Saint of the Day – 15 March – St Longinus (1st Century) Martyr,

Saint of the Day – 15 March – St Longinus (1st Century) Martyr, the Roman Centurion who we believe was he who pierced the Sacred Side of Our Lord with his lance. He was Baptised and became a Monk in Caesarea, where he was Martyred by beheading.

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Caesarea, in Cappadocia, the Martyrdom of St Longinus, the soldier who is believed to have pierced the side of Our Lord Jesus Christ, with a lance.”

Longinus is the Centurion who pierced the side of Our Lord while He was hanging on the Cross.

Tradition tells us that Longinus, who was nearly blind, was healed when some of the blood and water from Jesus side, dripped into his eyes. It was then, he exclaimed “Indeed, this was the Son of God!” [Mark 15:39].

Longinus then converted, retired from the army, took instruction from the Apostles and became a Monk in Cappadocia.

There, he was arrested for his faith, his teeth forced out and tongue cut off. However, Longinus miraculously continued to speak clearly and managed to destroy several idols in the presence of the Governor. The Governor, who was made blind by the demons which came out of the idols, had his sight restored when Longinus was being beheaded because his blood came in contact with the Governors’ eyes.

St Longinus’ Relics are now in the Church of St Augustine in Rome. His Lance is contained in one of the four pillars over the Altar in St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, where also the glorious Bernin Statue, above resides. Below is a detail of the Statue and the Lance.