He Defended Marriage With His Blood | St. John the Baptist

About this sermon

St. John the Baptist defended the sanctity of marriage with his own blood. The Church honors the holy Forerunner in an extraordinary way. The Roman Rite celebrates both his Nativity and his Beheading, while the Byzantine tradition commemorates six events connected with his life and relics. Standing upon the boundary between the Old and New Testaments, St. John closes the age of the prophets and opens the way for the apostles. He was prophet, Forerunner, baptizer, and martyr—a burning and shining light who fearlessly condemned sin wherever he found it. John confronted Herod directly: “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Neither royal power nor the threat of death could make him compromise God’s law. This sermon presents St. John as a powerful patron of those who defend the indissolubility of sacramental marriage. It also examines the Church’s perennial teaching concerning divorce, attempted remarriage, repentance, Confession, and worthy reception of Holy Communion. From Herod’s unlawful union to Henry VIII’s rebellion, rejecting the truth about marriage has produced bitter consequences. Truth does not change because Christ—the fountain of truth—does not change. Christians must therefore be more than believers in word alone. Fidelity requires good works, penance, courage, dedication, and sacrifice. Through the intercession of St. John the Baptist and Our Lady, Queen of Prophets and Martyrs, may we remain faithful to truth and defend it courageously. Holy Forerunner and Baptist John, pray for us! 00:00 Feast of the Beheading of St. John 00:30 His unique place among the saints 00:38 Two feasts in the Roman Rite 00:55 St. John in the Byzantine tradition 01:20 His six Eastern feast days 01:35 Between the Old and New Testaments 01:43 Prophet, Forerunner, baptizer, and martyr 01:59 A burning and shining light 02:06 St. John fearlessly condemns sin 02:32 “It is not lawful for you” 02:38 The severed head speaks in legend 02:55 Courage strengthened by grace 03:14 Jeremiah’s commission to speak fearlessly 04:02 “I spoke before kings” 04:19 Knowing when to proclaim the truth 04:25 Patron of those defending marriage 04:40 Marriage and Holy Communion 04:56 The problem with “divorced and remarried” 05:19 The indissolubility of sacramental marriage 05:36 Truth does not change 05:43 Henry VIII and the rejection of marriage 06:08 The need for courageous clergy 06:23 Josephus and Herod’s punishment 06:48 The need for repentance and penance 06:57 St. John’s titles in the liturgy 07:14 Prophet, angel, apostle, and martyr 07:39 Love, dedication, and sacrifice 08:03 A Byzantine exhortation 08:28 Christians in deeds—not words alone 08:46 Good works and the Last Judgment 09:11 Prayer to Our Lady for courage 09:36 Subscribe and support Sensus Fidelium For more please visit https://www.themarianfranciscans.org/ Please sign up at this link https://lifecrusade.org/ #StJohnTheBaptist #CatholicSaints #CatholicHomily #Martyrdom #FeastDay #CatholicFaith #SensusFidelium 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ 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/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴

Topics

• Marriage