Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist

There is a brilliant section found in the "magisterial" book of Pope Benedict XVI's where he talks about Christmas and the Birth of John the Baptist. His remarks cover how the cosmos are involved in the sanctoral cycle and how from the Birth of the Baptist the days grow shorter mimicing "I must decrease..." and after Christmas the days grow longer..."he must increase." All of life witnesses to our spiritual call to die to self and to live for Christ!