June 2 2025 - Sts. Marcellinus and Peter - Martyrs of the Roman Canon

 In the celebration of the Mass, one of the reasons that I like to use the Roman Canon, the first Eucharistic prayer, is because it contains those two lists of saints. Following the invocation of the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph, the priest lists of the apostles, then the first popes of rome, then a number of the Roman martyrs including a martyred deacon, a lay catechist, and two sets of martyred siblings.

After the consecration, there is another set of martyrs beginning with those whose names we find in the scriptures: John the Baptist, Stephen, Matthias, and Barnabas. Then our own patron, Ignatius of Antioch, martyred in Rome, followed by another Pope, Alexander the first, fifth Pope of Rome, and then the two saints we honor today: Saints Marcellinus and Peter.

As you know, for the first three hundred years of our faith, our faith was persecuted throughout the Roman Empire. Some of those persecutions were fiercer than others. Well, around the year 284, the most severe of the persecutions was led by the Emperor Diocletian--known as the Great Persecution. Around 3,000−3,500 Christians were executed under the authority of Imperial edicts.

Around 303, the Great Persecution reached its fiercest point. And it was then that the two saints honored today were killed. The first was Peter. Peter had been instituted in the minor Order of Exorcist. And while in prison, Peter performed an exorcism on the daughter of the prison-keeper. This demonstration of Christ's power over demons is said to have brought about the conversion of the daughter, the prison-keeper, his wife, and the entire household--all of whom were baptized by the second saint honored today, the Roman priest Marcellinus.

And the conversions continued. The pair 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.

I don’t usually use the first Eucharistic prayer on weekdays. But I will today, in honor of these two heroes of the faith, whose courage inspires us to spread the Gospel, to witness to the Lord, to become instruments of God, whether in prison, or in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. Saints Marcellinus and Peter, pray for us. That we may become worthy of the promises of Christ.

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Trusting in the Lord who strengthened Saints Marcellinus and Peter in time of trial, let us offer our prayers for the needs of the Church and the world.

For the holy Church of God—that, inspired by the martyrs, she may hold fast to the apostolic faith and proclaim Christ with confidence even amid opposition. 

For civil leaders and those in authority—that they protect religious freedom and uphold the dignity of every person, and for all who are persecuted for their Christian witness today, may they be defended by God’s grace and become shining signs of hope.

For those entrusted with the ministry of exorcism, may they serve as courageous instruments of God’s deliverance of the oppressed, and for the conversion of sinners and the strengthening of the lukewarm—that the witness of the martyrs may rouse hearts to repentance, baptismal renewal, and zeal for evangelization. 

For those imprisoned, forgotten, or isolated, for the sick, the suffering, and all the afflicted—that Christ, who conquered sin and death, may grant them strength, healing, and peace.

For our beloved dead—may they be welcomed into the company of the saints and behold God face-to-face. 

God of strength and mercy, You sustained Your martyrs Marcellinus and Peter in the hour of trial; hear our prayers and grant that, like them, we may remain faithful witnesses to Your Son, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

June 2 2023 - Sts. Marecellinus and Peter - Martyrs of the Great Persecution

 

As you likely know, for the first three hundred years of our faith, our faith was persecuted throughout the Roman Empire. Some of those persecutions were fiercer than others. Well, around the year 284, the most severe of the persecutions was led by the Emperor Diocletian--known as the Great Persecution. Thousands of Christians were executed under the authority of Imperial edicts.

During the Great Persecution, clerics and laity were rounded up, imprisoned, tortured, and killed, the churches we had managed to erect were burned, along with our scriptures and ritual texts. The goal of the persecution was to finally force Christians to relinquish their faith and to submit to the Roman pagan religion, including the worship of the emperor himself as a divinity. And the persecution was empire wide, from Palestine, Syria, including Antioch to Greece and of course in Rome. 

Many of the martyrs of the Great persecution are still honored with great devotion today: Sebastian, Agnes, Vitus, Lucy, Cyrsogonus, Cosmos and Damian, Januarius, Catherine of Alexandria.

Around 303, the Great Persecution reached its fiercest point. And it was then that the two saints honored today were killed. The first was a Roman exorcist by the name of Peter. While in prison, Peter performed an exorcism on the daughter of the prison-keeper. This demonstration of Christ's power over demons is said to have brought about the conversion of the daughter, the prison-keeper, his wife, and the entire household--all of whom were baptized by the second saint honored today, the Roman priest Marcellinus.

After this, both Marcellinus and Peter were called before a judge who was determined to enforce the emperor's decree against the Church. When Marcellinus testified courageously to his faith in Christ, he was beaten, stripped of his clothes, and deprived of food in a dark cell filled with broken glass shards. Peter was also returned to confinement.

But the conversions continued. And 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. 

It is said that the executioner was so moved by their courage that he sought out baptism, and later shared with Pope Damasus the location of the martyrdom, so a church could be built there. 

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of taking part in the celebration of the Sacrament of confirmation with about 40 young people, and so many of them chose as their confirmation patrons, the names of those early Christian martyrs. 2000 years later, young people, 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. 

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.

A reading from the book of the prophet Joel

Thus says the Lord God: Children of Zion, delight and rejoice in the LORD, your God! For he has faithfully given you the early rain, sending rain down on you, the early and the late rains as before. The threshing floors will be full of grain, the vats spilling over with new wine and oil. You will eat until you are fully satisfied, then you will praise the name of the LORD, your God, Who acts so wondrously on your behalf! My people will never again be put to shame. Then you will know that I am in the midst of Israel: I, the LORD, am your God, and there is no other; my people will never again be put to shame.

A continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke

One day as Jesus was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem, and the power of the Lord was with him for healing. And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; they were trying to bring him in and set [him] in his presence. But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles* into the middle in front of Jesus. When he saw their faith, he said, “As for you, your sins are forgiven.” Then the scribes and Pharisees began to ask themselves, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?” Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply, “What are you thinking in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? l But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” He stood up immediately before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God. Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, “We have seen incredible things today.”

June 02 2021 - Sts. Marcellinus and Peter - The powerful witness of the Roman Martyrs

 When I celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation last week, I was so impressed that all four of our confirmandi chose martyrs as their patron saints: Dymphna, Sebastian, Cecilia, and joan of arc are all martyrs. 3 of them are early roman martyrs like the saints we honor today, Saints Marcellinus and Peter.

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.

9th Week of OT 2020 - Tuesday - What belongs to Caesar?

"Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." Today’s Gospel certainly brings to mind the tension of the last month and a half. Can the government tell us we can’t go to Church? Can the government demand we wear masks? Can the government keep us from assembling to protest the infringement of our rights? What is the limit of civil authority? And what is our responsibility to obey legitimate authority?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church helps us to answer some of these questions. The section in the Catechism on the 4th Commandment elaborates on not only the honor we owe  father and mother, but also our relationship with civil authorities.

Firstly, it talks what Caesar owes his subjects. “Political authorities are obliged to respect the fundamental rights of the human person.” This is a matter of justice. Caesar must respect our fundamental rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Our Declaration of Independence does a pretty good job at listing some of these rights, identifying that our rights don’t come from the state, but are more fundamental, they come from God.

Then the Catechism goes on to explain the duties of citizens: “Those subject to authority should regard those in authority as representatives of God, who has made them stewards of his gifts: "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution.... Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God." Their loyal collaboration includes the right, and at times the duty, to voice their just criticisms of that which seems harmful to the dignity of persons and to the good of the community.” The Catechism then goes on to explain some of our duties: “Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one's country.”

The Catechism does a pretty good job to make clear that yes, we need to collaborate with our authorities, we have a responsibility to the common good, but then Catechism explains the limits of Caesar’s power. Catechism 2242 states: “The citizen is obliged in conscience not to follow the directives of civil authorities when they are contrary to the demands of the moral order, to the fundamental rights of persons or the teachings of the Gospel. Refusing obedience to civil authorities, when their demands are contrary to those of an upright conscience, finds its justification in the distinction between serving God and serving the political community. "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

Then quoting the Acts of the Apostles, Catechism states: “We must obey God rather than men" Whenever Caesar hinders our ability to give to God what belongs to God, we must obey God first. That may bring the wrath of Caesar…if Caesar is smart he’ll back down, for in opposing the will of God he brings upon himself God’s wrath.

How do we know what belongs to God? Luckily, we don’t have to figure that out on our own, we have our bishops, we have our scriptures, we have our Catechism, we have our sense of faith nurtured through years of Catholic spiritual formation. We certainly pray for those who have distanced themselves from the font of truth. For to be separated from truth, they cannot hope to respond well to the demands of justice.

Today we honor two saints, the priest Marcellinus and the exorcist, Peter, martyrs mentioned in the first Eucharistic prayer. They were imprisoned and killed for their Christian faith, for obeying God rather than Caesar. May Marcellinus and Peter and all of the martyrs of the One True 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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That our bishops and all people of faith may remain vigilant in defending their religious liberty and that our President and all government authorities will preserve and protect authentic liberty and justice according to the moral precepts which come from God.

That religious indifference in our country and around the world may be transformed to radical commitment to the Gospel of Christ.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests and religious of the diocese of Cleveland, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.

Friday - 7th Week of Easter 2017 - Do you love me?

On these last two weekdays of Easter, our Gospel passage comes from the epilogue and the very last chapter of John’s Gospel.  As I mentioned recently, Saint John’s Gospel has often been called, “the Gospel of Love.”  It should be no surprise that the final story of the final chapter of his Gospel is a conversation about love.

For Peter, loving Jesus means feeding his sheep. Each of the Gospels show how Peter is given a unique role in the Church, to be chief of the shepherd apostles: leading, governing, feeding the flock of Christ, the Church. Jesus prophecies that when Peter grows old, he too will stretch out his hands and lead him where he does not want to go. The Good Shepherd “will lay down his life for the sheep”, like Jesus Peter’s role as the shepherd of Jesus’ sheep will lead him to lay down his life, culminating in his martyrdom, stretching out his hands as he is martyred by crucifixion in AD 65.

Jesus asks this question to each of us: do you love me? By his death, by laying down his life like the Good Shepherd, for the Good Shepherd, Peter proves his love. And we are called to the same.

The Church celebrates two saints, Marcellinus and another Peter: two Roman martyrs mentioned in the Roman Canon, the first Eucharistic Prayer. Marcellinus was a priest, and Peter was an exorcist. They were arrested for the faith during the persecution of Diocletion and imprisoned. While in prison, they preached the Gospel, leading many of their fellow prisoners to be baptized there in prison.  When the prison guards caught on that the two saints were winning converts, Marcellinus and Peter were taken to a forest in the middle of the night in secret, forced to dig their own graves, and beheaded. However, one of the soldiers was so moved by their courage, that he converted to Christ, then told the Church where Marcellinus and Peter were buried, so they could be properly venerated.

“Do you love me?” Jesus asks. For Peter and the Popes that means leading, shepherding, governing, guiding the flock to be faithful to the Lord. For Marcellinus and Peter, it meant preaching the Gospel in prison when it would certainly result in their death. What does it mean for you, what does it mean for me?

Certainly it means being faithful to the duties and responsibilities of our respective vocations as priest, spouses and parents, religious, single. It certainly involves being courageous in sharing the Gospel with others and strengthening fellow Christians in the faith, works of charity in our community, fervor in prayer. And a love for Christ which imitates him in laying down our lives for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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That the Spirit of Pentecost may be with the Holy Father Pope Francis and all the successors of the Apostles, that they may lead the Church faithfully in the way of the Good Shepherd.
For the imprisoned, that the Gospel of Christ may spread among them, that they may know the closeness of God and the healing of the wounds of sin.
For our young people beginning summer vacation, that they may be kept close to the truth and heart of Jesus.
That our parish festival may be preserved from inclement weather and may be an instrument for the strengthening of our parish and the spread of Christ’s saving truth.
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.