Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is a Christian celebration that commemorates a central moment in the life of Jesus: his death. baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist, The solemnity, which marks the beginning of his public mission, is celebrated on the feast of St. Josemaría. This solemnity is celebrated in the Catholic Church on the Sunday following Epiphany, and in 2026 the Sunday, January 11.

What is celebrated on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord?

The feast recalls the event narrated in the synoptic gospels (Matthew 3, Mark 1 and Luke 3): Jesus arrives at the Jordan River and receives baptism from the hands of St. John the Baptist. As they emerge from the water, the skies open up and the Holy Spirit descends upon Him in the form of a dove, while a voice from heaven confirms: “This is my beloved Son”.

This episode is interpreted as:

• Public manifestation of the identity of Jesus as the Son of God.
• Inauguration of its public ministry.
• Revelation of the Trinity -Father, Son and Holy Spirit - by being present at this moment.

Thus, it is not just a historical memory, but a profound theological revelation about who Jesus is and how he relates to humanity and to God the Father.

Location in the liturgical calendar

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord closes the Christmas time and gives way to the Ordinary Time in the Catholic liturgy.

Brief context:

• Christmas time begins on December 25th with the Christmas of Jesus.
• Includes the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (January 1), the Epiphany (January 6) and other commemorations.
• Finally, it culminates with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which this year is celebrated Sunday, January 11, 2026.

After this Solemnity, the Church enters into the Ordinary Time, The year is a more stable stage of the liturgical year that lasts until Lent.

Theological significance

Jesus identifies with humanity

Although Jesus had no sin, he submitted to John's baptism in order to identify with us, men and women in need of redemption. His gesture was not a sign of personal need, but of solidarity with the human condition and obedience to the will of the Father.

Baptism is salvation

The baptism that Jesus receives becomes the symbol and foundation of the sacrament of Baptism in the Church. From him, Christian baptism will be seen as:

• Sign of conversion and forgiveness of sins.
• Access to the life in the Holy Spirit and divine sonship.
• Entry into the Church as the People of God.

Revelation of the Holy Trinity

The gospel account of this day shows the simultaneous presence of the Son (Jesus), of the Father (voice from heaven) and of the Holy Spirit (dove). This event is one of the clearest scenes of the Trinitarian Theophany in the gospels.

Liturgical readings and symbols

Liturgy of the day

In this Sunday's Eucharistic celebration, the readings usually include texts that:

• They present the figure of Jesus as Servant of the Lord (prophecy).
• They show the call to the disciples to live their faith with coherence.
• They narrate the same baptism of Jesus in the Jordan.

These texts invite the faithful to remember your own baptism, to renew baptismal promises and to live an active faith in the world.

Symbols

• Water: represents purification and new life in Christ, and refers to the sacrament of Baptism.
• Paloma: symbol of the Holy Spirit.
• Open sky: sign of God's nearness and loving revelation.

Reflection for the faithful

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is not only a ritual commemoration, but an opportunity to reflect on Christian identity. The Church, in various reflections and homilies, invites us to look at this day:

• A call to remembering our baptism and the commitment it implies.
• An invitation to live a faith coherent with the following of Jesus.
• An opportunity to deepen the gift of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

As the Pope explained in previous celebrations, this feast makes us think “of our own entrance into Christian life and of the grace we have received in baptism.”.

Relationship with John the Baptist

John the Baptist has a central role in this feast. His mission was to prepare the way for the Messiah, calling the people to the conversion and to a new life in the Spirit. By baptizing Jesus, John fulfills the mission entrusted to him and acknowledges Jesus as the Lamb of God.

Connection with other parties

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is closely linked with:

• The Epiphany, which celebrates the manifestation of Jesus to the world.
• Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Christ.
• The beginning of Ordinary Time, The Pope's message, which calls the faithful to live their faith in their daily lives.

This connection articulates the mystery of Christ from his birth to the beginning of his public mission.

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord from Sunday, January 11, 2026 is a liturgical and theological celebration of great importance:

• It commemorates a foundational event in the life of Jesus.
• It reveals the Trinitarian identity of God.
• It reminds Christians of their own baptism and call to live their faith consistently.

On this day, the Church not only recalls a past event, but rather proposes a current spiritual experienceThe first step is to return to the sources of our faith, to renew our baptismal commitment and to move forward in our daily Christian mission.

Some baptism stories