Oh, how sweet amazing grace really is!

By George Vélez

At the words, "N., I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." immediately a reality, that many times people don't understand, or sadly, just don't believe, takes place. Almighty God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, make their home in the soul of the person being baptized. In the condition that the world is in now, a person, of any age, without baptism, is dead to God. Before receiving the sacrament of Baptism, every human being conceived, except Jesus and Mary, inherits the guilt and stain of original sin. But from who?

When Adam and Eve sinned against God, by disobeying Him, they lost the sanctifying grace that God had given to them. This grace that God had given to them was His very own life and when they sinned, they had lost this life of God in them. Now, because they no longer had this grace, they were unable to pass this grace on to their children and their children could not pass this grace on to their children, and so on. However, they now had something that they did not have before: a fallen nature. They had the effects and guilt of their sin and this was passed on to their children, and so on. So, when a person is born original sin is in their soul.


God, though, because of His Infinite mercy and love for each and everyone of us, who are so weak, pitiful and ignorant, has made it possible for us to once again receive sanctifying grace through His Son made flesh, Jesus Christ.

At that moment of Jesus' death on the Cross is when this grace was given and is first received in baptism, where the soul goes from death to life. "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead.... we too might walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3-4)

Almighty God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, come to make their home in the soul of the one who is baptized "in the name of the Father, and the Son and of the Holy Spirit", by the Church. God gives Himself to that soul, as a free gift, and makes it holy.

At that moment of Jesus' death on the Cross is when this grace was given and is first received in baptism, where the soul goes from death to life. "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead.... we too might walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3-4)

Almighty God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, come to make their home in the soul of the one who is baptized "in the name of the Father, and the Son and of the Holy Spirit", by the Church. God gives Himself to that soul, as a free gift, and makes it holy.

Now isn't that beautiful? So, the next time you are at a baptism, whether it be for an infant, a child, an adult, or even your own, remember how sweet this amazing Grace really is.
Now isn't that beautiful? So, the next time you are at a baptism, whether it be for an infant, a child, an adult, or even your own, remember how sweet this amazing Grace really is.