Beheading of John the Baptist, Martyr

Beheading of John the Baptist by Caravaggio

Today, August 29th, the Church honors the martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist.

From The Gospel of Mark (6: 20 - 28).

". . . for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him gladly. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and the leading men of Galilee. For when Herodias' daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me whatever you wish, and I will grant it." And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom." And she went out, and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the baptizer." And she came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." And the king was exceedingly sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. And immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard and gave orders to bring his head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother."

PRAYER: "GOD OUR FATHER, YOU CALLED JOHN THE BAPTIST TO BE THE HERALD OF YOUR SON'S BIRTH AND DEATH. AS HE GAVE HIS LIFE IN WITNESS TO TRUTH AND JUSTICE, SO MAY WE STRIVE TO PROFESS OUR FAITH IN YOUR GOSPEL. GRANT THIS THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN.

"Salome" by Pierre Bonnard (1865)

Saint James the Greater, Apostle

From The Liturgy of the Hours:

Saint James, son of Zebedee and brother of Saint John the apostle, was born at Bethsaida. He was present at most of the miracles performed by Christ and was put to death by Herod around the year 42. He is honored in Compostella in Spain where a famous church is dedicated in his honor.

PRAYER: ALMIGHTY FATHER, BY THE MARTYRDOM OF SAINT JAMES YOU BLESSED THE WORK OF THE EARLY CHURCH. MAY HIS PROFESSION OF FAITH GIVE US COURAGE AND HIS PRAYERS BRING US STRENGTH. WE ASK THIS THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD, FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN.

FROM THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER: GRANT, O MERCIFUL GOD, THAT, AS THINE HOLY APOSTLE SAINT JAMES, LEAVING HIS FATHER AND ALL THAT HE HAD, WITHOUT DELAY WAS OBEDIENT UNTO THE CALLING OF THY SON JESUS CHRIST, AND FOLLOWED HIM; SO WE, FORSAKING ALL WORDLY AND CARNAL AFFECTIONS, MAY BE EVERMORE READY TO FOLLOW THY HOLY COMMANDMENTS; THROUGH THE SAME JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN.

Saint Mary Magdalene

Today, July 22, the Church celebrates the memorial of Saint Mary Magdalene.

From The Liturgy of the Hours: Mary Magdalene was one of Christ's disciples and was present when He died. Early on the morning of the resurrection, she was, according to Saint Mark's account (16:9), the first to see the risen Lord. By the twelfth century, particularly, devotion to Saint Mary Magdalene was widespread in the Western Church.

PRAYER: FATHER, YOUR SON FIRST ENTRUSTED TO MARY MAGDALENE THE JOYFUL NEWS OF HIS RESURRECTION. BY HER PRAYERS AND EXAMPLE MAY WE PROCLAIM CHRIST AS OUR LIVING LORD AND ONE DAY SEE HIM IN GLORY, FOR HE LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN.

Actress Lynsey Baxter as Mary Magdalene in the movie The Gospel of John

The Holy Blissful Martyr

Today, December 29th, the Church honors Archbishop Thomas Becket, who was murdered standing at the altar of Canterbury Cathedral in the 12th century.


The hooly bliful martir for to seke
That him hath holpen, whan that they were seke.
From the Prologue to the Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

FROM THE LITURGY OF THE HOURS:
Almighty God, You granted the martyr Thomas the grace to give his life for the cause of justice. By his prayers make us willing to renounce for Christ our life in this world so that we may find it in heaven. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Memorial of Saint Francis

Saint Maria Goretti

Today is the feast day of Saint Maria Goretti.

Saint Aloysius Gonzaga

Saint Aloysius was born of the princely family of Castiglione in 1568 near Mantua in Lombardy. Instructed in piety by his mother, he manifested an inclination to religious life. He legally delivered his share of the ancestral dominion to his brother and entered the Society of Jesus. While serving the sick during a plague, he himself contracted the disease and died in 1591.

Father of love, giver of all good things, in Saint Aloysius You combined remarkable innocence with the spirit of penance. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Source: Liturgy of the Hours

Saint Ephrem, Deacon and Doctor of the Church

Saint Ephrem was born of a Christian family at Nisibis around the year 306. Ordained deacon, he exercised this office throughout the country and in Edessa, where he founded a theological school. Despite his ascetic life he did not relax his ministries of preaching and writing books to confute the errors of the time. He died in 373.

Lord, in Your love fill our hearts with the Holy Spirit, who inspired the deacon Ephrem to sing the praise of Your mysteries and gave him strength to serve You alone. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(Liturgy of the Hours)

Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr

Saint Boniface was born in England about the year 673. He was first professed in the monastic life at Exeter but in 719 went to Germany to preach the Gospel. He made many converts there and was consecrated bishop, ruling over the church at Mainz. He attracted many companions by whose help he founded or restored dioceses in Bavaria, Thuringia and Franconia. He also convened councils and promulgated laws. While preaching the Gospel to the Frisians, Saint Boniface was killed by pagans in 754. His body is buried in the monastery of Fulda.

As the cool illustration shows, one of the things that Saint Boniface was known for was destroying pagan shrines and building Christian Churches on top of them to show the power of the true God. Here he is depicted chopping down a holy tree dedicated to the pagan God Thor. In other words, Saint Boniface was definitely not politically correct in respecting the beliefs of the pagans! In our politically correct, morally relativistic culture, where we are required to believe that the beliefs of all people are equally valid, no doubt Saint Boniface would get martyred again.

Lord, your martyr Boniface spread the faith by his teaching and witnessed to it with his blood. By the help of his prayers keep us loyal to our faith and give us the courage to profess it in our lives. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(Source: Liturgy of the Hours).

Saint George, Martyr

From Wikipedia:

"Saint George was, according to tradition, a Roman soldier and priest in the Guard of Diocletion, who is venerated as a Christian martyr. In hagiography Saint George is one of the most venerated saints in the Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Church, and the Eastern Catholic Churches. He is immortalized in the tale of Saint George and the Dragon and is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. His memorial is celebrated on 23 April, and he is regarded as one of the most prominent military saints."

Prayer from The Liturgy of the Hours:

Lord, hear the prayers of those who praise Your mighty power. As Saint George was ready to follow Christ in suffering and death, so may he be ready to help us in our weakness. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

More about Saint George here and here.