June 24th - Nativity of St. John the Baptist

[icarlytradcath]

Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

By Udalricus Campiliensis († c. 1358)

(AI Translation)

The Lord specially commended blessed John when He said: "Among those born of women..."
His main dignities are:
First,  that his announcement was made in the Temple and not in the bridal chamber
Second, his announcement was made during the holy liturgical services
Third, that he was announced by the same angel as Christ.
Fourth, that at the arrival of the Mother of Christ, the blessed child leaped in his mother’s womb.
Fifth, that he was sanctified in the womb by the Holy Spirit.
Sixth, that he preached the heavenly kingdom to the great penitents, and forgiveness to sinners
Seventh, that he never lost the grace of God, keeping it even in venial matters.
Eighth, that living in great austerity, he subjected his body.
Ninth, that more than a prophet, he pointed out the Lord with his finger Tenth, that he baptized the Lord with his own hands; wherefore, when the Lord mentioned John, He exalted him above all others.

Old Testament (left)
It is read in Genesis 4: "Seth begat Enos, and he began to call upon the name of the Lord" [Gen 4:26]
Seth is interpreted as "a shoot" and signifies Zechariah, who, by the nod of God, brought forth a shoot and begat blessed John the Baptist. Enos, however, is interpreted as "invoking," and signifies blessed John, who, while in his mother's womb, recognized and invoked the Lord
He began to call upon the Lord, and from his earliest age became a refugee in the deserts, living off the harshest of food and in the harshest of clothing, remaining there for the sake of preaching. There, amidst the disturbances and the twofold viper of the world and the flesh, he began to call upon the name of the Lord manfully, even becoming consoler and a preacher unto others, and so he continued until his own consummation, that he might receive the heavenly prize through the palm of martyrdom, so that we celebrate not just his martyrdom, but even his Nativity.

Old Testament (right)
The wife of Manoah bore him a son, Samson, who from birth they dedicated to the service of the Lord. Manoah is interpreted as 'rest,' signifying Zechariah, who found rest when he was struck mute and recognized his son John. Samson, meaning "illuminating them", signifies John. Serving those who are faithful and believing, he illuminated them so wondrously, preparing them through baptism for Christ. And that same Holy Spirit, who had filled holy John before his birth, began this work and perfected it from within, and it remains in this work of preparing men to receive Christ. And just as Samson was a judge, so in the Last Judgement shall John stand and judge alongside Christ.

Nature (left)
Isidore writes that the almond tree clothes itself with blossoms before all other trees. For just as the almond blossoms before all other trees, so did the blessed John the Baptist bring forth the flowers of virtue outwardly, through the fecundation of the Spirit. In his infancy, before all men, and before the Holy One—which is to say, the One who was to be born after him—he showed what holiness is; and he brought forth heavenly flowers of holiness to signify how greater the fruits of his adulthood would be.

The almond is of neither gender, or is its core of one sole nature, for it is both masculine and feminine; so this flowering almond, with fruits full of divine grace, John, was a bridge for both males and females, and a medium among all created men, and through his holiness he reached and spoke with all states of men, leading them to repentance and holy living. May we, who were also baptized by the Church, join John and his holy disciples, so that we may bless God for eternity.

Nature (right)
The Experimenter and the Liber Rerum say that the snail is generated in the mud at the bottom of sea by the rain, moves slowly, carries a shell upon itself, climbs to the summits of trees, and leaves tracks behind as it moves.
This signifies the blessed John the Baptist, who was generated by the rain of grace, so that as a man, through divine grace cooperating with him, he moved slowly - that is, with humility - and while still a boy, fled to seek the deserts. He carried a shell upon himself, the justice of God. He climbed to the summit of the tree, being of greater holiness than all the saints and angels (N.T. obviously excepting the Blessed Virgin). And he left a trace behind him, which means the authority and fame he had owing to his piety, good works, and perfection in holiness and justice.