St. Zachary

Biography of St. Zachary

“St. Zachary was a priest in the early Christian Church and the father of John the Baptist. He is known from the New Testament of the Bible, where he is mentioned in the Gospel of Luke. According to the Bible, Zachary was a member of the priestly division of Abijah and was chosen by lot to enter the Temple of the Lord and burn incense.

While in the Temple, an angel appeared to Zachary, announcing that his wife Elizabeth would bear a son, who would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb, and he would be called John. Zachary was initially skeptical, as both he and his wife were well advanced in age, but the angel told him that nothing is impossible with God.

John the Baptist later became known as the forerunner of Jesus Christ and he prepared the way for Jesus by preaching repentance and baptizing people in the Jordan river.

The Bible also tells that Zachary was mute and unable to speak until the birth of his son, John. He wrote down the name John on a tablet, as he was unable to speak and the people marveled.

After the birth of John, Zachary praised God in a hymn known as the Benedictus, which is recorded in the Gospel of Luke. This hymn is still recited in the Catholic Church during the liturgy of the hours and is a part of the daily prayer.

After the death of his wife, nothing else is known from the historical records of Zachary’s life or his death, he isn’t considered a martyr, but a righteous and devout man in the scripture.

St. Zachary is remembered and celebrated on the feast day of December 5th in the Catholic Church. He is considered a saint and his role in the birth of John the Baptist and his role as father of John the Baptist is honored in the Christian tradition.

His legacy continues to live on through the writings of the New Testament and the hymn he wrote, the Benedictus, which is a part of the daily prayers of the Church. He is an example of faith and obedience to God, a model of a devoted father, and a reminder of the power of God in fulfilling the impossible.

The Life of St. Zachary

St. Zachary was born at San Severino, in Calabria, of a Greek family, and succeeded Pope Gregory III to the Chair of Peter on December 5, 741. He was a man of gentle and conciliatory character. He loved the people of Rome to such a degree that he risked his life for them during the rebellion of the Dukes of Spoleto and Benevento against King Liutprand.

Preserving the Church

The King, out of respect for the sanctity and dignity of the Pope, restored all the territory which belonged to the Church of Rome, and sent back all captives without ransom. Pope Zachary successfully negotiated peace between the Lombards and the Greek empire, approved the assumption of the Frankish crown by Pepin. St. Zachary convened the Synod of Cloveshove, which was held in 747 for the reform of church discipline in England in accordance with the advice given by the Pope in imitation of Roman Church.

Pope St. Zachary restored many of the churches of Rome. He also restored the Lateran Palace; established several large domains as the settled landed possessions of the Roman Church: translated to the Church of St. George in Velabro the head of the martyr St. George, which was found during the repairs to the Lateran Palace; carried on theological studies, and translated the Dialogues of St. Gregory the Great into Greek, which were largely distributed in the East. Pope Zachary proved himself to be an excellent, capable, zealous, charitable successor of St. Peter. He died March 752, and was buried in St. Peter’s Cathedral.

Popular St. Zachary Medal and St. Zachary Rosary

Prayer to St. Zachary

    Dear Saint Zachary, we pray that you will intercede for us. May we grow to be like you, a gentle and wise soul. Please pray for us, Saint Zachary, that the Lord will protect us and that we will have a long and healthy life. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

Prayer to St. Zachary

O St. Zachary, you were a faithful servant of God and a loving father to John the Baptist. Your unwavering devotion to the Lord serves as an inspiration to us all. We ask for your intercession in our lives, that we may grow closer to God and live a life filled with love, hope, and peace. Help us to always trust in the Lord’s plan for our lives, just as you did. Amen.

St. Zachary, Patron of Fathers

Dear St. Zachary, you were a loving and devoted father to John the Baptist. We ask for your intercession on behalf of all fathers, that they may lead their families with wisdom, love, and courage. May they be good examples to their children and guide them in their faith. Help them to always be mindful of their responsibilities as fathers and to lead their families with grace and strength. Amen.

St. Zachary, Intercessor for Expectant Mothers

St. Zachary, you were the father of John the Baptist, who was born to an elderly and expectant mother. We pray for your intercession on behalf of all expectant mothers. May they feel your comfort and support during this special time in their lives. May they be blessed with good health and a safe delivery, and may their babies be born healthy and strong. Help them to trust in God’s plan for their lives and the lives of their children. Amen.

St. Zachary, Protector of Those in Need of Hope

St. Zachary, you trusted in God’s plan for your life and the life of your son, even when the future seemed uncertain. We ask for your protection and guidance for those who are in need of hope. May they find comfort in your example and trust in God’s plan for their lives. Help us to always be a source of hope and encouragement for those who are struggling, and may they find the strength to endure their trials through faith in the Lord. Amen.

St. Zachary: Patron Saint of

St. Zachary is the patron saint of fatherhood, grandparents, and bishops. He is venerated for his faith, his role as a father, and his contributions to the Church.

Zachary was the father of John the Baptist, who was known for his role in preparing the way for Jesus Christ. In the Christian tradition, John the Baptist is considered a prophet who announced the coming of the Messiah. Zachary’s faith and trust in God allowed him to believe that he would have a son, even in old age, and that his son would play a significant role in God’s plan.

In addition, Zachary served as a bishop in Jerusalem and was known for his piety and wisdom. He was a respected religious leader, and his example of faith and leadership continues to inspire others.

For these reasons, St. Zachary has become a powerful symbol of fatherhood, grandparents, and bishops. He is revered as a model of faith, wisdom, and devotion, and is invoked by those seeking guidance and strength in these areas.

Reflection on the feast day of St. Zachary

The feast day of St. Zachary is celebrated on December 5th.

St. Zachary is best known as the father of John the Baptist and a minor figure in the New Testament. He is featured in the gospel of Luke, where it says that he was a priest and that an angel appeared to him and told him that his wife would bear him a son, despite their advanced age, and that he would be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb.

As we celebrate the feast day of St. Zachary, we are reminded of the importance of faith and trust in God’s plan. Zachary’s story teaches us that God’s plans for us are often beyond our understanding and that his ways are not always the same as our ways. Zachary was told that he would have a son in his old age, something that was biologically impossible, but he had faith that with God nothing is impossible.

St. Zachary’s story also highlights the importance of being open to God’s surprises. Zachary was a righteous and devout man, yet he could not have foreseen the great honor that God had in store for him. He teaches us that God’s surprises and blessings come to those who are open to them, and that we should never limit what God can do in our lives.

The role of St. Zachary in the birth of John the Baptist is also significant, as John the Baptist was the one who prepared the way for Jesus and announced his coming to the world. Zachary’s faith and trust in God allowed him to be a part of the preparation for the coming of the Messiah. This reminds us that our small actions, fueled by faith and trust in God, can have a big impact in the world.

In conclusion, let us reflect on the example of St. Zachary and strive to have faith and trust in God’s plan, even when it seems impossible. Let us be open to God’s surprises and blessings, and remember that our small actions, fueled by faith and trust in God, can have a big impact in the world. Let us be reminded that our role in God’s plan may be small, but it is important and that we should always be ready to fulfill it.

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Saints Similar to St. Zachary

You may also be interested in reading the St. Pope Zachary. St. Zachary and St. Pope Zachary shared the name Zachary and were both significant figures in the early Christian Church, with St. Pope Zachary serving as a pope. Next up: Biography of St. Zita

 

Also check out our handmade St. Zachary Medal and St. Zachary Rosary and St. Zachary Rosary Bracelet .