You're listening to I Pray with the Gospel on the St. Jose Maria Institute podcast.

In the name of the Father and of the, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.

My Lord and my God, I firmly believe that you are here, that you see me, that you hear me.

I adore you with profound reverence.

Ask your pardon for my sins, and the grace to make this time of prayer fruitful.

My Immaculate Mother, St. Joseph, my father, and Lord,

my guardian angel, intercede for me. The Feast of the Baptism of our Lord. A reading from the

Gospel of Matthew, chapter 3. Jesus came to John to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying,

I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me? But Jesus answered him, let it be so now,

for thus it is fitting for us fulfill all righteousness. Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized,

he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens

were opened, and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him.

And lo, a voice from heaven, saying,

This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.

The Lord was baptized, explained St. Ambrosa-Milan,

not to be cleansed of himself, but to cleanse the waters

so that the waters might have the power of baptism.

During his ascension, he told his disciples to go and baptize all people,

and they did exactly that.

Saints have greatly valued this sacrament.

St. Vincent always celebrated the anniversary of his baptism,

and often went to kiss the baptismal font in the Church of St. Stephen in Valencia.

...