Denver Catholic

ere is a startling assertion of our Christian faith: when born into this world, we begin in a spiritual state like this: though alive in the flesh, we are spiritually dead. Due to original sin, every human person is born separated from the eternal life of God. Yet… "Do not be afraid!" More extraordinary than death is the new life in Jesus Christ, his divine life. By his Passion, Death and Resurrection, the lame walk, the deaf hear, the mute speak and the dead rise. St. Paul teaches us: "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, in order that … we too might walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:3-4). When you were immersed in the water of the baptismal font, you descended into the tomb with him. When you rose, his new life became real in you. Incredibly, Baptism does even more than bring your dead soul to life; it gives grace to live and act from his power so you can live the Christian life, worship and love him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength (see Mark 12:30). The Catechism lists many supernatural graces given in Baptism (see 1262-1274). However, the description can feel like a parish potluck: many gifts, no clear order. It is helpful to see how these gifts play a part in God's "re-creating" of our humanity across four successive levels: new belonging, new nature, new inclinations and new actions. WHAT REALLY NEW BELONGING: WHOSE AM I? Through the water and the words of Baptism, God used this external ritual to cause powerful spiritual effects within. When celebrated as the Church intends, God himself guarantees a seal placed on your soul to claim you "for his own possession" (1 Peter 2:9). This sacramental char- acter is not only a mark of belonging, but also a spiritual power that makes you capable of being like Jesus, being a member of his Body and wor- shipping through his priesthood. However, though you are a member of his Body by the character, it doesn't mean you are automatically a living member. For the sacra- ments to be fully fruitful, there must be no obsta- cles to the flow of his grace. Think of this as the Father stamping the image of the Sacred Heart onto your very soul so that his life-giving blood can pour into your life. This stamp can never be removed. However, two obstacles can stop this flow: a lack of right faith and a lack of repentance for sin. Thankfully, if you were baptized as an infant, you could not erect either of these obstacles: you had no personal sin, and the Church provided the faith for Baptism. Conversely, if someone is baptized as an adult, a lack of faith or repentance would allow the char- acter to be imprinted forever. Still, that obstacle would block all subsequent graces until faith and repentance are found in a good Confession. Thus, through the baptismal character, God permanently claims you as his own and places the conduit of his life in you. You can answer "Whose am I?" with the response, "I belong to Christ, I am a member of his Body." HAPPENS AT H Imagine standing next to a grave, freshly covered in earth. You call out to the one buried; he does not answer. Ask him to walk, and there is no movement. Ask him to listen, and his ears cannot hear. Ask him to speak praise, and his lips cannot speak beneath the dirt. 6 AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2026 | DENVER CATHOLIC

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