On June 24, the Church celebrates the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. His birth is one of only three that are celebrated in our Church calendar. The other births we remember are Jesus’ (12/25) and Mary’s (9/8). John’s role in preparing the way for Jesus is considered so important that his birthday is a solemnity—the highest level of feast day—in our Church Year. The children learn about John the Baptist from Sunday Gospels during Advent and when the Baptism of Our Lord is celebrated on a Sunday in early January.
Families may use these ideas to celebrate this feast day at home:
- Have a birthday celebration for Saint John—complete with cake and song.
- Share a short video that tells the story of the birth of John the Baptist.
- Do an echo pantomime of the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth.
- Use the story of the Visitation to teach your children courtesy and helpfulness.
- Do a Bible search about the Baptism of Jesus.
Find out about some other summer saints here.
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