From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
June 2nd - SS. Marcellinus and Peter, Martyrs
Priest and Exorcist (martyred in 304).
While very little is known today about the lives of these holy men,
Marcellinus and Peter were prominent enough in the early Church to be
included amongst the saints of the Roman Canon and their names
continue to be mentioned during celebration of the Eucharist. Further
evidence of the veneration and respect of the Church lives on in the
basilica that Emperor Constantine built over their tombs in Rome.
The story of the lives and martyrdom of Marcellinus and Peter was
recorded by Pope Saint Damasus, who learned of their heroic acts
directly from their executioner=E2=80=94a man who converted to Christianity shortly after their deaths.=C2 According to the saintly pope, the
executioner was deeply troubled following his role in the martyrdom
and could not shake the feeling that a faith that had given
Marcellinus and Peter such peace of mind and steady joy in the face of
death must be authentic.
Marcellinus was a priest and Peter was an exorcist (authorised by the
Church to work against demonic possession in individuals) who worked
alongside him. Imprisoned during the persecution of Christians under
the reign of Diocletian, Marcellinus and Peter embraced their
suffering, seeing it as an opportunity for evangelisation and quickly
had converted the majority of prisoners in jail with them=E2=80=94including
the jailor and his entire family. This was accomplished when Peter set
the daughter of the jailer free from an evil spirit which possessed
her. Shortly thereafter, the jailor, his wife and their other children
were baptised into the faith=E2=80=94right in the cell of Peter and Marcellinus.
When Diocletian heard of their activities, he was greatly incensed and
had them tortured, stripped naked and thrown into cells filled with
only broken shards of glass. When it was observed that this only
served to increase their faith and joy in suffering, he had them taken
to the forest of Silva Nigra and dig their own graves. Then, he had
them beheaded in the forest, so that other Christians would not find
their bodies, bury them properly, and then subsequently venerate them.
However, that was not to be the case. Shortly following their death, a Christian matron by the name of Lucilla learned of their martyrdom
through a dream (or possibly a prophetic vision) and came with some
fellow faithful to the gravesite. The relics of the holy martyrs were
removed and translated to a more proper burial place, a set of
catacombs in Rome. When Christianity was restored as a =E2=80=9Clegal=E2=80= =9D faith
tradition under Constantine, he had a great basilica built in their
honour over their tomb.
=C2 By Anastpaul 2017
Saint Quote:
The reason why sometimes you have asked and not received, is because
you have asked amiss, either inconsistently, or lightly, or because
you have asked for what was not good for you, or because you have
ceased asking.
--Saint Basil the Great
Bible Quote:
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
Thought for the Day =E2=80=93 2 June
Why are these men included in our Eucharistic prayer and given their
own feast day, in spite of the fact that almost nothing is known about
them?
Probably because the Church respects its collective memory. They once
sent an impulse of encouragement through the whole Church. They made
the ultimate step of faith=E2=80=A6=E2=80=A6Fr. Don Miller, OFM
The foundation of our faith rests on the lives of these holy men and
women of the early Church who willingly gave themselves over to the
faith, courageous and joyful in their martyrdom.=C2 When we consider the struggles of today and our own personal difficulties in daily life, we
might pause to consider the sacrifice of these early martyrs and be
inspired to greater faith, trust and love and be filled with that
impulse of encouragement!
Sts Marcellinus and Peter, pray for us!
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Prayer to the Holy Ghost
Come, O Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and enkindle in
them the fire of Thy love. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be
created, and Thou shalt renew the face of the earth. Oh God Who didst
instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Ghost,
grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise and to ever rejoice in
His consolations, through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)