Why do Catholics believe John the Baptist was born with out original sin?

Answer 1

Catholics have long held that John the Baptist was born without original sin as they believe that he was purified from original sin while still in his mother's womb when the Blessed Virgin Mary, pregnant with the Divine Savior, visited her cousin St. Elizabeth and the baby, John, "leaped" in his mother's womb (see Luke 1:41 ff). Please note that this is entirely different from the Blessed Virgin Mary. For her, it is a defined dogma of the faith that she was conceived immaculately - without any stain of original sin ever touching her. John the Baptist was conceived in the normal way, and with original sin, but was purified before his birth NOT his conception. Plus, John being born without original sin is a pious belief, not a defined doctrine. And Our Blessed Lord, Himself, said that John the Baptist was the greatest of the Old Testament prophets and saints, exceeding even Moses and Elijah, both of whom ancient Jews commonly believed had not died but been assumed into heaven at the end of their lives.