06/24/2026
June 24th, we celebrate a rare and beautiful feast: The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist.
Did you know that the Church usually celebrates saints on the day they died (their birth into heaven)?
There are only three exceptions whose earthly births we celebrate: Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and St. John the Baptist. This is because John was filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth, leaping in his mother Elizabeth’s womb at the sound of Mary’s voice.
John’s entire life was a flashing neon sign pointing directly to Jesus. He was the “voice crying out in the desert,” preparing the way for the Messiah.
There is a beautiful symbolism to this feast day, too. It takes place right after the summer solstice. From this point on, the days begin to grow shorter and the light decreases—perfectly mirroring John’s own mission to step back so Christ could take center stage.
