St Josemaria Escriva Priest, he was born 9 January 1902, Barbastro, Aragon, Spain, and he died 26 June 1975 (aged 73) Rome, Italy.
He was beatified on 17 May 1992, Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City by Pope John Paul II and ten years later Canonized (6 Oct. 2002,) also by Pope John Paul II who counted Escriva a living witness to practical Christianity.
Ss John and Paul (4th Century) martyrs
Todays feast is of two third century brothers were said to have been martyred in Rome on 26th June under Julian the Apostate (361–3).
Monday 24 June 2024 The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist • Isaiah 49:1-6 • Psalm 138(139):1-3,13-15 • Acts 13:22-26 • Luke 1:57-66,80
THE NATIVITY OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST
Three factors seem to have influenced the emergence of this feast in the early fifth century.
The first is probably the emergence in the early fourth century of the feast of Christmas on December 25th. The second is the verse of Luke gospel where the angel tells Mary at the annunciation that her “kinswoman Elizabeth already in her old age and considered barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible with God” (Lk 1:37).
The third is that three authorities from the 5th and 6th centuries – St Augustine (354-430), the Martyrology of Jerome and the Calendar of Carthage – all emphasise that this feast celebrates John’s earthly birthday, and not (as was customary with martyrs) the day of their death, or their birthday into heaven (dies natalis). It is one of very few feasts left in the Roman Calendar that have a vigil liturgy. More….. https://www.catholicireland.net/saintoftheday/the-birth-of-john-the-baptist-a-summer-solstice-feast/
Blessing of the Fire on St. John’s Eve.
“In the honour of God and St. John, to the fruitfulness and profit of our planting and our work, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
“In onóir Dé agus Naomh Eoin, chun torthúlachta agus brabús ár plandála agus ár gcuid oibre, in ainm an Athar agus an Mhic agus an Spioraid Naoimh. Amen.”