Marcellinus was a priest, and Peter was an exorcist. For the faith, they were arrested and imprisoned. They were so successful in converting their fellow prisoners, that the Roman authorities didn’t want to risk a public execution, lest their deaths inspire even more conversions. So Marcellinus and Peter were taken to a forest in the middle of the night, forced to dig their own graves, and beheaded. However, one of the soldiers was so moved by their courage, that he converted to Christ, and told the Church where Marcellinus and Peter were buried, so they could be properly venerated.
The emperor Constantine, the first Holy Roman Emperor who ended the persecutions, had a church built over the spot of their martyrdom.
2000 years later, young people, like our newly confirmed, still look to the martyrs of the early Roman church as inspiration for living out the Christian faith.
Why? No doubt, their courage in the face of hostility is perennially inspiring. All of us face some sort of adversity, and the martyrs show us what courage looks like, they show us that courage is possible, withstanding adversity, persevering throughout an earthly trial is possible.
Their love for Jesus Christ and the Church is also contagious. When I think of the martyrs, I think, I want to love Jesus, I want to love the Church, that much. I want to be equipped with those same “weapons of righteousness” as St. Paul calls them. To be able to stand up to kings and judges, and to set good example for those of weaker faith. I want concern for souls and conviction for the truth of the Gospel to be my highest priority.
I encouraged our young people to learn the stories of their confirmation saints well, to be able to share their stories with others. Because the stories of their witness are so powerful, they are contagious. The martyrs aren’t relics of the past that we’ve failed to discard, the Roman martyrs are ever-ancient, ever-new, just like the Church, just like Christ.
And following them, they lead us to Christ who is "Rex et caput martyrorum"—the king and head of martyrs. For the martyrs ultimately lead us to love and imitate Him—who testified to the love of the Father, by the embrace of his bloody Passion and death.
May Marcellinus and Peter and all of the martyrs of the Roman Church help us to courageously confess Christ in our own day and place, remaining true to Him in word and deed, loving Him with all of our heart, mind, and strength, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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For openness to the Holy Spirits gifts, that we may be always bold and clear in spreading and defending the Gospel.
That the faith of the martyrs may give us courage in times of persecution.
For our young people beginning summer vacation, that they may be kept close to the truth and heart of Jesus.
That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering.
For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests and religious of the diocese of Cleveland, for the poor souls in purgatory, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.
O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.
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