Passion of St. John the Baptist · Memorial

Mass Readings for Tuesday, August 29, 2028

On Tuesday, August 29, 2028, the Church in the United States celebrates the memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist (Cycle II); the liturgical color is red. The Gospel is Mark 6:17-29.

Updated October 20, 2026

Liturgical color

Red

Celebration: Passion of St. John the Baptist
Season: Ordinary Time · Week 21
Rank: Memorial
Sunday cycle: Year C
Weekday cycle: Cycle II

Mass readings US

First Reading 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a, 14-17

1But we ask you, brothers, concerning the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ and of our gathering to him,
2that you not be readily disturbed or terrified in your minds, by any spirit, or word, or epistle, supposedly sent from us, claiming that the day of the Lord is close by.
3Let no one deceive you in any way. For this cannot be, unless the apostasy will have arrived first, and the man of sin will have been revealed, the son of perdition,
Some verses are not read.
13He has also called you into truth through our Gospel, unto the acquisition of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
14And so, brothers, stand firm, and hold to the traditions that you have learned, whether by word or by our epistle.
15So may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who has loved us and who has given us an everlasting consolation and good hope in grace,
16exhort your hearts and confirm you in every good word and deed.

Catholic Public Domain Version · in the CPDV this is 2 Thessalonians 2:1–3, 13–16 · part-verses shown as whole verses

Read in the CPDV: The whole of 2 Thessalonians 2

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 96:10, 11-12, 13

Read in the CPDV: Psalm 96 (95 in the Vulgate)

Alleluia Matthew 5:10

Read in the CPDV: Matthew 5

Gospel Mark 6:17-29

17For Herod himself had sent to capture John, and had chained him in prison, because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip; for he had married her.
18For John was saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
19Now Herodias was devising treachery against him; and she wanted to kill him, but she was unable.
20For Herod was apprehensive of John, knowing him to be a just and holy man, and so he guarded him. And he heard that he was accomplishing many things, and so he listened to him willingly.
21And when an opportune time had arrived, Herod held a feast on his birthday, with the leaders, and the tribunes, and the first rulers of Galilee.
22And when the daughter of the same Herodias had entered, and danced, and pleased Herod, along with those who were at table with him, the king said to the girl, “Request from me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.”
23And he swore to her, “Anything that you request, I will give to you, even up to half my kingdom.”
24And when she had gone out, she said to her mother, “What shall I request?” But her mother said, “The head of John the Baptist.”
25And immediately, when she had entered with haste to the king, she petitioned him, saying: “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
26And the king was greatly saddened. But because of his oath, and because of those who were sitting with him at table, he was not willing to disappoint her.
27So, having sent an executioner, he instructed that his head be brought on a platter.
28And he beheaded him in prison, and he brought his head on a platter. And he gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it her mother.
29When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and they placed it in a tomb.

Catholic Public Domain Version

Read in the CPDV: The whole of Mark 6

Computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.

In US parishes the readings are proclaimed from the NABRE; the text shown here is the Catholic Public Domain Version.

Old Testament readings and the psalm are listed with a link to their chapter: the US Lectionary numbers some of their verses differently from the CPDV, so their text is not printed here. Psalm citations keep the Lectionary’s Hebrew numbering; the CPDV numbers the Psalms as the Vulgate does.

Spotted a wrong date, color or citation? Report an error and we’ll fix it in the app and here.

Saint of the day

St. John the Baptist

Prophet and Forerunner of the Lord · Feast day June 24

Patron of baptism and conversion

Read about St. John the Baptist

The liturgical day