Martyrology Archives - Page 5 of 8

Conversion of St. Paul and Commemoration of St. Ananias

January 25

The Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle, to whom–as he was journeying to Damascus, still breathing threats and murder against the Lord’s disciples–Jesus himself revealed himself on the way and chose him so that, filled with the Holy Spirit, he might announce the Gospel of salvation to the gentiles, suffering many things for the name of Christ.

The commemoration of Saint Ananias who, being the Lord’s disciple, baptized the converted Paul at Damascus.

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May Holy Mary and all the saints intercede to the Lord for us, that we may merit to be helped and saved by him who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

V. Precious in the sight of the Lord

R. Is the death of his holy ones.

V. May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. And may the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in pace.

R. Amen

[To learn about praying this and other Martyrology entries, see this page.]

St. David

December 29

The commemoration of Saint David, king and prophet, who, being the son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, found favor with God and was anointed with holy oil by Samuel the prophet that he might rule over the people of Israel; he transferred the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant to the city of Jerusalem, and the Lord himself soon swore to him that his seed would endure forever, because from him would be born Jesus Christ according to the flesh.

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May Holy Mary and all the saints intercede to the Lord for us, that we may merit to be helped and saved by him who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

V. Precious in the sight of the Lord

R. Is the death of his holy ones.

V. May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. And may the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in pace.

R. Amen

[To learn about praying this and other Martyrology entries, see this page.]

A Tribute to John the Theologian

Today’s martyrology speaks of John the Apostle in a way unlike all the other apostles: “In his Gospel and other writings he shows himself to be a theologian….” Tradition holds all the apostles to be the foundation of theology, and the evangelists to be the model of the theologian, but even among the evangelists the Fathers single out John as the “eagle,” the one who soars high into the realm of mystery.

In the earliest days of the Church, Matthew’s Gospel was the most popular gospel, but from the days of scholasticism onward theologians of all stripes and denominations have preferred John’s Gospel together with the letters of Paul. Theologians like arguments more than stories, and John has long, wonderful discourses in which Jesus gives theological arguments. If you look for example of St. Thomas Aquinas’s commentary on John, you’ll see that his exposition of the story parts is OK while his unpacking of the discourses is marvelous. He is just more comfortable with argument.

But of course John’s Gospel blends story and argument, and both elements earn him the title “theologian”. That’s one reason I have a special devotion to him at this season: in the coming year, I hope to write stories and I hope to write arguments, and some of the arguments I hope to write are arguments about stories. As a tribute to St. John, I’d like to share with you an outline of John’s Gospel that I developed over a few years of teaching sophomores at Wyoming Catholic College. On my account, if you take time and place as dividers of the text, you end up with a liturgically themed chiastic structure–maybe a bit bold, but a lot more fun than what you’ll find in standard commentaries! Click here for a .pdf file; the outline is on the first page and some explanatory notes on the second.

St. John the Apostle

December 27

The Feast of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist, the son of Zebedee, who along with his brother Jacob and Peter was witness to the transfiguration, as well as the Lord’s passion, and who there by the cross received from him Mary as mother. In his Gospel and other writings he shows himself to be a theologian, who, worthy of contemplating the glory of the Word incarnate, announced what he saw.

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May Holy Mary and all the saints intercede to the Lord for us, that we may merit to be helped and saved by him who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

V. Precious in the sight of the Lord

R. Is the death of his holy ones.

V. May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. And may the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in pace.

R. Amen

[To learn about praying this and other Martyrology entries, see this page.]

St. Stephen

December 26

The Feast of Saint Stephen the protomartyr, a man full of faith and the holy Spirit, who, being the first of the seven deacons whom the Apostles chose as cooperators in their ministry, was also the first of the Lord’s disciples to shed his blood in Jerusalem, bearing witness to Jesus, whom he claimed to see standing in glory at the Father’s right hand, and he was crushed with stones while praying for his persecutors.

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May Holy Mary and all the saints intercede to the Lord for us, that we may merit to be helped and saved by him who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

V. Precious in the sight of the Lord

R. Is the death of his holy ones.

V. May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. And may the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in pace.

R. Amen

[To learn about praying this and other Martyrology entries, see this page.]

All the Ancestors of Jesus Christ

December 24

The commemoration of all the holy ancestors of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham, the son of Adam, namely those fathers who pleased God and were found righteous and died in the faith, having received none of the promises but discerning and greeting them from afar, from whom was born Christ according to the flesh, who is over all things God blessed forever.

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May Holy Mary and all the saints intercede to the Lord for us, that we may merit to be helped and saved by him who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

V. Precious in the sight of the Lord

R. Is the death of his holy ones.

V. May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. And may the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in pace.

R. Amen

[To learn about praying this and other Martyrology entries, see this page.]

St. Micah the Prophet

December 21

The commemoration of Saint Micah the prophet, who, in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, by his preaching defended the oppressed, condemned idols and dishonesty, and announced to a people chosen from all eternity the leader who would be born in Bethlehem of Judah, and who would feed Israel in the strength of the Lord.

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May Holy Mary and all the saints intercede to the Lord for us, that we may merit to be helped and saved by him who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

V. Precious in the sight of the Lord

R. Is the death of his holy ones.

V. May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. And may the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in pace.

R. Amen

[To learn about praying this and other Martyrology entries, see this page.]

St. Malachi the Prophet

December 18

The commemoration of Saint Malachi the prophet, who, after the Babylonian exile, announced the great day of the Lord and his advent into the Temple, and the clean oblation that would be offered to his name at all times and in all places.

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May Holy Mary and all the saints intercede to the Lord for us, that we may merit to be helped and saved by him who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

V. Precious in the sight of the Lord

R. Is the death of his holy ones.

V. May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. And may the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in pace.

R. Amen

[To learn about praying this and other Martyrology entries, see this page.]

St. Haggai

December 16

The commemoration of Saint Haggai, the prophet, who, in the time of Zerubbabel the leader of Judah, admonished the people that they should rebuild the Lord’s house, into which the treasure of all the nations would flow.

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May Holy Mary and all the saints intercede to the Lord for us, that we may merit to be helped and saved by him who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

V. Precious in the sight of the Lord

R. Is the death of his holy ones.

V. May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. And may the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in pace.

R. Amen

[To learn about praying this and other Martyrology entries, see this page.]

St. Zephaniah the Prophet

December 3

The commemoration of Saint Zephaniah, the prophet, who in the days of Josiah the king of Judah announced the ruin of the impious on the day of the Lord’s wrath and strengthened the people of the poor and needy with the hope of salvation.

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May Holy Mary and all the saints intercede to the Lord for us, that we may merit to be helped and saved by him who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

V. Precious in the sight of the Lord

R. Is the death of his holy ones.

V. May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. And may the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in pace.

R. Amen

[To learn about praying this and other Martyrology entries, see this page.]