Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Yesterday, we celebrated the birth of St. John the Baptist. That’s unusual. Most commonly, saints are honored on the date of their earthly death. Our Catholic tradition, always full of hope, refers to the date of a saint’s earthly death as his or her “dies natalis,” meaning the date that they were “born” into heaven. That’s particularly common for Christian martyrs. For instance, this Saturday, June 29, we’ll be celebrating the great Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, based on the tradition that both of these great leaders were martyred in Rome on that date (albeit in different years).
It’s possible, however, for saints to be celebrated or remembered on another date associated with a particular moment of grace and holiness in their life. Consider, for example, the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul (January 25) or the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary (August 15). More recently, the Church determined that the feast of St. John Paul II would be celebrated on October 22, which is not his death date but rather the date on which his pontificate began.
John the Baptist is one of the few saints with more than one feast. We celebrate him on both the date of his death (August 29) and the date of his birth (June 24). John’s birthday is one of only three “nativities” we celebrate in the course of our liturgical year. We all know that the Church celebrates the nativity of Jesus on December 25, and you may recall that we celebrate the birth of the Blessed Mother on September 8. Why does the Church, however, grant a similar honor to St. John the Baptist? And why does the Church celebrate his birthday not just as a feast (as is true for most saints’ days), but as a “solemnity” (with three readings, the Gloria, and the Creed, just as we do on Sundays)? It’s one of the few occasions, moreover, with a special Mass to be celebrated on the vigil the evening before. What makes John so significant?
In the eleventh chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus himself answers that question, “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist” (Mt. 11:11). We know, moreover, from the Gospel account of the Visitation that John encountered Jesus and his grace while they were both still in the womb. I love how St. Luke recounts how John leapt in the womb of Elizabeth as she encountered her kinswoman, Mary, carrying within her the Savior, Jesus.
From then on, there was never a moment that John wasn’t aware of the redeeming presence of his cousin, Jesus. He is given a unique vocation and fulfills it perfectly, turning “many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God” (Lk 1:16).
The very birth of John is a miracle. His parents, Elizabeth and Zachary are both well past their child-bearing years. In that context, his mere existence is a reminder that “nothing is impossible with God,” and he devotes every moment of his life to his role as the precursor, the voice who would cry out in the wilderness, “prepare ye the way of the Lord.”
My mother was always insistent that her children not point (as we were often tempted to do), and yet, John the Baptist’s whole life was devoted to pointing out Jesus as the Messiah. It’s no wonder that the great Masters of the Renaissance always depicted John with his pointer extended.
In this week when we celebrate the birth of John the Baptist, let’s pray for his intercession as we strive to not only identify Jesus in the midst of our everyday lives, but also to point him out to others.
For the first time in 60+ years, we can look forward to a "new spring" Catholic moment when education grounded in biblical anthropology, integrated across Newman’s circles of knowledge, and attuned to the natural development of the human person and the supernatural gift of Christian friendship, will not be fundamentally countercultural.
Prison Ministry Workshop (June 30)
Discover the importance of prison ministry from the testimonies of returning citizens and volunteers, and learn how to be involved in various opportunities as we answer Jesus’ call: “I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me” Matthew 25:36.
St. Paul parish celebrates priestly ordination of a parishioner in the Jesuits
On June 16, parishioners packed the second morning Mass at St. Adalbert to celebrate the priesthood of Father Minh Le, who grew up in the parish in St. Paul and was ordained just eight days prior in Milwaukee.
Read the full story from The Catholic Spirit.
Read the full story from The Catholic Spirit.
Why I am Catholic – Juekun Wen
I became Catholic because I am a seeker of truth. God planted wonderful people along my journey in my darkest hour to show me the path of light, leading me toward him.
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"This question (What then should we do? Lk 3:10) ,asked so many years ago by the disciples of John the Baptist, finds an echo today in our own hearts. John had announced a new chapter of sacred history in which 'all flesh will see the salvation of God' (Lk 3:6). In the face of so great a revelation his disciples could only ask, 'What then should we do?'' Having experienced the power and the promise of a historic Synod Assembly, we too find ourselves on the threshold of a new chapter in the sacred history of this Archdiocese, and we cannot help but ask, 'What then should we do?' That is, in fact, the great question of this pastoral letter."
Sent forth by the Holy Spirit to make Jesus known and loved.
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June 24, 2024