Cardinal O’Malley: “Baptism is one of the elements of our faith that we share in common…”

The cardinal describes last week’s ecumenical service in Boston on his blog: 

The celebration was essentially a Bible service with hymns and Scripture readings, followed by a renewal of baptismal vows, because the service was held on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. The people came up and Bishop Devadhar and I put a cross of water on their forehead as a reminder of their baptism. Of course, baptism is one of the elements of our faith that we share in common with the Methodists and other Protestant denominations.

Certainly the second Vatican Council was called by Pope John XXIII for a number of reasons, but one of those was to promote Christian unity. In my talk, I read the introduction of the Decree on Ecumenism from the Second Vatican Council. It is a very powerful statement, and I want to share it with you here:

The restoration of unity among all Christians is one of the principal concerns of the Second Vatican Council. Christ the Lord founded one Church and one Church only. However, many Christian communions present themselves to men as the true inheritors of Jesus Christ; all indeed profess to be followers of the Lord but differ in mind and go their different ways, as if Christ Himself were divided. Such division openly contradicts the will of Christ, scandalizes the world, and damages the holy cause of preaching the Gospel to every creature.

But the Lord of Ages wisely and patiently follows out the plan of grace on our behalf, sinners that we are. In recent times more than ever before, He has been rousing divided Christians to remorse over their divisions and to a longing for unity. Everywhere large numbers have felt the impulse of this grace, and among our separated brethren also there increases from day to day the movement, fostered by the grace of the Holy Spirit, for the restoration of unity among all Christians. This movement toward unity is called “ecumenical.” Those belong to it who invoke the Triune God and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, doing this not merely as individuals but also as corporate bodies. For almost everyone regards the body in which he has heard the Gospel as his Church and indeed, God’s Church. All however, though in different ways, long for the one visible Church of God, a Church truly universal and set forth into the world that the world may be converted to the Gospel and so be saved, to the glory of God.

The Sacred Council gladly notes all this. It has already declared its teaching on the Church, and now, moved by a desire for the restoration of unity among all the followers of Christ, it wishes to set before all Catholics the ways and means by which they too can respond to this grace and to this divine call.

In today’s world, people who are trying to live their religious ideals need to support each other in a society that is becoming more and more hostile to the Gospel and the principles of Christianity. It was very encouraging to see the great spirit of camaraderie and fellowship that existed among the Catholics and the Methodists who were there, as well as the representatives of other denominations who were present.

It was a very moving ceremony and I was very honored to be asked to be part of it.