Let's back up a few years now; back to the annunciation of St. John's conception. The angel Gabriel appears to Zachary while he is in the tabernacle (being a priest), offering incense and celebrating according to the rules of the day. When he probably snickers to the announcing of the conception of a son (since both he and his wife are old). He is struck dumb. He should know that nothing is impossible with God, and still Zachary balks. People wonder what has happened to him. In a few months time, even Mary held back her Magnificat until the infant John leapt in his mother's womb at Mary's greeting when she visited to help Elizabeth. This was an acknowledgement and announcement even then the coming of God in the persona of Jesus. Back again to St. John's birth. Nine months later, Zachary presents his new born son to the temple as was custom. In those days, sons were to be named after their dad. However, when Elizabeth is told that her son is to be Zachary, she says: "His name is to be John." They then look to Zachary, hand him something to write on since he had struck dumb, and he writes: "His name is John." Now, the vocal chords are working again, and he goes into the following canticle:
The Canticle of Zachary
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel:
because He hath visited and wrought the redemption of His people.
And hath raised up a horn of salvation to us, in the house of David His servant.
As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who are from the beginning.
Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us.
To perform mercy to our fathers, and to remember His holy testament.
The oath which He swore to Abraham, our father; that He would grant to us.
That being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we may serve Him without fear.
In holiness and justice before Him, all our days.
And thou child, Precursor of the Emmanuel,
shalt be called the prophet of the Most High:
for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord, to prepare His ways.
To give unto His people the knowledge of salvation, unto the remission of their sins.
Through the bowels of the mercy of our God, in which the Orient from on high hath visited us.
To enlighten them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death;
to direct our feet in the way of peace.
Following is the Sequence attributed to Adam of St. Victor for this date; set aside for this great Saint:
In thine honour, O Christ, the Church doth celebrate the natal day of thy Precursor and Baptist.
The King's own praise is heralded when his herald is extolled, whom richly he hath endowed with gifts of virtue, and, sublime in office, hath exalted!
Lo! Gabriel unto the hoary sire a son doth promise. He, hesitating, anon doth forfeit power of speech.
The child is born; of the new Law, of the new King, herald, trumpet, standard-bearer he! The voice before the Word, the paranymph (ceremonial assistant) before the Spouse, the morning star before the rising sun, doth go!
The mother by word, the father by writing, the child's name doth declare; forthwith is loosed from bond the mute tongue of the father.
By heavenly oracle is John foretold; and by himself yet hidden in the womb is he fore-shown.
That in an age too far advanced, an heir should be given, that one so long sterile should become a mother, oh! mystery profound! Yea, contrary indeed to the law of flesh is this conception of John; such birth as this is produced by grace, not by nature.
The virgin in her womb holds God enclosed; the enclosed to the Enclosed doth clap applause, that narrow womb within. The voice crying in the wilderness, the heralding voice of the Word, doth point our the Lamb to open view.
Burning in faith, luminous in word, and unto the true Light leading, he teacheth many thousands. He was not the Light, but yet was indeed the lamp; for Christ is Light eternal, Light enlightening all.
Clad in garment of haircloth, girt with cincture of leather, he was fed on a banquet of locusts and wild honey.
List to Christ attesting of him: None hath arisen greater than this man, of all that are born of woman. Take good heed, however, Christ here excepts himself who of flesh did Flesh accept, yet without flesh's operation.
To capital punishment, in prison, is the just man condemned; whose head the king abhorred not to present as a gift at a banquet table.
Martyr of God! guilty though we be, nor apt unto thy praise, yet, of thy clemency, deign graciously to hear us confiding in thee and praising thee.
On this thy natal day, grant to us the promised joy; nor yet may thy triumphant martyrdom delight us less.
Oh! how many mysteries do we venerate and admire in thee! By thee may Christ grant unto us to enjoy his presence. Amen.
Homily on St. John the Baptist by St. Ambrose
Divine Scripture teaches us that we should praise the lives not only of those who are publicly honored, but also the lives of their parents; in order that, as it were, the transmitted heritage of spotless purity may stand out in those whom we wish to praise. For what other intention had the holy Evangelist in this place but to glorify St. John the Baptist in his parents, as in his miracles, his manner of life, his gifts, and his sufferings? So also Anna is praised, the mother of holy Samuel; so did Isaac receive from his parents that nobility of goodness, which he bequeathed to his descendants. Therefore the priest Zachary was not only a priest, but even of the course of Abia, that is, of a house distinguished among the noble families.
And his wife, says he, was of the daughters of Aaron. Therefore the nobility of St. John was inherited not only from his parents, but also from ancestors not distinguished by worldly power, but by a venerable religious succession. For it was fitting that the forerunner of Christ should have such ancestors; that it might be evident that the preaching of faith in the coming of the Lord was not a gift suddenly received, but one inherited from his ancestors, and implanted in him by the very law of nature. And they were, says he, both just before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. What do they make of this who, to show some excuse for their own sins, think that man cannot live without sinning often; and make use of the verse, which is written in Job; No man is pure from sin even though his life on earth be but for one day?
We must answer such persons, first by asking what they mean by a man without sin: whether he is a man who has never sinned, or one who has stopped sinning. For if, by a man without sin, they mean one who has never sinned, I agree with them. For all have sinned, and are without the glory of God. But if they deny that he who has amended his old fault, and has changed his way of life, in order to refrain from sin, cannot keep from sins, I cannot concur in their opinion, since we read that: The Lord so loved the Church, that he might present it to himself a glorious one, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing: but that it should be holy and without blemish.
St. John the Baptist, pray for us, that we may know Christ when He comes.
Hi Kris. I have a question for you. When Herod demanded that babies under the age to be killed, and the holy Family left for Egypt, I'm wondering if the family of St. John had to leave also, or were they in another part of the territory. Just wondering, Jon
Interesting question. We have only tradition to tell us that Elizabeth fled with baby John the Baptist (and some say Zacharias too) further up into the hills a short distance from Ayn Karim, the village where they lived. She called out to God for help, and an opening appeared in a rock cliff, and she was able to get through it with John and hide there until Herod's soldiers were done.
The place is called the pietra del nascondimento, the "stone in which John was concealed, and it's a minor tourist site today because there's a nice church built over this spot, over the "cleft" in a rock. It's the Church of the Visitation.
No reason not to believe this is the place where John the Baptist was hid as a baby.
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