Thursday, August 29 : Byzantine Liturgy

Prophet born of a prophet (Lk 1:67), the Lord’s baptizer, you were the “voice crying in the desert: Repent!” (Mt 3:2) who rebuked Herod for his impious lewdness. Therefore you hastened to proclaim the Kingdom of God to those held captive among the dead… Forerunner and prophet, baptizer and martyr and, as voice to the Word, his messenger, his torch: O greatest of the prophets by God’s own testimony (Mt 11:9), intercede with the Lord to save from trial and misfortune all those who lovingly celebrate your shining memory… O come, all you peoples, let us celebrate this prophet and martyr, the baptizer of our Savior: he it was who, as an angel in the flesh (Mt 1:2 Gk), reprimanded Herod for his sinful relationship, condemning his wrongful deed. But because of a dance and an oath, they struck off the venerable head of the one who proclaims the gospel of the resurrection from the dead and who unceasingly prays for our soul’s salvation before the Lord. O come, all you faithful, let us celebrate this prophet and martyr, the baptizer of our Savior: fleeing into the desert, it was there he found rest, feeding on locusts and wild honey. He rebuked the king who broke the law. And he warns us cowardly ones, saying: “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team