Feast Day: December 17th
This week, our story begins with the day’s page from the Roman Martyrology. On the one hand, this is simply an extensive (though not exhaustive) list of the Church’s saints, giving a miniature summation of their lives, depicting in short form why each is a saint we should emulate. Yet this simple document, as it lists the saints who have entered heaven on day after day after day sparkles with lives lived out of God’s grace. On the nondescript day of December 17th, we discover countless men and women who have gone ahead of us into the Eternal Life offered to us as well.
At Eleutheropolis, in Palestine, the holy martyrs Florian, Calanicus and their fifty-eight companions, who were massacred by the Saracens for the faith of Christ, in the time of the emperor Heraclius.
At Marseilles, in France, blessed Lazarus, bishop, who was raised from the dead by our Lord, as we read in the Gospel.
At Rome, St. John de Matha, founder of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity for the Redemption of Captives. His festival is observed on the 8th of February, according to the decree of Innocent XI.
In the monastery of Fulda, the holy abbot Sturmius, abbot and apostle of Saxony, who was ranked among the saints by Innocent II., in the second Council of Lateran.
At Bigarden, near Brussels, St. Vivina, virgin, whose eminent sanctity is attested by frequent miracles.
At Constantinople, St. Olympiades, widow.
At Andenne, at the Seven Churches, St. Begga, widow, sister of St. Gertrude.
…
And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors and holy virgins.
Thanks be to God.
Please spend a few moments contemplating these holy men and women. Perhaps you look up Eleutheropolis and discover that the city where those 60 Christians were martyred is now in the West Bank. Can those holy men and women offer hope to those killed, and suffering, on that same soil today? Can they pray for us to see, as they did, that eternal life is a far greater good than earthly life, yet both are gifts from God that we must protect?
Or, you notice Lazarus, and realize that this beloved friend of Jesus, raised from his grave, made his way carrying the Gospel all the way to Marseilles and there shepherded a fledgling community of Christians. When has God marvelously given you a new chance at life? And, have you used it to similarly proclaim His Salvation?
Can St. John de Matha, who founded the Trinitarian Order which we recalled a few weeks ago on the feast of St. Chrysogonus (they care for his relics), stir our hearts – as Our Lord asks – to consider where people around us remain captive, and work to free them from their shackles? Do we see them as Christ to such an extent that we would risk our own lives to bring them Christ’s Freedom?
St. Sturminus reminds us of the sanctity, and power, of remaining faithful to whatever responsibility God has given to us. Synods still debate, heresies still rage, Popes still reign, and pagans still need Jesus, but what if you and I today just took care of our inner monastery, our domestic Church, our little parcel of God’s vineyard?
Sweeping across continents, and across centuries, now we consider St. Vivina’s simplicity. Surely she had great hopes and dreams and plans and prayers, but the miracles and wonders we marvel at only happened after her death. Can we be content with being little saints? Can we be committed to being little saints? Can we be saints in little things?
Finally, looking at the double example of St. Olymbiades and St. Begga, known soley for their being widowed, and becoming saints. Do you mourn the loss, or expect to lose, someone near to you? Could St. Olymbiades, a humble saint from a big city, show you how to let Christ consecrate your grief? Can St. Begga, a sister and friend, show you how to keep loving through that pain?
– Fr. Dominic is struck not only by the fact that these saints show us holiness across all locations, and ages, of the Church, and not only in every different situation and walk of life, but that they also sanctify even the time that they occupied, especially the day on which they left this world for heaven. One of the days of the year will be my, and your, feast-day as well. What if ours was December 17th too? Are we ready? Are we preparing? Are we looking forward to that day?