Does the Church teach that John the Baptist was born without sin?

[dje101]

I hard on the Radio today that John the Baptist was born without sin. Is this a common teaching by the church? I had only heard that Mary, Jesus, Adam and Eve were born without sin.

 

[At_Trent]

Hi, That is not Roman Catholic teaching. First I’ve ever heard of it. It’s possible some heretical sect may have believed it at one time.

 

[Shin]

'Having arrived at that house, she saluted her cousin: “She entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth.” And as St. Ambrose remarks, Mary was the first to salute Elizabeth: “Prior salutavit.” But the visit of the blessed Virgin was not like the visits of the worldly, which, for the most part, consist in ceremonies and false display; the visit of Mary brought into that house an abundance of graces. For at her first entrance, and at that first salutation, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and John was delivered from guilt and sanctified, and therefore gave that sign of joy, exulting in the womb of his mother; for he wished in this way to make known the grace received by means of the blessed Virgin; as Elizabeth herself declared: “As soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.”

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Doctor of the Church

 

[odhiambo]

I hard on the Radio today that John the Baptist was born without sin. Is this a common teaching by the church? I had only heard that Mary, Jesus, Adam and Eve were born without sin.

No. The Church does not teach us that dje101. I am glad that you are seeking the true position of the Church. There are so many lies out there about the Catholic Church, one has to be really vigilant.
The Church teaches us that, aside from Jesus, only Our Lady, The Blessed Virgin Mary was born without sin.We refer to privilege of Our Lady as her " Immaculate Conception"

 

[Shin]

‘Now during the sixth month, the Annunciation had taken place, and, as Mary had heard from the angel the fact of her cousin’s conceiving, she went “with haste” to congratulate her. “And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant” — filled, like the mother, with the Holy Ghost — “leaped for joy in her womb”, as if to acknowledge the presence of his Lord. Then was accomplished the prophetic utterance of the angel that the child should “be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother’s womb”. Now as the presence of any sin whatever is incompatible with the indwelling of the Holy Ghost in the soul, it follows that at this moment John was cleansed from the stain of original sin. When “Elizabeth’s full time of being delivered was come. . .she brought forth a son” (1:57); and “on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called him by his father’s name Zachary. And his mother answering, said: Not so, but he shall be called John. And they said to her: There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made sign to his father, how he would have him called. And demanding a writing table, he wrote, saying: John is his name. And they all wondered” (1:59-63). They were not aware that no better name could be applied (John, Hebrew; Jehohanan, i.e. “Jahweh hath mercy”) to him who, as his father prophesied, was to “go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; to give knowledge of salvation to his people, unto remission of their sins: through the bowels of the mercy of our God” (1:76-78). Moreover, all these events, to wit, a child born to an aged couple, Zachary’s sudden dumbness, his equally sudden recovery of speech, his astounding utterance, might justly strike with wonderment the assembled neighbours; these could hardly help asking: “What an one, think ye, shall this child be?” (1:66).’

• The Catholic Encyclopedia

This would not be baptism, but a special privilege for St. John the Baptist, it seems. It differs from Mary’s Immaculate Conception, as St. John is conceived with original sin, but sanctified before his birth during the Visitation.

I don’t know what level of weight this idea has.

 

[thistle]

I hard on the Radio today that John the Baptist was born without sin. Is this a common teaching by the church? I had only heard that Mary, Jesus, Adam and Eve were born without sin.

There is no such teaching. However, there is tradition which says that he was conceived in original sin but born free from original sin.

 

[laszlo]

I hard on the Radio today that John the Baptist was born without sin. Is this a common teaching by the church? I had only heard that Mary, Jesus, Adam and Eve were born without sin.

Neither Adam, nor Eve were born, nor conceived. However they were without sin at the moment when their immortal soul was created.

Mary, and naturally Jesus was either conceived and born w/o the original sin, and its consequence the concupiscence.

There is a theological opinion, that John the Baptist was the first among the saved, and was cleaned of sin in the womb of his mother when he leaped in the womb greeting his Incarnated Lord, also in the womb. God’s ways are mysterious.

 

[puzzleannie]

I hard on the Radio today that John the Baptist was born without sin. Is this a common teaching by the church? I had only heard that Mary, Jesus, Adam and Eve were born without sin.

It is pious speculation, it is not defined doctrine

 

[JRKH]

dje,
Thanks for asking this question. I was wondering the same thing since hearing a talk on EWTN where the following Bible passage was read…
13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechari’ah, 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. (Luke 1:13-15)(RSV) (Bolding mine)
Now - According to this, and some of the things posted here indicating that he was cleansed at the visitation, it would appear that the answer to your title question is, "Yes, John the Baptist was born (though not conceived) without original sin.

Peace
James

 

[odhiambo]

No. The Church does not teach us that dje101. I am glad that you are seeking the true position of the Church. There are so many lies out there about the Catholic Church, one has to be really vigilant.
The Church teaches us that, aside from Jesus, only Our Lady, The Blessed Virgin Mary was born without sin.We refer to privilege of Our Lady as her " Immaculate Conception"

I just came across some information today that appears to contradict the above that I posted earlier. I would like to quote it as it appears in our Parish Weekly handouts to Parishioners. It was a commentary on the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and I quote.
" The Church Calender observes the birthday of only two saints: Saint John the Baptist and Mary Mother of Jesus.John the Baptist is considered especially sanctified even before birth…"
This is what you are asking if John the Baptist was born without sin. From the above the answer is indeed ‘yes’.
I did not know this until just a few minutes ago.

 

[Chatter163]

This has been discussed here before numerous times, including last Christmas. Do a search and you will get some interesting info.

 

[Chatter163]

Hi, That is not Roman Catholic teaching. First I’ve ever heard of it. It’s possible some heretical sect may have believed it at one time.

Because you have never heard of it, it must be a heretical view? It is an old tradition. That is not to say that it is true, but your not having heard it before is hardly grounds for such an assertion.

 

[dje101]

There is no such teaching. However, there is tradition which says that he was conceived in original sin but born free from original sin.

Oh, that might have been the teaching that I heard and just didn’t fully understand it. THanks for the tip.

 

[thistle]

Oh, that might have been the teaching that I heard and just didn’t fully understand it. THanks for the tip.

As long as you note that it is NOT a Church teaching. We are not obliged to believe John the Baptist was born free from original sin.

 

[Shin]

Are you certain that is the case thistle?

 

[At_Trent]

Because you have never heard of it, it must be a heretical view? It is an old tradition. That is not to say that it is true, but your not having heard it before is hardly grounds for such an assertion.

I should have specified “conceived”. I wasn’t aware of the cleansing in the womb of Elizabeth though. I knew infant John lept in the womb, just hadn’t grasped the cleansing. How I didn’t make the connection, I don’t know as I use this meditation on the Visitation frequently.

** The Second Joyful Mystery
The Visitation

Divine Saviour, from the womb of Mary, wherein Thou didst become incarnate, Thou breathest fourth sanctity into John the Baptist and benediction on the whole house of Elizabeth. From the Host wherein Thou dwellest, Thou spreadest all over the world the influence and grace of Thy love throughout the whole Church.
O divine Jesus, full of love and kindness, we adore Thee, and we beg of Thee, through the intercession of Thy Holy Mother, perfect charity toward our neighbors.**

I now see saying John was born free of sin isn’t technically incorrect, thanks to Shin’s posts.

 

[At_Trent]

‘Now during the sixth month, the Annunciation had taken place, and, as Mary had heard from the angel the fact of her cousin’s conceiving, she went “with haste” to congratulate her. “And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant” — filled, like the mother, with the Holy Ghost — “leaped for joy in her womb”, as if to acknowledge the presence of his Lord. Then was accomplished the prophetic utterance of the angel that the child should “be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother’s womb”. Now as the presence of any sin whatever is incompatible with the indwelling of the Holy Ghost in the soul, it follows that at this moment John was cleansed from the stain of original sin. When “Elizabeth’s full time of being delivered was come. . .she brought forth a son” (1:57); and “on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called him by his father’s name Zachary. And his mother answering, said: Not so, but he shall be called John. And they said to her: There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made sign to his father, how he would have him called. And demanding a writing table, he wrote, saying: John is his name. And they all wondered” (1:59-63). They were not aware that no better name could be applied (John, Hebrew; Jehohanan, i.e. “Jahweh hath mercy”) to him who, as his father prophesied, was to “go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; to give knowledge of salvation to his people, unto remission of their sins: through the bowels of the mercy of our God” (1:76-78). Moreover, all these events, to wit, a child born to an aged couple, Zachary’s sudden dumbness, his equally sudden recovery of speech, his astounding utterance, might justly strike with wonderment the assembled neighbours; these could hardly help asking: “What an one, think ye, shall this child be?” (1:66).’

• The Catholic Encyclopedia

This would not be baptism, but a special privilege for St. John the Baptist, it seems. It differs from Mary’s Immaculate Conception, as St. John is conceived with original sin, but sanctified before his birth during the Visitation.

I don’t know what level of weight this idea has.

Thanks for posting that… now I know

 

[Lujack]

Are you certain that is the case thistle?

I would argue that when the Church has not made clear whether a belief is something obliged upon the faithful or simply a pious tradition/theological opinion, then there cannot be a sin in not believing it.

 

[Shin]

I would argue that when the Church has not made clear whether a belief is something obliged upon the faithful or simply a pious tradition/theological opinion, then there cannot be a sin in not believing it.

How do you think a person should treat something they do not know the weight of?

 

[Shin]

I knew infant John lept in the womb, just hadn’t grasped the cleansing.

It certainly is something that provokes thought isn’t it?

I don’t understand the matter.

I hope I find more information on the idea as time goes by.

God help us, from whom all blessings flow.