DO YOU KNOW THE DATE OF YOUR BAPTISM? GO CHECK IT TODAY IF YOU DON'T KNOW, REQUESTS POPE FRANCIS

Pope Francis had his first General Wednesday Audience of the New Year outside at St. Peters (normally in the winter it moves inside to the Paul VI Hall, but the crowds remain so large, it is still outside in the cold).

The Holy Father's catechesis was on baptism. Leaving his prepared text, he asks the Italians present if they knew the date of their baptism. Only a few did. Then he told them to go home after the general audience and find their baptismal certificate and check the date. Just as they celebrate the date of their birth, they should be celebrating the date of the "rebirth in Christ" at their baptism.  Then he asked them, are you going to check the date of your baptism today? There was a soft response, so he said, you don't sound to enthusiastic about doing so; then he asked again and there was a thunderous response in the affirmative. (He did these off-the-cuff remarks in such an Italian way that endears him so much to the Italians!)

He also asked if anyone baptized themselves. Of course not, you have to ask to be baptized and someone else, the priest baptizes you.  Christianity isn't a do-it-yourself, or self-service religion.

But do you know the date of your baptism? Eh? Do you know the date of your baptism? Leave your computer and go find your baptismal certificate and check the date and celebrate the date of your baptism and you would your birthday.

And just in case you are wondering, yes, I know my baptismal date! It was January 2, 1954 at the  NSA Catholic Chapel in Napoli, Italia!