Saint John the Baptist
- Feast
- 24 June
- Patron of
- baptism, converts, French Canadians, Puerto Rico and Florence
The Gospels tell us John was the son of the priest Zechariah and Elizabeth, a kinswoman of Mary, born when his parents were old. He lived in the wilderness of Judea, dressed in camel hair, and called people to repent and be baptised in the Jordan, where he baptised Jesus. Herod Antipas imprisoned him and had him beheaded.
He pointed to Jesus with the words "Behold the Lamb of God", and his birth is one of only three kept in the Church's calendar, with Christ's and Mary's. Painters show him lean and rough in a camel skin, and by long tradition give him a reed cross and a lamb; others paint Salome with his head on a platter.
John's whole life was pointing others towards Christ, which makes him a fitting patron at baptism and at confirmation alike. He suits a young person who will need to tell the truth when it costs something, as it cost him his life.
18 prints of Saint John the Baptist
Saint John the Baptist
Catholic Art Studio
From $33.26
Christ between the Virgin and St John the Baptist
Jan Gossaert
From $31.52
Christ blessing Saint John the Baptist
Moretto da Brescia
From $44.13
Christ Embracing Saint John the Baptist
Guido Reni
From $32.98
John the Baptist
Titian
From $32.98
Madonna and Child with Saint John the Baptist
Eustache Le Sueur
From $44.47
Madonna and Child with St. John
Domenichino
From $31.52
Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist and Three Angels
Bastiano Mainardi
From $31.52
Saint John the Baptist
Titian
From $33.26
Salome with the Head of John the Baptist
Bernardino Luini
From $31.52
The Holy Family with Sts. Francis, Anthony, Magdalene, John the Baptist and Elizabeth
Bonifazio Veronese
From $32.98
The Holy Family with the Infant Saint John the Baptist (Madonna Stroganoff)
Agnolo Bronzino
From $31.52
The Madonna and Child with Saints James the Greater, Jerome, the Infant Baptist and Catherine of Alexandria
Bonifazio Veronese
From $32.98
The Madonna and Child with Saints John the Baptist, Elizabeth and Catherine of Alexandria
Bonifazio Veronese
From $44.13
The Saint John Altarpiece
Rogier van der Weyden
From $53.18
The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne and Saint John the Baptist
Leonardo da Vinci
From $31.52
The Virgin and Child with Saint John
Filippino Lippi
From $32.98
The Virgin and Child with Saint John
Antonio Solario
From $56.29
Questions
When is the feast of Saint John the Baptist?
The feast of Saint John the Baptist is kept on 24 June.
What is Saint John the Baptist the patron saint of?
Saint John the Baptist is the patron saint of baptism, converts, French Canadians, Puerto Rico and Florence.
Is Saint John the Baptist a good confirmation saint?
John's whole life was pointing others towards Christ, which makes him a fitting patron at baptism and at confirmation alike. He suits a young person who will need to tell the truth when it costs something, as it cost him his life.
Is Saint John the Baptist the patron saint of people named John?
Yes. Saint John the Baptist is the traditional name saint for anyone called John, Jean, Juan, Giovanni, Ivan and Sean, and the feast on 24 June is their name day.
Choosing for a confirmation? See Confirmation gifts. Any two Charcoal Saints are 15% off.
Other patron saints
AgnesAnneAnthony of PaduaAugustine of HippoBenedict of NursiaBernadette SoubirousCarlo AcutisCatherine of SienaCeciliaChristopherClare of AssisiDominicDymphnaFaustina KowalskaFrancis of AssisiFrancis XavierGeorgeGerard MajellaGianna Beretta MollaIgnatius of LoyolaJoan of ArcJohn of the CrossJohn Paul IIJosephJosephine BakhitaJuan DiegoJude ThaddeusKateri TekakwithaLucyMartin de PorresMary MagdaleneMaximilian KolbeMichael the ArchangelMonicaNicholasPadre PioPatrickPaulPeregrine LaziosiPeterPier Giorgio FrassatiRita of CasciaSebastianTeresa of ÁvilaTeresa of CalcuttaThérèse of LisieuxThomas AquinasJeromeCatherine of AlexandriaMartin of Tours