The Passion of St John the Baptist - 29 August 2026
29th August 2026
Catechism of the Catholic Church §523:
St. John the Baptist is the Lord’s immediate precursor or forerunner, sent to prepare his way. John surpasses all the prophets, of whom he is the last. He inaugurates the Gospel, already from his mother’s womb welcomes the coming of Christ, and rejoices in being “the friend of the bridegroom”, Whom he points out as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”.
Going before Jesus “in the spirit and power of Elijah”, John bears witness to Christ in his preaching, by his Baptism of conversion, and through his martyrdom.
Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience, 29 August 2012:
"Dear brothers and sisters, celebrating the martyrdom of St John the Baptist reminds us too, Christians of this time, that with love for Christ, for His words and for the Truth, we cannot stoop to compromises. The Truth is Truth; there are no compromises. Christian life demands, so to speak, the “martyrdom” of daily fidelity to the Gospel, the courage, that is, to let Christ grow within us and let Him be the One who guides our thought and our actions. However, this can happen in our life only if we have a solid relationship with God. Prayer is not time wasted, it does not take away time from our activities, even apostolic activities, but exactly the opposite is true: only if we are able to have a faithful, constant and trusting life of prayer will God Himself give us the ability and strength to live happily and serenely, to surmount difficulties and to witness courageously to Him. St John the Baptist, intercede for us, that we may be ever able to preserve the primacy of God in our life.”
A brief reflection by the Venerable Archbishop Fulton J Sheen, "Life of Christ":
The wicked fear the good, because the good are a constant reproach to their consciences. The ungodly like religion in the same way that they like lions, either dead or behind bars; they fear religion when it breaks loose and begins to challenge their consciences.
Those ten months while John was in the prison below, he was also in the soul of Herodias, troubling it, disturbing her sleep, torturing her conscience, and haunting her dreams. She now resolved to get rid of him, thinking that if she could just do away with this moral representative of God, she could sin with impunity for the rest of her life. With one word to Salome, she would silence her own conscience, and her husband's, forever...Salome approached Herod...silence fell over the assembly; the food became tasteless, and even their hearts were sickened as the young girl asked Herod: 'Give me the head of John the Baptist; Give it to me here on a dish.'
Herod was thrown into confusion because of his oath. He thought of all his past respect for the prophet; but at the same time, he was afraid of the taunts and the whispered jests of the guests if they should see him draw back from his promise. Unfaithful to God, to conscience, to himself, not ashamed of any crime but ashamed of public opinions, he decided to be faithful to his drunken oath.
Herod called forward a few slaves. Torches were lighted. No one spoke as they heard the slaves descending the stairs...there was silence for a few seconds, broken by a sickening thud; then a slow march up the stairs...The slaves approached Herodias with the gory gift. She went to Salome, and Salome carried it across the dance floor and gave it to Herod on a golden platter, the bearded head of the Prophet of Fire.
On that dark night, at the bidding of the child of an adulteress, Herod had murdered the forerunner of Christ...The herald had suffered the lot of the One Whom he heralded; the messenger received violence because he had announced the Message.
Prayer for the Memorial of the Passion of St John the Baptist
O God, You raised up St John the Baptist to prepare a perfect people for Christ. Fill Your people with the joy of possessing His grace, and direct the minds of all the faithful in the way of peace and salvation. Grant that, as he was martyred for truth and justice, we may energetically profess our Faith in You, and lead others to the Way, the Truth, and Eternal Life.
St John the Baptist, by the example of your life of penance and the power of your word, you drew the multitudes in order to dispose them to receive the Messiah worthily and to listen to His heavenly doctrine. Help us to follow your example of a holy life so we may bring many souls to God, especially those souls enveloped in the darkness of error and ignorance. Amen. 🙏💖💐