St. John the Baptist was the last and greatest prophet before Christ. He was miraculously born to Saints Zechariah and Elizabeth in their old age and was Jesus’ cousin. His birth was foretold by the angel Gabriel, and he was filled with the Holy Spirit even in his mother’s womb. John lived in the wilderness, wearing camel’s hair and eating locusts and wild honey. His mission was to prepare the way for the Lord, calling people to repentance and baptizing them. One day as he was baptizing in the Jordan River, Jesus came to be baptized, but John said that it was he who needed to be baptized by Christ. Jesus reassured John that Jesus needed to be baptized to “fulfill all righteousness.” He baptized Jesus, witnessing the descent of the Holy Spirit and hearing the voice of God affirming Jesus as His Son. In this act, Jesus purified the waters of baptism, uniting them to the grace of the Holy Spirt and making them salvific in nature for all humanity. John boldly condemned sin, including the unlawful marriage of Herod Antipas, which led to his imprisonment and eventual martyrdom—he was beheaded at the request of Herodias’ daughter. The Church honors John as a model of humility and courage, and he is considered a bridge between the Old and New Testaments. His life is a powerful testimony to truth, repentance, and the coming of Christ.
Luke 1:5–25 Announcement of John’s birth to Zechariah.
Luke 1:57–80 John’s birth and Zechariah’s prophecy.
Matthew 3:1–12 John preaches repentance and baptizes in the Jordan.
Mark 1:1–8 John prepares the way for Jesus.
Luke 3:1–20 John’s preaching, baptism, and ethical instructions.
John 1:19–34 John testifies about Jesus as the Lamb of God.
Matthew 3:13–17
Mark 1:9–11
Luke 3:21–22
John 1:29–34 John’s testimony about Jesus after baptism
Matthew 14:1–12Herod imprisons and executes John.
Mark 6:14–29 Detailed account of John’s death.
Luke 9:7–9 Herod hears about Jesus after John’s death.
Patron of:
Baptism, Converts, Taylors, Printers, Epilepsy
Feast Day:
Birth – June 24
Death – August 29
Illustration by: Colton Rompala