Zechariah and Elizabeth in his Gospel — for he gives us some thought-provoking glimpses into these parents of St. John the Baptist that cannot be found elsewhere in the Bible.

The angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah in Solomon’s Temple. This exchange about John the Baptist's conception is depicted in this painting created by Renaissance artist Domenico Ghirlandai in 1490.

Is Elizabeth or Zechariah still alive when John the Baptist, their son, sets out on his ministry? Scripture does not say. But surely, as he grew, they worried what God had in store for him.

Zechariah is dumb. So, when asked what name he would give his son, he wrote on the tablet—John. His tongue was loosened and he burst into a “prophetic exhortation” about the greatness of God.

The Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist is June 24, and the Memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist is Aug. 29, so it’s an excellent time to catch up on him. Here are 11 ...