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Elizabeth
was born in the Holy Land and lived in the first century. She
was the elderly cousin of the Virgin Mary, who also had a miraculous
birth experience. She was considered barren, but Archangel Gabriel
came to her and her husband Zachary and foretold the birth of
their son, John the Baptist. Zachary was instantly struck dumb,
and remained so until the baby's circumcision. One day when
the pregnant Virgin came to visit her pregnant cousin, the fetal
John jumped in his mother's womb upon recognizing Baby Jesus
inside his Aunt Mary. When Herod decreed death to all newborns,
Elizabeth fled to the foot of a mountain and begged for help;
it miraculously opened to conceal the mother and child. But
Zachary was killed, and Elizabeth raised John alone in the desert
where he remained with her until her death. Elizabeth is the
earliest example of a Church tradition to canonize the parents
of popular saints. Her feast day is November 15. |
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| St.
Elizabeth
Patron St. of
Pregnant Women |
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