The Nativity of St. John the Baptist 🕯️

June 24 — A Feast Like Almost No Other

June 24-th is one of the most ancient and distinctive feasts in the entire liturgical calendar. The Church celebrates the Nativity of St. John the Baptist and it’s one of only three birthdays the Church celebrates liturgically:

Jesus Christ (December 25)
The Blessed Virgin Mary (September 8)
St. John the Baptist (June 24)

Every other saint is celebrated on their death, their entry into heavenly glory. John gets his birth celebrated because he was sanctified in the womb when Mary visited Elizabeth and the infant John leapt for joy at the presence of Christ (Luke 1:41-44).

Who Was John the Baptist?

John was the son of the priest Zechariah and Elizabeth, a relative of the Virgin Mary. His birth was miraculous, his parents were elderly and Elizabeth was barren. An angel announced his coming to Zechariah in the Temple itself.

His mission was singular and breathtaking:

“He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.” John 1:7

He is the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets, the one who stood at the hinge of history, pointing directly at the Lamb of God. Jesus Himself said:

“Among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist.” Matthew 11:11

The Symbolism of the Date

June 24 is exactly six months before Christmas and this is deeply intentional. John came before Christ to prepare the way. Even on the calendar, he precedes the Lord by six months.

The feast also falls just after the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, after which daylight decreases. This mirrors John’s own words:

“He must increase; I must decrease.” John 3:30

The very sun cooperates with the theology.

Putting This Into Action — A Daily Plan for the Feast

🙏 Pray the Office of the Day

If possible, pray Morning Prayer (Lauds) from the Liturgy of the Hours for the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. It is rich and ancient.

📖 Read Luke 1:5-25 and 57-80

These passages cover John’s announcement, birth, and his father Zechariah’s magnificent canticle, the Benedictus, which the Church prays every single morning.

🕯️ Attend or Spiritually Unite with Mass

The Mass for this feast has a proper set of readings. If Mass isn’t possible today, read the readings and make a spiritual communion.

🔥 The Tradition of the Midsummer Bonfire

Across Catholic Europe, Ireland, Poland, Spain, France, bonfires are lit on the eve of this feast. Fire symbolises John as the burning lamp (John 5:35), and the light that announces the coming of Christ. If you have a garden or firepit, light a fire tonight as a small act of solidarity with this ancient Catholic tradition.

✍️ A Personal Examination

John’s life poses a searching question to every Christian. He was sent with one purpose, and he never deviated from it even unto martyrdom. Ask yourself honestly:

What is my purpose before God?
Where am I increasing myself in ways that should belong to Christ?
Am I a voice crying in the desert, or am I muffled by noise and comfort?

🛡️ Invoke John as Patron

St. John the Baptist is the patron of:

Those preparing for baptism
Converts
Monastic life
Moral courage
Prophets

Invoke him on this day, especially for the grace of speaking truth without fear, the very virtue that cost him his head.

A Prayer for The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

“Grant, O Lord, that as John the Baptist was the forerunner of Your Son’s first coming, so may he prepare our hearts for Your Son’s final coming in glory. May we decrease in pride, increase in humility, and burn with the same fire that consumed the great herald of salvation. Amen.”

🔎 Going Deeper

For richer reflection, look into:

St. Bede the Venerable’s homily on John’s nativity
The Benedictus (Luke 1:68-79), prayed at every Catholic morning prayer
Pope Benedict XVI’s writings on John as the model of Advent preparation

Readings:

Isaiah 49:1-6

‘I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.’

Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The LORD called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name.

He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away.

And he said to me, ‘You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.’ But I said, ‘I have laboured in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the LORD, and my recompense with my God.’

And now the LORD says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honoured in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength — he says:

‘It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.’

Acts 13:22-26

‘Before the coming of Christ, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance.’

In those days: Paul said, ‘God raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, “I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.” Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Saviour, Jesus, as he promised. Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John was finishing his course, he said, “What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.”

‘Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation.’

Luke 1:57-66, 80

‘His name is John.’

The time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, ‘No; he shall be called John.’ And they said to her, ‘None of your relatives is called by this name.’ And they made signs to his father, enquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbours. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, ‘What then will this child be?’ For the hand of the Lord was with him.

And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.