Cristy Li

Saint Vincent of Saragossa, Deacon & Martyr –Image: Catholic Fire

(Franciscan Media) When Jesus deliberately began his ‘journey to death on the Cross’ Luke said that He ‘set his face to go to Jerusalem.’ (Luke 9:51) It is this quality of rock like courage that distinguishes the martyrs.

Most of what we know about St. Vincent, comes from the poet Prudentius, his ‘Acts’ have been rather freely colored by the imagination of their compiler but St. Augustine in one of his sermons on St. Vincent, speaks of having the ‘Acts’ of his martyrdom before him–We are at least sure of his name, his being a Deacon, the place of his death and burial.

According to the story we have (and as some of the early martyrs) the unusual devotion that he inspired, must have had a basis in a very heroic life.

Vincent was ordained a Deacon by his friend St. Valerius of Zaragossa in Spain. The Roman emperors had published their decrees against the Clergy in 303 and the following year against the laity. Vincent and his Bishop Valerius, were imprisoned in Italy Valencia, hunger and torture failed to break them. Like the three young men Shadrach, Meshach and Abed’nego that Nebuchadnezzar ordered thrown into the fiery furnace for not serving his false god or worshiping the golden image. (Daniel 3:12-30) Vincent and his Bishop seemed to thrive on suffering.

Valerius was sent into exile and Dacian the Roman governor, now turned the full force of his fury on Vincent–tortures of varying kind were attempted but their main effect was the progressive disintegration of Dacian himself–he had the tortures then beaten because they failed.

Finally he suggested a compromise. Would Vincent at least give up the sacred books to be burned according to the Emperor’s decree? Vincent refused–Torture on the gridiron continued, Vincent remaining courageous, the Torturer began losing control of himself.

Subsequently Vincent was thrown into a filthy prison cell, there he converted the Jailer. Dacian wept with rage but strangely enough, ordered Vincent to be given some rest.

Friends among the faithful came to visit Vincent but he was to have no earthly rest. When they finally settled him on a comfortable bed, Vincent passed away to his eternal rest.

Saint Agnes Biography Holy Card — Image: Catholic Shopping.com

 (EWTN) Few legends of Saints have been more cherished than that of the virgin martyr for Jesus Christ, Agnes.

Agnes, was held in high regard by the primitive Christian Church and her name has remained a symbol of maidenly purity through the ages.

According to tradition, Agnes was a Christian girl of Rome, perhaps 12 or 13 yrs old when Diocletian began his persecutions–Like St. Lucy, she was sentenced by a Judge to a house of prostitution but a young man that looked upon her lustfully was stricken blind thereafter she was taken out to be burned but whether she met her death by fire or sword is unknown.

While one has no contemporary sources for the facts of Agnes’ life and martyrdom, there is little reason to doubt the main outline of the story.

References to this young Saint appear in many Church writings of later date Saint Ambrose, Saint Damasus and Prudentius, all praise Agnes’ and her heroism–her name appears in the Canon of the Mass.

Agnes’ crypt was in the ‘Via Nomentana’ and the stone covering her remains bore the words: ‘Agna Sanctissima’ (Most Holy Lamb) a Church in her honor is presumed to have been built in Rome at the time of Constantine the Great (272-337) In the apse of the basilica, which was rebuilt in the 7th century by Pope Honorius I there is still to be seen the large and beautiful mosaic depicting the Saint.

Saint Agnes is the patroness of: Children of Mary, Betrothed Couples, Girl Scouts, Young Ladies and Rape Survivors, her symbol is naturally, a lamb.

On the anniversary of Agnes’ martyrdom, the Pope, after high Pontifical Mass in her Church at Rome, blesses two lambs and their wool is later woven into the Pallia worn by Archbishops.

Related: For Today’s Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of St. Agnes, Visit: -USCCB

Saint Sebastian (257-288)

(Franciscan Media) Almost nothing is historically certain about Saint Sebastian except that he was a Roman Martyr for Jesus Christ, was venerated in Milan even in the time of Saint Ambrose and was buried on the Appian Way, close to the catacombs that bear his name.

Devotion to Sebastian spread rapidly and he’s mentioned in several Martyologies as early as 350 AD

The legend of St. Sebastian is important in art and there is a vast iconography. Scholars now agree that a pious has Sebastian entering the Roman army because only there could he assist the Martyrs without arousing suspicion–finally he was however found out and brought before Emperor Diocletian and delivered to Mauritanian archers to be shot to death, his body was pierced with arrows and he was left for dead.

Sebastian was however found still alive by those who came to bury him, he recovered but refused to flee. One day he took up a position near where the Emperor was to pass and confronted him, denouncing him for the cruelty to Christians–this time the sentence of death was carried out and Sebastian was beaten with clubs to death.

More here from EWTN

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of St. Sebastian, Visit: -USCCB

Pope Saint Fabin (200-250)
Image Courtesy: Catholic Online

(Franciscan Media) Fabian was a Roman layman who came into the city from his farm one day as Clergy and people were preparing to elect a new Pope–Eusebius, a Church historian says a dove flew in and settled on the head of Fabian. The sign united the votes of Clergy and the laity and Fabian was chosen unanimously.

Fabian led the Church for 14 yrs and died a martyrs death during the persecution of Decius in 250 AD

St Cyprian Bishop of Carthage wrote to his successor that Fabian was an “incomparable” man whose glory in death matched the holiness and purity of his life.

In the Catacombs of St. Callistus the stone that covered Fabian’s grave may still be seen broken into 4 pieces bearing the Greek words, “Fabian, Bishop Martyr.”

St. Charles of Seeze (1613-1670)
Image Courtesy: Roman Catholic Saints

John ‘Charles’ Marchioni was the son of very religious rural family according to Catholic News Agency and was born in Italy Sezze, Southeast of Rome on the 19 October, 1613 At the request of his Grandmother, she raised him and Charles acquired a Great love and prayers from his Grandmother.

Charles believed that God was calling him to be a missionary in India but he never got there–He had something better for this 17th century successor to Brother Juniper–Charles was inspired by the lives of Salvator Horta and Paschal Baylon to become a Franciscan, he did that in 1635 and says in his autobiography:

“Our Lord put in my heart a determination to become a Lay Brother with a great desire to be poor and to beg alms for his love.”

Charles served as a Cook, Porter, Sacristan, Gardener and Beggar at various Friars in Italy and in some ways, he was ‘an accident waiting to happen.’ Charles once started a huge fire in the kitchen when the oil in which he was frying onions burst into flames.

One story shows how Charles thoroughly adopted the Spirit of St. Francis–the Superior instructed Charles, then a Porter, to provide food only to traveling Friars who came to the door–Charles obeyed this direction. Simultaneously the alms to the Friars decreased. Charles convinced the Superior these two facts were related. When the Friars resumed giving to all who asked at the door, alms to the Friars increased also.

At the direction of his Confessor, Charles wrote his autobiography ‘The Grandeurs of the Mercies of God’ together with several other books and made good use of his several directors throughout the years–they helped him to discern which of his ideas or ambitions were from God. The dying Pope Clement IX called Charles to his bedside for a blessing.

Charles had a firm sense of God’s providence. Fr. Severino Gori said, “By word and example he recalled in all the need of pursuing only that which is eternal.” (Leonard Perotti, St. Charles of Sezze: An autobiography, Pg 215) 

Charles died at San Francesco a Ripa in Rome and was buried there Pope Leo XIII pronounced him Blessed in 1882–Pope John XXIII canonized him in 1959

St. Anthony of Egypt
Image Courtesy: Bishop’s Conference of Indonesia

The life of Anthony will remind many people of Saint Francis of Assisi (Feast Day: 04 October) at the age of 20, Anthony was so moved by the Gospel message:

“…Go sell what you have and give to the poor
and you will have treasure in Heaven and come follow me.” —Mark 10:21

 Anthony did just that with his large inheritance. Anthony is different from Francis, in that most of Anthony’s life was spent in solitude–Seeing the world completely covered in snares and gave the Church and the world the witness of solitary asceticism, great personal sacrifice and prayer but no Saint is antisocial and Andrew drew many people to himself for spiritual healing and guidance.

By the time Anthony was 54 he replied to many requests and founded sort of a Monastery of scattered cells–Again like Francis, Anthony had great fear of ‘stately buildings and well laden tables.’

At 60, Anthony hoped to be a martyr in the renewed Roman persecution of 311, fearlessly exposing himself to danger, while providing moral and material support to those imprisoned–By the time Anthony turned 88 he was the Arian heresy–the denial of the Divinity of Jesus Christ that took the Church centuries to recover.

More here from Catholic News Agency and here from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine

Saint Paul the Hermit (233-345)
Image Courtesy: Catholic Tradition

(Aleteia) Paul the Hermit reportedly was born in Egypt where he was orphaned at 15 yrs of age, a learned and devout young man.

During the persecution of Decius in Egypt in the year 250, Paul was forced to hide in a home of a friend. Fearing a brother-in-law would betray him, he fled to a cave in the desert, his plan, was to return when the persecution ended but the sweetness of a solitude life and heavenly contemplation convinced him to stay–Paul went on to live in the cave for the next 90 years.

A nearby spring gave Paul drinking water, a palm tree furnished him clothing and nourishment, after 21 years of solitude, a raven began bringing him half of a loaf of bread each day.

Without knowing what was happening in the world, Paul prayed the world would be a better place.

Saint Anthony of Egypt (Feast Day-17 January) attests to Paul’s holy life and death, tempted by thought that no one had served God in the wilderness longer than he, Anthony was led by God to find Paul and acknowledge him as a man, more perfect than himself–the raven that day brought a whole loaf of bread instead the usual half. As Paul predicted, Anthony would return to bury his friend.

Thought to have been about 112 when he died, Paul is known as the ‘First Hermit’ his feast day is celebrated in the East, he’s also commemorated in the Coptic and Armenian rites of the Mass.

More here from EWTN

Saint Gregory Nazianzen

After Gregory’s baptism in 360 he lived the quiet life in solitude according to Catholic Culture later he gladly accepted his friend St. Basil invitation to join him in a newly found Monastery.

The tranquility Gregory found at the monastery was broken when Gregory’s father, a Bishop needed his help in his diocese and estate–It seems that Gregory reluctantly agreed to become a Priest, was ordained and with some hesitation accepted the responsibility, skillfully avoiding a schism that threatened when his own father made compromises with Arianism.

At the age of 41 Gregory was chosen ‘Suffragan Bishop of Caesarea’ and at once, came into conflict with Valens, the Emperor who supported the Arians, which denied the divinity of Jesus Christ–An unfortunate by-product of the conflict was the cooling of the friendship of two Saints.

Basil his Archbishop, sent Gregory to a miserable and unhealthy town on the border of unjustly creating divisions in the diocese–Basil reproached Gregory for not going to his See.

When protection of Arianism ended with the death of Valens, Gregory was called to rebuild the faith in the great See of Constantinople, which had been under Arian teachers for three decades.

Retiring and sensitive, Gregory dreaded being drawn into the whirlpool of corruption and violence. Gregory first stayed at a friend’s home which became the only Orthodox Church in the city–In such surroundings, he began delivering the great sermons on the Trinity for which he was famous. In time, Gregory did rebuild the faith in the city but at the cost of great suffering, slander, insults and even personal violence–an interloper, even attempted to take-over his Bishopric.

Gregory’s last days were spent in solitude and austerity, writing religious poetry–some of it autobiographical of great depth and beauty, acclaimed simply as ‘The Theologian’ his writings merited for him the title of ‘Doctor of the Church.’

Saint Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers Confers Minor Orders on Saint Martin

(Franciscan Media) The staunch defender of the Divinity of Jesus Christ, was a gentle and courteous man, devoted to some of the greatest theology on the Trinity and was like his master being labeled a ‘Distributor of the Peace’ in a very troubled period of the Church, his holiness was lived out in both scholarship and controversy–he was Bishop of Poitiers in France.

Hilary raised a pagan, converted to Christianity when he met his God of nature in the scriptures, his wife was still living when he was chosen, against his will, to be the Bishop of Poitiers in France and was soon taken up with battling  what became to scourge of the 4th century–Arianism, which denied the Divinity of Jesus Christ.

This heresy spread rapidly, St. Jerome said: ‘The world groaned and marveled to find that it was Arian.’ When Emperor Constantius, ordered all of the Bishops of the West to sign a ‘Condemnation of Athanasius’ the greatest defender of the faith in the East, Hilary refused and was banished from France to far off Phrygia (in modern day Turkey) eventually he was called the ‘Athanasius of the West.’

While writing in exile, Hilary was invited by some semi-Arians (hoping for reconciliation) to a council the Emperor called to counteract the ‘Council of Nicea’ but Hilary predictably defended the Church and when he sought public debate with the heretical bishop who had exiled him, the Arians dreading the meeting and its outcome, pleaded with the Emperor to send this troublemaker back home–Hilary was welcomed by his people.

• A favorite motto of of Saint Hilary was: “Ministros veritatis decet vera proferre.” — “Servants of the truth ought to speak the truth.”

Related: For Today’s Most Holy Scripture Readings for the Memorial of St. Hilary, Visit: -USCCB