Revelations of St. Bridget/Chapter 13. The Baptism of our Lord in the Jordan
CHAPTER XIII.
THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD IN THE JORDAN.
Jesus speaketh: Why did I choose to be baptized? Whoever wishes to found or begin a new way, must necessarily, as the founder or beginner of the new way, precede others. Hence to the ancient people was given a certain carnal way, circumcision, in sign of future obedience and purgation; which in faithful and law-keeping persons, before I, the Son of God, the promised truth, came, operated a certain effect of future grace and promise; and when the truth came, as the law was only a shadow, it was decreed in eternity that the ancient way should depart, being now ineffectual. When, then, the truth appeared, and the shadow departed, and an easier way to heaven w$a shown, I, God and man, born without sin, chose to be baptized from humility, and as an example to others, and to open heaven to believers. And as a sign of this, when I was baptized, then heaven opened, and the voice of my Father was heard, and the Holy Ghost appeared in the form of a dove, and I, the Son of God, was manifest in true man, that the faithful might know and believe that the Father opened heaven to the faithful baptized, the Holy Ghost is with the baptizer, the power of my humanity in the element, although the operation and will of the Father, myself, and the Holy Ghost, are but one. So when truth came, that is, when I came into the world, then immediately the shadow disappeared, the shell of the law was broken, and the kernel appeared, circumcision ceased, and baptism was confirmed in myself, whereby heaven is opened to young and old, and children of wrath become children of grace and eternal life. — Lib. v., inter, x., sol. 6.