CCC 719 John the Baptist is “more than a prophet.”1 In him, the Holy Spirit concludes his speaking through the prophets. John completes the cycle of prophets begun by Elijah.2 He proclaims the imminence of the consolation of Israel; he is the “voice” of the Consoler who is coming.3 As the Spirit of truth will also do, John “came to bear witness to the light.”4 In John’s sight, the Spirit thus brings to completion the careful search of the prophets and fulfills the longing of the angels.5 “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God. .. Behold, the Lamb of God.”6
CCC 754 “The Church is, accordingly, a sheepfold, the sole and necessary gateway to which is Christ. It is also the flock of which God himself foretold that he would be the shepherd, and whose sheep, even though governed by human shepherds, are unfailingly nourished and led by Christ himself, the Good Shepherd and Prince of Shepherds, who gave his life for his sheep.”7
1 Lk 7:26.
2 Cf. Mt 11:13-14.
3 Jn 1:23; cf. Isa 40:1-3.
4 Jn 1:7; cf. Jn 15:26; 5:35.
5 Cf. 1 Pet 1:10-12.
6 Jn 1:33-36.
7 LG 6; cf. Jn 10:1-10; Isa 40:11; Ezek 34:11-31; Jn 10:11; 1 Pet 5:4; Jn 10:11-16.