Saint of the day, August 6
The Feast of the Transfiguration celebrates the moment Christ revealed His divine glory to Peter, James, and John, preparing them for the mystery of His Passion and Resurrection.
Aug. 6: The Transfiguration of the Lord
Commemorates: Christ's Transfiguration before Peter, James, and John
Biblical accounts: Matthew 17:1–8, Mark 9:2–9, Luke 9:28–36
Celebration: Aug. 6
The Transfiguration of the Lord reveals Christ's divine glory to Peter, James, and John, offering them a glimpse of the joy that would follow His Passion. Celebrated each Aug. 6, the feast invites the faithful to contemplate this radiant mystery at the heart of the Gospel.
On a high mountain, Jesus was transfigured before His three disciples. His face shone like the sun, His garments became dazzling white, and Moses and Elijah appeared beside Him. Then a voice from the cloud proclaimed, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him."
The Gospels place the Transfiguration shortly after Peter's confession that Jesus is the Messiah and His first prediction of the Passion. By revealing His glory before the events of Calvary, Christ strengthened His disciples for the suffering that lay ahead and the hope of the Resurrection to come.
Tradition associates this mystery with Mount Tabor, where a church was dedicated in the fourth century. First celebrated in the Eastern Church, the feast gradually spread throughout the universal Church as a joyful celebration of Christ's divine glory.
The Transfiguration reminds us that Christ's glory shines even in the shadow of the Cross. As the Father's voice still echoes through the Gospel—"Listen to Him"—we are invited to place our trust in Christ, who leads us from suffering to the hope of new life.
