Catholic Fire

The Birth of St. John the Baptist 1540's Oil on canvas, 181 x 266 cm The Hermitage, St. Petersburg Jesus called John the greatest of all those who had preceded him: “I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John....” But John would have agreed completely with what Jesus added: “[Y]et the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he” (Luke 7:28). John spent his time in the desert, an ascetic. He began to announce the coming of the Kingdom, and to call everyone to a fundamental reformation of life. His purpose was to prepare the way for Jesus. His Baptism, he said, was for repentance. But One would come who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. John is not worthy even to carry his sandals. His attitude toward Jesus was: “He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30) . John was humbled to find among the crowd of sinners who came to be baptized the one whom he already knew to be the Messiah. “I need to be baptized by you” (Matthew 3:14b). But Jesus insi...

Gospel: Mt. 11: 11 - 15 John the Baptist is the one who announces, who proclaims. He is the one who wants to awaken his people. Advent is marked by Mary's silence, and this silence is striking. But in order to recognize their Savior, the people people of Israel will need to be awakened by a John the Baptist. In a similar way, the people of God today also need witnesses who proclaim that God is completely given to us. In this gift He manifests just how much He loves us and desires to be close to us and present among us. During this time of Advent, we need to be awakened in our faith, in our hope and in our charity. John the Baptist shakes those who are falling asleep. He shakes believers who no longer have enough faith to stay awake. Through John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit wants to remind us that this time preceding Christmas is a time of mercy, so that we might be ready to welcome the Son of God, this little child who is our God, our Creator, and our Savior. May we welco...

St. John the Baptist Carravaggio On St. John the Baptist Here is a translation of the address The Holy Father delivered today before reciting the midday Angelus with several thousand people gathered in St. Peter's Square. Second Sunday of Advent Today's Mass Readings On This Day in Catholic History 1979 Fulton J. Sheen (b. 8 May 1895), American Roman Catholic archbishop and broadcaster, died in New York City. Fulton J. Sheen official website Cause for Canonization of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen—Author, Orator and Missionary , by John A. Hardon, S.J. Life Is Worth Living free available talks in MP3 audio. Audio archive of Life Is Worth Living Birthdays 1579 - St. Martin de Porres , Peruvian saint (d. 1639) 1871 - Joe Kelley , American baseball player (d. 1943) 1909 - Douglas Fairbanks , a highly decorated naval officer of World War II and an American actor (d. 2000) 1916 - Kirk Douglas , American actor 1922 - Redd Foxx , American comedian (d. 19...

The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio 1608 Oil on canvas, 361 x 520 cm Saint John Museum, La Valletta Read my post on the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist here.

The Birth of St. John the Baptist 1540's Oil on canvas, 181 x 266 cm The Hermitage, St. Petersburg The Church observes the birth of John as a hallowed event. We have no such commemoration for any other fathers; but it is significant that we celebrate the birthdays of John and of Jesus. This day cannot be passed by. And even if my explanation does not match the dignity of the feast, you may still meditate on it with great depth and profit. John appears as the boundary between the two testaments, the old and the new. That he is a sort of boundary the Lord himself bears witness, when he speaks of "the law and the prophets up until John the Baptist." Thus, he represents times past and is the herald of the new era to come. As a representative of the past, he is born of aged parents; as a herald of the new era, he is declared to be a prophet while still in his mother's womb. For when yet unborn, he leapt in his mother's womb at the arrival of blessed Mary. In that wom...