BEHEADING OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST
August 29
At that time: Herod sent and apprehended John, and bound him in prison
for the sake of Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother, because he had
married her. For John said to Herod: It is not lawful for thee to have
thy brother's wife. Now Herodias laid snares for him, and was desirous
to put him to death, and could not. For Herod feared John, knowing him
to be a just and holy man, and kept him, and when he heard him, did
many things; and he heard him willingly. And when a convenient day was
come, Herod made a supper for his birthday, for the princes, and
tribunes, and chief men of Galilee. And when the daughter of the same
Herodias had come in, and had danced, and pleased Herod and them that
were at table with him, the king said to the damsel, Ask of me what thou
wilt, and I will give it thee. And he swore to her: Whatsoever thou
shalt ask, I will give thee; though it be the half of my kingdom. Who,
when she was gone out, said to her mother: What shall I ask? But she
said: The head of John the Baptist. And when she was come in
immediately with haste to the king, she asked, saying: I will that
forthwith thou give me in adish the head of John the Baptist. And the
king was stuck sad; yet because of his oath, and because of them that
were with him at table, he would not displease her; but sending an
executioner he commanded that his head should be brought in a dish. And
he beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a dish, and gave
it to the damsel, and the damsel gave it to her mother. Which his
disciples hearing, came and took the body, and laid it in a tomb.
Mark 6. 17-29
Source: http://missale.heliohost.org/aug29.html
