From the Religious Education Coordinator – The Passion of St John the Baptist

Today, 29 August, we celebrate the Passion of St John the Baptist. 

 Saint Bede the Venerable has written:

There is no doubt that blessed John suffered imprisonment and chains as a witness to our Redeemer, whose forerunner he was, and gave his life for him. His persecutor had demanded not that he should deny Christ, but only that he should keep silent about the truth. Nevertheless, John died for Christ. Does Christ not say: “I am the truth”? Therefore, because John shed his blood for the truth, he surely died for Christ.

Through his birth, preaching and baptising, he bore witness to the coming birth, preaching and baptism of Christ, and by his own suffering he showed that Christ also would suffer. Such was the quality and strength of the man who accepted the end of this present life by shedding his blood after the long imprisonment. He preached the freedom of heavenly peace, yet was thrown into irons. He was locked away in the darkness of prison, though he came bearing witness to the Light of life and deserved to be called a bright and shining lamp by that Light itself, which is Christ.

Prayer

Saint John the Baptist, you were given a holy mission.

You never deviated from your calling and always pointed the way to Christ, the Savior of all.

Please pray for me, that I will have the same courage you had

and the resolve to fulfill my duties, no matter the cost.

Saint John the Baptist, pray for me.

Amen

Venerable Nano Nagle, Pray for us.

[https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2014-08-29]