Baptism of the Lord

Dear Parishioners,

If the Lord Jesus was without sin, why would He ever need to be baptized by John the Baptist?

The most direct answer to this question is that Jesus did not need to be baptized.  So then, why did it happen?  Let’s first look at what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says on the topic:

Our Lord voluntarily submitted himself to the baptism of St. John, intended for sinners, in order to "fulfill all righteousness." Jesus' gesture is a manifestation of his self-emptying.  The Spirit who had hovered over the waters of the first creation descended then on the Christ as a prelude of the new creation, and the Father revealed Jesus as his "beloved Son." Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1224

One way to think of Jesus’ baptism was that it is an anticipation of what He would do for us later on the cross. He would take upon Himself our sinfulness. Just as He did not die on the cross for His own sin, He did not receive the baptism of John to repent for His own sinfulness. We might rather say that Jesus made holy the waters of baptism by His own baptism. In addition, His Baptism in the Jordan River, like His Epiphany as a child to the magi, was another divine manifestation of Jesus’ true identity: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Mt. 3:17)

Jesus’ Baptism should make us think about our own baptism.  St. Paul’s words to the Romans are instructive:

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.  (Rom. 6:3-4)

Baptism gives us new life—eternal life.  Baptism forgives our sinfulness—both original sin and any personal sin (once a person has reached the age of reason and is no longer an infant). With baptism we are adopted by God through Christ as His children. We become temples of God’s Holy Spirit dwelling within us. God’s own life now dwells in us—the life of sanctifying grace. We become a member of the mystical Body of Christ, the Church, and the doorway is now open for us to receive the other sacraments of the Church. All of these wonderful things and many other blessings (see the Catechism of the Catholic Church #1262ff.) occur with the simple pouring of water (or an immersion into it) combined with the baptismal formula: N., I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Catholics should be aware that in the case of an emergency or danger of death any person can baptize. The Church primarily wants the salvation of souls and provides such an opportunity so no one would be lost!

 

Every time you bless yourself with holy water, remember that this sacramental is a reminder of your baptism into Christ Jesus who suffered and died for your salvation.  

I remind you to keep some blessed holy water in your homes.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor     

Two Saints in the USA

 

St. John Neumann (above) and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (below)

Dear Parishioners,

This week we honor both St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Jan. 4^th) and St. John Neumann (Jan. 5^th). I proudly admit that I have a personal devotion to both of these “American” saints.

Frequently, when I am in Philadelphia, I visit the church of St. Peter the Apostle (5^th St. & Girard Ave.) where the remains of St. John Neumann are kept in the lower church. He was a remarkable man who came from Bohemia (currently the Czech Republic) to America because of an over-abundance of priests in his homeland during the 1830’s. John was ordained a priest by Bishop John Dubois of New York and assigned to work with German immigrants, initially in the Niagara Falls and western New York state area. He was a man gifted with languages and could hear the confessions of people spoken in at least six tongues.

Being lonely and seeking some fraternal camaraderie, he joined the Redemptorist Order (Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer or C.SS.R.). Later, when he was appointed the 4^th Bishop of Philadelphia, he established and organized the Catholic School system there, increasing their numbers from two to about 100 schools. In addition, Bishop Neumann notably fostered the 40 Hours Devotion to the Most Holy Eucharist, established and built many parish churches and founded and/or invited various religious orders of sisters to work in his diocese.

As a seminarian, I completed my studies at Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD. Buried in Emmitsburg are the remains of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Elizabeth, a native-born American, grew up in the wealthy part of New York society. Married with five children, her husband died of tuberculosis while they were in Italy. Influenced by her stay there and moved by an ever-increasing love for and belief in Jesus’ Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament, she converted to the Catholic faith (from Protestantism).

Elizabeth later became an educator of children, was instrumental in the establishment of free Catholic schools, and is the foundress of the Sisters of Charity—from which six separate religious congregations trace their origin. She is honored by the Church as wife, mother, educator and foundress. She was the first canonized American-born saint.

It is important that we know our local Catholic history. I also find it invaluable to visit, whenever possible, the shrines where these saints are buried. We can learn so much from them.

These two faith-filled people are part of our Communion of Saints whom we one day hope to join forever in Heaven. Get to know them! You will be glad that you did!

 

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

The Remains of St. John Neumann

Homily for the Epiphany of the Lord 2026 - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

The Epiphany of the Lord

Dear Parishioners,

We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we traverse afar.

As far as I can remember, this popular carol, referring to the three kings from the East, has been sung annually during the Christmas season. The carol itself was written in the 19^th century by the Rev. John Henry Hopkins, Jr., an Episcopalian clergyman. Popular folklore has grown over the years regarding them, although the Sacred Scriptures dedicates only twelve verses to them in St. Matthew’s Gospel (Mt. 2: 1-12).

First of all they are actually called magi in the bible—not kings. Speculation has it that they were astrologers, although the term itself sometimes refers to a magician or a Zoroastrian priest. In any case, they were observing a star in their pursuit of the newborn King of the Jews. There is no mention that there are actually three of them, but the number of gifts seems to lead people to draw that conclusion.

With time the magi have been given names—Caspar (Kaspar), Melchior and Balthazar—although there is no biblical basis for this either. We are told that they brought three special gifts to the Christ Child—each seemingly with a unique significance: gold, frankincense and myrrh. While there are varied interpretations of the meaning of these gifts,  gold is usually seen as a royal tribute paid to a king, frankincense as a sign of divinity and myrrh as an embalming oil as a symbol of death or, perhaps, healing.

In the Roman or Latin rite of the Catholic Church, Epiphany (a manifestation) celebrates the revelation that Jesus was the Son of God. It focuses primarily on this revelation to the three kings, wise men or magi, but it also focuses on Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan and at the wedding feast at Cana. In the Eastern rites of the Catholic Church, Theophany—as Epiphany is known in the East—commemorates the manifestation of Jesus’ divinity at his baptism in the River Jordan.

What is the spiritual significance of this event known as the Epiphany?  According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

In the magi, representatives of the neighboring pagan religions, the Gospel sees the first-fruits of the nations, who welcome the good news of salvation through the Incarnation. The magi’s coming to Jerusalem in order to pay homage to the king of the Jews shows that they seek in Israel, in the messianic light of the star of David, the one who will be king of the nations. Their coming means that pagans can discover Jesus and worship him as Son of God and Savior of the world only by turning toward the Jews and receiving from them the messianic promise as contained in the Old Testament.  (Catechism of the Catholic Church, # 528)

In Spain, the Philippines and various other countries throughout the Spanish-speaking world, various traditions have sprung up surrounding the Three Kings with forms of gift-giving attached. In a European tradition, the initials of the king’s names are marked in chalk above the doors of homes (for example, C+M+B or K+M+B) as a blessing for the New Year. Other cultures celebrate the kings with a special ring cake concealing a figure of the baby Jesus inside.

No matter what traditions surround the celebration of the Epiphany, we need to remember always that Jesus Christ is King! 

O come let us adore Him!

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor