Two anonymous sermons ('Eusebius Gallicanus', Sermons 30 and 31), on *John the Baptist (S00020). Preached in Latin in Gaul, probably in the 5th c.
E06053
Literary - Sermons/Homilies
Eusebius Gallicanus
Eusebius Gallicanus, Sermon 30 (De sancto Iohanne Baptista, I)
Summary:
The sermon opens with a remark about the feast of John's nativity:
(1.) Hodie, dilectissimi fratres, Iohannis, qui domini praecucurrit aduentum, natalem diem celebramus, quod nulli sanctorum meminimus attributum. Hodie, inquam, eius natalem diem unica ac singulari celebritate ueneramur.
'Today, dearest brothers, we celebrate the day of the birth of John, who was the forerunner of the coming of the Lord, something we remember being granted to none of the saints. Today, I say, we honour the day of his birth with a unique and singular celebration.'
(1-2.) The preacher goes on to discuss Jesus' statement that 'among those born of women' there was no one greater than John the Baptist (Luke 7:28). He denies that this means that John is greater than figures like Peter or John the Evangelist, because Jesus said only that there was no one greater than John, not no one equal to John. However, it meant that he himself was greater than John, since he was not born of a woman (mulier, which had the connotation of married woman) but a virgin (uirgo).
(3.) John's humility in constantly insisting on his inferiority by comparison to Christ.
(4-5.) The preacher gives figurative interpretations of the Gospel statements that John girded his loins (Matt. 3:4, Mark 1:6) and ate locusts and wild honey (ibid.).
(6.) John publicly condemned Herod for marrying the wife of someone still living, and thus lost his life but gained glory. We, however, are too concerned with gaining favour and afraid of causing offence to do such a thing; we opt for flattery and sell truth.
(6-7.) The sermon concludes with admonitions to follow John's words: when he says to prepare the way of the Lord and make a straight path (Matt. 3:3, Mark. 1:3, Luke 3:4, John 1:23), do so by holding to God's commandments; when he says that every valley shall be filled and every hill cast down (Luke 3:5), and that those who exalt themselves will be cast down and those who humble themselves exalted (Luke 14:11, 18:14, Matt. 23:12), follow him by embracing humility.
Eusebius Gallicanus, Sermon 31 (De sancto Iohanne Baptista, II)
Summary:
Most of this sermon is devoted to an explication (largely allegorical) of the account of the annunciation by the archangel Gabriel to John's parents, Zachariah and Elisabeth, that they will have a son (Luke 1:5-25).
Text: Glorie 1970.
Summary: David Lambert.
Service for the saint
Sermon/homily
FestivalsSaint’s feast
Source
These sermons were preached in Gaul, probably at some point in the 5th century. They survive as part of the large collection of anonymous Gallic sermons known as 'Eusebius Gallicanus'. This was compiled in southern Gaul at some point between the late 5th and early 7th centuries, but the precise date and circumstances remain uncertain. For a detailed examination of the collection, see Bailey 2010.Both these sermons will have been preached on the feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist (24 June). In Sermon 30 this is stated explicitly; in Sermon 31 the feast is not mentioned directly, but the content of the sermon implies that it was for the same feast. Neither sermon contains any information indicating its precise date or place of delivery. However, Sermon 30 must date from no later than the early 6th century, since it was used by Caesarius of Arles as the basis for one of his sermons (Sermon 217, E07235).
Discussion
The opening of Sermon 30 alludes to the fact that John the Baptist was the only saint whose physical birthday was celebrated by the church (natalis, the word used, was the normal Latin word for birthday, but in relation to the saints normally referred to the day of their death/martyrdom, the day of their birth in heaven).Bibliography
Edition:Glorie, F., Eusebius 'Gallicanus'. Collectio Homiliarum I (Corpus Christianorum Series Latina 101; Turnhout: Brepols, 1970), 349-353, 357-360.
Further Reading:
Bailey, L.K., Christianity's Quiet Success: The Eusebius Gallicanus Sermon Collection and the Power of the Church in Late Antique Gaul (Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 2010).
David Lambert
21/12/2023
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00020 | John the Baptist | Iohannes Baptista | Certain | S00597 | Zechariah, father of John the Baptist | Zacharias | Certain | S01328 | Elisabeth, mother of John the Baptist | Elisabeth | Certain |
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