Saint Henry

We pray together, then hear St Ambrose unpack why baptism is never just a symbol but a real encounter with God’s presence through the Holy Spirit. We trace the signs of water, wood, and the dove from creation and Noah to the promises of living water, and we close by entrusting our lives to Jesus through Mary. 
• Opening prayers and daily offering through the Immaculate Heart of Mary 
• St Ambrose on what we truly “see” in the baptistry 
• Fixing our eyes on unseen and eternal realities 
• God’s presence behind God’s activity in the sacraments 
• Creation’s waters as an early sign of the Spirit’s work 
• Noah’s flood, the ark’s wood, and the dove as baptismal images 
• Living water promises and the Spirit poured out 
• Closing collect for fidelity to the name of Christ and final devotions 
If you found this time of prayer and reflection fruitful and would like more opportunities to grow in your faith, consider joining the Cristeros and purchasing our publications, now available on Amazon.com.

Transcript

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Opening Prayers And Offering

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Saint Henry, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. O my Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, for the remission of my sins, for the intentions of my family and friends, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen.

St Ambrose On The Baptistry

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From the Treatise on the Mysteries by St. Ambrose, Bishop. What did you see in the baptistry? Water, certainly, but not water alone. You saw the Levites ministering there, the high priest asking questions and consecrating. First of all, the apostle taught you that

Faith In The Unseen God

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we must fix our eyes not on the things that are seen, but on the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are for a time, but the things that are unseen are eternal. In another place you may read that the invisible things of God from the creation of the world can be understood through the things that have been created, and his everlasting power and Godhead can be known through his works. The Lord Himself says, If you do not believe me, believe at least my works. Then believe that the presence of the Godhead is there. You believe in its activity and refuse to believe in its presence? How could there be activity if there were no presence beforehand?

Creation And The Spirit Over Waters

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Consider how ancient the mystery is. Prefigured as it was in the creation of the world itself. In the very beginning when God made heaven and earth, the Spirit, God tells us, moved over the waters. Was the Spirit not active as he moved over the waters? When the prophet tells you that by the word of the Lord the heavens were established, and by the spirit of his mouth all their array, realize that the Spirit was active in this making of the world. The fact that he moved over the waters and the fact that he was active both rest on the prophetic testimony. Moses tells us that the Spirit moved over the waters. David testifies that the Spirit was active. Listen to another testimony.

Noah’s Ark As Baptism Sign

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All flesh had become corrupt because of its sins. God said, My spirit will not remain in men, for they are flesh. God thus showed that spiritual grace is repelled by uncleanness of the flesh and by the stain of more serious sin. So God resolved to restore the gift He had given. He sent the flood and ordered Noah, the righteous man, into the ark. When the flood began to subside, Noah sent first a raven, then a dove, which, as we read, came back with an olive branch. You see water, you see wood, you look on a dove, and you hesitate to believe the mystery. The water is that in which the flesh is dipped, to wash away all its sin. In it all wickedness is buried. The wood is that to which the Lord Jesus was fastened when he suffered for us. The dove is the one in whose likeness the Holy Spirit descended. As you have learned from the New Testament, the Spirit who breathes into

Scripture Promises Living Water

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you peace of soul, tranquility of mind. I will pour out water upon the thirsty land, and streams upon the dry ground. I will pour out my spirit upon your offspring, and they shall grow like willows by flowing streams. The water I give shall become a fountain within him, dwelling up to eternal life. I will pour out my spirit upon your offspring, and they shall grow like willows by flowing streams.

Closing Collect And Devotions

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O God, who show the light of your truth to those who go astray, so that they may return to the right path. Give all who for the faith they profess are accounted Christians the grace to reject whatever is contrary to the name of Christ, and so to strive after all that does it honor, through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen. All that I have, and all that I am, I give to your hands, Jesus, through the heart of Mary, your blessed mother. Amen. Sacred heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Invitation To Join The Cristeros

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If you found this time of prayer and reflection fruitful and would like more opportunities to grow in your faith, consider joining the Cristuros and purchasing our publications, now available on Amazon.com. The Cristeros app is available on the Apple app and Google Play Store. More information on the Cristeros can be found at theCristeros.org.