Saint John the Baptist

St. John the Baptist is commemorated for both his birth and death (August 29), making him the only saint with this distinction. St. Bede the Venerable notes that John bore witness to Christ's coming through his birth, preaching, and baptizing. Jesus himself said, ""Of all the children born to women, there is no one greater than John"" (Lk 7:28). Although John was conceived with original sin, he was sanctified in his mother's womb and filled with the Holy Spirit (Lk 1:15).

Born of a priest named Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth, both old, the greatness of this saint and his pivotal place in Salvation history as the forerunner of the Messiah is further evidenced by the following Scripture passages: ""a voice crying in the wilderness: Prepare a way for the Lord. Make his paths straight"" (Is 40:3). Making the Messiah known by announcing, ""Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world"" (Jn 1:29) and saying, ""He must increase, I must decrease"" (Jn 3:30), John the Baptist graciously fades into the background. 

Finally, as part of his mission of making straight the Lord's paths, he does not hesitate to uphold the Truth by way of rebuking King Herod Antipas for his incestuous affair with Herodias, the wife of his half-brother Philip. The famous oath made by a drunken Herod, who obviously had a shallow sense of honor to his illegal queen, in response to the seductive dance performed by her daughter Salomé on the occasion of his birthday, had the head of the Precursor and forerunner of the Messiah rolled on to a platter to the sadistic delight of Herodias. John's mission was thus complete; he died for the Truth. Like John the Baptist, we need to be courageous in our faith and become witnesses to Christ through the example of our lives as followers of Jesus. John the Baptist is the patron saint of Baptism.

St. John the Baptist, pray for us that we will use the gifts of the Holy Spirit received at our Baptism wisely.

Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,
Pelayan Atasan Tertinggi / Most High Servant,
Yesus, Maria, Yusuf Pelayanan Kasih / Jesus, Mary, Joseph Ministry of Love 
(Blessed and Saints and the Nine Choirs of Angels)

My vocation is Blessed and Saints.

"I am the most humble of all the Saints in Heaven" Mary, Mother of God."

"I am the handmaid of the Lord, said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me."

Mother Mary is the most humble Saint in Heaven and she is also the Mother of God for us all
(Luke 1:38)