Saint of the Day – 21 December – Saint Anastasius II of Antioch (Died 609) Bishop and Martyr, Confessor, Defender of the Faith – also known as Anastasius the Younger. Anatasius II succeeded St Anastasius [the first] and was the Bishop of Antioch from 599 until his death by martyrdom in 609. He is known for his opposition and suppression of simony in his Diocese, with the support of St Pope Gregory the Great. He also supported the Emperor Phocas in Phocas’ efforts against the Monophysites.
The Martyrdom of St Anastasius II
In 609 the Syrian Jews revolted as they believed that they were being forcibly converted to Christianity by Emperor Phocas (reign 602-610). It was during these riots that Bishop Anastasius was abducted due to his support of Phocas. He was mutilated and then dragged through the streets, after which he was burnt to death in the marketplace of Antioch.
Emperor Phocas retaliated via military action which, in turn, led to a reverse persecution of the Jews of the area, when many were killed or exiled.
St Anastasius I and our Saint today, Anastasius II, are both venerated on the Colonnade of St Peter’s Square.
Passionate Catholic. Being Catholic is a way of life - a love affair both with God and Father, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, our most Blessed and Beloved Virgin Mother Mary and the Church. "Religion must be like the air we breathe..."- St John Bosco
With the Saints, we "serve the Lord with one consent and serve the Lord with one pure language, not indeed to draw them forth from their secure dwelling-places, not superstitiously to honour them, or wilfully to rely on the, ... but silently to contemplate them for edification, thereby encouraging our faith, enlivening our patience..."
Blessed John Henry Newman
Prayer is what the world needs combined with the example of our lives which testify to the Light of Christ. This site will mainly concentrate on Daily Prayers, Novenas and the Memorials and Feast Days of our friends in Heaven, the Saints who went before us and the great blessings the Church provides in our Catholic Monthly Devotions.
"For the saints are sent to us by God
as so many sermons.
We do not use them, it is they who move us
and lead us, to where we had not expected to go.”
Charles Cardinal Journet (1891-1975)
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