«He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will go before him... to prepare a people fit for the Lord» (Lk 1,16-17)
On this day the great Forerunner comes into the world,
issuing from Elizabeth's barren womb.
He is the greatest of the prophets;
none other has arisen like him,
for he is the lamp who comes directly before the greatest of lights
and the voice who goes before the Word.
To Christ he leads the Church, his bride,
and prepares a chosen people for the Lord,
purifying them by water in preparation for the Spirit.
From Zachary this young plant is born,
the most beautiful of the sons of the desert,
herald of repentance,
the one who purifies with water those who have strayed,
and who, as forerunner, bears the message of the resurrection
even to the dwelling of the dead
and intercedes for our souls.
From your mother's womb, O blessed John,
you have been prophet and forerunner of Christ:
you leapt for joy on seeing the Queen
approaching the servant,
bearing before you Him whom, without mother, the Father conceives from all eternity.
O you, who were born from a barren woman and an aged man
according to the promise of the Lord:
beseech him to take pity on our souls.
(Biblical references : Mt 11,11; Jn 5,35; Mt 3,3; Jn 3,29; Lk 1,17; 3,16; Mk 6,28; Lk 1,40; 1,13)
St. Vincent de Paul