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Friends of the Rosary,

Today, we celebrate the solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist, the Precursor or Forerunner of the Lord.

John the Baptist is the prophet of hope. He was born, lived, and died to prepare the way for the Good News.

The Catholic Church observes a saint’s feast day on the day of his death because that day marks his entrance into heaven. However, there are two exceptions: the birthdays of Blessed Mary and St. John the Baptist.

Mary, already in the first moment of her existence, was free from original sin, and John was cleansed of original sin in the womb of his mother.

John the Baptist spent his adult life preparing the way for Jesus and proclaiming that “the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand.” John represented the Old Covenant and the Law.

The Lord willed to announce to men His own coming through the Baptist.

John was born to Zachary and Elizabeth, an elderly married couple.

Elizabeth was Mary’s cousin, and Zachary was a priest of the Temple in Jerusalem. As a baby in the womb, John recognized Jesus’ presence in Mary’s womb when Mary visited Elizabeth soon after the Annunciation. Both women were pregnant at the same time.

John was probably born in Ain-Karim, southwest of Jerusalem. As a young adult, he lived as a hermit in the desert of Judea until about A.D. 27. When he was 30, he began preaching for repentance and baptizing people in the river waters. When Jesus came to John to be baptized, John recognized Jesus as the Messiah and baptized Him.

John continued to preach after Jesus was baptized but was imprisoned not long after by Herod Antipas after he denounced the king’s adulterous marriage with Herodias, wife of his half-brother Philip.

John was beheaded at the request of Salome, daughter of Herodias.

Many, namely the apostles Andrew and John, came to know Jesus through John.

Ave Maria!
Jesus, I Trust In You!
St. John the Baptist, Pray for Us!

Come, Holy Spirit, come!

To Jesus through Mary!

+ Mikel Amigot | RosaryNetwork.com, New York

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