Today, June 24, is the Feast of the Birth of John the Baptist. He is so important that he actually gets two feast days, the other being his death, celebrated on August 29. As a solemnity there are extra readings at Mass and we say the Gloria and recite the creed. The first reading was from Isaiah 49: 1-6. Excerpts…

The LORD called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name. He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm. …. It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

The second reading is from the Acts of the Apostles but it is Paul telling the story of John the Baptist and repeating what he said, 

Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet. Acts 13:25

The gospel reading from Luke, is about the birth of John and how the neighbors came to rejoice with Elizabeth and try to name the child Zechariah (Luke 1:57-66). Which does not happen! I love this picture with the Lamb of God and John’s curly hair.

Saint John the Baptist, Balthasar Moncornet Artist, French, c. 1600 – 1668 NGA

 It turns out that John the Baptist is so special that this feast also has a vigil Mass of its own, the previous evening. At that Mass the Gospel reading is of the angel appearing to Zechariah, John’s father, and tells Zechariah that his son

… will be great in the sight of the Lord. …. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, and he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn their hearts toward their children and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to prepare a people fit for the Lord.” Luke 1:15-17

This last picture is just amazing in its detail. John the Baptist has a special halo so he isn’t actually shooting spikes out of his head.

Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness with the Lamb of God, Surrounded by the Symbols of the Evangelists and the Four Fathers of the Church. 1466. Master E.S. Artist, German, active c. 1450 – 1467 (possibly Ambrose, Augustine, Jerome and Pope Gregory I… but you can study the symbols and try to guess).

The header is Young John the Baptist. 1470. Antonio Rossellino. Artist, Florentine, 1427 – 1479