No one can receive anything except what is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him. He who has the bride is the bridegroom; the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s[…]
Day: June 24, 2025
Bach’s Cantata in Praise of the Baptist
Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam is one of a few cantatas J.S. Bach compose in honouor of Saint John the Baptist, first performed in 1724 on this Solemnity celebrating the birth of the Baptist, June 24th. The libretto is based on a hymn by Martin Luther – yes, I know, but Pastor Martin maintained his[…]
The Liminal and Luminous Birth of John the Baptist
A blessed Solemnity! We celebrate the birthdays of three ‘saints’ in our liturgical calendar: Christ Himself, the Son of God, of course, on Christmas Day; His Mother, the Virgin Mary, on September 8th; and, today, Saint John, called ‘the Baptist’, to whom was given the role as the last, greatest of the Prophets of the[…]
Pope Benedict and the Birth of the Baptist
BENEDICT XVI ANGELUS St. Peter’s Square Sunday, 24 June 2012 Dear Brothers and Sisters, Today, 24 June, we are celebrating the Solemnity of St John the Baptist. He is the only saint — with the exception of the Virgin Mary — whose birth the liturgy celebrates and it does so because it is closely connected[…]