St John Chrystostom (27 January): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

On January 27, the Church honors St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople and Doctor of the Church—the “Golden Mouth” whose preaching, holiness, and fearless reform changed cities… and provoked powerful enemies. In this reading from Fr. Alban Butler’s Lives of the Saints, you’ll hear Chrysostom’s story unfold: his upbringing in Antioch, his deep conversion and ascetic discipline, his years of monastic severity, his astonishing preaching ministry, and his elevation to Constantinople—where he confronted corruption, defended the poor, and endured betrayal, exile, and suffering for the truth. His final witness ends with the famous doxology: “Glory be to God for all things.” If you’re building a daily saints habit (or studying early Church history), this is one of the most powerful biographies you can hear. 📌 What you’ll learn in this episode Why John was called “Chrysostom” (“Golden Mouth”) How his mother shaped his faith and discipline The monastic roots behind his pastoral courage His reforms, charity, and defense of the poor The political and ecclesial conflict that led to exile His holy death and the later translation of his relics 00:00 — Who is St. John Chrysostom (“Golden Mouth”)? 00:56 — Birth in Antioch; family and early formation 04:00 — Turning from the stage & worldly life 05:06 — Ascetic discipline, humility, and “the art of silence” 07:00 — Friendship with Basil; vocational discernment 08:27 — Retreat to the mountains; monastic life described 12:51 — Illness, return to the city; ordained deacon & priest 13:36 — Preaching in Antioch; reforming abuses & caring for the poor 14:04 — Riot of Antioch (387) and Bishop Flavian’s plea to the emperor 24:45 — Chosen for Constantinople; consecration (398) 26:06 — Reform of clergy; radical charity; hospitals for the sick 39:13 — Eutropius falls; Chrysostom’s sermon on the vanity of power 42:34 — Councils and discipline; confronting simony 45:06 — Enemies rise: court politics, jealousy, and intrigue 48:03 — “Council of the Oak” accusations; first exile 51:01 — Earthquake and recall; return to Constantinople 52:04 — Empress’ statue, public games, renewed conflict 54:25 — Second banishment; violence and suffering 57:37 — Exile ministry: letters, missions, steadfast joy in suffering 1:00:35 — Forced transfer under brutal guards 1:01:36 — Vision of St. Basiliscus; final hours 1:02:20 — Holy death: “Glory be to God for all things” 1:03:10 — Relics honored; translation to Constantinople (Jan 27, 438) 1:04:26 — Legacy and why he remains a great Doctor of the Church https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/january/st-john-chrysostom-archbishop-of-constantinople-and-doctor-of-the-church/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 Support Catholic Businesses here - https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ Sensus Fidelium Press - https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ Sensus Fidelium Apps - https://sensusfidelium.tv/ Support Sensus Fidelium - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 🙏🏻PLEASE HELP OUR CHANNEL GROW 🙏🏻 ▶ 1. Become a Channel Patron: https://www.patreon.com/SensusFidelium ▶ 2. Visit the website https://www.sensusfidelium.com for Gueranger, Saint of the Day, Apologetics, Meditation by the Saints, Scripture Study and more. ▶ 3. Subscribe to Other Video Platforms 🔴 SpiritusTV - https://spiritustv.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 BitChute --- https://www.bitchute.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium/ 🔴 Rumble --- https://rumble.com/c/c-298311 🔴 My Catholic Tube - https://mycatholictube.com/videos/sensus-fidelium-channel/ 🔴 LBRY.tv --- https://lbry.tv/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 ODYSEE - https://odysee.com/@SensusFidelium:c 🔴 UGETube - https://videos.utahgunexchange.com/@Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 BrandNewTube - https://brandnewtube.com/@SensusFidelium 🔴 GabTV - https://tv.gab.com/channel/Sensus_Fidelium 🔴 GloriaTV - https://gloria.tv/Sensus%20Fidelium 🔴 Brighteon - https://www.brighteon.com/channels/sensusfidelium ▶ 4. Paypal, Bitcoin, Anedot, Stripe, Square & PO Box donations - https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ ▶ 5. YouTube: Click Subscribe, then Click "Notification Bell" = 🔔 Please "Like" our videos so that Youtube shares it to others by clicking the "Like" thumbs-up under the video = 👍🏻 ▶ 6. Please share this video 📲, and help others find Christ inside the Catholic Church! Please share this video on Facebook and Twitter using the share button. #StJohnChrysostom #LivesOfTheSaints #AlbanButler #CatholicSaints #DoctorOfTheChurch #ChurchHistory #Antioch #Constantinople #Patristics #OrthodoxChristianity #Catholic #SaintOfTheDay #January27 #GoldenMouth #Homilies