Because of his major role in salvation history, John the Baptist’s birth is one of only three celebrated by the Catholic Church. The others are Jesus Christ (December 25) and the Blessed Virgin Mary (September 8).
John the Baptist is the hinge that connects the Old Testament to the New Testament. He is the last of the prophets to announce the coming of the Messiah.
From a baby leaping in his mother’s womb at the sound of the Virgin Mary’s voice, to an adult proclaiming that Jesus was the Lamb of God, John the Baptist’s life was devoted to preparing the way for Christ.
In the desert, John announced the coming of the Kingdom and called everyone to repent and be baptized. While his baptism was symbolic, he said that Jesus would come after him, baptizing with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, were advanced in age and had been unable to conceive. The Angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah while he was serving as a priest and announced that they would have a child and name him John.
At the child’s circumcision Zechariah gave him the name that the angel had revealed and declared John’s mission by singing a prophetic canticle of praise.
Scripture tells us that Elizabeth was 6 months pregnant with John when Jesus was conceived so his birth is set six months before the birth of Jesus.
The Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist on June 24 unless a feast of the Lord falls on the same day.
The one who prepared the way:
The birth of the one who would go before the Messiah:
Aware of the presence of Jesus:
“And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us to shine on those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
Luke 1: 76-80
Preparing the way for the Light of Christ:
Prepared for something special:
Today, 24 June, the liturgy invites us to celebrate the Solemnity of the Birth of St John the Baptist, whose life was totally directed to Christ, as was that of Mary, Christ’s Mother. John the Baptist was the forerunner, the “voice” sent to proclaim the Incarnate Word. Thus, commemorating his birth actually means celebrating Christ, the fulfilment of the promises of all the prophets, among whom the greatest was the Baptist, called to “prepare the way” for the Messiah. All the Gospels introduce the narrative of Jesus’ public life with the account of his baptism by John in the River Jordan. St Luke frames the Baptist’s entrance on the scene in a solemn historical setting.
Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus Address, 24 June 2007
A life that disrupts convention:
John may have been born without Original Sin:
“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.” John was “filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb” by Christ himself, whom the Virgin Mary had just conceived by the Holy Spirit. Mary’s visitation to Elizabeth thus became a visit from God to his people.
Catechism of the Catholic Church 717
Unique among the saints:
A life totally directed toward Jesus:
The Truth, Goodness, and Beauty of the Catholic Church
Lives that are shocking to the modern world:
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