Monday, May 29 : Saint Clement of Alexandria

Being baptized, we are illuminated; illuminated, we become children; being made children, we are made perfect; being made perfect, we are made immortal. God says: “I have said you are gods, and all children of the Most High” (Ps 81[82],6). This work of baptism is variously called grace, illumination, perfection, and washing. Washing, by which we cleanse away our sins; grace, by which the punishment owing to our sins is remitted; illumination, by which the holy light of salvation is beheld so that we see clearly the divine things; perfection, because nothing is lacking. For what is yet lacking to one who knows God? Or how could we call “God’s grace” something that is not perfect? Being perfect himself, God only bestows perfect gifts… Therefore, we have hardly been regenerated than, as the name suggests, we have been “illuminated”, set free from darkness and, in the same instant, filled with light… We are relieved of the sins that concealed the divine Spirit like a cloud and, behold, the eye of the spirit is set free, uncovered and full of light: that eye which alone enables us to contemplate divine things.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team