Birth of St. John the Baptist?

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Paulineo

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Some time ago, I was browsing Q & A on EWTN’s website, and I came across an answer regarding the birth of St. John the Baptist, and in so doing, gave the truth to the time of Jesus’ birth, as being in December.

When Jesus was conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary, St. John was already 6 months old (in the womb of St. Elizabeth). But, can we find a date in the Sacred Scriptures to support this?

Paulineo

I have since tried to retrieve that answer, but cannot.
 
Luke 1:36 And behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age; and this the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
 
Perhaps I did not ask the question clearly. I know that St. Elizabeth was in her sixth month, at the time of the Annunciation.

The answer, I believe, was posed by a Jehovah’s witness, as a way of denigrating the celebration of Christ’s birth on December 25.You know how they like to say that the week long pagan feast of Saturnalia is really what Christmas is all about.

Is there any link to the seasons, green grass in the meadows, or crops growing, which might link the actual month in which St. John the Baptist to the summer or the autumn.

The answer in EWTN’s Q & A seemed to give a seasonal link of some sort, and in so doing, gave the perfect answer to December being the month in which Christ was born.

Paulineo

Paulineo
 
Luke 1:5-124
5* In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, * of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. 8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9* according to the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11* And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13* But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth; 15* for he will be great before the Lord, and he shall drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God, 17* and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” 18* And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19* And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.” 21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they wondered at his delay in the temple. 22 And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he made signs to them and remained dumb. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. 24 After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived,
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I don’t have the data at hand, but once read that the division of Abijah served as priests in the Temple twice a year for one week each time. The writer believed that Zechariah’s encounter with Gabriel occurred during the September week. If Elizabeth concieved immediately there after then John would have been born in June. I am not sure how accurate this is.

Another theory is that people believed that a prophet died either on the anniversary of his birth or the anniversary of his conception. From this they deduced that Jesus was conceived on March 25, though some came up with April 6. Thus they came up with either December 25 or January 6 for his birth. Again, it is something I read and don’t know the validity of.
 
Paulineo said:
Perhaps I did not ask the question clearly. I know that St. Elizabeth was in her sixth month, at the time of the Annunciation.

The answer, I believe, was posed by a Jehovah’s witness, as a way of denigrating the celebration of Christ’s birth on December 25.You know how they like to say that the week long pagan feast of Saturnalia is really what Christmas is all about.

Is there any link to the seasons, green grass in the meadows, or crops growing, which might link the actual month in which St. John the Baptist to the summer or the autumn.

The answer in EWTN’s Q & A seemed to give a seasonal link of some sort, and in so doing, gave the perfect answer to December being the month in which Christ was born.

Paulineo

Paulineo
Click to expand...
Why is the date of Christ’s birth relevant? It has no bearing on our faith nor is it necessary for our salvation.
 
I do know that actual date of Christ’s birth has no bearing at all on our faith; I was simply trying to recall what I thought I had read.

The link to the article by the early Church fathers is most interesting.

Thank you, Mr. Kelly

Paulineo
 
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