Lesson 15 – The Effects of Baptism

Water is wonderful. Water washes away dirt and refreshes us. It also brings us together for enjoyment. Water makes life on earth possible.

Even so, water can bring about not only life, but also death. A flood of water kills and destroys.

Water has many different effects significant for our life – on a natural level, and on a supernatural level.

In this episode, we will explore how God uses water to signify and effect the wonder of being born by water and the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of baptism.

Course Reading

Summa Theologiae III, q. 69, a. 1 | St. Thomas Aquinas

Summa Theologiae III, q. 69, a. 6 | St. Thomas Aquinas

Excerpt from the Summa Theologiae III :

As the Apostle says (Rm. 6:3), "all we, who are baptized in Christ Jesus, are baptized in His death." And further on he concludes (Rm. 6:11): "So do you also reckon that you are dead to sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Hence it is clear that by Baptism man dies unto the oldness of sin, and begins to live unto the newness of grace. But every sin belongs to the primitive oldness. Consequently every sin is taken away by Baptism.

Course Listening

Beyond Human Means: The Gifts of the Holy Spirit | Fr. John Corbett, O.P.

The Indwelling of the Holy Trinity | Fr. James Brent, O.P.