‘At Rome, the holy martyr Tranquillinus, father of the holy martyrs Mark and Marcellian. He had been converted to Christ by the preaching of the holy martyr Sebastian, baptized by the blessed Priest, Polycarp, and himself ordained a Priest by the holy Pope Caius. He was praying at the grave of blessed Paul, upon the Octave Day of the Apostles, when the pagans under the Emperor Diocletian tried and stoned him. And so he finished his testimony, (in the year 286.)’ (Roman Martyrology)
Hyacinth was a native of Caesarea in Cappadocia, and a member of a Christian family. As a boy, he was appointed to serve as an assistant to the chamberlain to the Emperor Trajan. His failure to participate in the sacrifices to the official Roman gods soon came to be noticed by other members of the Imperial household. One day, while the emperor and his entourage were offering sacrifice to idols, Hyacinth remained at the palace, shut himself up in a small room, and prayed fervently to the Lord Jesus Christ. One of the servants overheard him praying and denounced him to the emperor.
When he was denounced as a Christian, Hyacinth proclaimed his faith. He was brought to trial before Trajan, who tried to persuade him to deny Christ and sacrifice to idols, but the young boy refused. As a result, he was imprisoned and underwent numerous scourgings and tortures. He was deliberately served only food which had been blessed for sacrifice to the gods, the eating of which was banned to Christians. Thus, he starved to death after thirty-eight days, dying at the age of twelve. Just before his death, his jailers saw him being comforted by a pair of angels, one who covered him with his own robe, the other who bestowed a crown on him.
Hyacinth died in the city of Rome. Later, his relics were transferred to Caesarea.
Saint of the Day – 2 July – St Martinian of Rome
Saint Martinian of Rome was a member of the Praetorian Guard, the soldiers tasked with guarding the emperor. Assigned as the warden of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in the Mamertine Prison, the apostles converted him after a spring flowed miraculously in the prison. Peter then baptized him in these miraculous waters, which then led to Martinian’s own imprisonment within that very prison.
During his imprisonment, Martinian experienced visions and spiritual encounters that strengthened his resolve. Saint John the Baptist appeared to him, encouraging him in his suffering and reaffirming his faith. This spiritual encounter bolstered Martinian’s courage and determination to face martyrdom rather than renounce Christianity.
By order of the emperor Nero, Martinian was then tortured and beheaded. After his martyrdom with Paul, Lucina, a sympathizer, buried him in her own cemetery along the Aurelian Way. Pope Paschal I (817–824) translated the bones of the martyr to a chapel in the old Basilica of St. Peter. They still rest under the altar dedicated to him (and his fellow martyr, Processus) in the south transept of the present St. Peter’s Basilica.
Our Morning Offering – 29 June – Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
Decora Luce Aeternitatis
What Fairer Light
Attrib. to H Elphis (Died 493) Wife of Boethius c 477– 524)
Trans. Msgr Ronald Knox (1888–1957)
What fairer light is this
than time itself doth own,
The golden day with beams
more radiant brightening?
The Princes of God’s Church
this Feast day doth enthrone,
To sinners heavenward bound
their burden lightening.
One taught mankind its creed,
one guards the Heavenly Gate,
Founders of Rome,
they bind the world in loyalty;
One by the sword achieved,
one by the cross his fate;
With laurelled brows
they hold eternal royalty.
Rejoice, O Rome, this day;
thy walls they once did sign
With princely blood,
who now their glory share with thee.
What city’s vesture glows
with crimson deep as thine?
What beauty else has earth
that may compare with thee?
To God the Three in One eternal homage be,
All honour, all renown, all songs victorious,
Who rules both heaven and earth
by one divine decree,
To everlasting years
in empire glorious.
Amen
5th century Latin Hymn “Aurea Luce” attributed to H Elphis (Died 493), first wife of the Roman philosopher-poet Boethius (c475–c525). He would eventually be Martyred for his defence of the Faith against the Arian ruler: Theodoric.
Msgr Knox, a convert from Anglicanism, was a noted Scholar, Author, Hymnist and Translator, becoming the Secretary to St Pius X.
Under direction of his religious superiors, he re-translated the Latin Vulgate Bible into English from Hebrew and Greek sources.
What Fairer Light is set to the tune, Decora Lux by the English Catholic Composer, Samuel Webbe (1740–1816).
In 1632, in accord with changes called for by the Council of Trent, Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644) revised the original text of Aurea Luce and divided it into two new Hymns for Lauds and Vespers: Decora Lux and Beate Pastor Petre. In the Liturgy of the Hours, What Fairer Light is used on 29 June, the Solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul, Apostles. The above is the Older version.
AnaStpaul 
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