Baptism of Christ fresco by Giotto di Bondone, c. 1305 (Cappella Scrovegni, Padua, Italy). |
The 9th of January is the Solemnity of the Baptism of Jesus.
In Jesus baptism, He sanctifies the earth's waters and gives them the power to beget children of God by the Sacrament of Baptism. The waters of baptism is used by Jesus to cleanse us of our sinful nature and clothes us in His Divine life. By imitating Jesus' Baptism we become Christians and it is the first sacrament of the initiation of the Church. The Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord marks the end of the Christmas season.