2023-08-30 11:00:01
Every August 29, the Catholic Church commemorates the martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist, the great precursor of the birth, preaching and death of Jesus Christ. John, cousin of the Lord, was sentenced to death for having announced the truth and denounced those behaviors of the people of Israel that offended God. Saint John the Baptist is the only saint who is celebrated both his birth (June 24) and his death (August 29), which occurred through martyrdom. Pope Benedict XVI, in the general audience of August 29, 2012, remembered John the Baptist.
The story of the martyrdom
The Gospel of Saint Mark says about the martyrdom: “Herod had ordered John the Baptist to be put in prison, because of Herodias, wife of his brother Philippi, with whom Herod had gone to live in free union. Because John told Herod : “He is not allowed to go live with his brother’s wife. Herodias hated John the Baptist and wanted to kill him, but she could not because Herod had a deep respect for John and considered him a holy man” (Mk 6, 17-29). The day came when Herod gave a banquet to the tribunes and chiefs of Galilee for his birthday. During the party, the daughter of Herodias appeared to dance, and Herod was so pleased with the young woman’s dance that he promised her that she would fulfill any wish she had. That is why she, at the suggestion of her mother, asked for the head of John the Baptist. After a while, Juan’s head was delivered to him on a tray. “Christian life requires the courage to let Christ grow in us and it is He who guides our thoughts and actions. May Saint John the Baptist intercede for us, so that we may always know how to preserve the primacy of God in our lives,” said the Pope Benedict XVI.
By ACI Press and Writing
CUYO’S DIARY
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