LIVING OUR BAPTISM MEANS REMAINING UNITED TO THE CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, 8 NOV 2009 (VIS) - At 6.15 p.m. today, the Pope visited the parish of St. Anthony in Concesio, near the Italian city of Brescia, where Paul VI was baptised.

  Speaking of the importance of the Sacrament of Baptism, the Holy Father recalled words used by Paul VI in 1959 when he was still archbishop of Milan: "In the world in which we live there is often 'a cloud marring the pleasure of calmly contemplating the divine sky, ... there is a temptation to believe that the faith is a tie, a chain to be thrown off, something old and outdated which serves no purpose'. And thus man comes to think that 'economic and social life is enough to respond to all the aspirations of the human heart'".

  In this context the Pope mentioned St. Augustine's "Confessions" where the saint writes that "our hearts are restless until they find rest in the Lord. Only if we find the light that illuminates and gives fullness of meaning can human beings be truly happy", said the Holy Father. "That light is faith in Christ, a gift received at Baptism that must be constantly rediscovered in order to pass it on to others".

  Benedict XVI encouraged people not to forget "the immense gift received the day on which we were baptised. At that moment Christ bound us to Himself forever. Yet do we, for our part, remain united to Him through choices coherent with the Gospel? It is not easy being Christian. It takes courage and tenacity not to conform oneself to the mentality of the world, not to allow oneself to be seduced by the temptations ... of hedonism and consumerism; to face, if necessary, misunderstandings and sometimes even persecution. Living our Baptism means remaining firmly united to the Church, even when we see her face darkened by certain shadows and stains".

  It is the Church "that has regenerated us for divine life and accompanies us throughout our journey. Let us love her, let us love her as a true mother. Let us love and serve her with a faithful love which translates into tangible acts within our communities, not surrendering to the temptation to individualism and prejudice, and overcoming all rivalries and divisions. Thus will we be true disciples of Christ".

  At the end of his visit, the Pope travelled to the military airport of Ghedi, whence he departed by plane for Rome where he arrived at 8.15 p.m.
PV-ITALY/PARISH VISIT/CONCESIO                    VIS 20091109 (420)