Today is the Feast of the one whom the Lord called the greatest man ever born of woman.
Here is his entry in the 2005 Martyrologium Romanum:
Sollemnitas Nativitatis sancti Ioannis Baptistae, Praecursoris Domini, qui iam in utero matris, Spiritu Sancto repletae, exsultavit gaudio ad humanae salutis adventum cuiusque ipsa nativitas Dominum Christum prophetavit; et tanta gratia refulsit in eo, ut ipse Dominus de illo diceret neminem maiorem inter natos mulierum Ioanne Baptista.
I’ll let you readers provide your own perfect versions.
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“The Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist, the Forerunner of the Lord, who, already filled with the Holy Spirit in his mother’s womb, exulted with joy for the Advent of human salvation and of Him Whose birth he prophesied, the Lord Christ; and so much grace shone in him that the Lord would say of him that there was none greater among those born of woman than John the Baptist.”
I’ve no doubt been beaten to it, but ….
The solemnity of the Birth of the sainted John the Baptist, the Precursor of the Lord, who, when still in his mother’s womb, filled with the Holy Spirit, exulted with joy at the advent of man’s salvation and whose birth itself presaged Christ the Lord; and such great grace shone in him that the Lord himself said about him that there was no one greater among those born of women than John the Baptist.
Beginning with Google Translate, which is woefully inadequate, then trying to figure out the sense of it:
“The Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist, Precursor of the Lord, who, while still in the womb of his mother, was filled with the Holy Spirit and rejoiced in the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, as was prophesied for the salvation of humans; and so great a grace shone in him that the Lord says of John the Baptist, as of no other, that he is the greatest among those born of women.”
Very nice, everyone. I guess my only contribution is to note that, interestingly enough, it is John’s *mother* who is filled with the Holy Spirit, not him: “in utero matris…repletAE..” Makes for awkward translation into English, to be sure! I do hope all of you enjoy this wonderful festal day. And I wish you a very happy name day, Fr. Z.
P. “Oportet me minui” C.
My Latin is rather rusty, but I attempted it anyway:
The Solemnity of the Birth of holy John the Baptist, the precursor of the Lord, who even in the womb of (his) mother, (she being) filled with the Holy Spirit, exulted with joy for the coming of human salvation and whose very birth foretold Christ the Lord; and much grace shone in him, so that the Lord himself said concerning him, that (there is) no one greater among those born of women than John the Baptist.
Etiam, mihi felix dies natalis. And happy name day, Father!
I am no expert translator, but I would suggest rendering “nativitatis” as “nativity”, as is done in The Roman Missal, Third Edition.