The Baptism of Our Lord is celebrated in conjunction with the Feast of the Epiphany. In the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church we always give due honor to both feasts. The sacramental nature of Our Lord's Church is stressed by Our Lord's institution of the Sacrament of Baptism. We must do everything we can to teach the true power of the sacraments in our lives.

Preparation is necessary to see the ongoing work of the sacraments. That is why we teach the permanent character imprinted on the soul by the three sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders. This means that these sacraments operate in the soul constantly.

The Holy Spirit is the True Guest of our souls from the moment that water is poured on the head of the child or adult when he chooses to be baptized. How wonderful it is to recognize the gifts that God bestows on us. Recognize the total forgiveness that God gives to a newly baptized soul--total forgiveness, mercy with no punishment due to sin.

I emphasize the point that when we have faith in God's mercy in the soul of one individual, we recognize that same perfection is appealing to everyone. We see that in our daily lives how we can withstand the assaults of the devil which we always know from the depth of our being that is because of God's grace that we protect and nourish through the all powerful intercession of the Blessed Mother of God.
 

St. Faustina reminds us--no, implores us--to live in that mercy which is the Divine Life. St.Mary's Shrine Parish has been called and chosen by God to bring His mercy continuously into the world and we have the true Sign of the Blessed Mother's words given to us, imprinted on our souls because of our vocation:

Then I saw the Blessed Virgin, unspeakably beautiful. She came down from the altar to my kneeler, held me close and said to me,I am Mother to you all, thanks to the unfathomable mercy of God most pleasing to me is that soul which faithfully carries out the will of God. She gave me to understand that I had faithfully fulfilled the will of God and had thus found favor in His eyes. Be courageous. Do not fear apparent obstacles, but fix your gaze upon the Passion of my Son, and in this way you will be victorious.
--The Diary of St. Faustina

Short interpretation: Believe in the power of the sacraments and know God's Will.

Praised be Jesus Christ,
Now and Forever!
Father Jerome Charles Romanowski, Pastor