Martyrdom of St John the Baptist
August 29 - Martyrdom of St John the Baptist The Church celebrates the birthday of St. John the Baptist on June 24 and also honours the anniversary of his martyrdom on August 29. Besides our Lord and the most Blessed Virgin Mary, St. John the Baptist is the only one whose birth and death are thus celebrated . All three submitted themselves totally to the will of the Father in Heaven. Let's take a closer look at what makes St John the Baptist so special. St. John the Baptist is a very pivotal figure in the New Testament renowned for his role in heralding the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ and for his martyrdom. Born to Zechariah and Elizabeth, John was divinely chosen to prepare the way for the Messiah. His birth was announced by the Archangel Gabriel, marking him as a turnkey prophetic figure. Not much is known of John's childhood though the overwhelming consensus among scholars is that John the Baptist was neither an Essene nor a member of the Qumran community....