Per Christum

I was born on Holy Saturday, April 16, 1927, in Marktl am Inn. the fact that my day of birth was the last day of Holy Week and the eve of Easter has always been noted in our family history. This was connected with the fact that I was baptized immediately on the morning of the day I was born with the water that had just been blessed. (At that time the solemn Easter Vigil was celebrated on the morning of Holy Saturday.) To be the first person baptized with the new water was seen as a significant act of Providence. I have always been filled with thanksgiving for having had my life immersed in this way in the Easter mystery, since this could only be a sign of blessing. To be sure, it was not Easter Sunday but Holy Saturday, but, the more I reflect on it, the more this seems to be fitting for the nature of our human life: we are still awaiting Easter; we are not yet standing in th full light but walking toward it full of trust.

(Joseph Ratzinger, Milestones: Memories, 1927-1977, p. 8 )

The courage of this pope throughout his life is a reflection of his baptism. And last night’s baptism was an act of religious courage and fortitude virtually unknown in the Western World in the modern age. But, such acts of religious conviction as a matter of life and death are almost a commonplace for Christians throughout much of the world.

May the boldness of Magdi Christian Allam and countless Christians in Africa, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam, Iraq and China now embolden the rest of the Church is announcing the Good News of Jesus Christ, crucified for us and Risen!

The story of the pope’s baptism was completely new to me when I just read it over at Ad Te Levavi Animam Meam.