![]() ![]() This of course highlights in a particular way the gratuity of salvation. Although, here we have something truly special-he was consecrated in his mother’s womb. In Jeremiah we have another Old Testament figure that was “sanctified”. Paul talks about how Abraham was “justified” by his faith in the Old Testament. The Lord explains, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you I appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jer 1:5) Of course, St. The same thing is said about another Old Testament prophet: Jeremiah. In short, John was understood to have been sanctified in the womb.ĭoes this seem far-fetched? Not from a biblical perspective. Then she too, after her son was sanctified, was filled with the Holy Spirit” ( Homilies on the Gospel of Luke 7.3)īecause of this the fathers of the church such as Ambrose recognized that the John the Baptist was given the gift of grace even while still in utero. First John, still enclosed in her womb, received the Holy Spirit. The mother did not inherit the Holy Spirit first. “Elizabeth, who was filled with the Holy Spirit at that moment, received the Spirit on account of her son. Indeed, this was recognized as early as Origen (here the podcast on Origen here): However, given that John is said to be filled with the Spirit even from his mother’s womb and given that he leaps inside of her at the arrival of the Mother of the Messiah, it seems clear that his action is best understood as a kind of evidence of faith as well. Notice, being filled with the Holy Spirit here is associated with a confession of faith, Elizabeth’s. This of course plays out in the narrative in the story of the visitation:Īnd when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! (Luke 1:41–42) This is a striking statement-even as an unborn child John the Baptist would receive the Holy Spirit. In the announcement of his birth we hear that, “he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb” (Luke 1:15). ![]()
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