Beheading of St John the Baptist (Aug 29)

In one of those cutesy euphemisms, this feast has been renamed the 'Passion of John the Baptist' in the Ordinary Form.

The martyrology describes it thus:

"The beheading of St. John the Baptist, who was put to death by Herod about the feast of Easter. However, the solemn commemoration takes place today, when his venerable head was found for the second time. It was afterwards solemnly carried to Rome, where it is kept in the church of St. Silvester, near Campo Marzio, and honored by the people with the greatest devotion."

This saint has a particular significance for Benedictines, as when he moved to Monte Cassino, St Benedict built a chapel in honour of St John the Baptist where previously had stood an altar to Apollo.

In many respects St John represents the two sides of the Benedictine charism - in his ascetic life in the desert, he points to the contemplative dimension; in his work preparing the way for Our Lord by calling the people to repentance, the active dimension.

August 29: The beheading of St. John the Baptist

Today is one of the feast days of one of the most important saints in the calendar, St John the Baptist.

In one of those cutesy euphemisms, this feast has been renamed the 'Passion of John the Baptist' in the Ordinary Form.

The martyrology, however, describes it thus:

"The beheading of St. John the Baptist, who was put to death by Herod about the feast of Easter. However, the solemn commemoration takes place today, when his venerable head was found for the second time. It was afterwards solemnly carried to Rome, where it is kept in the church of St. Silvester, near Campo Marzio, and honored by the people with the greatest devotion." 

This saint has a particular significance for Benedictines, as when he moved to Monte Cassino, St Benedict built a chapel in honour of St John the Baptist where previously had stood an altar to Apollo.

In many respects St John represents the two sides of the Benedictine charism - in his ascetic life in the desert, he points to the contemplative dimension; in his work preparing the way for Our Lord by calling the people to repentance, the active dimension.

The Vespers hymn for the feast is Deus tuorum militum sors.

August 28: Feast of St Augustine, Bishop, Confessor and Doctor

St. Augustine of Hippo is not of course a Benedictine saint. Still, he was an important influence on St. Benedict and the Western monastic tradition in general.

St Augustine's monastic rules are amongst the earliest surviving monastic rules of the Western Church, and reflect the moderation that St. Benedict was to make central to his Rule. He is also a champion of the combination of learning with faith, another Benedictine quality.

There are many quotes from St. Augustine in the Rule, but one of the most interesting areas of St. Augustine's theological influence in the Rule is in the Tools of Good Works (Chapter Four). The injunction "To attribute to God, and not to self, whatever good one sees in oneself, but to recognize always that the evil is one's own doing, and to impute it to oneself," reflects St. Augustine's anti-Pelagian approach over the position being advocated at the time by the Eastern-influenced monks of Lerins, and finally resolved at the contemporary Council of Orange in 529.

St Joseph Calasanctius (EF)/St Monica (OF), Aug 27

From the martyrology:

"At Rome, the demise of St. Joseph, confessor, illustrious by the innocence of his life and miracles, who, to instruct youth in piety and letters, founded the Order of the Poor Clerks Regular of the pious Schools of the Mother of God."

In the Extraordinary Form, St Monica's feast is on May 4, however it was moved, in 1970, to the day before the feast of the son, St Augustine, she converted by her tears, prayers and admonitions.

Saints feasts for September

September 1

St Giles (EF only)

September 2

September 3

Pope St Pius X, Class III
Pope Pius X - martyrology entry
Pope Benedict VI on St Pius X

September 4

St Marcellus (from the martyrology)

September 5

St Laurence Justinian (EF only)

September 6

St Zachary (from the martyrology)

September 7

Pope St Hadrian III (martyrology)

September 8

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Class II

September 9

St Gorgonius, martyr, memorial

September 10

St Nicholas of Tolentino (EF only); St Pulcheria

September 11

SS Protus and Hyacinth, Martyrs, memorial
St Theodora (desert mother)

September 14

Exaltation of Holy Cross, Class II

September 15

Seven Sorrows of Our Lady, Class III

September 16

SS Cornelius, Pope and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs, memorial

September 17

St Hildegarde OSB, Doctor of the Church memorial 

September 18

St Joseph of Cupertino (EF only)

September 19

St Januarius (OF only)

September 20

St Eustace and companions (EF); SS Andrew Tae-gon, Paul Chon Ha-sang and companions

September 21

St Matthew, Class II

September 22

St Maurice and companions, memorial

September 23

Pope St Linus, memorial

September 24

Our Lady of Ransom (EF only)

September 27

SS Cosmas and Damian, memorial

September 28

St Wenceslaus (EF/OF); St Lawrence Ruiz and companions (OF)

September 29

Dedication of St Michael the Archangel, Class I
SS Michael, Raphael and Gabriel (OF)

September 30

St Jerome, Class III

Please pray for the people of Italy and the monks of Norcia

Many will have already heard of the devastating earthquake that hit Italy yesterday.

The death toll is now estimated at over 120 people.

The monks of Norcia were not injured in the earthquake or its many aftershocks, but it seems their monastery and the basilica they serve has suffered some serious structural damage, forcing a temporary move to Rome.

You can help with prayers and donations - for help for the monks, go here.

St Louis OF (EF)/St Joseph Calasanz (OF) - Aug 25

Louis IX with Pope Innocent IV at Cluny

From the martyrology:

"At Paris, St. Louis, confessor, King of France, illustrious by the holiness of his life and the fame of his miracles."

King St Louis IX of France (1214-1270) provides us with the model of the exemplary personal life of a ruler.  Deeply pious, he was a great patron of the arts, and built amongst other things the beautiful Sainte-Chapelle.  You can read more about him here.

Also celebrated today in some calendars is the feast of Saint Joseph Calasanctius (1557 – 1648), aka Joseph Calasanz and Josephus a Matre Dei, was the founder of the Pious Schools and the Order of the Piarists.