June 24th, Nativity of St. John the Baptist The Precursor’s
Nativity is celebrated by the Church because, even from the
womb, he chosen and sanctified for his vocation. The Baptist is
the greatest of the prophets, and is more than a prophet, for he
rejoiced to see the day of the Bridegroom. While the priest, in
very specific moments, acts in persona Christi, most of his
ministry is more closely tied to that of St. John the Baptist –
directing people to the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of
the world. In this respect, St. John is a model for the priest
as “friend of the Bridegroom” and “voice of one crying out in
the wilderness”. On a personal note, St. John the Baptist is
particularly dear to me as a model for the priesthood, as I was
ordained a priest on the Vigil of his Nativity three years ago.
“John” is his name, and a priest is called “Father” And it came
to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the
child, and they called him by his father's name Zachary. And his
mother answering, sai