The Infants St. John and Jesus playing together. St. John carries Christ’s standard, and drinks his cup.
The Nativity of St. John the Baptist
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. Yesterday was the vigil of this feast, a remnant of the Traditional Liturgy now lost in the new rite of Mass. The Vigil of St. John’s feast is also unique from other Vigils of the Roman Calendar in that it was historically not considered penitential, but anticipatory.
Even in the Traditional Rite today the significance of this feast is not what it used to be. In the Pre-1955 Traditional Calendar, the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist carried with it its own octave (eight successive days of commemoration). St. John also has his own proper preface. Despite the feast’s great rank and its various customs, Devotion to St. John the Baptist has been on a decline since the middle ages.
This is contrasted by the liturgical tradition in the Eastern parts of the Church. For example: In the West there is a very clear and straightforward hierarchy of devotion that goes from Jesus, to His Mother Mary, Mother of the Church, and then to St. Joseph the foster father of Jesus, and Patron of the Universal Church. In the East however this hierarchy goes from Jesus, to His Mother the Holy Theotokos, to St. John the Baptist the precursor of Christ and the “greatest man ever born of woman”1.
In most Eastern Iconography when Christ is depicted among his Mother there is also John the Baptist at His side. When Christ is depicted enthroned as King of Heaven it is Mary on one side and then the powerful intercessor St. John the Baptist on the other.
However, this significance is not entirely lost on the Roman Church, even today. For he is one of only three people to have a feast dedicated to his nativity (birth). The other two being Jesus (December 25), and Mary (September 8). This upholds the ancient tradition of St. John the Baptist coming second to Mary in the Hierarchy of devotion.
The Forerunner
St. John is known to us by the name ‘Forerunner’ or ‘Precursor’. Because he “goes before the Lord to make straight his paths.”2 He is the final prophet of the Old Covenant and the prophet who announces the New Covenant of Jesus Christ through the forgiveness of sins.
It was the angel Gabriel who appeared to John’s mother St. Elizabeth and told her that in her old age she would yet bear a son. His father St. Zachary is a priest at the altar of incense in the Temple. Both St. Elizabeth and St. Zachary are “just” and “follow the commandments of God”.3 It is when the angel Gabriel appears to St. Zachary when he is offering incense at the Altar, and tells him that he shall have a son and name him John that he is struck mute by the angel for his doubt “until that day comes to pass.”4
It is in his doubt which leads to silence that St. Zachary represents the prophetic voice of the Old Covenant which has fallen silent for a long time before the birth of Christ. The Fathers of the Church also say that St. Zachary’s silence is also a sort of forced contemplation, when the wise priest must meditate on the greatness and goodness of God so that he may fully praise him.
When the time comes when John is born the people (probably family members) try to name the boy Zachary after his father, but Elizabeth protests that his name is to be John. The people then go to Zachary and ask him what he wants the boy to be called. Muted, St. Zachary writes down on a tablet: “His name is John”.5 Immediately St. Zachary receives his speech and praises God in his canticle called the Benedictus which is recited in the Church’s morning prayer the office of Lauds.
The end of St. Zachary’s muteness coincides with the birth of St. John. It represents that the voice of prophecy is now truly free and will be preached by St. John, but also that all prophecy is free and finds its total and complete fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the Word made Flesh, God made man. Therefore, St. John truly is “filled with the Holy Ghost even from His mother’s womb.”6
Thus Our Lord emphatically states that “He is the greatest man born of woman.”7
The Mass
The Mass of this day is extremely beautiful and it masterfully prepares before us the evidence for the prophecy of John, and the fulfillment of all prophecy by Jesus Christ. The Prophecies of Isaiah are the main bulwark of the propers of this Mass:
“Give ear, ye islands, and hearken, ye people from afar. The Lord hath called me from the womb, from the bowels of my mothers. He hath been mindful of my name. And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand He hath protected me, and hath made me as a chosen arrow; in His quiver He hath hidden me. And now saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be His servant; Behold I have given thee to be the light of the Gentiles, that thou mayest be My salvation even to the farthest part of the earth. Kings shall see and princes shall rise up, and adore for the Lord’s sake, and for the Holy One of Israel, Who hath chosen thee.”8
It is very easy for even the most basic and simple of Christian to quickly understand who the prophet Isaiah is referring to here. From even the prophets of old the role of St. John the Baptist was foretold, as was Christ.
Cosmic Symbolism
The Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist is deliberately placed extremely close to the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. When the sun shines for the longest amount of time and the night is shortest.
This was seen by the Church through the ages as a way in which St. John’s true humility is expressed.
"I must decrease, and he must increase.”9
It is about six months until Christmas the feast of Jesus Christ’s Nativity. The feast of Christmas is deliberately placed near to the Winter Solstice. When the sun shines for the shortest amount of time, and the night is longest. This shows that the world was in darkness before the radiant light of Christ came into the world.
It also shows through the placing of the feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist his insistent declaration : “That I must decrease, and he must increase.” Over the course of these next few months the light of the Sun (which represents the radiant light of St. John’s truthful preaching) will decrease, and will become smallest when Jesus Christ, the “true light” comes into the world, at the winter solstice.
Rural Customs
Like all great feasts of the Church, the Nativity of St. John the Baptist is accompanied by many culture traditions that have helped to enrich the religious devotion of Catholics throughout the ages. Perhaps in your own home you can renew some of this fervor.
Herbs
In some Catholic Cultures like the British Isles, Germany, and the Iberian Penisula it was the practice of Catholics to gather herbs on the Vigil of St. John the Baptist, and have them blessed to represent St. John’s time in the wilderness.
Rivers and Wells
Water was also a common tradition. On St. John’s Day people would gather to wash and bathe in different rivers or wells invoking his name, and tying it to St. John’s baptismal role.
St. John’s Fires
The greatest of all customs, however, would be the “St. John’s Fires”. In many Catholic countries, especially in France, England, Ireland, Spain, and Italy the faithful would gather together and light massive bonfires in honor of St. John. This was seen as symbolic of John as the “burning and shining lamp”.10
In Medieval England and France the ceremonies for the bonfires were particularly elaborate, usually including a procession, blessing of the fire by a priest, singing of hymns and chants, and then feasting and dancing into the late hours of the night. The Church was very supportive of these celebrations and used St. John’s Day to emphasize the changing of the seasons.
The St. John’s Fires while not as elaborate or widespread as in Europe did make their way into Catholic Communities in the United States. The Bonfires were especially popular in heavily French influenced parts of the country like New Orleans. Parish Picnics were also popular on this day.
Concluding Note
As I return to writing after a needed silence of my own, I find it fitting that the voice crying out in the wilderness leads the way. St. John the Baptist’s feast is not only a celebration of his birth—it’s a call to reawaken our voice, to prepare the way for Christ in a world that has forgotten how to listen. Let this be a new beginning—not just for this newsletter, but for each of us, in the season of the Forerunner.
We heap our gifts upon Thine Altars, O Lord, as we celebrate with due honor the birthday of him who both proclaimed the coming of the Savior of the world and pointed Him out when come, even Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son: Who with Thee liveth and Reigneth, unto ages of ages. (Secret Prayer of the Mass)
St. Luke 7:38
St. Luke 1:76
St. Luke 1:6
St. Luke 1:20
St. Luke 1:63
St. Luke 1:15
St. Luke 7:28
Isaiah 49:1-3,5-7
St. John 3:30
St. John 5:35
I have never considered how Zachary's silence is symbolic of the silence between the last prophets of the old testament and his recovery symbolizes Johns proclamation of the Messiah. That is so interesting. This is one of my favorite feast days as a Lutheran. Next year I should have a bonfire.