Saints Zechariah and Elizabeth
Feast day: September 23
Zechariah and Elizabeth, an elderly couple to whom God gave a son, Saint John the Baptist (23/09)
Who are they?
Zechariah and Elizabeth were the parents of Saint John the Baptist. Elizabeth was also a relative of Mary (cf. Lk 1:36). The Gospel of Saint Luke tells us: “there was a priest named Zechariah of the priestly division of Abijah; his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth” (Lk 1:5).
Their story
The couple lived holy lives and kept all of God’s commandments. But Elizabeth could not have children, and both of them were already old (cf. Lk 1:7).
One day, it was Zechariah’s turn to go into the Temple to offer incense, while the people prayed outside (cf. Lk 1:8-10). Suddenly the angel Gabriel appeared and said: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John.” (Lk 1:13). Zechariah did not believe right away, so he was unable to speak until the day the angel’s words came true (cf. Lk 1:18-20).
Elizabeth became pregnant. When she was six months pregnant, the angel brought the news to Mary, who then hurried to the hill country to visit her (cf. Lk 1:26, 39-40). As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child in her womb leaped, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit (cf. Lk 1:41). She cried out: “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” (Lk 1:42).
She gave birth to a son (cf. Lk 1:57). On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the baby, the relatives wanted to name him after his father, Zechariah (cf. Lk 1:59). Elizabeth said he must be named John. Zechariah asked for a small tablet and wrote: “John is his name” (Lk 1:63). At that moment he could speak again, and he praised God (cf. Lk 1:64). He sang a song of praise that the Church still sings every morning at Morning Prayer, called the Benedictus (cf. Lk 1:68-79).
Why does the Church remember them?
The couple lived righteous lives, prayed patiently for many years, and gladly accepted God’s plan. The Church remembers them in the Roman Martyrology as the parents who raised the prophet who prepared the way for Jesus.
A lesson for you
- When you ask God for something and don’t see it yet, keep praying patiently like Zechariah and Elizabeth. God does not always give exactly what you ask for, but he always answers with his wisdom and love.
- Thank your grandparents and parents for teaching you to know God.
Identifying marks
- A baby wrapped in white in Elizabeth’s arms: John the Baptist, the son God gave the couple in their old age.
- A small incense burner with a thin wisp of smoke: Zechariah was a priest, offering incense in the Temple when the angel brought him the good news (cf. Lk 1:8-13).
- An old man with a white beard, a white linen robe, a white head wrap and a belt striped blue, red and purple: the simple clothing of an ordinary priest of that time, not of the high priest.
- An old woman with white hair, a white shawl and a moss-green cloak: Elizabeth was already old when she had her child.
- Three faint halos over all three heads: the Church honors the couple as righteous people, and believes that John was filled with the Holy Spirit even in his mother’s womb (cf. Lk 1:15).
- A stone house and olive-covered hills of Judea behind them: according to the Gospel, the couple lived in the hill country of Judea (cf. Lk 1:39-40).
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