This week, St. Justin Martyr speaks through his writings in the Office of Readings. He points out that his generation grew up "in the midst of wickedness". Today's Millennials and younger are growing up in the midst of wickedness as well, with the difference that they are living in the great post-Christian cultures of the West, and not the pre-Christian ones.
A post-Christian world deserves the punishment of God, and many living today will see this justice enacted.
St. Justin reminds us of the great graces of baptism, and the "mental enlightenment" of those in sanctifying grace.
Many people, including two priests whom I have quoted on this blog, know that mankind is experiencing "devolution" not evolution. People are becoming less intelligent, less able to use common sense, less holy. Sin makes people stupid, as sin is basically, irrational.
One of the reasons for such devolution are the vast numbers of people who are not baptised, even in the West. This idea that children can choose baptism as an adult, if they so desire, held by some low-church Protestant denominations, as well as by seculars, who do not raise their children Catholic, has increased a population of those not in sanctifying grace, those whose intellects have not been enlightened by grace. (See my other posts on this under grace, faith and reason).
Here is a snippet from the selection in today's Divine Office from St. Justin. The reference to the baptism in the Name of Jesus does not deny the Trinitarian form, which has always been used by Catholics and true Christians, but Justin is merely emphasizing Christ's Presence in the Trinity here.
This baptism is called “illumination” because of the mental enlightenment that is experienced by those who learn these things. The person receiving this enlightenment is also baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and in the name of the Holy Spirit, who through the prophets foretold everything concerning Jesus.