‘I thirst.I thirst for the salvation of souls.Help Me, My daughter, to save souls...’” (Diary 1032, Saint Faustina).
A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to witness one of my nephews receive the sacrament of Baptism. It was a beautiful celebration of welcome as this little tiny baby became a member of God’s own House.
And as I was watching this baptism and praying – rather distractedly – for this little soul, it occurred to me how special this sacrament really is.
You see, when a little baby is baptised God does not ask anything of that baby. We Catholics are encouraged to baptise our children within days or weeks of their birth if possible. You see, we understand that the baptism of a child is the most important obligation of a Catholic parent. While Christians often wait until a child is old enough to choose their belief, we Catholics understand the point of the sacrament. You see, when God asks us to receive the sacrament of Baptism, all he asks is that the child is presented to Him. And using something as simple as WATER, He claims that soul as his own. God does not even require the soul to speak and accept the sacrament. He is willing to accept the consent of the parents and godparents instead..
And though my nephew did not ask God for Baptism, still that child now belongs to God!
Later if a Baptised soul decides to reject God or turn away from Him, that soul does not erase the sacrament of Baptism. Later if that soul commits all manner of venial and mortal sins – offending God Himself and causing God great anguish – it does not erase that sacrament of Baptism.And the miracle is that God – knowing all our human weaknesses – and being outside of Time and Space and therefore unable to see all of the choices we will make during the entire course of our lives, still ALLOWS that soul to be baptised! And God not only allows this – God DESIRES this – even knowing that one day that soul may cause Him terrible distress through their sins, even knowing that by claiming this soul, God is inflicting future punishment on Himself. Still God takes that soul and claims it as His own!
For my Beloved wants ALL souls. He thirsts for souls.
In her Diary 1032, Saint Faustina wrote, “During Holy Mass, I saw the Lord Jesus nailed upon the cross amidst great torments. A soft cry issued from His Heart. After some time, He said, ‘I thirst. I thirst for the salvation of souls. Help Me, My daughter, to save souls. Join your sufferings to My Passion and offer them to the Heavenly Father for sinners.’”
And Saint Josemaría prayed, “I look at your Cross, my Jesus, and I rejoice in Your grace, because Your Calvary has won for us the reward of the Holy Spirit. And you give Yourself to me, each day, lovingly, madly, in the Sacred Host.”
And I have been reflecting on this mad love of God. For He thirsts for souls – no matter what. And that is truly such a miracle that I have not the mind to fathom the depths of such a love as that…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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