Thursday, 20 June 2019

Saint Silverius. Pope And Martyr. Reigned From 536 A.D. - 537 A.D. Feast Day 20 June.


Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless stated otherwise.

Saint Silverius.
   Pope And Martyr.
   Feast Day 20 June.

Simple.

Red Vestments.





Pope Silverius.
(Wikimedia Commons)



A son of Pope Hormisdas, who was married before receiving Holy Orders, Silverius was invested with full Sacerdotal powers on succeeding Pope Agapitus on The Pontifical Throne (Introit, Alleluia). Theodora, Empress of Constantinople, entreated him to restore to The Pontifical Throne, of that City, a heresiarch [Editor: The founder of a heresy or the leader of a heretical sect], who, "living a slave to his impious wishes and not having The Spirit of God" (Epistle), had been deposed by Pope Agapitus. When Pope Silverius refused Theodora's demands, she caused him to be exiled to the Island of Ponza, Italy.

As a Disciple of Christ, The Holy Pontiff, Silverius, followed Him bearing His Heavy Cross (Gospel), and, from there (Ponza), governed The Church, "taking for his food," as he is reported to have said, "the bread of affliction and the water of anguish".

Later, Saint Silverius, worn out by privations and sufferings, fell asleep in The Lord in 537 A.D. His body, carried to Rome and buried in the Vatican Basilica, was made famous by numerous Miracles.

Guided by The Holy Ghost, let us beseech God to help our weakness (Collect), and to fill us with the courage shown by Saint Silverius in the defence of Truth.

Mass: Státuit.

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