Friday, August 29 : Lanspergius the Carthusian

The death of Christ stands at the head of an innumerable crowd of believers. Through this same Lord Jesus’ power, and thanks to his goodness, the precious deaths of his martyrs and saints have given birth to a great multitude of christians. Indeed, never has the christian religion been wiped out by the persecution of tyrants or the indefensible murder of the innocent. Rather, it has drawn greater increase from them each time. We have an example of this in Saint John, who baptised Christ and whose holy martyrdom we celebrate today. That faithless king, Herod, true to his oath, wanted to wipe out completely the memory of John from men’s minds. Yet not only was John not destroyed but men in their thousands, inflamed by his example, have welcomed death with joy for the sake of justice and truth… What Christian is there worthy of the name who does not venerate John today, he who baptised the Lord? All over the world Christians honor his memory, all generations proclaim him blessed and his virtues suffuse the Church with their perfume. John did not live for himself alone and he has not died for himself alone either.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team