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As St. Luke relates in his Gospel, Zachary was a Jewish priest, and his wife Elizabeth a descendant of Aaron. The devout couple suffered from infertility, until the angel Gabriel appeared to Zachary in the temple and announced that Elizabeth would bear a son named John, who would be a mighty prophet. Zachary expressed doubt, since he and Elizabeth were now elderly, and the angel punished the priest by striking him dumb until John’s birth. Elizabeth was a close cousin of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and after the Annunciation Our Lady made a long journey to stay with Elizabeth, who was then six months pregnant. The infant John the Baptist famously leapt in his mother’s womb and was purified of sin at the sound of Our Lady’s greeting. With the help of Our Lady, Elizabeth delivered her son, and insisted that he be named John, not Zachary like his father. The mute Zachary confirmed this by writing down the name “John”, at which point his voice was restored and he delivered his great canticle called the Benedictus, which the Church sings during the morning hour of Lauds. After the birth of St. John there is no certain history of Elizabeth and Zachary, though the Greeks believe that Zachary died a martyr for the faith.
ST. ZACHARY, priest and prophet, father of blessed John the Baptist.
Also, St. Elizabeth, mother of the same most holy precursor.
At Terracina, in Campania, the birthday [into heaven] of the holy martyrs, Felix, priest, and Eusebius, monk. The latter having buried the holy martyrs Julian and Caesarius, and converted to the faith of Christ, many whom the priest St. Felix baptized, was arrested with him, and both being led to the tribunal of the judge, who could not succeed in intimidating them, they were shut up in prison, and as they refused to offer sacrifice, were beheaded that same night.
At Emesa, in Phoenicia, during the persecution of Decius, the holy martyrs Galation, and Epistemis, his wife, who were scourged, had their hands, feet and tongue severed from their bodies, and finally consummated their martyrdom by decapitation.
Also, the holy martyrs Domninus, Theotimus, Philotheus, Silvanus, and their companions, under the emperor Maximinus.
At Milan, St. Magnus, bishop and confessor.
At Brescia, St. Dominator, bishop.
At Treves, St. Fibitius, who was made bishop of that city while filling the office of abbot.
At Orleans, in France, St. Laetus, priest and confessor.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.