On August 29, the Church commemorates the Beheading of the Holy and Glorious Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John—the man whom Christ called the greatest born of woman.

St. John leapt for joy in his mother’s womb at the approach of the unborn Messiah. As an adult, he withdrew into the desert, clothed himself in camel hair, and lived on locusts and wild honey. Free from worldly cares, he preached repentance, baptized in the Jordan, prepared the way of the Lord, and became a witness to the revelation of the Holy Trinity.

Because St. John valued the divine law above everything else, he fearlessly confronted Herod Antipas over his unlawful union with Herodias: “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herod imprisoned him, and Herodias eventually secured his execution through her daughter’s dance and Herod’s cowardly oath.

Although his precious head was brought into the banquet hall upon a platter, the tongue that condemned their sin could never truly be silenced.

This account also explains how St. John became Christ’s forerunner among the dead, announcing the Messiah’s imminent victory to those awaiting redemption. By both his life and death, he teaches every Christian to battle sin, pursue purity of heart, bear worthy fruits of repentance, and prepare a path for Christ within the soul.

Holy Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist John, pray for us!

00:00 The Beheading of St. John the Forerunner
00:26 Greatest among those born of woman
00:38 St. John leaps within his mother’s womb
00:47 His ascetic life in the desert
01:15 Preaching repentance at the Jordan
01:28 Baptism and worthy fruits of repentance
01:42 The voice crying in the wilderness
02:07 Baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire
02:19 Baptizing Christ and witnessing the Trinity
02:30 His complete fidelity to God’s law
02:41 St. John confronts Herod Antipas
02:55 “It is not lawful for you”
03:04 Herodias’s hatred of the prophet
03:31 Herod’s birthday banquet
03:43 The dance and Herod’s reckless promise
04:02 The head of St. John demanded
04:18 The righteous prophet is beheaded
04:32 The tongue that could not be silenced
04:49 Burial and discovery of his relics
05:05 Christ’s forerunner among the dead
05:24 Master of the spiritual life
05:30 Battling sin and growing in virtue
05:47 Preparing the Lord’s path in the soul
05:56 Prayer to the Holy Forerunner

For more please visit https://www.youtube.com/@steliasbrampton & say 3 Hail Marys for the priest

🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴

✝️ 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/

🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴

#SaintJohnTheBaptist #BeheadingOfSaintJohn #HolyForerunner #OrthodoxChristianity #EasternCatholic #LivesOfTheSaints #ChristianMartyr #Repentance #CatholicSaints #HerodAntipas #ByzantineCatholic #SpiritualWarfare #VoiceInTheWilderness #JesusChrist #SensusFidelium