Parents who prefer not to baptise their children in the hopes that they will ask for baptism as adults are lacking in Faith, Pope Francis has said.
While some believe that there is no need to “baptise a child that does not understand” the meaning of the sacrament, the Pope said doing so would deny the chance for “Christian virtues to grow within that child and blossom”.
“Always give this opportunity to all children: to have within themselves the Holy Spirit that will guide them in life. Do not forget to baptise your children,” the Pontiff said during his weekly general audience in St Peter’s Square April 11.
In his main talk, Pope Francis reflected on the sacrament of baptism as “the foundation of Christian life”.
As the first of seven sacraments, he said, baptism “is the door that permits Christ the Lord to make his dwelling in us and allows us to immerse ourselves in his mystery”.
While being immersed in water is a common ritual “in various beliefs” that signifies the passing from one condition to another, Pope Francis said Christians must never forget that just as the body is immersed in water at baptism, so is the soul “immersed in Christ to receive forgiveness from sin and shine with divine light”.
“By virtue of the Holy Spirit, baptism immerses us in the death and resurrection of the Lord, drowning the old man – dominated by the sin that divides us from God – in the baptismal font and giving birth to the new man, recreated in Jesus. In Him, all the sons of Adam are called to new life,” the Pope said.
Although baptism occurs only once in a Christian’s life, Pope Francis said, “it illuminates our entire life, guiding our steps until (we reach) the heavenly Jerusalem”.
Junno Arocho Esteves, Catholic News Service
