St John before the Latin Gate

The Latin Gate

Today marks the feast of St John before the Latin Gate, a somewhat unusual feast because it neither marks a birth, death, founding or translation, like the Stigmata of St. Francis. Instead it commemorates St John's martyrdom of the will when placed in a cauldron of boiling oil, from which he subsequently came forth more healthy and vigorous.

This is yet another feast which reminds of Christ's victory at Easter. It should give us confidence that by enduring the trials and tribulations of this earthly life we will, with the help of God's grace, triumph in the next. Still even in this life there is the promise of renewed strength and youth, so that like St. John we may mount the air with wings like an eagle.

Deus, qui conspicis, quia nos undique mala nostra perturbant : præsta, quæsumus ; ut beáti Joánnis Apóstoli tui et Evangelistæ intercéssio gloriósa nos prótegat. Per Dóminum Nostrum Jesum Christum, filium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti, Deus, per omnia saecula, saeculorum. Amen.