Tag: Rome

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Memorials of the Saints – 18 August

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Within the Octave of the Assumption of Our Lady

St Agapitus the Martyr (c 259- c 274) Roman Youth aged 15

St Helena (c 250 – c 330) Mother of Constantine the Great

St Macarius the Wonder-Worker (Died 850) Monk, Abbot, Defender of Icons, Miracle worker 

St Crispus of Rome
St Daig Maccairaill
Bl Domenico de Molinar
St Eonus of Arles
St Ernan
St Evan of Ayrshire
St Firminus of Metz
St Florus of Illyria
Bl Francus of Francavilla
Bl Gaspar di Salamanca
St Hermas of Rome
St John of Rome
St Juliana of Myra
St Juliana of Stobylum
St Laurus of Illyria
St Leo of Myra
Bl Leonard of Cava
St Maximus of Illyria
Bl Milo of Fontenelle
St Polyaenus of Rome
St Proculus of Illyria

Blessed Rinaldo of Concorezzo (c 1245 – 1321) Bishop of Vicenza from 1296 until his 1303 appointment as the Archbishop of Ravenna-Cervia holding that until his death, Doctor of Canon Law, Papal envoy, Arbitrator and Peace-maker. Archbishop Rinaldo was also a close friend of Dante Alighieri.

St Ronan of Iona
St Serapion of Rome

Massa Candida: Also known as Martyrs of Utica and the White Company: Three hundred 3rd century Christians at Carthage, who were ordered to burn incense to Jupiter or face death by fire. Martyrs. Saint Augustine of Hippo and the poet Prudentius wrote about them. They were forced to cast themselves into a pit of burning lime c 253 at Carthage, North Africa.

Happy, indeed, is she
to whom it is given to share this sacred banquet,
to cling with all her heart to Him
whose beauty all the heavenly hosts admire unceasingly,
whose love inflames our love,
whose contemplation is our refreshment,
whose graciousness is our joy,
whose gentleness fills us to overflowing,
whose remembrance brings a gentle light,
whose fragrance will revive the dead,
whose glorious vision will be the happiness
of all the citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem

St Clare of Assisi

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Saint of the Day – 11 August – St Chromatius the Prefect

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Saint Agrestius Chromatius the Prefect, martyr and father of Saint Tiburtius. Saint Chromatius was vicar to the city prefect of Rome under Emperor Diocletian. He had an ornate palace in the Parione district. Before becoming Christian, he condemned several martyrs to death during the reign of Emperor Carinus. He was later converted to Christianity by Saint Tranquillinus and baptized by Saint Polycarp. The occasion by which he received such a great grace was Saint Tranquillinus’ testifying to being cured of gout during baptism. Chromatius likewise suffered terribly from gout, so he sent for Polycarp, who baptized him, and he was also healed.

After becoming Christian, he released the Christian prisoners and freed his slaves. He then retired and was succeeded by Fabianus. Chromatius lived quietly on his country estate for many years, welcoming other Christians into his home to protect them from persecution.

Saint Chromatius’ son, Saint Tiburtius, took shelter in his father’s house during the persecution of Diocletian, but was later by an apostate, tortured and beheaded. Chromatius is said to have also been martyred, probably at the same time. However, no details of his martyrdom remain. According to Butler’s Lives of the Saints, Chromatius was mentioned in several ancient martyrologies alongside his son Tiburtius.

Pontius Pilate, a Prefect

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Saints of the Day – 1 August – Saints Faith, Hope, Charity and Sophia

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Saints Faith, Hope and Charity were the daughters of Saint Sophia (Wisdom). Sophia was a widow of Milan who gave away her possessions and moved to Rome with her daughters. Her daughters were martyred before her and she buried them at Via Appia. She died a natural death three days later while praying at their grave. Their tomb in a crypt beneath the church afterwards erected to Saint Pancratius was long a place of pilgrimage, as detailed in various documents of the seventh century. Oils were gathered from their tombs and sent to Queen Theodelinda in the time of Gregory the Great.

Early Christians from the 4th century often took in baptism mystical names indicative of Christian virtues, and Sophia, Sapientia, and Fides are attested as names of Christian women in Catacomb inscriptions. While still children, the daughters were tortured and martyred in the persecutions of Hadrian. They were scourged, thrown into a fire, and then beheaded.

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Saint of the Day – 6 July – St Tranquillinus of Rome

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‘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)

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Saint of the Day – 3 July – St Hyacinth of Caesarea

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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.

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Saint of the Day – 2 July – St Martinian of Rome

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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.

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Our Morning Offering – 29 June – Decora Luce Aeternitatis, What Fairer Light

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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.