>> A READING FROM THE BOOK OF
THE PROPHET JEREMIAH.
THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO ME
THUS.
GIRD YOUR LOINS.
STAND UP AND TELL THEM ALL THAT
I COMMAND YOU.
BE NOT CRUSHED ON ACCOUNT AS
THOUGH I WOULD LEAVE YOU CRUSHED
BEFORE THEM.
FOR IT IS I THIS DAY THAT HAVE
MADE YOU A FORTIFIED CITY, A
PILLAR OF IRON, A WALL OF BRASS,
AGAINST THE WHOLE LAND, AGAINST
JUDAH AS KING AND PRINCES,
AGAINST ITS PRIEST AND PEOPLE.
THEY WILL FIGHT AGAINST YOU AND
NOT PREVAIL OVER YOU.
FOR I AM WITH YOU AND DELIVER
YOU, SAYS THE LORD.
♪ VERBUM DOMINI ♪
>> ♪ DEO GRATIAS ♪
>> I WILL SING OF
YOUR SALVATION.
>> I WILL SING OF YOUR
SALVATION.
>> IN YOU, O LORD I TAKE REFUGE,
LET ME NEVER BE PUT TO SHAME.
IN YOUR JUSTICE RESCUE ME AND
DELIVER ME.
INCLINE YOUR EAR TO ME AND SAVE
ME.
>> I WILL SING OF
YOUR SALVATION.
>> BE MY ROCK OF REFUGE, A
STRONGHOLD TO GIVE ME SAFETY,
FOR YOU ARE MY ROCK AND MY
FORTRESS.
O MY GOD, RESCUE ME FROM THE
HAND OF THE WICKED.
>> I WILL SING OF
YOUR SALVATION.
>> FOR YOU ARE MY HOPE, O LORD,
MY TRUST, O GOD, FROM MY YOUTH.
ON YOU I DEPENDED FROM BIRTH.
FROM MY MOTHER'S WOMB YOU ARE MY
STRENGTH.
>> I WILL SING OF
YOUR SALVATION.
>> MY MOUTH SHALL DECLARE YOUR
JUSTICE.
AND DAY BY DAY YOUR SALVATION.
O GOD, YOU HAVE TAUGHT ME FROM
MY YOUTH.
UNTIL THE PRESENT I PROCLAIM
YOUR WONDROUS DEEDS.
>> I WILL SING OF YOUR
SALVATION.
(ORGAN)
>> ♪ ALLELUIA ♪
♪ ALLELUIA ♪
♪ ALLELUIA ♪
>> ♪ ALLELUIA ♪
♪ ALLELUIA ♪
♪ ALLELUIA ♪
>> ♪ BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE
PERSECUTED FOR THE SAKE OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR THEIRS IS THE
KINGDOM OF HEAVEN ♪
>> ♪ ALLELUIA ♪
♪ ALLELUIA ♪
♪ ALLELUIA ♪
>> FATHER: ♪ DOMINUS VOBISCUM ♪
>> ♪ ET CUM SPIRITU TUO ♪
>> FATHER: ♪ LECTIO SANCTI
EVANGELII SECUNDUM MARCUM ♪
>> ♪ GLORIA TIBI, DOMINE ♪
>> FATHER: 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.
♪ VERBUM DOMINI ♪
>> ♪ LAUS TIBI, CHRISTE ♪
>> Father: TODAY IN THE GOSPEL,
WE HEAR THE MARTYRDOM OF JOHN
THE BAPTIST.
FOR CENTURIES THE CHURCH HAS
PLACED GREAT EMPHASIS ON THE
PERSON IN THE MISSION OF JOHN
THE BAPTIST.
JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS CHRIST'S
HERALD.
HE WAS THE FORERUNNER OF CHRIST
THAT ANNOUNCED AND PREPARED THE
WAY FOR THE LORD.
JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS THE FIRST
MAN TO BE MARTYRED FOR THE SAKE
OF CHRIST.
HIS MARTYRDOM WAS UNIQUE TO ANY
OTHER CHRISTIAN MARTYR BECAUSE
HE SHED HIS BLOOD BEFORE CHRIST
SHED HIS BLOOD.
IN EVERY WAY, JOHN THE BAPTIST
PREPARED THE WAY FOR CHRIST,
EVEN FORESHADOWING THE PASSION
AND DEATH OF THE LORD.
KING HEROD, IN HEARING THAT THE
FAME OF JESUS WAS SPREADING,
BECAME INFURIATED.
ANYTHING THAT WAS A THREAT TO
HIS POWER AND HIS AUTHORITY
ENRAGED HIM.
IT WAS PROPOSED TO HIM THAT JOHN
THE BAPTIST HAD BEEN RAISED FROM
THE DEAD, THAT THIS MAN, JESUS,
WAS JOHN THE BAPTIST WHOM HE HAD
EARLIER BEHEADED.
KING HEROD WAS THE WEALTHIEST
MAN IN ALL OF JUDEA.
HE HAD EVERY MATERIAL POSSESSION
THAT HE COULD POSSIBLY WANT, BUT
HE LACKED ONE THING.
HE LACKED A CLEAR CONSCIENCE.
HE LACKED PEACE WITH GOD.
HE KNEW HE HAD DONE WRONG.
HEROD'S CONSCIENCE CONVICTED HIM
OF THE MURDER OF JOHN THE
BAPTIST.
SAINT BEDE THE VENERABLE IN
A 9TH CENTURY HOMILY ON SAINT
JOHN THE BAPTIST SAID THIS:
"ST. JOHN GAVE HIS LIFE FOR
CHRIST.
HE WAS ORDERED -- THAT IS
ORDERED BY KING HEROD -- TO DENY
CHRIST BUT WAS ORDERED TO KEEP
SILENT ABOUT THE TRUTH."
LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN.
I THINK I SAID THAT INCORRECTLY.
HE WAS NOT ORDERED -- THAT IS
ORDERED BY KING HEROD TO DENY
WHO CHRIST WAS, THAT HE EXISTED,
BUT WAS ORDERED TO KEEP SILENT
ABOUT THE TRUTH."
IN OTHER WORDS, HE WAS ORDERED
TO BE TIGHT-LIPPED -- DON'T SAY
ANYTHING, TO KEEP SILENT ABOUT
KING HEROD'S SIN OF UNLAWFUL
MARRIAGE TO HIS BROTHER PHILIP'S
WIFE HERODIAS.
JOHN THE BAPTIST'S WHOLE
EXISTENCE WAS TO POINT OUT AND
TO PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE TRUTH
TO BE ACCEPTED.
HE WOULD NOT KEEP SILENT ABOUT
THE TRUTH.
HIS WHOLE LIFE BECAME A
TESTIMONY TO THE TRUTH.
POPE ST. JOHN PAUL II SAID IN
VERITATIS SPLENDOR, THE SPLENDOR
OF TRUTH, HE SAYS: "AT THE DAWN
OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, JOHN THE
BAPTIST, UNABLE TO REFRAIN FROM
SPEAKING THE LAW OF THE LORD AND
REJECTING ANY COMPROMISE WITH
EVIL GAVE HIS LIFE IN WITNESS TO
TRUTH AND JUSTICE.
AND THUS BECAME THE FORERUNNER
OF THE MESSIAH IN THE WAY HE
DIED.
"THE ONE WHO CAME TO BEAR
WITNESS TO THE LIGHT AND WHO
DESERVED TO BE CALLED BY THAT
SAME LIGHT, WHICH IS CHRIST, A
BURNING AND SHINING LAMP, WAS
CAST INTO THE DARKNESS OF
PRISON."
JOHN WAS CALLED BY JESUS A
SHINING LIGHT AND HE WAS CAST
INTO A PRISON, THE DARKNESS OF A
PRISON FOR SPEAKING THE TRUTH.
HE WAS SNUFFED OUT.
"THE ONE TO WHOM IT WAS GRANTED
TO BAPTIZE THE REDEEMER OF THE
WORLD WAS THUS BAPTIZED IN HIS
OWN BLOOD" BY HIS MARTYRDOM.
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SAINT JOHN
THE BAPTIST IS A CALL TO
REPENTANCE AND CONVERSION.
HE WAS A LIFE AND HE LIVED A
LIFE OF NO COMPROMISE.
HE DID NOT COMPROMISE THE TRUTH
IN FACE OF OPPOSITION.
TO HIM, THE TRUTH WAS TOO
VALUABLE, IT WAS TOO SACRED TO
BEND OR TO ESCHEW TO ONE'S OWN
NEEDS.
TO COMPROMISE THE TRUTH WAS TO
COMPROMISE GOD.
AND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, TRUTH
IS TRUTH AND CANNOT BE
COMPROMISED IN ANY SITUATION.
PERIOD.
TRUTH IS TRUTH AND CAN NEVER BE
COMPROMISED.
THE ACCOUNT OF THE MARTYRDOM OF
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST REMINDS AND
YOU SAY IMPELS US AS CHRISTIANS
AND ALL PEOPLE OF GOODWILL THAT
WE CANNOT COMPROMISE THE TRUTH
IN ANY WAY.
THE TRUTH OF REVELATION AND ALSO
THE TRUTH OF THE NATURAL LAW,
THE LAW THAT GOD HAS WRITTEN ON
OUR HEARTS.
WE CANNOT BEND THE TRUTH.
BUT WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS THAT
OUR WILLS NEED TO BE BENT IN
CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE TRUTH.
OUR WILLS NEED TO BE CONFORMED
TO THE TRUTH.
COMPROMISE IS NOTHING MORE THAN
A LIE.
JESUS DID NOT SAY "I AM THE WAY,
THE COMPROMISE AND THE TRUTH."
HE SAID "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH
AND THE LIFE."
SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS NOT
AFRAID TO CALL OUT ERROR IN THE
PUBLIC AND CIVIL REALM.
HIS VOICE CLEARED THE PATH
FOR THE VOICE OF CHRIST, THE
LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE
SINS OF THE WORLD.
AGAIN HE CALLED OUT THE UNLAWFUL
MARRIAGE OF HERODIAS AND HIS
WIFE'S BROTHER PHILLIP.
IN DOING SO HE WAS BEHEADED FOR
THE TRUTH, ESPECIALLY THE TRUTH
OF THE SACREDNESS AND DIGNITY OF
MARRIAGE.
THINK FOR A MOMENT HOW
JOHN THE BAPTIST WOULD BE THE
VOICE TO DEFEND THE LIFE OF THE
UNBORN CHILD IN TODAY'S WORLD.
THE MOST VULNERABLE AND THE MOST
POOREST, AND I DARE SAY THE MOST
TARGETED AMONG US.
THE UNSAFEST.
THE WOMB SHOULD BE THE SAFEST
PLACE IN THIS WORLD FOR A CHILD.
AND IT HAS BECOME THE TARGET FOR
MANY.
IT'S A SELF-EVIDENT ISSUE THAT
PROTECTION OF THE UNBORN IS NOT
SIMPLY A RELIGIOUS ISSUE.
IT'S THE GREATEST CIVIL RIGHTS
ISSUE IN ALL OF HISTORY.
NOTHING EVEN COMES CLOSE TO
THIS.
NOTHING COMES CLOSE TO THE
HOLOCAUST OF ABORTION.
IT'S THE PREEMINENT ISSUE OF OUR
TIMES.
AND I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT THE
UNBORN CHILD IN THE WOMB.
AND WE NEED TO HEAR THE TRUTH OF
REALITY AND YES, EVEN THE TRUTH
OF SCIENCE.
SCIENCE IS A GOOD THING.
WHO DO YOU THINK USHERED IN THE
SCIENTIFIC METHOD IN TEACHING
SCIENCE IN UNIVERSITIES?
IT WAS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH FIRST
OF ALL WHO USHERED IN AND
SUPPORTED SCIENCE.
LET THESE TRUTHS REALLY OF
MEDICAL SCIENCE AND EVERYDAY
THEY ARE PRESENTING MORE AND
MORE DATA WHICH IS TRUE -- LET
THESE TRUTHS KIND OF SINK IN AND
STARTLE US THIS MORNING.
WHEN DOES THE UNBORN CHILD'S
HEART BEGIN TO BEAT?
18 DAYS AFTER CONCEPTION.
AND BY 21 DAYS, THE HEART IS
PUMPING BLOOD THROUGH A CLOSED
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM.
WHEN CAN THE UNBORN CHILD'S
BRAIN WAVES BE DETECTED?
SIX WEEKS AFTER CONCEPTION.
WHEN DO FINGERPRINTS APPEAR ON
THE UNBORN CHILD'S HANDS?
14 WEEKS.
WHEN CAN THE UNBORN CHILD FEEL
PAIN?
BY 9 WEEKS.
BY 9 WEEKS FROM CONCEPTION ALL
THE STRUCTURES NECESSARY FOR
PAIN SENSATION ARE FUNCTIONING.
WOW.
HERE ARE SOME OTHER MILESTONES
OF THE UNBORN CHILD'S
DEVELOPMENT IN THE WOMB OF HIS
MOTHER, OR HER MOTHER.
AT 4 WEEKS FROM CONCEPTION, A
BABY'S EYE, EAR, AND RESPIRATORY
SYSTEMS BEGIN TO FORM.
THUMB SUCKING HAS BEEN
DOCUMENTED AT 7 WEEKS FROM
CONCEPTION.
AT 8 WEEKS FROM CONCEPTION, A
BABY'S HEARTBEAT CAN BE DETECTED
BY AN ULTRASONIC STETHOSCOPE.
AT EIGHT WEEKS EVERYTHING IS
PRESENT IN AN ADULT HUMAN THAT
IS NOW PRESENT IN AN UNBORN
CHILD.
AT EIGHT WEEKS.
EVERYTHING IS PRESENT IN AN
ADULT HUMAN IS NOW PRESENT IN
THE CHILD IN THE WOMB.
AT EIGHT WEEKS.
THE BONES ARE BEGINNING TO FORM.
THE MUSCLES CAN CONTRACT.
THE FACIAL FEATURES CONTINUE TO
MATURE, THE EYELIDS ARE NOW MORE
DEVELOPED.
AND THE BABY IS ABOUT 1 INCH
LONG AND IS THE SIZE OF A BEAN.
BY 9 WEEKS FROM CONCEPTION, A
BABY IS ABLE TO BEND HER FINGERS
AROUND AN OBJECT IN HER HAND.
BY 11 TO 12 WEEKS FROM
CONCEPTION, THE BABY IS
BREATHING FLUID STEADILY AND
CONTINUES TO DO SO UNTIL BIRTH.
AND BY 11 WEEKS FROM CONCEPTION,
A BABY CAN NOW SWALLOW.
BETWEEN 13 AND 15 WEEKS FROM
CONCEPTION A BABY'S TASTE BUDS
ARE PRESENT AND FUNCTIONING.
AT 20 WEEKS AND PERHAPS AS EARLY
AS 16 WEEKS FROM HER CONCEPTION,
A BABY IS CAPABLE OF HEARING HIS
MOTHER'S HEARTBEAT AND EXTERNAL
NOISES LIKE MUSIC.
FROM THE OUTSIDE.
AT 23 WEEKS FROM CONCEPTION,
BABIES HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO
DEMONSTRATE RAPID EYE MOVEMENTS
WHICH ARE CHARACTERISTIC OF
ACTIVE DREAM STATES.
AT SIX MONTHS FROM CONCEPTION A
BABY'S OIL AND SWEAT GLANDS ARE
FUNCTIONING.
AT SEVEN MONTHS FROM CONCEPTION,
A BABY FREQUENTLY EXERCISES IN
PREPARATION FOR BIRTH BY KICKING
AND STRETCHING.
MOTHERS, YOU KNOW THIS.
AT EIGHT MONTHS FROM CONCEPTION,
A BABY'S SKIN BEGINS TO THICKEN
AND THE CHILD SWALLOWS A GALLON
OF AMNIOTIC FLUID EACH DAY.
A BABY SWALLOWS A GALLON OF
AMNIOTIC FLUID EACH DAY AND
OFTEN HICCUPS.
THIS CAN BE DETECTED BY
ULTRASOUND, BY SCIENCE.
DURING THE NINTH MONTH FROM
CONCEPTION, A BABY GAINS ABOUT A
HALF A POUND A WEEK.
PER WEEK.
FOR US, THE DAILY LIVING OF THE
CHRISTIAN LIFE MEANS A LIFE OF
NO COMPROMISE.
THE TRUTH IS THE TRUTH.
AND A LIE IS A LIE.
PERIOD.
THERE IS NO GETTING AROUND IT.
BEING A CHRISTIAN DEMANDS A
DAILY MARTYRDOM AGAIN TO CONFORM
OUR LIVES TO BEND OUR LIVES, TO
BEND OUR WILLS TO THE TRUTH, TO
THE TRUTH OF REVELATION AND TO
THE TRUTH OF THE NATURAL LAW.
BEING A CHRISTIAN MEANS TO ALLOW
CHRIST TO GROW WITHIN US, TO
ALLOW HIM TO INFLUENCE OUR
THOUGHTS AND OUR ACTIONS.
WITH THE NATIONAL PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA COMING SO CLOSE, WE
HAVE A SERIOUS MORAL OBLIGATION
TO ELECT CANDIDATES WHO WILL
PROMISE TO DO EVERYTHING IN
THEIR POWER TO PROTECT AND
SAFEGUARD THE LIFE OF THE UNBORN
CHILD.
WE CANNOT COMPROMISE.
WE CANNOT LIVE A LIFE IN ERROR
AND A LIE.
OUR LIVES MUST BE CONFORMED TO
THE TRUTH.
WE NEED TO BE THAT VOICE THAT
SPEAKS AND, YES, VOTES FOR THAT
CHILD THAT CAN'T VOTE.
THE UNBORN CHILD IN THE WOMB.
WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT FOLLOWS
THE GOSPEL OF COMPROMISE.
THE GOSPEL OF ERROR.
WE CANNOT AND WE WILL NOT
COMPROMISE THE GOSPEL OF JESUS
CHRIST.
NEVER.
NEVER CAN WE COMPROMISE THE
GOSPEL FOR A LIE.
OUR LIVES MUST BE COMPLETELY
CONFORMED TO THE TRUTH OF WHO
GOD IS.
AND MOST OF ALL THE TRUTH OF GOD
MADE FLESH, THE WORD MADE FLESH
IN THE WOMB OF HIS MOTHER.
