Saint of the Day – 25 November – Saint Moses of Rome (Died c251) Priest Martyr, Confessor.

Saint of the Day – 25 November – Saint Moses of Rome (Died c251) Priest Martyr, Confessor. Born in Rome, Italy and died in c251 as a result of the lengthy confinement under the inhuman conditions in prison. It is said that our Saint was not a true Martyr in the usual sense of their deaths but since those times, many others too have been granted the title for similar deaths during imprisonment.

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Rome, St Moses, Priest and Martyr, who, with others detained in prison, was often consoled by the letters of St Cyprian (Martyr). After he had withstood, with unbending courage, not only the pagans but, also the Novatian schismatics and heretics, he was finally, in the persecutions of Decius, crowned with a Martyrdom which fills the mind with adminration, according to the words of Pope St Cornelius (Martyr).”

St Moses, who might have been of Jewish origin was born in Rome and ministered there during the times of the persecution of the Emperor Decius, in the mid-3rd Century.

Decius’ persecution also affected the leaders of the Church – Bishops and Pope Fabian himself. For many months it was impossible to elect a new Pontiff. For this reason, the Roman Church was administered by a college of Priests, among whom Moses, distinguished himself by his devotion and zealous confession of Christ and His Church.

During the persecution, many Christians had denied their faith. Extreme controversies arose between those who supported an intransigence line and those, like Moses, who held more moderate positions, calling for tolerance for those who had renounced or had prudently avoided the dangers.

Moses died in 251, the victim of a long imprisonment. He confessed Christ and testified to his faith until his death in chains.