Saint John the Baptist Medal
From€299
Choose your materialThe face
The voice of the desert, to carry close to oneself
The Saint John the Baptist medal depicts the prophet of the Jordan, surrounded by four attributes: the lamb, the camel skin, the cross staff and the platter. Each refers to a passage in the Gospel or to a use in Christian iconography. It is available in 750 gold, 925 silver and 925 vermeil, and can accompany a baptism, communion or confirmation.
The back
The back can be engraved.
A name, a date, a few words: on the back of the medal, close to you.
The profile
1.1 mmThickness, relief included
- Diameter
- Ø 20 mm
- Overall height
- 23.4 mm
- Bail
- Round ring
The material
Choose your material.
Material
Your piece
Saint John the Baptist Medal
Gold 750/1000
- Diameter
- 20 mm
- Approximate weight
- 3.1 g
€921
Optional — a name, a date. An engraved piece is made for you: it cannot be returned.0 / 40 · 2 lines at most
The piece, measured
Dimensions
- Shape
- Round
- Diameter
- 20 mm
- Overall height
- 23.4 mm
- Thickness, relief included
- 1.1 mm
- Bail
- Round ring
Approximate weight
- Gold 750/1000
- 3.1 g
- Silver 925/1000
- 2.1 g
- Vermeil 925/1000
- 2.1 g
Dimensions taken from the workshop model; weights estimated from its volume.
The piece and its story
Who was John the Baptist, the voice of the desert?
John the Baptist is the prophet who prepares the coming of Jesus. In Mark (1, 2-8), he appears in the desert, echoing the proclamation of the messenger who prepares the way. He proclaims a baptism of repentance and baptises in the Jordan those who come to him. Mark then recounts how Jesus, coming from Nazareth, himself receives baptism from John in the Jordan (1, 9-11). This episode gives John his place in Christian history: he is not the Messiah, but points to the one who is coming. Wearing his medal means keeping close to oneself this figure of preparation, which each person can understand in their own way: a new beginning, a demand for truth, a path to open.1
What do the lamb and the cross staff signify?
The lamb designates Jesus, not a mere pastoral decoration. In the Gospel of John (1, 29 and 36), the Baptist himself names Jesus 'the Lamb of God'. The French Biblical and Archaeological School of Jerusalem connects this word to the lamb which became the emblem of John in art. The cross staff belongs to the language of images. A print from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries preserved at the MSK in Ghent shows John holding a cross while identifying Jesus as the Lamb of God: the cross therefore counts among his iconographic attributes. It does not say that John actually carried a cruciform staff. On the medal, these two attributes allow John to be recognised at first glance and recall his mission: to show Christ.238
Why a camel skin and a platter?
The camel skin comes from the text: Mark (1, 6) describes John clothed in camel hair, with a leather belt round his waist, eating locusts and wild honey. This garment speaks of life in the desert. One can read in it a sobriety, in the sense of a personal reading of this way of living. The platter recalls the end of John. According to Mark (6, 17-29), he reproaches Herod for his union with Herodias, the wife of his brother, and is then executed with his head brought on a platter. These two attributes form a contrast: one evokes the simplicity of an existence, the other the cost of a word maintained in the face of power. Each person can find courage in them, though the medal does not confer it of itself.15
What concrete righteousness does John demand?
His righteousness is read in precise gestures. In Luke (3, 10-14), the crowds ask him what to do. His answer is concrete: share clothing and food, demand nothing beyond what is fixed, renounce violence as well as abusive accusations. It is not an abstract virtue, but a way of acting in daily life. The confrontation with Herod in Mark 6 is its continuation: John does not spare the powerful. For the person who wears or receives the medal, these texts offer points of reference: a sharing, an honesty, a true word. This is a possible resonance, offered to each person, and not a quality automatically attached to the jewel.45
Giving this medal: baptism, communion, confirmation
This medal can accompany a baptism, communion, confirmation or name day feast, since John is the one who baptises in the Jordan. The choice gains in meaning when you know what you wish to associate with it: the memory of a baptism, the desire for a new start, a demand for truth. For the gift to speak, add a note explaining the attribute or episode that moves you: the lamb, the desert, the word before Herod. In terms of material, 750 gold and 925 silver are available, as well as 925 vermeil. Silver and vermeil are wiped with a soft cloth, and the medal is stored away from knocks.
When is John the Baptist celebrated, and whom does he protect?
The Catholic calendar distinguishes two dates: 24 June celebrates the nativity of John, 29 August the memorial of his martyrdom. These are not two competing dates of his birth. Nominis, the service of the Conference of Bishops of France, lists among his patronages cutlers, knife grinders and coopers. Here is a short prayer, an editorial creation and not a liturgical text: 'Saint John the Baptist, accompany those who wish to prepare a new beginning and speak with truth. Help us to act with righteousness and to keep hope in trial. Present our intention to God. Amen.'67
Your questions
- Which material to choose: gold, silver or vermeil?
- The medal is available in 750 gold, 925 silver and 925 vermeil. Gold suits a jewel that one wishes to pass down, silver suits regular and simple use. Vermeil is 925 silver plated with gold, for those who prefer the appearance of gold.
References
- 1aelf.org · bible/Mc/1
- 2aelf.org · bible/Jn/1
- 3mskgent.be · fr/collection/2014-lr-verso-b
- 4aelf.org · bible/Lc/3
- 5aelf.org · bible/Mc/6
- 6vaticannews.va · fr/vacances-liturgiques/na…e-de-st-jean-baptiste.html
- 7nominis.cef.fr · contenus/saints_1380.html
- 8ebaf.edu · 2017/05/lagneau-dans-lart-bible-en-ses-traditions
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