Today, 24 June, the feast of St. John is celebrated, the holy symbol of bonfires in the June holidays. The day is celebrated by the public with lots of dances and typical foods, as well as praying to St. John the Baptist to honor the saint and celebrate his day. Discover the story of the saint responsible for the baptism of Jesus Christ and the sacred prayer for the intercession of St. John!
History of San Giovanni
Unlike many other saints, celebrated on dates that coincide with the days of their death, São João started being celebrated on June 24 because this is the date of his birth. It is said that the night she came into the world, Isabel, her mother, erected a stake and lit a fire so that her cousin Maria would know what had happened.
Isabel was considered sterile because she was already old and had never been pregnant. Then, the birth of John heralded a new period – preceding the arrival of Jesus – in which women became fertile and prophetic power spread more and more.
It is said that, thanks to Elizabeth’s faith, the angel Gabriel was seen by her husband, Zechariah. The deity said that she would have a son and that the name would be John. However, not believing the angel’s prophecy, Zechariah was left speechless and, after some time, his wife became pregnant according to the heavenly warning. The bonfire and the auction used by Isabel to announce the arrival of her son have become a tradition and are elements present in the festival of São João! In addition, lots of music, dances and typical foods punctuate the party throughout Brazil.
St. John the Baptist in adulthood
At some point in his life, St. John resided in the wilderness to be able to pray and make sacrifices for God to forgive the sins of the faithful. Because it was a place with few options for survival, João lived with great difficulty, but his faith was greater than anything else. The testimony of him reached the ears of several people, who considered him a prophet and, thus, began to follow in his footsteps. In this way, St. John was able to preach the coming of the Savior and was able to baptize several faithful in the Jordan River.
The Bible tells us that, even without having any sin, Jesus was with John to also be baptized, as were the others who were waiting there. For a moment John the Baptist hesitated, he was after all before the Son of God. But he was soon moved by the example of Christ’s confession. Jesus also had a great admiration for John the Baptist, which can be proved by the Holy Scriptures, in the book of Matthew 11, 7-11 and 14-15: “Truly I tell you that among those born of women there was no greater than John the Baptist. And if you want to welcome him, he himself is Elijah who must come. Whoever has an ear, listen! “Jesus said to the crowd.
So, no matter where you are, celebrate the saint with an open heart, with a lot of faith and hope through prayer.
Prayer of St. John the Baptist
“O glorious Saint John the Baptist, prince of the prophets, forerunner of the divine redeemer, firstborn of the grace of Jesus and of the intercession of his most holy Mother, who were great before the Lord, for the stupendous gifts of grace with which you were wonderfully enriched by the mother’s dinner. , and for your admirable virtues, reach me from Jesus, I ardently pray that you give me the grace to love and serve him with extreme affection and dedication until death. Reach me too, my sublime protector, singular devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who for your love went quickly to the house of your mother Elizabeth, to be free from original sin and filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. If you get me these two graces, as I hope so much from your great goodness and from your powerful help, I am sure that, by loving Jesus and Mary to death, I will save my soul and in heaven with you and with all the angels and saints I will love you. and I will praise you to Jesus and Mary amid eternal joys and delights. Amen”
Source: Terra
Benjamin Smith is a fashion journalist and author at Gossipify, known for his coverage of the latest fashion trends and industry insights. He writes about clothing, shoes, accessories, and runway shows, providing in-depth analysis and unique perspectives. He’s respected for his ability to spot emerging designers and trends, and for providing practical fashion advice to readers.
