On the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist

Here is a roundup of some carefully composed posts compiled by other bloggers for today's feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist:

Carmelite Spirituality and the Practice of Mental Prayer has a series of posts for today's feast day and yesterday's vigil, including St. John the Baptist Nativity Vigil, Nativity of St. John the Baptist, Prayer to St. John the Baptist, and St. John the Baptist Liberty and Prayer.  The first two of those posts include several beautiful paintings and Scriptures.

Abbot Joseph at Word Incarnate has a post titled His Name Is John about this saint who Christ called "the greatest man on earth," and who is the only saint other than Mary who is celebrated on the day of his birth.  Others are celebrated on the day of their death.  He reflects on the importance of the message of St. John the Baptist for today's Church.

Father Z at What Does the Prayer Really Say has St. John the Baptist: Notes and Oldie PODCAzT, with the Latin entry in the new Martyrologium Romanum, the collect, and the customs historically connected with the feast day.  He also has a Podcast from St. Augustine's writing about St. John the Baptist.

Argent by the Tiber has The Voice of One Crying in the Winderness with the words of St. Augustine, The Nativity of St. John the Baptist (a painting by Jacopo Pontormo from 1526), and Et Posuit Os Meum Ut Gladium Acutum from the Introit to today's Mass.