DEVOTION CORNER

Amen I say to you, there hath not risen among them that are born of women a greater than John the Baptist Mat.11:11

These words of the Redeemer were very much justified. Let us think about St John the Baptist virtues. His chastity was prominent. To keep it unsullied he left the world and lived in the wilderness. St Thomas Aquinas says us that St John's life was angelic. Although he was human as each one of us, the appearance was his only human attribute. His deeds, desires and thoughts were angelic. We, however, expose our chastity to the world full of dangers and temptations. The most precious stone must be kept hidden! Let us think about severity of his life: John had his garment of camels' hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins: and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Mat 3:4. In Luke 1:80 we read: And the child grew, and was strengthened in spirit; and was in the deserts until the day of his manifestation to Israel. Our Lord says : This is he of whom it is written: Behold I send my angel before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee. For I say to you: Amongst those that are born of women, there is not a greater prophet that John the Baptist. Luke 7:27-28 and for John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine Luke 7:33. St Francis de Sales in comments on this passages says that angelic St John was practicing his virtues and mortifications without ceasing. In this days we scarcely use words like penance, mortifications, discipline and self-denial. But the maxim of St Gregory the Great is still binding, for God does not let any sin go without penance. The sinner has to do it on his own, or God, who is just, will do it for reluctant sinner. Let us look then at St John's purity as an excellent example and let him be to us now what he was to those following him: Behold I send my angel before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee. Mat 11:10