Saint John The Baptist —
Patron Saint of Converts,
Epileptics, Monks, Quebec

"John the Baptist was the son of Zachary, a priest of the Temple in Jerusalem, and Elizabeth, a kinswoman of Mary who visited her. He was born at Ain-Karim southwest of Jerusalem after the Angel Gabriel told Zachary his wife would bear a child - even though she was an old woman. He lived as a hermit in the desert of Judea. When he was thirty, he began to preach on the banks of the Jordan against the evils of the times and called men to penance and baptism for the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand. He attracted large crowds, and when Christ came to him, John recognized Him as the Messiah and baptized Him, saying, It is I who need baptism from You. (Matthew 3:1-14) When Christ left to preach in Galilee, John continued preaching in the Jordan valley.

Fearful of his great power with the people, Herod Antipas, Tetrarch of Perea and Galilee, had him arrested and imprisoned at Machaerus Fortress on the Dead Sea when John denounced his adulterous marriage with Herodias, wife of his half brother Philip. John was beheaded at the request of Salome, daughter of Herodias, who asked for his head at the instigation of her mother. John inspired many of his followers to follow Christ when he designated Him the Lamb of God.

Prayer to St. John The Baptist
"Great Saint, of whom Jesus said, there hath not risen among them that are born of women, a greater than John the Baptist; who with great power and humility hast announced God’s message; who didst confess that a greater than thyself was to come; obtain for us a share of thy nobility of soul and of thy zeal in the service of the Lord."

LITANY OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Queen of Prophets, pray for us.
Queen of Martyrs, pray for us.
Saint John the Baptist, pray for us.
St. John the Baptist, precursor of Christ, pray for us.

St. John the Baptist, glorious forerunner of the Sun of Justice, pray for us.
St. John the Baptist, minister of baptism to Jesus, pray for us.
St. John the Baptist, burning and shining lamp of the world,
pray for us.
St. John the Baptist, angel of purity before thy birth, pray for us.
St. John the Baptist, special friend and favorite of Christ,
pray for us.
St. John the Baptist, heavenly contemplative, whose element was prayer, pray for us.
St. John the Baptist, intrepid preacher of truth, pray for us.
St. John the Baptist, voice crying in the wilderness, pray for us.
St. John the Baptist, miracle of mortification and penance,
pray for us.
St. John the Baptist, example of profound humility, pray for us.
St. John the Baptist, glorious martyr of zeal for God's holy law, pray for us.
St. John the Baptist, gloriously fulfilling thy mission, pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. Pray for us, O glorious St. John the Baptist, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

O God, Who hast honored this world by the birth of Saint John the Baptist, grant that Thy faithful people may rejoice in the way of eternal salvation, through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.