Association Of Catholic Bloggers

St John the Baptist , Donatello, 1438 Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, Venice [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa)   Gospel   John 1:6-8, 19-28   ( New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition , Canada) There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.”   And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.”   Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. Wh

  St John the Baptist ,  El Greco, c.1600 Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, San Francisco [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa)  Gospel   Mark 1:1-8   ( New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition , Canada)   The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,     who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:     ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,     make his paths straight,’” John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now J

Madonna and Child with the Lamb of God , Cesare de Sesto, c.1615  [ Web Gallery of Art ] In the Philippines the liturgy is that of the Feast of the Santo    Niño (Holy Child). You'll find  Sunday Reflections  for that  here . Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)                                   Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Gospel  John 1:29-34  ( New Revised StandardVersion, Catholic Edition , Canada)  The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!   This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’     I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.”     And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on

The Baptism of Christ , El Greco, painted 1608-28 [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)                                   Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Gospel  Matthew 3:13-17  ( New RevisedStandard Version, Catholic Edition , Canada)  Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.   John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”   But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.” Then he consented.    And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened   and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him;   and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son,   with whom I am well pleased.” To

Birth of the Baptist , Andrea Pisano 1330 Gilt Bronze (panel of southern door), Baptistry,  Florence, Italy Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Vigil Mass   During the Day    Readings  (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Vigil Mass and Mass During the Day   [The readings for the Vigil Mass are on the upper part of the page, those for the Mass During the Day on the lower part of the page.] Liturgical Note. The Solemnity of the Birth of St John the Baptist, like Easter and some other solemnities, has a Vigil, properly so-called. This is not an ‘anticipated Mass’ but a Vigil Mass in its own right, with its own set of prayers and readings. It fulfils our Sunday obligation. The prayers and readings of the Mass During the Day should not be used for the Vigil Mass, nor those of the Vigil Mass for the Mass During the Day. As a solemnity, this celebration take