St. John the Baptist's Marytrdom

 


The Passion of Saint John the Baptist

O God, who willed that Saint John the Baptist should go ahead of your Son both in his birth and in his death, grant that, as he died a Martyr for truth and justice, we, too, may fight hard for the confession of what you teach. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen

Today we honor the death of St. John the Baptist. Going before the Lord to prepare His way, John is martyred by the request of Herod's wife. While John is not a traditional martyr in the sense of dying for the name of Christ, He died to defend the dignity of marriage as Herod has taken his sister in law as his new wife. Typically today's feast is unfortunately used as a means to defend the dignity of marriage by means of excluding gay couples from marriage equality. Thankfully we can see that John was calling out what would be adultery and the corruption of the love and self giving that comes with marriage no matter the gender of the partners. Herod's unlawful marriage was one of pride and power and he and his wife's anger at John drove them to call for his death. Therefore, may the boldness of St. John inspire us to support the dignity of marriage for all people, regardless of sexuality and to defend it against legitimate attacks rooted in corruption and greed. 


Note: Tomorrow begins the novena for the nativity of Our Lady. A simple Hail Mary in preparation for Mother Mary's birthday prayed over the next nine days is sufficient. An alternative prayer is the following: 

Dearest Mother, please pray for me and for
these my intentions.. (State your intentions)

Hail Mary 3x

Your Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God
was the herald of joy to the whole world;
since from you arose the Sun of Justice
Christ our God, who, destroying the curse,
bestowed the blessing, and confounding
death, rewarded us with life everlasting

V. Let us celebrate with joy the birth of the
Blessed Virgin Mary.

R. That she may intercede for us with Our
Lord Jesus Christ

Let us pray

Grant to us your servants, we beseech you,
Lord, the gift of Your heavenly grace,
that as our salvation was begun in the
child-bearing of the Blessed Virgin, so from
this solemn festival of her Nativity may we
obtain an increase of peace. Through Our
Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

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