The holy church celebrates the birth-tide of three people: of the Saviour, who is God and man, and of John his herald, and of the blessed Mary his mother. Of other chosen people, who have gone to God\u2019s kingdom through martyrdom or other holy merits, we celebrate as their birth-tide their last day, which, after the fulfilment of all their labours, bore them victorious to eternal life; and the day on which they were born to this present life we let pass unheeded, because they came here to hardships and temptations and various dangers. The day is worthy of memory for God\u2019s servants which sends his saints, after victory won, from all afflictions to eternal joy, and that is their true birth \u2013 not tearful, as the first, but rejoicing in eternal life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the birth-tide of Christ is to be celebrated with great care, through which came our redemption. John is the ending of the old law and the beginning of the new; as the Saviour said of him, \u201cThe old law and the prophets were till the coming of John.\u201d Afterwards began the preaching of the gospel. Now, because of his great holiness, his birth is honoured, as the archangel promised his father with these words, \u201cMany shall rejoice in his birth-tide.\u201d Mary, parent of God, is like to none other, for she is maiden and mother, and bore him who created her and all creation: therefore she is most worthy that her birth should be honourably celebrated\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was sent before the Lord, as the day-star goes before the sun, as the beadle goes before the judge, as the Old Testament before the New; because the old law was like a shadow, and the New Testament is the truth itself, through the grace of the Saviour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read it all<\/a>.<\/p> 24 June is the feast of the Birth of John the Baptist. It's Midsummer Day, the old date of the solstice: as medieval writers explain it, Christ's birth is celebrated at midwinter, when light begins to grow, and John's at midsummer, when it begins to wane. https:\/\/t.co\/mAkGOhSnFd<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/HNAfVlBFX8<\/a><\/p>— Eleanor Parker (@ClerkofOxford) June 24, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>