It was a rainy morning in Rome, but that didn’t stop pilgrims from flocking to see the Holy Father at his general weekly audience in St. Peter’s Square. “Appropriately enough, the Holy Father spoke about the pouring of water today,” saying it was the central act of baptism, “the moment when the water is poured and the blessed Trinity is invoked,” said Ashley Noronha, Relevant Radio^® Vatican Correspondent.

According to Noronha, Pope Francis explained that, “just as we’re immersed in the water, we’re immersed in the mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection. And through that, we’re reborn. We’re actually a new creation.”

“He referred to the baptismal font as a place where a person dies and comes to life, where a person is buried and reborn, a womb and a tomb. He says that we have to remember that once we are marked by baptism, of course, that is a mark that can never be erased. Yes, we can sin. Yes, that can block the work of grace in our lives, in our hearts and in our souls. But it will never erase that seal of baptism,” explained Noronha.

Baptism calls us to be active members of the Body of Christ. “Because through that rite we become members of Christ’s body, we have to then pledge to avoid sin and to conform our lives to be evermore like him and to be completely dedicated to Christ,” said Noronha.

“And then we’re anointed with the Chrism, and that’s a sign of how we share in Christ’s role as priest, prophet, and king. We offer our lives daily as that pleasing sacrifice and we commit to imitate him in the way that we serve those around us.”

Hear the full podcast here:

https://relevantradio.com/2018/05/morning-air-may-9-2018-hour-2/