Choose a topic from Part 3a:
1. Instruction is to precede baptism, for our Lord said(Matt. 28:19): "Going therefore, teach ye all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and ofthe Holy Ghost." Infants who are incapable of receivingpersonal instruction, are baptized in the faith of theChurch. Yet the sponsor for an infant promises to use his bestefforts to see that the child will be duly instructed.
2. Exorcism, which is the casting out of evil spirits,should precede baptism. For the devil is the enemy of man'ssalvation, and he has a certain power over man in the fact that manis subject to sin.
3. The exorcism casts out demons lest they impede thesalvation of the person baptized. In the ritual employed by theChurch for solemn baptism, this exorcism is prescribed.
4. It is the work of priests to instruct and exorcisethose preparing for baptism, and afterwards to baptize them.
"To do God's will -- this was the goal upon which the saints constantly fixed their gaze. They were fully persuaded that in this consists the entire perfection of the soul. "
St Alphonsus de Liguori
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"The essence of perfection is to embrace the will of God in all things, prosperous or adverse. In prosperity, even sinners find it easy to unite themselves to the divine will; but it takes saints to unite themselves to God's will when things go wrong and are painful to self-love. Our conduct in such instances is the measure of our love of God."
St Alphonsus de Liguori
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"Try to turn your heart from the love of things visible and bring yourself to things invisible. For they who follow their own evil passions stain their consciences and lose the grace of God.
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Thomas á Kempis
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