You for all the graces You have given me this day. I offer You my sleep and all the moments of this night. I place myself and all my loved ones, wherever they may be, in Your sacred side and under the mantle of Our Blessed Mother. Let Your holy angels stand watch and keep us in peace. Amen.
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. 5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. 14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed,O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 15 Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.
18 May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar.
Psalm 121
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; 6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; 8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
Psalm 11:2-3
2 For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. 3 When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
Psalm 34:10
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Psalm 7:10
10 My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart.
I have been praying these verses from Psalm the past two days, and will continue to do sofor the next several days. In them I not only have a glimpse of King Davids spiritual journey and challenges, but there is a depth in these songs and prayers that resonates with me.
Pray these passages from Psalms with me, and let God make good changes in our lives.
I often wish I am perfect like the saints in their seemingly seamless devotion in to God. I imagine their daily walk with God filled with a healthy prayer life, deep meditative moments, a deep relationship with God, and sinless in their mortal walk – until my Spiritual Director reminded me we don’t see the challenges and grunts in between whats left behind in their rich books, prayers, and legacy.
The reality is I am flawed and imperfect, but I strive to be self aware. Yes, there are days, weeks and sometimes months when my prayer life has its ups and downs. There are months of prayerful devotion, then days of light murmurs, but always with an awareness of the living Jesus in my heart.
It was a lightbulb moment for me!
Yes, my spiritual journey has months of inspiring heights, there are also dry spells (I call this my 40 days in the desert) along with silence, and sprinkles of spiritual awakening.
The path is rarely straight and always filled with surprises.
What keeps me grounded even when I am seemingly distracted is God is active in my life and world. Discerning God’s presence in my everyday life is what keeps me grounded – a step ahead of the traps around me.
Let’s pray for one another to walk closely with Jesus.
As beautiful as the lights are, there is a danger that belies beyond. I must admit she gives food for thought as well as added background to a spiritual warfare that is raging in the background.
Watch with discernment and pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance: Matthew 7:15-20
Aside: live not in fear, but rather walk closely to Jesus.
There has been major rumble online from a variety of sources claiming legitimacy, to soothsayers, as well as influencers with comparisons, analysis, prophetic, religious speculations, heavenly punishment and the mores.
Some suggest there will be a coming chastisement of Godly magnitude as well as Satanic and demonic play. The fears and seeds planted by all work to spin a narrative that is frightfully scary. Remember their main motivation is not only seeking likes and subscribers to their YouTube and TikTok channels, but the pandemonium can harms us. Fake news is fused with half truths, and I cannot help but reiterate – stand strong in your faith in Jesus – the truth that is in the Bible.
Sometimes it’s hard to discern from the muddled confusion in front of us.
The Solar Eclipse falls on the day of Annunciation. In April 2024, the Sacred Heart of Jesus was on April 5, 2024, the Immaculate Heart of Mary on April 6, 2024, with Divine Mercy Sunday on April 7, 2024 and despite the online noise about the solar eclipse on April 8th, what I think is more relevant is that the Annunciation which should have been on March 25, is transferred to April 8. Now that’s what I call the movement of divine hands.
Aside: I can’t help but smile at God’s sense of timing and humour (I see Gods smile as he watches realization and understanding ignite in me). The Holy Spirit moving me to drop what I was doing this morning to write this post today.
After all the rites and rituals of the Easter season, he is asking me where is my heart. Throughout all the pomp and celebration of the Easter season, there is also the most humbling and important aspect of my (our) relationship with Him – faith and trust:
2 Jesus took a little child and put him among them. 3 He said, “For sure, I tell you, unless you have a change of heart and become like a little child, you will not get into the holy nation of heaven. 4 Whoever is without pride as this little child is the greatest in the holy nation of heaven. 5 Whoever receives a little child because of Me receives Me. 6 But whoever is the reason for one of these little children who believe in Me to fall into sin, it would be better for him to have a large rock put around his neck and to be thrown into the sea.(Matthew 18:2-6)
Jesus, I trust in you🙏💕
God, the author of all, knows how to write a good story. The Bible communicates a single message of redemption, what some have called an enormous love letter from God to his beloved people. Yet throughout the rich variety of poems, prayers, narrative, and song, there is a unifying theme. Each word, each verse, and each book of the Bible hangs together to execute this theme—as we might expect from God, who identifies so closely as the “Word.” Today’s solemnity, the Annunciation of the Lord, celebrates one of the most profound moments in Scripture’s rich tapestry and illustrates the integrity of the revealed Word in remarkable ways. Today’s celebration of Gabriel’s message to Mary and her affirmative reply recalls the events from the very first verses of the Bible. In the book of Genesis, Eve is tempted by the devil, the Father of Lies, to close her ears to God’s life-giving Word. Despite God’s command that our first parents were not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, “the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, [so] she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, and he ate” (Genesis 3:6). We know the rest of the story—and we know it is true because we have lived with the consequences of the Fall in our lives. With this initial chapter of the “greatest story ever told” in mind, consider now the approaching apex of God’s letter, the appearance of the angel Gabriel to Mary. The ancient hymn Ave, Maris Stella gives us an interpretive key to the scene. It sings of how the first word of Gabriel to Mary, Ave, transforms the damage, confusion, detours, and dead ends along the road to heaven wrought by Eve, in Latin, Eva. St. Irenaeus (c. 130–202) sees the same reversal at this turning point of salvation history: “As Eve was seduced by the word of an angel and so fled from God after disobeying his word, Mary in her turn was given the good news by the word of an angel, and bore God in obedience to his word. As Eve was seduced into disobedience to God, so Mary was persuaded into obedience to God; thus the Virgin Mary became the advocate of the virgin Eve” (Office of Readings for Friday of the Second Week of Advent). Thus, the celebration of the Annunciation of the Lord first recalls with gratitude that fiat, “let it be done,” from Mary that brought God to man, heaven to earth, at Christmas. The Annunciation and the Nativity are the two great celebrations of the coming of God to earth. Together, they serve as essential chapters in God’s narrative of salvation. Mary, after conceiving Christ “through her ear,” that is, by listening to and receiving God’s message, gives birth to this same Savior nine months later. Naturally, the Church marks the celebration of these two days nine months apart—the March 25 incarnation of the Word comes to fruition with the Savior’s birth on December 25. These two dates also find a ritual association unique to themselves: during the recitation of the Creed, at the words “and became man,” all present genuflect or kneel rather than merely bowing, as on other occasions. Since eternity “grounds itself ” in our time, since divinity unites itself to our humanity (“human,” from humus, or “earth,” “dirt”), we humans likewise bend our knees and, literally, ground our own selves. The Church’s liturgy, though, does not simply recall the historical annunciation and birth of Jesus nine months later, but it also directs our attention to his death and resurrection. Before March 25 celebrated Jesus’ conception, it was on this day that the Church recalled his death. In the early centuries of the Church, March 25 corresponded roughly to 14 Nisan on the Jewish calendar, the day of Passover, which is when Christ the Paschal Lamb was slain. The God–Man would suffer death for our salvation as a result of Eve’s disobedient “no” and Mary’s obedient “yes.” In some ways, the Annunciation celebrates the Paschal Mystery as much as it does the Incarnation. As St. Leo’s text from the day’s Office of Readings puts it, “Incapable of suffering as God, he did not refuse to be a man, capable of suffering. Immortal, he chose to be subject to the laws of death.” But the Paschal Mystery is not only about Christ’s suffering and death but also his resurrection. The liturgy of the Church ties the Annunciation to the Resurrection in the Prayer after Communion at Mass, asking that by “confessing that he who was conceived of the Virgin Mary is true God and true man, we may, through the saving power of his Resurrection, merit to attain eternal joy.” The Annunciation of the Lord, then, serves as a pivotal event in this largest of love letters. Just days before Christmas, St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153) paints a vivid picture of our emotions as we overhear Gabriel’s announcement and await Mary’s reply. It is an image that expresses beautifully the significance of Mary’s choice on this day. He writes: “Answer quickly, O Virgin. Reply in haste to the angel, or rather through the angel to the Lord. Answer with a word, receive the Word of God. Speak your own word, conceive the divine Word. Breathe a passing word, embrace the eternal Word … Let humility be bold, let modesty be confident. This is no time for virginal simplicity to forget prudence. In this matter alone, O prudent Virgin, do not fear to be presumptuous … Behold the handmaid of the Lord, she says, be it done to me according to your word” (Office of Readings for December 20).
The above entry appears in Ascension’s book Solemnities: Celebrating a Tapestry of Divine Beauty, by Christopher Carstens, Denis McNamara, and Alexis Kutarna. Featuring each of the 17 annual solemnities, Solemnities: Celebrating a Tapestry of Divine Beauty examines the theological, spiritual, and liturgical foundations for each celebration; explains the beauty of the solemnity by a commentary on artistic illustration of the celebration; and offers ideas for living the solemnity in one’s daily life.
Montreal: Photos shot on a Montreal rooftop using a Samsung Galaxy 24 ultra mobile with filter for Solar Eclipse.
Today is the start of the Divine Mercy Novena ending on Divine Mercy Sunday 🙏
About the Divine Mercy Novena
The message of Divine Mercy was given to a Polish nun named Sister Faustina. It was revealed to her by Jesus in a private revelation that is fully approved by the Church. The message of Divine Mercy is not something that is new or additional to the Gospel message. In fact, it is the same core message presented in a particular way with a few new devotions. This novena is one of those devotions.
St. Faustina reports in her diary that she transcribed the words of the novena as Jesus dictated them to her day-by-day beginning on Good Friday.
While this novena can be prayed any time, it is fitting that this novena begins on the day that Jesus gave us His Life. Good Friday is the perfect time to begin meditating on the Mercy of God towards us who need His mercy so much.
We end the novena on the eve of the Feast of Mercy, a feast day established by Pope John Paul II in response to St. Faustina’s revelation. This is a very important feast and the novena is an important part of our preparation for the Feast of Mercy, Divine Mercy Sunday.
“The Lord told me to say this chaplet for nine days before the Feast of Mercy. It is to begin on Good Friday. ‘By this novena, I will grant every possible grace to souls.’” (Diary 796)
On April 30th, 2000 Pope John Paul II instituted Divine Mercy Sunday as an official feast of the Church. In doing this he said, “by this act today, I pass on the message of Divine Mercy to the new millennium. I pass it on because I want people to know the better face of God, and that of his Divine Mercy, and through it, the better face of their brethren. The light of the message of Divine Mercy which the Lord wished to renew in the world, will be as much a beacon of hope for the third millennium, as the apostles were in the first.”
This is clearly a very important and powerful devotion.
Purpose of the Devotion
You can pray the Divine Mercy Novena for any reason you want. God’s Mercy is relevant and effective in all parts of our lives. However, there are some specific reasons you may want to call on the Divine Mercy in your prayer life.
For the dying, for the world, for forgiveness and mercy, for conversion, for healing, and in preparation for Divine Mercy Sunday.
Note:
My family prayed the Divine Mercy Prayer for someone who didn’t have their last rite. She was dying and unresponsive. We can attest to the movement of the Holy Spirit and a single grunt that was heard from the patient.
This has become my go to prayer when someone is dying, when I sense something ominous is unfolding, when I feel fear, and for the salvation of those around me.
Divine Mercy Novena – Day 1
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“Today bring to Me ALL MANKIND, ESPECIALLY ALL SINNERS, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. In this way you will console Me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges Me.”
Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Divine Mercy Novena – Day 2
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“Today bring to Me THE SOULS OF PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS, and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave Me strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them as through channels My mercy flows out upon mankind.”
Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service, that they may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard–upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Divine Mercy Novena – Day 3
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“Today bring to Me ALL DEVOUT AND FAITHFUL SOULS, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. The souls brought Me consolation on the Way of the Cross. They were that drop of consolation in the midst of an ocean of bitterness.”
Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart Your graces in great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from It. We beg this grace of You by that most wondrous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lose the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for endless ages.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Divine Mercy Novena – Day 4
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“Today bring to Me THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN GOD AND THOSE WHO DO NOT YET KNOW ME. I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My Heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy.”
Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Divine Mercy Novena – Day 5
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“Today bring to Me THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO HAVE SEPARATED THEMSELVES FROM MY CHURCH, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart, that is, My Church. As they return to unity with the Church, My wounds heal and in this way they alleviate My Passion.”
Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Church. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Son’s Church, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces by obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in His Most Compassionate Heart. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Divine Mercy Novena – Day 6
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“Today bring to Me THE MEEK AND HUMBLE SOULS AND THE SOULS OF LITTLE CHILDREN, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls most closely resemble My Heart. They strengthened Me during My bitter agony. I saw them as earthly Angels, who will keep vigil at My altars. I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace. Only the humble soul is capable of receiving My grace. I favor humble souls with My confidence.”
Most Merciful Jesus, You yourself have said, “Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart.” Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy and they are the heavenly Father’s favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon little children who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Divine Mercy Novena – Day 7
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“Today bring to Me THE SOULS WHO ESPECIALLY VENERATE AND GLORIFY MY MERCY, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls sorrowed most over my Passion and entered most deeply into My spirit. They are living images of My Compassionate Heart. These souls will shine with a special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death.”
Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident of Your mercy; and united to You, O Jesus, they carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy, and their hearts, overflowing with joy, sing a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God:
Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them that during their life, but especially at the hour of death, the souls who will venerate this fathomless mercy of His, He, Himself, will defend as His glory.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Divine Mercy Novena – Day 8
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“Today bring to Me THE SOULS WHO ARE DETAINED IN PURGATORY, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My justice.”
Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your mercy may be celebrated.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded: Manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Divine Mercy Novena – Day 9
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“Today bring to Me SOULS WHO HAVE BECOME LUKEWARM, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: ‘Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.’ For them, the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy.”
Most compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls, who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
As we head into Holy Week and the season of Easter, let us take the time to reflect on its meaning – a time for renewal and rebirth. Celebrate by all Christians worldwide, its’ significance is that it marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter is also associated with the sacrament of baptism.
Baptism, is a rite of initiation into the Christian faith, and symbolizes purification – the washing away of the old to welcome the new.
Baptism for adults also represents a milestone in one’s journey of faith by embracing the Catholic faith through the sacred rite of Baptism. It is also an overt celebration of one’s spiritual journey through the acceptance and symbolization of purification, rebirth, as well as the profound commitment to walk in the footsteps of faith.
This step is a formality and a profound expression of your commitment to a set of beliefs within a faith based community.
Baptism is a symbol of renewal, a fresh start where you are cleansed, reborn, and welcomed into a new family:
Galatians 2:20 NIV
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,who loved me and gave himself for me.
Just as Jesus Christ rose from the dead, those getting baptized this Easter are rising to a new life. This beautiful parallel can only enhance your spiritual journey.
In this ceremony, the baptized candidate is accompanied by family, friends, and members of the Catholic community. This is a testament to the supportive community that surrounds the newly baptized.
Let us pray for all baptismal candidates this Easter. May they have hope, joy, and love, as they embark on this sacred path. It is also a reminder that the cross offers us opportunities for transformation and blessings. May each person being baptized feel the warmth of divine grace and the strength of their convictions.
As we extend our best wishes to those being baptized, let’s also remember the spirit of Easter—a time to renew our own commitments, to cherish our loved ones, and to spread kindness and compassion in around us.
Happy Easter, and may God bless each and every soul stepping into the light of faith this year.
Embracing a New Journey: Inspirations for the Newly Baptized
For those who have recently embraced this sacred rite, the Bible offers a treasure trove of verses that inspire and guide.
One such verse is Acts 2:38, which encapsulates the essence of baptism, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” This verse is a powerful reminder of the transformative power of baptism, not just as a physical act, but as a spiritual awakening that brings one closer to the divine.
Similarly, 1 Peter 3:21 speaks to the inner change that baptism heralds: “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” It’s a call to embrace a life of righteousness, with a clear conscience and a heart aligned with God’s will.
The act of baptism is beautifully depicted in Romans 6:3-4, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”This passage invites the newly baptized to partake in the resurrection of Christ, to rise above the old self, and to celebrate the new life that awaits.
Let these verses be beacons of hope, and a light that shines on the path of spiritual growth and devotion.
Be Inspired! 