1.       The Personal Dimension Baptism

·        The story of Jesus is a story of personal encounter with him. Christians today encounter Christ through baptism. In baptism, Christian life becomes life "of Christ, in Christ, for Christ, toward Christ."

·        The Pope invites us to "rediscover baptism as the foundation of Christian existence (TMA 41). As St. Paul puts it: "put on Christ" (Gal 3:27). The reality of the baptized person is his incorporation into Christ (Eph 2:4-7).

·        Best analogy to describe how the baptized are united with Christ is that of "mystical body." In baptism, the believers become "the body of Christ and individually members of it" (1 Cor 12:4-5). They become one with Christ and are totally assimilated and incorporated to him.

·        Incorporation into Christ brings the believer into relation with the Persons of the Trinity and, at the same time, establishes a new relation with others. This union makes Christians adopted children of the Father (Eph 1:3-6).

2.       The Ecclesial Dimension of Baptism

·        The Christian's encounter with Jesus at baptism takes place in the context of the ecclesial community and is thus an encounter with the community of faith, hope, and charity that is expressed and celebrated in the Eucharist. To live with Jesus is thus to live with the Church and in the Church. In the Church our personal encounter with him becomes a sacramental encounter and thus a bestowal of grace and redemption.

·        Some ways to realize and bring to maturity this ecclesial experience are: 1) The liturgy and life of prayer, 2) An attitude of ecclesial communion formed by obedience, collab­oration, readiness to serve the Church, 3) The "associate life" (ecclesial movements), as a locus of experience and of community commitment, of maturation of faith, and of human solidarity.

BAPTISM ACC. TO CCC:

1.       Christian Initiation is accomplished by 3 sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist.

2.       Baptism is birth into new life in Christ. It is necessary for salvation. By baptism, we enter the Church.

3.       The essential rite of baptism: matter and form

4.       Fruit of baptism: forgiveness of sins, birth into the new life (adoptive son of the Father), member of Christ and temple of the Holy Spirit, incorporation into the Church, and sharer in the priesthood of Christ.

5.       Indelible character of Baptism

6.       Baptism of children

7.       Lay baptism

ELEMENTS OF LAY SPIRITUALITY ACC. TO PCP II

1.       Genuine love for and personal commitment to Jesus

2.       Love for the Church

3.       Fidelity to her teachings and respect for their pastors

4.       Dedication to family and to the family apostolate

5.       Love for the poor and those in need

6.       Promotion of justice and involvement in the social apostolate

7.       Regular reception of the sacraments

8.       Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary

PCP II ON RENEWED INTEGRAL EVANGELIZATION

Elements of Renewed Evangelization

1.       Renewed Catechesis

·        Christo-centric (Christ-centered)

·        Rooted in the Word of God

·        Authentically Filipino (inculturated)

·        Systematic

2.       Renewed Worship

·        Renewal of prayer life

·        Renewal of popular piety

·        Liturgical renewal

3.       Renewed Social Apostolate

·        Evangelization: the proclamation, above all, of SALVATION from sin, the LIBERATION from everything oppressive to man; the DEVELOPMENT of man in all his dimensions, personal and communitarian; and, ultimately, the RENEWAL OF SOCIETY in all its strata through the interplay of GOSPEL TRUTHS and man’s TOTAL LIFE (Paul VI, EN)

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Last Updated: Tuesday, November 20, 2001 08:18:32 PM