Signs of the Times  

     "What you suppose me to be, I am not.  Rather, look for the one who comes after mel I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals on his feet."
                                                                                                           Acts 13:23-25

    Our Lord tells us that, "amongst those that are born of women, there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist." (Luke 7:28)  God orfained that this great saint be born under extraordinary circumstances, having been cleansed of origincal sin while still in the womb.  For this reason, the Church celebrates not only the day of his birth into eternal life, but the day of his birth into this world as wekk.  St. John's birth was foretold by the Angel Gabriel to the priest Zachary, John's father, who was temporarily struck dumb for his disbelief, receiving the power of speech again only at John's circumcision.  Zachary's wife, Elizabeth was beyond childbearing  age and when Mary visited Elizabeth, who was already in her 6th month and greeted her.  Our Lord in Mary's womb imparted Sanctifying Grace to John, whose mission in God's plan was to be the forerunner of Christ.  And he whose joy it was to prepare the way for the Lamb of God and who rejoiced "because of the bridegroom's voice" (John 3:29) recognized Jesus' and Mary's presence before he was even born--this moved him to leap for joy in his mother's womb.


     Let us pray joyfully to God our Father who called John the Baptist to proclaim the coming of the kingdom of Christ:
          O Lord, guide our feet into the way of peace....
  
      God our Father,
       you raised up John the Baptist
       to prepare a perfect people for Christ the Lord.
       Give your church joy in spirit
       and guide those who believe in you
       into the way of salvation and peace.

       We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
       who lives and reigns with youand the Holy Spirit,
       one God, forever and ever.



   ST. PELAGIUS -- Martyr, Patron of the Abandoned and Victims of Torture

      Born in Asturias, Spain--at the age of 10, Pelagius was left with the Moors in Cordova as a hostage.  During the 3 years he remained a hostage, St. Pelagius grew into a handsome boy who remain uncorrupted by the other prisoners.  Emir Abd-ar-Rahman III heard good reports of him and repeatedly offered him his freedom and great rewards if he would renounce his Catholic Christian faithand accept Islam.  Having kept his Faith for 3 years, St. Pelagius declared, "All that means nothing to me.  A Christian I have been, christian I am, and Christian I shall continue to be; those things are transitory and will come to an end, but Christ whom I serve has neither beginning nor end: with the Father and the Holy Spirit--He is the one True God who created us from nothing and sustains all things."
       Because of his Catholic Faith, Pelagius was tortured to death and his limbs were thrown into the river Guadalquivir, but his relics were rescued by the faithful.  They were translated to Ovieda in 985.  St. Pelagius' name is "Pelayo" in Spain, where many churches have been named after him.