Saint of the Day – 1 January – Saint Justin of Chieti (Died c540) the First Bishop of Chieti, Italy, Miracle-worker. Patron of the City and Archdiocese of Chieti-Vasto, Abruzzo, Italy.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Chieti, in Abruzzo, the birthday of St Justin, Bishop of that City, illustrious for holiness of life and miracles.”
Saint Justin is considered, by ancient tradition, to be the evangeliser of the City of Chieti, as well as its first Bishop, despite many uncertainties regarding the period in which he lived. In fact, there is no historical documentation from which to draw detailed information about his life. Only in the 15th Century did some of his “passios” appear, largely modelled on those of the Saints of the same name which end up confusing him with a Saint from Siponto who suffered Martyrdom in Abruzzo in the 3rd Century, together with his family.
However, it is certain that the Cathedral of Chieti was instead dedicated to the holy Bishop Justin at least since the 9th Century. In fact, the first documents on the Church which have come down to us, date to this era. Very probably, this mysterious Bishop ruled the Diocese of Chieti during the troubled period of the barbarian invasions and the spread of the Arian heresy, that is, around the end of the 4th Century.
At this historical juncture, faced with the dissolution of the state institutions of Italy at the time, the people began to rally around the shepherds, chosen from among the most charismatic figures of the Christian world. In fact, there are quite a few Italian Cities which venerate their Bishops of that period, as Saints.
Most of our Saint’s relics are still venerated today in an urn, placed in the crypt of the Theatine Cathedral. The object of a particular and ancient veneration, is the Holy Arm, to which popular devotion attributed numerous miracles, including that of 593 in which the Holy Arm, carried in procession by the Theatines, repelled an invasion of locusts which threatened the crops in the surroundings farms.
Saint Justin was once celebrated today, 1 January, then, in 1616, his feast was moved to 14 January and finally moved to 11 May. However,, the Roman Martyrology still commemorates him on the original date – 1 January.
AnaStpaul 