Pope: Reject a culture where truth does not matter
Pope Benedict XVI on Monday night met with the people of his Diocese in the Cathedral
Basilica of Saint John Lateran. The annual ecclesial conference of the Diocese of
Rome is discussing the Sacrament of Baptism in the Church
“Renouncing the
glamour of Satan in today’s age means rejecting a culture where truth does not matter,”
the Pope said, referring to a part of the Baptismal Rite.
The Holy Father began
his remarks by reflecting on the fact the Baptismal formula is “in the name of the
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,” as opposed to “on the behalf of.”
He said with
Baptism, we are now in the life of the Trinity: “uniquely united to God, with a new
life that belongs to God, we are immersed in God Himself.”
This being true,
the Pope said this means God is not some distant reality, but “we are in God, and
God is in us.”
He said we also must keep in mind that this relationship begins
with God.
“Yes, my decision is necessary, but ultimately, it is an act of
God within me,” he explained. “I do not decide to become a Christian. I am … chosen
by God, and by saying “yes” to this action of God, I become a Christian.”
In
the Baptismal Rite, the catechuman must reject Satan and all his works. Pope Benedict
said this means rejecting a “culture that does not seek goodness, whose morality is
only a mask, which covers confusion and destruction...that seeks only material wealth
and denies God”
He said the decision of Baptism lasts for the all our lives,
with its rejection of evil, even if it means sacrifices.
The Pope then pointed
out that becoming a Christian is not just saying ‘no’, but also saying ‘yes’ to the
truths about Christ expressed in the Creed.
Because of this, Christians are
“in communion with the truth.”
“We are grateful to God who gave us this gift
[of Baptism], and our challenge is to live out our post-baptismal renunciations and
affirmations and always live in the great cause of God, and so live well,” he concluded.