Did St John the Baptist ever sin?

[billthecat]

Hi all,

I’m a lifelong Christian but new Catholic, coming into the Church this past Easter from evangelicalism. It was a long process as I had a lot of misinformation about the Church to unlearn.Anyway, I consider myself to have come in with my eyes open and able to give a defense to my evangelical friends who now view me with suspicion.

Enough about that. This past week in RCIA, Fr Joe said something on the class about sin that I hadn’t heard before in my own RCIA course or in any of the apologetic works I read on my road to Rome. First, he said that Mary never sinned, being preserved free from original sin. That’s catechism 101 so no surprise there. What I hadn’t heard was this: St John the Baptist was conceived with original sin but was quickened by the Holy Spirit in St Elizabeth’s womb (when he leapt for joy in Luke 2). At that point, his original sin was taken away and he also never sinned in his lifetime. I had never heard this before and was wondering if anybody else had? Would that mean that he was born without concupiscence?

I’d love to know if this is a doctrine, a private revelation, or something else.

Thanks!

 

[pianistclare]

Our priests teach this as well.

here you go:

https://www.ewtn.com/v/experts/showmessage.asp?number=423372

 

[billthecat]

Thanks everyone. I learned something new!

 

[Curious11]

Yes, that’s what I like about @pianistclare

 

[Mattapoisett64]

“…probably not well known in modern times” is certainly true. I have to question why in 16 years of my pre-Concilar Catholic education this never came up - and for that matter, what this adds to salvation history. Personally I find the message of repentance more inspiring than that of impeccability.

 

[misstherese]

Our Lady of America also says St. Joseph was preserved from original sin as well.

 

[Gorgias]

Hmm… “born without original sin” is one thing, but… “sinless his entire life”?

If we compare Scripture accounts, John knows Jesus is the Messiah at His baptism in one Gospel, but in another, he asks (from prison) whether Jesus is the One. Wouldn’t that later doubt, at least, be somewhat of a venial sin?