THE FEAST OF ST JOHN OF KANTY, PRIEST.
"When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son.
Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.
When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.”
But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed.
Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God.
Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him." (Luke 1: 57 - 66).
Monday 23rd December 2024 of the 3rd Week of Advent is the feast of St John Kanty. (1390 - 1473). Polish.
St John Kanty was a priest, philosopher, physicist and theologian. What is striking about the life of St John Kanty is that this brilliant and highly educated man spent his entire priestly vocation in the ivory tower. Yet, he had the heart of a pastor of flocks. He seized every opportunity to help his needy students and the poor he encountered.
The narrative of the birth and naming of John the Baptist indicates that John the Baptist is a significant person in salvation history. Let us sketch a profile of St John the Baptist:
#1 His name is John: "God is gracious."
#2. He was sanctified in his mother's womb. He kicked his mother hard in the womb with excitement when Mary visited Elizabeth.
#3. John was chosen by the Father to be forerunner of Jesus Christ and to prepare His way.
#4. John baptized Jesus in the River Jordan.
#5. His humility is supreme. He said: "He [Jesus] must increase. I must decrease." And he allowed his disciples to switch allegiance and follow Jesus.
#6. John gave his life for Jesus. He was the first great martyr for Jesus.
"[John's] birth brought great rejoicing;
even in the womb he leapt for joy at the coming of human salvation.
He alone of all the prophets pointed out the Lamb of redemption.
And to make holy the flowing waters,
he baptized the very author of Baptism and was privileged to bear him supreme witness by the shedding of his blood." (From the Preface of the Mass of the Feast.)
Jesus paid St John the Baptist one of His greatest compliments:
"For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." (Luke 7: 28 KJB).
John is the Voice. He is not the Word. John the Baptist might say:
I am just a servant of the Word. "He must increase. I must decrease"
O Lord Jesus Christ, may all Your servants decrease so that You increase in us.
As we near the Solemnity of Christmas, we thank God for the life and work of St John the Baptist. We remember too St John Kanty our saint of the day who continue to inspire us by his teaching and exemplary life.
Happy Advent!
"Mary was conceived without original sin. This grace and privilege are fitting in view of the birth and death of her Son Jesus Christ, who is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity.
"O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain, so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You."
For the Immaculate Conception Devotions and Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link below:
THE 31 DAY NOVENA TO THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Link is below:
