Meditations on the Meditations on the BaptismBaptism

Recommendation: Please read the contents of one Recommendation: Please read the contents of one of the 20 mysteries meditations before you start of the 20 mysteries meditations before you start your prayer. Some of these presentations (e.g. The your prayer. Some of these presentations (e.g. The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion) contains Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: The Crucifixion) contains over 60 slides. With so much spiritual food that it is over 60 slides. With so much spiritual food that it is best to best to read and contemplate on a few of the slides read and contemplate on a few of the slides each time.each time. We welcome biblical scholars, theologians, We welcome biblical scholars, theologians, lecturers and professors of theological institutions lecturers and professors of theological institutions and seminaries and lay people around the world to and seminaries and lay people around the world to contribute precious pearls in the form of pictures contribute precious pearls in the form of pictures and wordsand words to accompany specific scenes in the to accompany specific scenes in the Rosary in Visual Art. You can contribute through the Rosary in Visual Art. You can contribute through the BLOG on our website.BLOG on our website.

First luminous MysteryFirst luminous MysteryThe Baptism in the The Baptism in the

JordanJordan After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water

and stood there praying; and behold, the Heaven was and stood there praying; and behold, the Heaven was opened. opened.

The Holy Ghost came down upon him likeThe Holy Ghost came down upon him like

a dove. And a voice came from Heaven saying “This is a dove. And a voice came from Heaven saying “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Spiritual fruits: Submission to God’s Spiritual fruits: Submission to God’s will.will.

Gratitude for the gift Gratitude for the gift of Faith.of Faith.

(St. Louis de Montfort)(St. Louis de Montfort)

Nicolas Poussin, The Baptist baptizes the crowd. 1632. Louvre Museum. Paris

1.John is baptizing in the Jordan proclaiming a baptism of repentance.

The Jordan riverconnects to thestories of Israel’sentry into the Promised landwith Joshua, &to Israel’s crisisand call for renewal by Elijah and Elisha.The river symbolized a new exodus, a new beginning.

2. Behold,the lamb of God.

“He should become more and more and I should become less and less”Total opposite to 21st century philosophy: I am the most important, my freedom, my rights. The highest value of all values is Jesus in my life.

Dieric Bouts, 1415-1475. EcceAgnus Dei. Alte PinakothekMunich. Germany.

2. Behold the lamb of God.

Peter Rubens, The Feast of Herod, National Gallery of Scotland. Edinburgh.

3. St. John the Baptist is a challenging personality. He challenged people to change, and opposed powers of this world. He paid for the truth with his head.

Freedom is not the first value. The 1st value is the Truth. Jesus said, I am theTruth. TheTruth will set you free.

4. He took on our sins

“He allows himself to be numbered among sinners. He is already ‘the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world’. Already he is anticipating the ‘baptism’ of his bloody death.” (Cathechism)

Jusepe de Rubera. 1643Naples. Italy.

4. He took on our sins

As Christ descends into the waters The innocent one became “sin” for our sake. Jesus’ baptism changed the world by rending open the heavens, allowing the Holy Spirit to descend in a powerful way.

5.*The Theophany of our Lord.

When you O Lord,were baptized in the Jordan, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest.

Through baptism we all enter into an awareness of this great mystery that God is three, and yet one.How to pray with icons. By Miroslaw Tataryn

When saint John had finished baptizing our Lord, the When saint John had finished baptizing our Lord, the heavens opened and the Holy Ghost descended visibly in heavens opened and the Holy Ghost descended visibly in the form of a dove upon his head and the voice of his the form of a dove upon his head and the voice of his Father was heard: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I Father was heard: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matth. 3, 17am well pleased" (Matth. 3, 17). Many of the bystanders ). Many of the bystanders heard this voice, namely, those who were not worthy of heard this voice, namely, those who were not worthy of such a wonderful favor; such a wonderful favor; they also saw the Holy Ghost they also saw the Holy Ghost descending upon the Savior.descending upon the Savior. This was the most This was the most convincing proof which could ever be given of the convincing proof which could ever be given of the Divinity of the Savior, as well on the part of the Father, Divinity of the Savior, as well on the part of the Father, who acknowledged Him his Son, as also in to the nature who acknowledged Him his Son, as also in to the nature of the testimony given; for without any reserve was of the testimony given; for without any reserve was Christ manifested as the true God, equal to his eternal Christ manifested as the true God, equal to his eternal Father in substance and in perfectionFather in substance and in perfection. The Father . The Father himself wished to be the first to testify to the Divinity of himself wished to be the first to testify to the Divinity of Christ in order that by virtue of his testimony all the Christ in order that by virtue of his testimony all the other witnesses might be ratified. other witnesses might be ratified. There was also There was also another mystery in this voice of the eternal Father: it another mystery in this voice of the eternal Father: it was as it were a restoration of the honor or Son before was as it were a restoration of the honor or Son before the world and a recompense for his having thus the world and a recompense for his having thus humiliated Himself by receiving the Baptism of the humiliated Himself by receiving the Baptism of the remission of sinsremission of sins, though He was entirely free from fault , though He was entirely free from fault and never could have upon Him the guilt of sin. (Heb. 7, and never could have upon Him the guilt of sin. (Heb. 7, 26).-----26).-----Mystical City of God Mary of AgredaMystical City of God Mary of Agreda..

As the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus at His baptism, so He descends on us at our baptism and inspires us to a loving union with God, and transforms us with His supernatural life. We become new creations.

We are adopted as sons or daughters of our HeavenlyFather. We too become heirs.

6. The Holy Spirit at our baptism

“ I have baptized you with water.He will baptize you with the HolySpirit.”

Through baptism we die toour old selves and are borninto Christ. To continue ourjourney we must renew ourbaptismal promise to dieand rise with Christ.“Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ were baptized into his death?”–St. Paul

How are we to continue to bury sin in our lives?

7. We die to our old selves

Reni Guido, Baptism of Christ, Kunsthistorisches Museum. Vienna.

“Go and wash at the fountain!Wash yourselves at the spring of living water which flows from the pierced Heart of my son Jesus, through the sacrament ofreconciliation. I want you pure in mind, heart and body.” (Gobbi)

8. Wash at the fountain

Pietro Perugino, The Baptism of Christ, 1490, Musee des Beaux-Art, Rouen

9. The Holy Spirit descends on Him to invest Him with the mission which he is to carry out.

In our baptismwe are anointedas Christians. This means weare followers of Christ. Justas Christ facedthe cross and embraced it,we too will have suffering& crosses in our lives.

Joachim Patinir, The baptism of Christ, 1515. Kunsthistorisches Museum. Vienna.

10. In this heavenly manifestation is instituted the sacrament of baptism. We pray for a

deeper awarenessof the adoptionwe received atour baptism, when we became sons& daughters ofour Father inheaven. Help us in dying to sin and in living to holiness and the life of grace. Amen.

The ( National ) RosaryThe ( National ) Rosary For the Evangelization of For the Evangelization of (Nations)(Nations)

1.1. Fatima Prayer:Fatima Prayer: To Eucharistic Jesus, source of all To Eucharistic Jesus, source of all evangelization.evangelization.

““O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are in most need of thy all souls to heaven, especially those who are in most need of thy mercy.”mercy.”

2.2. Invocation of the Holy Spirit:Invocation of the Holy Spirit: Principal agent of Principal agent of evangelization.evangelization.

““Come, Holy Spirit! Fill the hearts of the (National) people and Come, Holy Spirit! Fill the hearts of the (National) people and enkindle in them the fire of your love! Come by means of the enkindle in them the fire of your love! Come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well-powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well-beloved Spouse.”beloved Spouse.”

3. 3. Prayer to Our Lady of ( Nation ):Prayer to Our Lady of ( Nation ): Star of the new Star of the new evangelization.evangelization.

““Hail Holy Queen, Mother of (Nation), come and present the Hail Holy Queen, Mother of (Nation), come and present the (National) people to Jesus, the fruit of thy womb.(National) people to Jesus, the fruit of thy womb.

Look upon them continually with mercy and through your Look upon them continually with mercy and through your intercession with the divine Redeemer, heal themintercession with the divine Redeemer, heal them of their sufferings, of their sufferings, deliver them from all evil, and fill them with your love.”deliver them from all evil, and fill them with your love.”

We pray in Communion with all the Angels and Saints in We pray in Communion with all the Angels and Saints in Heaven !Heaven !