Today's saint I chose was the reluctant 21st pope of our Catholic Church. His name was Saint Cornelius. He was elected during the year and a half period during which the persecutions were so bad that papal ascension was a quick death sentence. He was pope for two years, three months, and ten days. He called a synod to confirm him as rightful pontiff as opposed to the anti-pope Novatian. He had the support of two other saints: Saint Cyprian of Carthage and Saint Dionysius. He was exiled to Centemcallae (in Rome) in 252 by Roman authorities to punish Christians who were said to have provoked the gods to send a plague against Rome. He died a martyr. St. Cornelius was not buried in the chapel of the popes, but in the adjoining catacombs.
A document from Saint Cornelius shows the size of the Catholic Church in Rome during his papacy...46 priests, 7 deacons, 7 subdeacons, and about 50,000 Christians.
He is the patron saint against earaches, epilepsy, fevers, twitching, and Kornelimunster, Germany.
God our Father,
in Saints Cornelius and Cyprian
You have given Your people an inspiring example
of dedication to the pastoral ministry
and constant witness to Christ in their suffering.
May their prayers and faith give us courage
to work for the unity of Your Church.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Let us pray for our current pope, Benedict XVI as he travels to England.
No comments:
Post a Comment