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How did fasting distinguish the followers of St. John the Baptist?
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St. John the Baptist
John the Baptist in the Wilderness, oil on panel by Geertgen tot Sint Jans, 15th century; in the GemƤldegalerie, Berlin.
The followers of St. John the Baptist were distinguished by their practice of penitent fasting that went beyond the requirements of Jewish Law. In addition to this rigorous fasting, the disciples were characterized by the observance of special prayers. These ascetic practices were part of a broader commitment to a righteous life in preparation for the imminent judgment of God, which John preached throughout the Jordan valley.1