Decollation of St John the Baptist (29 August) ~ Dom Prosper Guéranger

About this sermon

On August 29, the Church commemorates the Decollation, or Beheading, of St. John the Baptist—the fearless Precursor who surrendered his liberty and life rather than remain silent before public sin. This reading from Dom Prosper Guéranger’s The Liturgical Year begins with the Gospel account of Herod, Herodias, and the daughter whose dance ended with the Baptist’s head upon a platter. St. John died alone in prison, the victim of corrupt passions and a cowardly ruler, because he declared: “It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.” Yet Herod could not silence him. As St. John Chrysostom observed, speech that echoes the language of Heaven becomes a safeguard of God’s rights and a stumbling block to tyranny. One tongue was severed, but countless Christian voices continue to repeat St. John’s condemnation. Guéranger also explores the mystery contained in the Baptist’s words: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” St. John was the voice preparing the way for Christ, the eternal Word. His birth coincides with the shortening of the days, while Christ’s Nativity announces their increase. The reading concludes with the antiquity of this feast, traditions concerning Herod’s punishment and Salome’s death, the history of St. John’s relics, and ancient prayers honoring the one who was baptized in his own blood for proclaiming Christ, the Truth. Holy Forerunner and Martyr John, pray for us! 00:00 Dom Guéranger’s The Liturgical Year 00:15 Gospel of St. John’s beheading 00:22 John imprisoned because of Herodias 00:30 “It is not lawful for thee” 00:55 Herod’s birthday banquet 01:27 Herodias demands the Baptist’s head 01:44 Herod’s cowardice and fatal oath 02:08 The greatest born of women dies alone 02:16 Liberty of speech before public sin 02:43 An echo of Heaven’s language 03:08 The voice Herod could not silence 03:26 “He must increase; I must decrease” 04:11 The prophets and apostles as voices 04:21 Christ, the eternal Word 05:10 The shortening and increasing days 05:28 A lesson for spiritual directors 06:08 Leading the soul to the Bridegroom 06:42 Learning to listen to God inwardly 07:31 A landmark of the liturgical year 07:40 Antiquity of the August 29 feast 08:12 The punishment of Herod Antipas 08:43 Tradition concerning Salome’s death 09:08 Burial and relics of the Forerunner 09:30 Herodias pierces St. John’s tongue 09:54 The desecration of his tomb 10:20 St. John’s relics in East and West 10:53 Ancient prayers for the Decollation 11:40 Baptized in blood for proclaiming truth 12:13 The Forerunner descends to Limbo https://sensusfidelium.com/the-liturgical-year-dom-prosper-gueranger/august/august-29-decollation-of-st-john-the-baptist/ #StJohnTheBaptist #Catholic #ChristianMartyrdom #FeastDay #CatholicSaints #LiturgicalYear #BibleHistory #christianfaith 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴