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Friends of the Rosary,
Today, August 29, is the Memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist, the greatest of the Old Testament prophets.
On June 24, we celebrated the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, and today, we honor the anniversary of his martyrdom.
Besides Our Lord and Our Lady, St. John the Baptist is the only one whose birth and death are thus celebrated.
Since the fourth century, the Church has commemorated Christ’s precursor’s martyrdom. The saint’s venerable head is venerated at various places.
Today’s Gospel relates the circumstances of his execution. When John rebuked King Herod for his unlawful union with Herodias, his brother’s wife, Herod imprisoned John. Herodias took advantage of an unexpected opportunity to obtain the saint’s beheading through her daughter Salome.
St. John the Baptist was a cousin of Jesus. His mission was to preach repentance to Israel in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. He also preached the freedom of heavenly peace.
By his suffering, John the Baptist showed that Christ also would suffer.
The apostle Paul rightly explained: “You have been granted the privilege not only to believe in Christ but also to suffer for his sake.” He told us why it is Christ’s gift that his chosen ones should suffer for him: “The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us.”
Ave Maria!
Jesus, I Trust In You!
St. John the Baptist, Pray for Us!
Come, Holy Spirit, come!
To Jesus through Mary!
+ Mikel Amigot | RosaryNetwork.com, New York
