Father Allen Paul Eilen asked “Practicing Catholic” host Patrick Conley in a program set to air at 9 p.m. Feb. 7 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM, “How many people know the date of their baptism?”
Father Eilen posed the question to recognize the importance of one’s own baptism. It is more important than an individual’s birthday, he said.
“We can’t enter heaven until we’re first baptized,” Father Eilen said. “There’s the ordinary form of baptism by water, there’s baptism by desire, baptism by blood. However, it’s so necessary to the Christian life. It’s that reminder to us that I can’t be holy myself, it’s God’s work in me.”
In baptism, Father Eilen said, original sin is wiped away, which gives an individual the possibility of spending eternity with God. But quoting St. Paul, Father Eilen said, “I work out my salvation in work and trembling. I have to be part of this beautiful walk, this mysterious walk.”
Father Eilen said baptism infuses supernatural virtues of faith, hope and love on the baptized person’s soul. To exercise these virtues, we’re first called in our own families, he said.
“Because if we don’t learn to live it there, we’re never going to be able to be a witness out there,” Father Eilen said. “But that’s the most difficult place to witness it. I grew up in a family of 10 and so I had lots of opportunities to love and forgive. That’s kind of the proving ground because most of the struggles we have in life are family related. However, that’s also the opportunity to grow in holiness.”
Father Eilen explained that everyone has a call to holiness through their primary vocation as a priest, religious, married or single person. In these vocations, he said, is where holiness has to be grounded.
“Then from there we pray that it flowers and grows and so on and so forth,” Father Eilen said. “It’s really remembering: Why am I here? Where am I going? And how do I get there? … That’s the whole everyday struggle, is discerning God’s will versus my own.”
To hear more from Father Eilen about everyone’s call to holiness, tune into “Practicing Catholic,” which repeats at 1 p.m. Feb. 8 and 2 p.m. Feb. 9.
The program also includes a conversation with Bishop Michael Izen, who shares how forgiveness and mercy allow Catholics to imitate God. Also, Mark Sanislo talks about his career as an artist.
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, “Practicing Catholic” can be heard after it has aired at archspm.org/faith-and-discipleship/practicing-catholic or choose a streaming platform at Spotify for Podcasters.
