Day 359 -- Saint John the Baptist

Today we remember the death of Saint John the Baptist. It is interesting to note that he, Jesus, and Mary are the only people who the Catholic Church remember birthdays too. John the Baptist was the cousin of Jesus. He was the son of Zachary who was a priest, and Elizabeth, a descendant of Aaron. When Zachary was ministering in the Temple, an angel brought him the news that Elizabeth would bear a child in her old age. Zachary doubted and was unable to speak until after John was born.

John was a prophet and began his ministry around the age of 27 by heralding the name of Jesus Christ. He lived off of locusts and wild honey. He preached a message of repentance to the people of Jerusalem. He baptized Jesus.

He was imprisoned by King Herod and died as a victim of the vengeance of a jealous woman around the year 30. He was beheaded and his head was brought to her on a platter. He was buried in Samaria and his relics are in Rome and Amiens (France).

Here is the account of his death:
Mark 6:17-29
Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prison
on account of Herodias,
the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.
John had said to Herod,
“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
Herodias harbored a grudge against him
and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.
Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,
and kept him in custody.
When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,
yet he liked to listen to him.
She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,
gave a banquet for his courtiers,
his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee.
Herodias’ own daughter came in
and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests.
The king said to the girl,
“Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.”
He even swore many things to her,
“I will grant you whatever you ask of me,
even to half of my kingdom.”
She went out and said to her mother,
“What shall I ask for?”
She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”
The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request,
“I want you to give me at once
on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
The king was deeply distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests
he did not wish to break his word to her.
So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders
to bring back his head.
He went off and beheaded him in the prison.
He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl.
The girl in turn gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard about it,
they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.