Flower of Devotion

Blessed Mother once said to St. Bridget:

“Baptism brings a man into the presence of God, and its spiritual efficacy is manifested in four ways. First, the baptized are freed from evil spirits, commit themselves to keep God’s commandments, and to serve God. Secondly, they are cleansed from original sin; third, they become children of God; and fourthly, Heaven opens to them.
But there are many who, when they come to the age of reason, put obstacles in the way of the efficacy of baptism and lead it astray. The way of baptism is then true, and a person observes it properly when he receives instruction and moral education before coming to reason; and when a man, having come to the years of discernment, earnestly meditates on what he promised at baptism; and when he preserves impeccably the faith and love of God.
The efficacy of baptism leads man away from the true way when he places the world and his body before God.
The efficacy of baptism has its principal source in the efficacy of the bitter passion and death of the Lord Jesus, by which baptism acquired its strength. For what is water but an element? But when the Blood of God was shed, the Word of God and the power of the Divine Blood were united to this element. And so the water of baptism through the word of God became the reconciliation of God with man, the gate of mercy, the expulsion of evil spirits, the way to Heaven, the forgiveness of sins. Therefore, whoever would boast of the power of baptism should first dwell on the bitterness of the institution of baptismal efficacy. When a man’s heart is filled with pride against God, he should remember how bitterly he has been redeemed, and how often he has transgressed his baptismal vows, and what he has deserved for his frequent failures. But in order that a man may be made worthy to take part in the efficacy of baptism, he must devote himself in prayer to a twofold meditation.

First, he should pray like this:

Prayer

O Lord, Almighty God! Be blessed, for Thou hast created me and redeemed me, and while I was worthy of condemnation, Thou hast suffered me in my sins and led me to repentance. I acknowledge, O Lord, before Your Majesty, that I have squandered all the good things which You have given me for salvation in a useless and condemnable. That is to say, I have spent the time of my penance in the indulgence of vanity, my body in the enjoyment of luxuries, and the grace of Baptism in the indulgence of pride. And I have loved all things more than Thee, my Creator, my Redeemer, my provider, and the one who sustains me. And therefore I ask you for your mercy, for I am wretched before myself, because I have not known justice to myself. I did not fear Your terrible justice. I did not care how I should repay you for your innumerable benefits, but I provoked you day by day by my malice to anger. That is why I have only one word left for me: O God, have mercy on me, according to Your great mercy!

In addition, he should pray as follows:

Prayer

O God, Almighty God, I know that I have everything from You, that I have nothing of myself, that I can do nothing but what I have done after my sin. Therefore I humbly beseech Your love to deign to deal with me, not according to my sins, but according to Your great mercy. Send me also Your Holy Spirit to enlighten my heart and strengthen me in the way of Your commandments, so that I may be able to persevere in what I have recognized by Your inspiration, and that no temptation may separate me from You. Amen.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit which a person receives in Baptism are as follows: Baptism, whether performed by a good or a bad servant, forgives original sin, increases grace, and cleanses from all other sins. Through Holy Baptism man receives: the Holy Spirit as a pledge, the Angels as guardians, and Heaven as an inheritance.