Saint John the Baptist is the Patron Saint of: Baptism
June 24th is the celebration of the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist.
John the Baptist was born to Zachariah and Elizabeth, through the intercession of God, who was otherwise too old to bear children. According to the Scriptures, the Angel Gabriel visited Elizabeth and Zachariah to tell them they would have a son and that they should name him John. Zachariah doubted this, thus was rendered mute until the time his son was born and named John, in fulfilment of God’s plan.
When Elizabeth was pregnant with John, she was visited by Mary, and John leapt in her womb. This revealed to Elizabeth that the child, Mary carried was to be the Son of God. This Leap of John in the womb is celebrated by Catholics by jumping in the well which maybe a Pagan’s ritual, nothing is mentioned of this in the Bible.
After growing up John spent his time in the desert, an ascetic. He began to announce the coming of the Kingdom, and to call everyone to a fundamental reformation of life. His purpose was to prepare the way for Jesus. His baptism, he said, was for repentance. But One greater than him would come who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. John was not worthy even to untie his sandals. His attitude toward Jesus was: “He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30).
John was humbled to find among the crowd of sinners who came to be baptized the one whom he already knew to be the Messiah. “I need to be baptized by you” (Matthew 3:14b). But Jesus insisted, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15b). Jesus, true and humble human as well as eternal God, was eager to do what was required of any good Jew. Jesus thus publicly entered the community of those awaiting the Messiah. But making himself part of that community, he made it truly messianic.
John instructed his followers to turn to Christ, calling Him the “Lamb of God” and these people were among the first Christians.
Following his baptism of Christ, John’s popularity grew so much that he alarmed King Herod. Herod ordered him arrested and imprisoned.
John spoke with Herod on several occasions and condemned his marriage to his half-brother’s wife.
This condemnation led to his downfall as King Herod promised to grant a wish to his daughter. In revenge for John the Baptist’s condemnation of her mother’s scandalous marriage to Herod, she asked for John’s head at the behest of her mother. King Herod reluctantly obliged and John the Baptist was Killed.
John the Baptist’s feast day is June 24, and the anniversary of his death is August 29 and is sometimes celebrated with a second feast.
By Gladys Da Silva