I. St. Gregory took especial care to keep the promise he had made when receiving holy baptism. In baptism, we renounce Satan and all his works, and make an alliance with God, by the promise that we will serve Him and keep His commandments. This alliance we break as often as we commit a mortal sin. How is it with you? Have you kept your promise? May not the words of St. Bernard be applied to you?" You have renounced the devil and yet you serve him. You have renounced his works, and yet strive only after that which is evil. "You have promised to serve God alone and to keep His commandments; and yet you do in everything the contrary. Ah! be ashamed before your God and weep bitter tears for your perjury. Renew your baptismal vows and be in the future true to them. "When the priest asked you: do you renounce the devil and all his works, what was your answer? I renounce them. Remember these words and let them never part from your memory," says St. Ambrose.
I will take this occasion to give you another instruction. Many who are not Catholics refuse to be converted, because they are told that they must not break their baptismal vows. But they ought to know that they do not break them by becoming Catholics; for, by their baptism they made an alliance with the true Christ and the true Church. This true Church is the Catholic Church only ; hence by becoming Catholics, they only fulfill the vow they made. They broke it when, after coming to the use of reason, they gave their free consent to a false religion, and thus fell into heresy. By turning from this error and becoming Catholics, they renew their first alliance with the true Church of Christ, and thus fulfill the first promise made for them when they were baptized.
29 - 11 - 2022, 06:23 PM
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