Baptismal Regeneration
From the first apology in defense of the Christians by Saint Justin, martyr (c. 100 – C. 165)
Condemnation of St Lawrence by the Emperor Valerian by Fra Angelico – 1449
Baptismal Regeneration
Narrated by Frank Dugan, Huntington Beach, California
Through Christ we received new life and we consecrated ourselves to God. I will explain the way in which we did this. Those who believe what we teach is true and who give assurance of their ability to live according to that teaching are taught to ask God’s forgiveness for their sins by prayer and fasting and we pray and fast with them. We then lead them to a place where there is water and they are reborn in the same way as we were reborn; that is to say, they are washed in the water in the name of God, the Father and Lord of the whole universe, of our Savior Jesus Christ and of the Holy Spirit. This is done because Christ said: Unless you are born again you will not enter the kingdom of heaven, and it is obviously impossible for anyone, having once been born, to reenter his mother’s womb.
An explanation of how repentant sinners are to be freed from their sins is given through the prophet Isaiah in the words: Wash yourselves and be clean. Remove the evil from your souls; learn to do what is right. Be just to the orphan, vindicate the widow. Come, let us reason together, say the Lord. If your sins are like scarlet, I will make them white as wool; if they are like crimson, I will make them white as snow. But if you do not heed me, you shall be devoured by the sword. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.
The apostles taught us the reason for this ceremony of ours. Our first birth took place without our knowledge or consent because our parents came together, and we grew up in the midst of wickedness. So if we were not to remain children of necessity and ignorance, we needed a new birth of which we ourselves would be conscious, and which would be the result of our own free choice. We needed, too, to have our sins forgiven. This is why the name of God, the Father and Lord of the whole universe, is pronounced in the water over anyone who chooses to be born again and who has repented of his sins. The person who leads the candidate for baptism to the font calls upon God by this name alone, for God so far surpasses our powers of description that no one can really give a name to him. Anyone who dares to say that he can must be hopelessly insane.
This baptism is called “illumination” because of the mental enlightenment that is experienced by those who learn these things. The person receiving this enlightenment is also baptized in the name of ‘Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and in the name of the Holy Spirit, who through the prophets foretold everything concerning Jesus.
Source: The Liturgy of the Hours – Office of Readings
The baptism of Constantine – by Raphael – 1524
Saint Justin, martyr, (c. 100 – C. 165) was born at Flavia Neapolis, of pagan Greco-Romanparents and was well educated. He studied philosophy, rhetoric, history and poetry, and was inspired by a meeting with an old man at Ephesus, where he taught for a time, to study Christian Scripture. At thirty, Justin became a Christian and devoted himself to expounding his new faith to his fellow men. He traveled about debating with pagan philosophers and eventually came to Rome. There he opened a school of philosophy. He incurred the enmity of a cynic named Crescens for getting the best of him in a debate and was denounced to the authorities as a Christian. Saint Justin is the first lay Christian apologist to have written extensively on Christianity, and in his writings he sought to reconcile the faith and reason.
Most of his important works are still extant. His Apologies, was addressed to Emperor Antoninus. This is the first document addressing the enemies of the Christian Church defending them with replies to charges leveled against them. He explains that they are loyal subjects based on their beliefs in the teachings of Christ. He explained immortality, free will and fasting. His second great public defense, written about the year 161, was addressed to the Roman Senate itself. He also wrote Dialogue with Trypho, in which he debates the merits of Christianity over Judaism in a dialogue with Trypho, a prominent Jew.
Justin was brought to trial with six companions before the Roman prefect, Rusticus. When they refused to sacrifice to the gods, they were scourged and beheaded in the year 165.