Sts. Elizabeth and Zachariah
Elizabeth and Zachariah are Biblical saints and the parents of John the Baptist. Elizabeth was descended from the line of Aaron, and Zachariah was a priest. Both were good people who wished for a child, even into advanced age.
The Angel Gabriel appeared to Zachariah and announced that he and Elizabeth would have a son and name him John. Zachariah questioned and did not believe the angel, and so was struck dumb until John's naming day when he insisted that they call the boy John, even though he had no relatives with that name. He prophesied John's mission as the Baptizer by saying,
" And you, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us to shine on those who sit in darkness and death's shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace." Luke 1:76-79
Elizabeth was the first to hear of the Virgin Mary (her kinswoman) being pregnant with the Messiah. Her words to Mary are now part of the Hail Mary prayer. Mary's response to her is a beautiful prayer of joy that we now call the Magnificat.
Links of Interest:
The Hail Mary Prayer from About.com
The Magnificat Prayer from Women for Faith and Family
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