There was in the days of Herod the King of Judea a certain priest named Zachary of the course of Abia, and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron and her name Elizabeth. And they were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame. And they had no son, for that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years. And it came to pass, when he executed the priestly function in the order of his course before God, according to the custom of the priestly office, it was his lot to offer incense, going into the temple of the Lord; and all the multitude of the people was praying without, at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an Angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zachary seeing him was troubled, and fear fell on him; but the Angel said to him: “Fear not, Zachary, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will call his name John: and you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice in his nativity. For he will be great before the Lord: and will drink no wine nor strong drink: and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb. And he will convert many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah; that he may turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the incredulous to the wisdom of the Just, to prepare to the Lord a perfect people.” (Luke i. 5-17)
Dom Prosper Gueranger:
At Rome, in the reign of Julian the Apostate, St. John, a priest, who was decapitated on the old Via Salaria before an idol of the sun. His body was buried near those of other martyrs by the blessed priest Concordius.
Also at Rome, St. Agrippina, virgin and martyr, under the emperor Valerian. Her body was carried to Sicily where it works many miracles.
At Sutri in Tuscany, St. Felix, priest. By the command of the prefect Turcius he was struck on the mouth with a stone until he breathed his last.
At Nicomedia, in the time of Diocletian, the commemoration of many holy martyrs, who concealed themselves in mountains and caverns, and joyfully underwent martyrdom for the name of Christ.
At Philadelphia in Arabia, the holy martyrs Zeno, and Zenas, his slave. When the latter kissed the chains of his master begging to be his partner in torments, he was arrested by the soldiers and received the crown of martyrdom with him.
In England, St. Audry, queen and virgin, who departed for heaven with a great renown for sanctity and miracles. Her body was found without corruption eleven years afterwards.
And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.
Thanks be to God.
This page which the Church reads to us today is precious in the annals of the human race, for here begins the Gospel itself: here we have the first word of the good tidings of salvation. Not that man had up to this, received no knowledge of Heaven’s designs for the lifting up of our fallen race and the giving of a Redeemer, but weary and long had been this period of expectancy since the day when first the sentence pronounced against the accursed serpent pointed out to Adam and Eve a future in which man should be healed by the “Son of the woman,” and God also by him should be avenged. Age upon age rolled on, and the promise all unaccomplished still gradually assumed certain developments. Each generation saw the Lord by means of the prophets adding some new feature to the characteristics of this Brother of our race — in Himself so great that the Most High would call Him “my Son” (Psalms ii. 7), so impassioned for justice that He would shed the last drop of His Blood to ransom Earth’s whole debt (Isaias liii. 7). Our Lamb in His immolation, He would rule the Earth by His gentleness (Isaias xvi. 1). Though springing from Jesse’s root, yet was He to be the desired of the Gentiles (Isaias xi. 10). More magnificent than Solomon (Psalms xliv), He would graciously hearken to the love of these poor ransomed souls. Taking the advance of their longing desires, He is fain to announce Himself as the Spouse descending from the everlasting hills (Osee ii.19; Genesis xlix. 26). The Lamb laden with the crimes of the world, the Spouse awaited by the Bride, such was to be this Son of Man, Son likewise of God — the Christ, the Messiah promised to Earth. But when will He come, He, this desired of nations? Who will point out to Earth her Saviour? Who will lead the Bride to the Bridegroom?
Mankind, gone forth in tears from Eden, had stood with wistful gaze fixed on futurity. Jacob, when dying, hailed from afar this beloved Son whose strength would be that of the lion, whose heavenly charms, still more enhanced by the blood of the grape (Oh mystery ineffable!) rapt him in inspired contemplation, on his funeral couch (Genesis xlix. 9-12, 18). In the name of the Gentile world Job, seated on the dung-hill on which his flesh was falling to pieces, gave response to ruin in an act of sublime Hope in his Redeemer and his God (Job xix. 25-27). Breathlessly panting under the pressure of his woe and the fever of his longing desires, mankind beheld century roll upon century, the while consuming death suspended not its ravages, the while his craving for the expected God ceased not to wax hotter within his breast. Thus, from generation to generation, what a redoubling of imploring prayer! What a growing impatience of entreaty! O that you would rend the heavens and could come down! (Isaias lxiv. 1) “Enough of promises,” cries out the devout Saint Bernard, together with all the Fathers, speaking in the name of the Church of the expectation, and commenting the first verse of the Canticle of Canticles: “Enough of figures and of shadows, enough of others’ parleying! I understand no more of Moses. No voice have the Prophets for me. The Law which they bear has failed to restore life to my dead (4 Kings iv. 31). What have I to do with the stammerings of their profane mouths (Exodus iv. 10; Isaias vi. 5)! To whom the Word has announced Himself? Aaron’s perfumes may not compare with the Oil of gladness poured out by the Father on Him whom I await (Psalms xliv. 8). No more deputies, no more servants for me: after so many messages, let Him come at last, let Him come Himself!”
Yes, prostrate, in the person of the worthiest of her sons on the heights of Carmel the Church of the expectation will not raise herself up till appears in the heavens the proximate sign of salvation’s rain cloud (3 Kings xviii. 42-46). Vainly, even anon seven times, will it be answered her that as yet nothing can be descried “arising seawards,” prolonging still her prayer and her tears, her lips parched by the ceaseless drought and cleaving to the dust. She will yet linger on awaiting the appearance of that fertilising cloud, the light cloud that bears her God under human features. Then, forgetting her long fasts and weary expectant years, she will rise on her feet in all the vigour and beauty of her early youth. Filled with the gladness the angel announces to her, in the joy of that new Elias whose birthday this Vigil promises on the morrow — she will follow him, the predestined Precursor running (more truly than did the ancient Elias), before the chariot of Israel’s king.
Lo! The first beginnings of Christian joy, Lord, by which erstwhile, the sanctified Voice preceded the Word about to be born in flesh, and the herald of light signally announced the rising of the Day-Star, himself had witnessed: by him, both Faith’s mysteries and Salvation’s fountains have produced marvels: he is approved whose conception is miracle, whose birth is joy: therefore do we beseech you, that we who with glad ovations hail the birthday of your Precursor, may with purified hearts draw near likewise to your own Nativity: so that the Voice which preached you in the desert may cleanse us in the world; and he who preparing the way for the coming Lord, washed in his baptism the bodies of living men, may now, by his prayers purify our hearts from vices and errors; so that, following in the foot-prints of the Voice, we may deserve to come to the promises of the Word.On this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:
At Rome, in the reign of Julian the Apostate, St. John, a priest, who was decapitated on the old Via Salaria before an idol of the sun. His body was buried near those of other martyrs by the blessed priest Concordius.
Also at Rome, St. Agrippina, virgin and martyr, under the emperor Valerian. Her body was carried to Sicily where it works many miracles.
At Sutri in Tuscany, St. Felix, priest. By the command of the prefect Turcius he was struck on the mouth with a stone until he breathed his last.
At Nicomedia, in the time of Diocletian, the commemoration of many holy martyrs, who concealed themselves in mountains and caverns, and joyfully underwent martyrdom for the name of Christ.
At Philadelphia in Arabia, the holy martyrs Zeno, and Zenas, his slave. When the latter kissed the chains of his master begging to be his partner in torments, he was arrested by the soldiers and received the crown of martyrdom with him.
In England, St. Audry, queen and virgin, who departed for heaven with a great renown for sanctity and miracles. Her body was found without corruption eleven years afterwards.
And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.
Thanks be to God.
