The Nativity of St. John the Baptist
 Isaiah 40:1- | Acts 13:13-2 | Luke 1:57-8

The ancient records tell us that Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist about six months before her cousin Mary gave birth to JESUS. Therefore we celebrate John’s nativity (birthday) six months before Christmas. John’s father was a priest, but John’s call was instead to be a prophet. He lived an ascetic life (i.e., denying himself comforts and pleasures), called people to repentance, and pointed his disciples to Jesus, whom he announced to be “the Lamb of God, who takes away the world’s sin.".