Saints Elizabeth and Zechariah:

Feast day : 05 November

Today the Church celebrates the feast of Saints Elizabeth and Zechariah, parents of Saint John the Baptist. Zechariah was a priest who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah and his wife Elizabeth was a descendant of Aaron and a close relative of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Scripture says “Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.” Luke 1:6-7

Despite their deep sorrow, they remained committed to God and endured their suffering with grace and patience, seeking God’s intervention in complete faith and hope. Their prayers were answered and the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah to announce the birth of their son Saint John the Baptist who would ‘go with the spirit and power of Elijah’ to prepare the people for the coming of the Savior. On hearing this, Zechariah doubted it and was rendered mute till Saint John was born; after which he prophesied about God's fulfilment of His promise for our salvation and the mission of his son, Saint John the Baptist (Luke 1 : 5-80)..Read here