Homilies on Baptism

Homilies on Baptism

Pope Benedict XVI

Central in the preaching of Benedict XVI is the Sacrament of Baptism, by which the Church gives birth to the children of God. This page provides links to the Holy Father's Homilies, over a seven-year period, on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord and on the Easter Vigil, in which Baptism was a major theme.

1. Baptism of the Lord 2006
On Sunday, 8 January 2006, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the Holy Father celebrated Mass and baptized 10 infants in the Sistine Chapel. During his Homily, the Pope explained what happens in the Sacrament of Baptism, and the gift of new life and of friendship with the Lord that it brings.

2. Baptism of the Lord 2007
On Sunday morning, 7 January 2007, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, in the Sistine Chapel the Holy Father presided at the solemn Rite of Baptism of 13 babies. "In Baptism God himself acts, Jesus acts through the Holy Spirit", the Pope said. "God is present here today. He takes on your children and makes them his own".

3. Baptism of the Lord 2008
On 13 January 2008, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the Holy Father presided at the Baptism of 13 children during Mass in the Sistine chapel. In his homily for the occasion, the Pope spoke on the wonder of new life, God's life, which Christ came to give us through Baptism.

4. Baptism of the Lord 2009
On Sunday, 11 January 2009, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the Holy Father presided in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel at Holy Mass, during which he baptized 13 babies. In his homily, the Pope spoke of the responsibility of parents to "teach the child to recognize God as Father and to be able to relate to him with a filial attitude."

5. Baptism of the Lord 2010
On Sunday, 10 January 2010, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the Holy Father presided at Mass in the Sistine Chapel before baptizing 14 infants, 7 boys and 7 girls, all children of Vatican employees. The Pope reminded the parents and godparents, that in bringing the children to be baptized, they commit themselves to raising them in the faith.

6. Baptism of the Lord 2011
On Sunday, 9 January 2011, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the Holy Father presided at Holy Mass in the Sistine Chapel during which he administered the sacrament of Baptism to 21 newborn babies. In his homily, the Pope spoke of the Son's obedience to His Father, in receiving a baptism of repentance in solidarity with sinners, whom He had come to save.

7. Baptism of the Lord 2012
On Sunday Morning, 8 January 2012, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the Holy Father presided at Holy Mass in the Sistine Chapel for the baptism of 16 infants. In his homily, the Pope spoke of Baptism as the first educational choice on the part of Christian parents.

8. Easter Vigil 2006
On Holy Saturday evening, 15 April 2006, in St. Peter's Basilica, the Holy Father celebrated the Mass of the Easter Vigil. The Pope described the Resurrection as "a qualitative leap in world history," which seizes us in Baptism, "drawing us on towards a new future life."

9. Easter Vigil 2007
On Holy Saturday evening, 7 April 2007, in St Peter's Basilica, the Holy Father celebrated the Mass of the Easter Vigil. In his homily, the Pope explained that in Baptism we are not merely bathed or purified, but are grafted onto Christ, so that we live no longer for ourselves, but for Him.

8. Easter Vigil 2008
On Holy Saturday evening, 22 March 2008, in St. Peter's Basilica, the Holy Father celebrated the Easter Vigil Mass in which seven catechumens received the Sacraments of Christian initiation. In his homily, focused mainly on Baptism, the Holy Father said that in this sacrament, Christ "comes to you and joins his life with yours."

9. Easter Vigil 2009
On Holy Saturday evening, 11 April 2009, in St. Peter's Basilica, the Holy Father celebrated the Mass of the Easter Vigil. The Pope explained the meaning of the Resurrection in terms of three symbols in the Easter Vigil celebration: the light of the Paschal candle, the water of Baptism, and a new song, the alleluia.

10. Easter Vigil 2010
On Holy Saturday evening, 3 April 2010, Benedict XVI presided at the Easter Vigil Mass in St Peter's Basilica. On this "night of watching by the Lord" the Pope baptized six catechumens. In his homily he described Baptism as a "garment of light," which begins to fit us for the presence of God.

11. Easter Vigil 2011
In his homily at the Easter Vigil, at which he presided on Holy Saturday, 23 April 2011, in the Vatican Basilica, the Holy Father explained that it is through Baptism that we "become sharers in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ."

12. Easter Vigil 2012
On 7 April 2012, at the Vigil Mass celebrated in St Peter's Basilica, the Holy Father said that Easter is the day of light, which explodes into our world, bursting through "the darkness enshrouding God and obscuring values." Baptism is the bridge God provides, over which Christ comes to us, to lead us into the light.
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Lectio Divina, June 2012
An exceptional “Lectio Divina”, which lasted for 30 minutes, was given by the Pope on 11 June 2012, in the Basilica of St John Lateran for the inauguration of the Ecclesial Convention of the Diocese of Rome. This profound reflection — completely spoken extemporaneously — focused on the meaning of the Sacrament of Baptism and its timeliness for today’s Christians.