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Baptism of Christ fresco by Giotto di Bondone, c. 1305 (Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Why do we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord?

This day commemorates the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist. On this occasion, Jesus entered into His ministry and acquired His first disciples; St. John proclaimed Christ the Lamb of God, whose way he had prepared; and the Triune nature of the Godhead was manifested. The Church generally celebrates the Baptism of the Lord on the Sunday after January 6.

Event in the Bible

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” Jesus said to him in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove [and] coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Mt. 3:13-17).

History of the feast

Already in 300 AD, the Eastern Church celebrated the Epiphany and the Baptism of Jesus on 6 January. In the Western Church, this feast was mentioned in the Liturgy of the Hours. With the reform of the liturgy in 1969 by Pope Paul VI, the date for this Feast was set on the Sunday after the Epiphany. When the Feast of the Epiphany is not celebrated on 6 January, it is celebrated on the Sunday between 2 and 8 January, and the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is celebrated on the Monday following the Epiphany.

Pope John Paul II initiated a custom whereby on this feast the Pope baptizes babies in the Sistine Chapel.

The Christmas Season concludes with the celebration of this Feast, even though a “window” is left open until 2 February, the day on which the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple is celebrated. The latter feast is also known as Candlemas since Christ is proclaimed as the “light for the gentiles”.

- Article by Catholic Time Staff