How much older was John the Baptist than Jesus?

At the time of the Annunciation and Incarnation, St. Elizabeth was already in her “sixth month” (Luke 1:36). Thus, John was about six months older than Jesus.

Was John the Baptist a disciple?

John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus. In a loose sense, he could be considered a disciple, since he followed the teachings of Jesus. However, he is not counted as one of the Apostles, or the larger group of disciples.

Why was John called John the Baptist?

John the Baptist—not to be confused with St. John the Apostle—was the forerunner to Jesus and is considered the last (and greatest) of the Prophets. His ministry consisted of teaching repentance throughout the land, and toward that end John provided a baptism of repentance. Such cerermonies in Judaism were external signs of conversion or purification, but they were absent the interior communication of grace which the sacrament of baptism would convey.

What does the dove symbolize in the Baptism account?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraph 701) states,

At the end of the flood, whose symbolism refers to Baptism, a dove released by Noah returns with a fresh olive-tree branch in its beak as a sign that the earth was again habitable. When Christ comes up from the water of his baptism, the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, comes down upon him and remains with him. The Spirit comes down and remains in the purified hearts of the baptized. In certain churches, the Eucharist is reserved in a metal receptacle in the form of a dove (columbarium) suspended above the altar. Christian iconography traditionally uses a dove to suggest the Spirit.