The Church prepares for tomorrow’s celebration of the feast of St. John the Baptist, the Precursor or Forerunner of the Messias. This feast has kept its Vigil by reason of the importance of the exceptional mission that was John the Baptist’s. “The Prophet of the Most High,” was foretold by Jeremias and Isaias; indeed, in his mother’s womb, he was destined to herald our Savior and prepare souls for His coming. The Archangel Gabriel had announced to Zachary that “many would rejoice” in the birth of John the Baptist; indeed, not only the parents and neighbors, who celebrated the event, are included in this prophecy; it extends to all Christians, whom the Church summons every year to celebrate the birth of the Forerunner of our Lord.