BY Ian Dunn | January 8 | 
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Baptism is a great gift, Pope tells general audience
Pope Francis this morning instructed Catholics to never forget what a great gift they received when they were Baptised.
Speaking to the crowds gathered in St Peter’s Square for the weekly General Audience, the Pope began a series of catecheses on the Sacraments, starting with Baptism.
He said that the Second Vatican Council tells us that the Church herself is a ‘Sacrament,’ a grace-filled sign that makes Christ’s saving work present in history, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Speaking of Baptism, the first of the Church’s seven Sacraments, the Pope said ‘it gives us new birth in Christ, makes us sharers in the mystery of his death and resurrection, grants the forgiveness of sin and brings us new freedom as God’s children and members of his Church.’
He urged Catholics not to forget the great gift they have received.
“Our Baptism has changed us, given us a new and glorious hope, and empowered us to bring God’s redeeming love to all, particularly the poor, in whom we see the face of Christ,” he said. “Our Baptism has also given us a share in the Church’s mission of evangelisation; as disciples, we are also missionaries. As we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord this Sunday, let us ask him to renew in us the grace of our Baptism and to make us, with all our brothers and sisters, true children of God and living members of his body, the Church.”
Using speakers in different languages, the Pope then turned his attention to Christians in the Middle East, in particular from Syria, inviting them to remember the day of their Baptism and to celebrate it because thanks to this Sacrament ‘we have all become new creatures in Christ, temples of the Spirit, adoptive children of the Father, members of the Church, brothers in faith and announcers of the Gospel, capable of forgiving and loving all, even our enemies.’—[email protected]
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