SOLEMNITY OF THE BIRTH OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST
PATRON OF THE CONGREGATION
June 24

TRIDUUM IN HONOR OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST
June 21 – June 23

First Day

Saint John the Baptist,
Precursor of Christ

Reading
Lk 1: 57-66
Birth of John the Baptist

Reflection

John was born from parents advanced in age and his mother was sterile. Christ was born of a young virgin. John’s father did not believe the announcement of his son’s birth, and consequently was made mute. To the contrary, the Virgin believed in the birth of Christ and conceived in faith. John becomes a dividing line between the two Testaments: the Old and the New. Our Lord refers to this when he says, “The law and the prophets continued until John.” Therefore he is the personification of the Old and the bearer of the New. Because he personifies the Old and is born of elderly parents, he also personifies the New and is declared a prophet from the womb of his mother. He had not yet been born when at the arrival of Mary, he leapt for joy in his mother’s womb. His mission is pointed out even before his birth, and he is shown to be the precursor even before he knows it himself. John was a passing voice; Christ was the eternal Word from the beginning. These things belong to the divine order and surpass human capacity to understand and grasp (From the sermons of St. Augustine).

Antiphon

V/. Elizabeth, spouse of Zechariah, gave birth to John the Baptist, the precursor of the Lord.
R/. There was a man sent from God whose name was John.

Prayer

Father, you raised upSaint Johnthe Baptist to announce the presence of your Son in the world and to preach repentance. Grant that through his intercession, we may be evangelized by your Word and announce the Gospel by word and deed. Thus, by living the spirit of conversion, we too may give witness to the truth. We ask you this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Second Day

Saint John the Baptist,
A Light Illuminating the Way
Leading to Christ

Reading
Lk 3: 1-6
John preached a conversion

Reflection

In the Gospel we find John the Baptist placed within a definite geographical and historical background, emphasizing the saving action of the Messiah in human time and history. Consequently, time becomes a “time of grace” and history is transformed into “saving history”. John the Baptist proclaims a baptism of conversion, announcing the coming of salvation and preparing the way for the Lord. Today like yesterday, we encounter many obstacles on the way to the Lord who saves us.

The Baptist, a voice in the desert, cries out and proposes to break down these barriers so that the Savior may come. Conversion fills the pathways and breaks down the fetters of slavery. True conversion consists in the renewal of attitudes according to the Gospel and reviving the heart in its thirst for God. He who believes and converts is saved.

Antiphon

V/. John was chosen among all the prophets and came to give witness to Christ the light who takes away the sin of the world.
R/. There was a man sent from God whose name was John.

Prayer

Father, you raised upSaint Johnthe Baptist to announce the presence of your Son in the world and to preach repentance. Grant that through his intercession, we may be evangelized by your Word and announce the Gospel by word and deed. Thus, by living the spirit of conversion, we too may give witness to the truth. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Third Day

Saint John the Baptist,
Martyr for Remaining Steadfast in the Faith

Reading
Mk 6: 17-29
John the Baptist died for the truth.

Reflection

Saint John, the precursor of the Lord, suffered imprisonment and chains and gave his life as witness to our Savior. His persecutors did not force him to deny Christ, but they did try to oblige him to be silent before the truth; this is sufficient reason to affirm that he died for Christ.

Christ, in effect, had said, “I am the Truth”; consequently, if John shed his blood for the cause of truth, then he shed his blood for Christ. He who preceded Christ in his birth, in his sermons and in his baptism, also announced by his martyrdom the future passion of the Lord.

John’s life ended by the shedding of his blood after a long and painful imprisonment. He, who announced the freedom of peace sent from above, was imprisoned by men. He, who was imprisoned in the darkness of a dungeon, came to give witness to the light. To him, Christ, the light personified would give the title of a “lamp shining and burning”. He, who was baptized in his own blood, was chosen to baptize the Redeemer of the world. It was he who heard the voice of the Father resounding over Christ and saw the grace of the Holy Spirit descend upon him.

He suffered for the cause of truth and knew the torments that would win for him an everlasting joy (From the homilies of St. Bede the Venerable, presbyter).

Antiphon

V/. John gave up his life for Christ in order to give witness to the truth.
R/. There was a man sent from God whose name was John.

Prayer

Father, you raised up Saint Johnthe Baptist to announce the presence of your Son in the world and to preach repentance. Grant that through his intercession, we may be evangelized by your Word and announce the Gospel by word and deed. Thus, by living the spirit of conversion, we too may give witness to the truth. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.