Resurrection Climax of Redemption
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Resurrection Climax of Redemption OF THE most noteworthy movements of salvation; it is not a mere anticlimax to Christ’s Christ is not a faith in a dead Christ but in a living The first man, St. Paul tells us, “was of the earth, theology has been toward a reappraisal death on the cross, intended only to show that Christ and risen Christ; and Baptism is not only the grace earthy; the second Man is from heaven, heavenly” of Christ’s Resurrection—to regard it as the apex of is God. giving symbol of the death of Christ, but the effi (ibid., 47). the mystery of salvation and not merely as the event cacious sign of His' glorious life, which shall never Before His Resurrection Christ was the God- that made it credible. JESUS CHRIST did not come on earth simply to end. Man — as He is now, in heaven — but with this dif In a word, Christ’s Resurrection contains the die; He came to unite us with Himself and to associ ference: He could not exercise all His power as the whole history of His Redemption of the human race, ate us with His triumph. It was not, therefore, suf WITHOUT the Resurrection faith has not its real God-Man. Christ was not yet able to communicate and without it, it would lack its most essential link. ficient for Him to die for us; He had also to rise object, nor has Baptism its complete symbolism. The to others the fullness of life. This privilege had, for It is Christ’s suffering and death that give mean again for us. His death was only half of His redemp Redemption is something more than satisfaction — a preliminary condition. His death followed by His ing to His Resurrection, but it is also His Resurrec tive work; His Resurrection was the other half. the satisfaction given by the sufferings of the God- Resurrection. One would not have availed for our tion that gives meaning to His death. Death and ■We can see how this works out in our own Bap Man. Before that satisfaction could be made avail Redemption without the other. Resurrection are essential and indissociable. tism, which is Christ’s Redemption applied to us as ing, Christ had to enter into His glory through His “It is expedient that I go away,” Jesus had Christ “was delivered pp for our sins, and rose individuals. Resurrection. said “for, if I do not go away, the Comforter will not again for our justification”' (Rom. iv, 25). St. Paul Each of us receives first sanctifying grace — is It is at the moiaent of the Resurrection that Jesus come to you; but if I go away, I will send Him to states here that the Resurrection is essential for our justified — by faith and Baptism. But our faith in Christ becomes a “life-giving Spirit” (I Vor. xv, 45). you” (John xvi, 7). ( h k and Learn P. 0. Box 1620, Denver, Colorado Consent Is Necessary During our married life, I often asked my husband to accept Baptism. He was finally baptized by a hospital nun five minutes before his death. Now I an} wondering whether he may not have consented just to please me, and If so what good could the Baptism have done? For adults there must be an intention of receiving Apostolafe of Children the sacrament as a sacred thing in the Church, or of receiving that which Christ instituted or what the Church does or that which Christians receive. If your husband accepted Baptism merely to Makes Heroes of Parents please you, without at all admitting its sacred char By Rev. Joseph A. Hughes service is a work of super Sound discipline gives to acter, the Baptism would be invalid. MARRIAGE is the doorway natural love and extensive children and adults reverence If your husband had at least an habitual inten to a fruitful apostolate be personal discipline. for authority, the habit of tion of receiving Baptism as a sacrament, even cause it demands of parents cheerful obedience, a grow though his immediate reason may have been to that they spend themselves in CHILDREN require unflag ing sense of control over the ging affection. Parents — emotions, regard for the rights please you, then it would be valid. love for the children of their It is extremely unlikely that he would have lacked holy union. both fathers and mothers — of all others, willingness to the necessary concept of and desire for the sacra Bringing children into the must love their children and share with others, a sense of world is one part of the privi like them. The affection of responsibility, reguiarity in ment. lege and responsibility of hus good habits, capacity to suffer In danger of death, if one cannot be instructed bands and wives. Another part patiently, facility in fulfilling in the mysteries of the faith, it is enough that he in of their responsibility is the religious duties. some way show that he accepts them and intends to work of helping these children The observe all that is commanded by the Christian re grow physically, emotionally, THESE VALUES must be ligion. intellectually, and spiritually. Spiritual imparted to children bit by For a fruitful reception of Baptism, such as Children have many needs. bit in an atmosphere of love would wash away all sins, an adult must have at and prayer and docility to the Some of them are obvious — least imperfect contrition. crying literally, so to speak, Life Holy Spirit. The victories will for fulfillment. Others are not be unattended by intermit subtle and hidden. These tent failures and occasional Same Spenser? needs are noticed and served parents toward young ones discouragements. But honest I understand that a person cannot have his sponsor in only by parents who are lov must be full and rich from the effort will surely bring Baptism also sponsor his Confirmation. I know of a case ing, alert, and sacrificial. days of their children’s in achievement and rewards. where this did happen. Was this a valid sponsorship? Parenthood is a full-time job fancy through the years of And not least of the rewards Canon 796, par. 1, of the Code of Canon Law on the part of a father and later adolescence — and be will be the growth of dis states that the sponsor at Confirmation should not be mother. yond. Anything less than hon cipline in the character of the the same as the sponsor in Baptism, unless for a rea My friend and colleague, est and continuing interest parents themselves. sonable cause the minister of Confirmation allows James Shea, points out from would thwart the full growth Children need economic and an exception to this rule or unless Confirmation is time to time the delicate and of the children in personality emotional security. But deep legitimately given immediately after Baptism. Spon telling points of alert parent and happiness and, perhaps, in the heart of any lasting sorship outside these exceptions is valid but illicit. hood. Our job here is to show in character. security must be a personal how the technicalities and Children need discipline — faith in the supernatural and services and sufferings of the kind that flows from hon Where Dees Pope Get His Name? an unshakeable trust in Divine family life are not just the pro est affection and worthy I would like to know where the Pope takes his name. Can Providence. Even tiny chil duct of instinct and human ideals. Discipline is a posi he use his own name, or does he have to take the name of a dren should be taught and in respect but the raw materials tive element in life. A dis previous Pope? The Resurrection of Jesus spired to live in the loving out of which are built com ciplined person is one who A Pope could use his own name, but no Pope has And when the Sahbath was past, Mary looking up they saw that the stone had been presence of God. And parents manding, supernatural char has the capacity and the done so in a thousand years. Likewise, no Pope in Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and rolled back, for it was very large. But on en who can teach this to their acter in children and in adults. habit of doing what he should modern times has taken a name not borne by a pre Salome, brought spices, that they might go tering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting do rather than what he would children are heroes in heaven and anoint Him. And very early on the first at the right side, ciothcd in a white robe, and on earth. vious Pope, although there is no reason why he could CONTEMPORARY spiritual like to do. day of the week, they came to the tomb, when and they were amazed. He said to them, “Do not. writers, including Register the sun had just risen. And they were saying not be terrified. You are looking for Jesus of to one another, “Who will roll tte stone back Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen. He columnists, point out the great Why Difierent Lord’s Prayer? modem need for the “world from the doorway of the tomb for us?” And is not here.” (Mark xvi, 1-7) The Catechism Illustrated Why do Catholics say the Lord’s Prayer differently from view,” foi* the apostolate to others? distant nations, for material Q. — Where do we find the chief truths taught by Jesus and spiritual assistance on the Christ though the Catholic Church? Catholics say the Lord’s Prayer as the Lord Him part of our people to the peo self taught it to His Apostles.