SS. Marcellinus and Peter| S. Erasmus| Daily Meditation| Daily Quote by S. Padre Pio| Divine Mercy Reflection
Sts. Marcellinus and Peter
(d. 304)
Both Calendars
Marcellinus and Peter were prominent enough in the memory of the Church to be included among the saints of the Roman Canon. Mention of their names is optional in our present Eucharistic Prayer I.
Marcellinus was a priest and Peter was an exorcist, that is, someone authorized by the Churh to deal with cases of demonic possession. They were beheaded during the persecution of Emperor Diocletian. Pope Damasus wrote an epitaph apparently based on the report of their executioner, and Constantine erected a basilica over the crypt in which they were buried in Rome. Numerous legends sprang from an early account of their death.
Comment:
Why are these men included in our Eucharistic prayer, and given their own feast day, in spite of the fact that almost nothing is known about them? Probably because the Church respects its collective memory. They once sent an impulse of encouragement through the whole Church. They made the ultimate step of faith.
Quote:
"The Church has always believed that the apostles, and Christ's martyrs who had given the supreme witness of faith and charity by the shedding of their blood, are quite closely joined with us in Christ" (Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 50).
Also today on the Latin Calendar there is commemorated S. Erasmus, Bishop and Martyr. A story/novena about this commemoration can be found by Clicking Here.
Another Story:
St. Erasmus, whose name morphed into St. Elmo as it was passed along, is patron saint of those suffering from abdominal pain because he was martyred by being disemboweled.
In the late second century, he was a bishop of Formia, which sits between Rome and Naples. When that city burned, he moved to the nearby town of Gaeta, and he remains the city’s patron. Both Formia and Gaeta sit on the west coast of Italy, and St. Erasmus was invoked by sailors who frequented their ports—today he is patron saint of those who make their living at sea.
During storms at sea, sailors noticed a blue electrical discharges dancing in their rigging and masts, and took it as a sign of St. Erasmus’ protection. Given the evolution of his name, we know this today as St. Elmo’s fire.
A number of unreliable legends fill in Erasmus’ story. They tell of him fleeing a persecution of Christians and living on a mountain and being sustained by food delivered by a raven. He was later discovered, arrested, and tortured, but survived by several miraculous escapes.
It was believed he eventually died by disembowelment, so he is invoked by women in labor and those experiencing intestinal disorders, including appendicitis. As is the case with many martyrs, he is depicted here holding the instrument of his death, a windlass around which is wound his intestines.
St. Erasmus is considered one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers — a band of saints whose intercession was asked for around the time of the bubonic plague. Relics of St. Erasmus rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica.
St. Erasmus, patron of those experiencing intestinal disorders and women in labor, pray for us!
Daily Meditation
Shine Through Me:
The presence of Jesus among us is just that-- a widespread presence among all of God's people. We are able to embed the wonders of the presence of God within us. Each of us can and must be the "Jesus Presence" in this world around us.
Quote by S. Padre Pio:
Let us lift up our hands to heaven and implore tears of this kind for all our fellow travelers.
Divine Mercy Reflection
Reflections on Notebook Two: 112-188
We now enter into Notebook Two of the six notebooks that make up the Diary of Saint Faustina. The reason for having more than one notebook is simply that when one notebook was filled by Saint Faustina she began with a new one. Therefore, there is nothing particularly different from one notebook to the other. However, for the purpose of this current book of daily reflections, each reflection will begin to be lengthened, starting here with Notebook Two, so as to help you, the reader, enter more deeply into the beautiful mysteries of faith and our shared spiritual life that have been revealed in these writings of Saint Faustina.
You are invited once again to take one reflection each day and to ponder it throughout the day. Try to pray the prayer for each reflection each morning, noon and evening. Allow each mystery reflected upon to become a source of wisdom and understanding for you.
Reflection 153: Seeing our “Littleness”
Little children can’t wait to grow up. When they have a birthday, they are filled with joy that they are one year older. And yet, as little children, they are still dependent upon their parents in many ways. The same is true of us in a spiritual sense. We often want to “grow up” and to become great saints, attaining great things for God. And yet, we must often remind ourselves that we are still children. In our “littleness” before God, we are now and ever will be fully dependent upon Him for all our needs. Recognizing this fact is essential to becoming a great saint and growing in holiness. We become great by becoming small (See Diary #779).
Reflect upon your littleness before God. Compared to the glory and power of the Almighty, we are small and weak. But God sees our littleness and He desires that we run to Him in complete confidence. Entrust yourself to His Mercy and run to Him. Realize that it is only by humbly admitting your total dependence upon Him that you are made strong through His embrace.
Lord, I do run to You and cling to You in my need. You are All-Powerful and glorious beyond measure. May I rely upon You in all things and continually seek You with my whole being. Jesus, I trust in You.
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