§19Diem baptismo sollemniorem Pascha praestat, cum et 1 passio domini in qua tinguimur adimpleta est.
Easter provides a more solemn day for baptism, since the passion of the Lord in which we are washed was also fulfilled [on this day].
nec incongruenter ad figuram interpretabitur, quod cum ultimum Pascha dominus esset acturus, missis discipulis ad praeparandum, conuenietis, inquit, hominem aquam baiulantem, Paschae celebrandae locum de signo aquae ostendit.
Nor will it be interpreted incongruously as a figure that when the Lord was about to celebrate His last Passover, having sent His disciples to make preparation, He said, "You will meet a man carrying water," and thus showed the place for celebrating the Passover by the sign of water.
exinde Pentecoste ordinandis lauacris laetissimum spatium est, quo et domini resurrectio inter discipulos frequentata est, et gratia spiritus sancti dedicata, et spes aduentus domini subostensa, quod tunc in caelos recuperato eo angeli ad apostolos dixerunt sic uenturum, quemadmodum et in caelos conscendit, utique in Pentecoste.
Next, Pentecost is a most joyful period for administering washings, in which the resurrection of the Lord was also repeatedly celebrated among the disciples, the grace of the Holy Spirit was dedicated, and the hope of the Lord's coming was suggested, because then, after He was received back into heaven, angels said to the apostles that He would come in the same manner as He ascended into heaven, namely during Pentecost.
sed enim Hieremias cum dicit: et congregabo illos ab extremis terrae in die festo, Paschae diem significat et Pentecostes, qui est proprie dies festus.
But indeed, when Jeremiah says, "And I will gather them from the ends of the earth on a feast day," he signifies the day of Easter and of Pentecost, which is properly a feast day.
ceterum omnis \' dies domini est, omnis hora, omne tempus habile baptismo: si de sollemnitate interest, de gratia nihil refert.
For the rest, every day is the Lord's, every hour, every time is suitable for baptism: if there is a difference in solemnity, there is no difference in grace.
§20Ingressuros baptismum orationibus crebris, ieiuniis et geniculationibus et peruigiliis orare oportet et cum confessione omnium retro delictorum, ut exponant etiam baptismum Iohannis.
Those who are about to enter baptism must pray with frequent prayers, fasts, genuflections, and vigils, and with the confession of all past sins, so that they may also represent the baptism of John.
tinguebantur, inquit, confitentes delicta sua. nobis gratulandum est, si nunc publice confitemur iniquitates aut turpitudines nostras.
"They were washed," it says, "confessing their sins." We should be glad if we now publicly confess our iniquities or shames.
simul enim et de pristinis satisfacimus conflictatione carnis et spiritus et subsecuturis temptationibus munimenta praestruimus.
For at the same time, we both make satisfaction for our past sins by the conflict of flesh and spirit, and pre-establish defenses against succeeding temptations.
uigilate et orate, inquit, ne incidatis in temptationem. et ideo, credo, temptati sunt, quoniam obdormierunt, ut adprehensum dominum destituerint, et qui cum eo perstiterit et gladio sit usus, ter etiam negauerit; nam et praecesserat dictum, neminem intemptatum regna caelestia consecuturum.
"Watch and pray," He says, "lest you enter into temptation." And for this reason, I believe, they were tempted, because they fell asleep, so that they deserted the Lord when He was arrested, and even the one who stood by Him and used the sword denied Him thrice; for the saying had also preceded, that no one untested should attain the heavenly kingdoms.
ipsum dominum post lauacrum statim temptationes circumsteterunt quadraginta diebus ieiuniis functum.
Temptations surrounded the Lord Himself immediately after His washing, after He had performed a forty-day fast.
ergo et nos, dicet aliquis, a lauacro potius ieiunare oportet. et quis enim prohibet, nisi necessitas gaudii et gratulatio salutis? sed dominus, quantulum aestimo, de figura Israelis exprobrationem in ipsum retorsit.
"Therefore we also," someone will say, "ought rather to fast after washing." And indeed, who forbids it, except the necessity of joy and the celebration of salvation? But the Lord, as far as I estimate, turned back the reproach upon Israel itself from their figure.
namque populus mare transgressus et in solitudinem translatus per quadraginta annos illic cum diuinis copiis aleretur, nihilominus uentris et gulae meminerat quam dei.
For the people, having crossed the sea and being transferred into the wilderness, although they were nourished there for forty years with divine provisions, nevertheless remembered their belly and gluttony more than God.
deinde dominus post aquam segregatus in deserta quadraginta dierum ieiunia emensus ostendit non pane uiuere hominem dei, sed dei uerbo temptationesque plenitudini et immoderantiae uentris appositas abstinentia elidi.
Then the Lord, having withdrawn into the desert after the water and completed a forty-day fast, showed that the man of God does not live by bread alone, but by the word of God, and that temptations directed toward fullness and excess of the belly are shattered by abstinence.
igitur benedicti, quos gratia dei expectat, cum de illo sanctissimo lauacro noui natalis ascenditis et primas manus apud matrem cum fratribus aperitis, petite de patre, petite de domino, peculia gratiae, distributiones charismatum subiacere.
Therefore, blessed ones, whom the grace of God awaits, when you ascend from that most holy washing of the new birth and open your hands for the first time in the presence of your mother with your brothers, ask of the Father, ask of the Lord, that special treasures of grace, distributions of charisms, be supplied.
petite, et accipietis, inquit.
"Ask, and you shall receive," He says.
quaesistis enim et inuenistis; pulsastis et apertum est uobis.
For you have sought and you have found; you have knocked and it has been opened to you.
tantum oro, ut, cum petitis, etiam Tertulliani peccatoris memineritis.
Only I pray that, when you ask, you also remember Tertullian, a sinner.