St. Elizabeth

What we know of St. Elizabeth comes from the Gospel, the book of Luke, in particular. In Luke, Elizabeth, a daughter of the line of Aaron, and the wife of Zechariah, was "righteous before God" and was "blameless" but childless. Elizabeth is also a cousin to the Virgin Mary. Zechariah, desiring a child, went to pray in the temple and was told by the angel Gabriel, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born." (Luke 1:13-15).

Zechariah was skeptical because both himself and his wife were elderly. For his skepticism, Zechariah was rendered mute until the prophecy had been fulfilled. Elizabeth became pregnant shortly thereafter and she rejoiced. Gabriel then visited the Virgin Mary at Nazareth, telling her that she would conceive of the Holy Spirit and become the mother of Jesus. Mary then visited Elizabeth, and her baby leapt in her womb. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth proclaimed to Mary, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!" (Luke 1:41-45).

Mary visited with Elizabeth for three months, both women pregnant with child. After Mary returned home, Elizabeth gave birth to a son and named him John. This child was chosen by God to be John the Baptist. John would baptize Christ as an example to all, that all must be reborn of water and spirit. Although Elizabeth's neighbors assumed the child would be named Zechariah, her husband insisted that John be his name. This astonished the neighbors for there were no men named John in Elizabeth's family, but Zechariah's insistence ended the debate. At the moment, Zechariah insisted that they obey the will of God, and name him John, his speech returned.

After this, there is no more mention in the Bible about Elizabeth. There are mentions of Elizabeth in the apocryphal works, but these are not within the cannon of the Bible. In the Apocrypha, it mentions that her husband, Zechariah, was murdered in the temple. St. Elizabeth's feast day is celebrated on November 5.

Liturgical Celebration

The feast of St. Elizabeth is celebrated on November 5th, during the autumn season when the Church reflects on the themes of harvest and thanksgiving. This feast is celebrated as a memorial in the Roman Catholic Church, recognizing Elizabeth's importance as the mother of John the Baptist and her role in salvation history. The feast falls during a time when many people are reflecting on the blessings of family and the gift of children, making it an ideal time to remember Elizabeth's example of faithful motherhood and trust in God's promises. The feast provides an opportunity to honor Elizabeth's memory and to reflect on how we can trust in God's timing and remain faithful to His promises in our own lives. It is also a time to pray for families, for those who are waiting for children, and for all mothers who are raising their children in the faith.

Traditions and Customs

On the feast day of St. Elizabeth, many people participate in special prayers and devotions to honor her memory and seek her intercession. Churches, particularly those with connections to family ministries or pro-life work, hold special Masses and services. Many families gather to pray for their children and for the gift of children, asking for St. Elizabeth's intercession in helping them to trust in God's timing and to remain faithful to His promises. The day is also marked by prayers for those who are struggling with infertility or waiting for children, asking for Elizabeth's intercession in helping them to remain hopeful and faithful. Many people also take time to reflect on their own families and to pray for the grace to raise their children in the faith, following Elizabeth's example of holy motherhood. The feast is also a time to reflect on how we can trust in God's promises and remain faithful to Him even when our circumstances seem difficult or impossible.

Prayer and Devotion

The feast day is an excellent time to pray for the gift of faith and the ability to trust in God's promises even when they seem impossible. Many people make special petitions for families and for those who are waiting for children, asking for St. Elizabeth's intercession in helping them to remain hopeful and faithful. The day is also a time to reflect on the importance of prayer and to pray for the grace to persevere in prayer even when we do not see immediate results. St. Elizabeth's feast day encourages us to remember that God hears our prayers and answers them in His perfect timing, and that we should never give up on prayer. It is also a time to pray for the grace to be faithful to God regardless of our circumstances and to trust that He is working all things for our good. The feast reminds us that our faithfulness in difficult times prepares us for the blessings that God has in store for us.