Time After Pentecost (Part Two). Historical Note.

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designed by Charles Eamer Kempe.

Illustration: MEDIEVAL CHURCH ART

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

Illustrations: Zephyrinus,
unless stated otherwise.

Being sent by Our Lord to teach all nations and to Baptise them in The Name of The Father and of The Son and of The Holy Ghost [Editor: Gospel for Trinity Sunday], the Apostles dispersed throughout the World.

Saint James the Great (Feast 25 July), Saint John’s brother, was the first to give a Martyr’s testimony to Christ by shedding his blood at Jerusalem, under Herod Agrippa I, about 42 A.D.

Shortly after Saint Peter [Editor: The Epistles for the The Second Sunday and The Fifth Sunday After Pentecost are from Saint Peter] was miraculously delivered by an Angel (Feast Day 1 August) and took refuge in the house of Saint Mark (Feast 25 April) the author of the second Gospel.

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designed by Charles Eamer Kempe.

Illustration: MEDIEVAL CHURCH ART

Saint Peter’s Pontificate in Rome, from his first visit in 42 A.D. until his death in 67 A.D., lasted twenty-five years (Feast 18 January), during which he stayed for some time, about 51 A.D. to 52 A.D., at Antioch (Feast 22 February).

Saint Paul of Tarsus, who was a Convert, probably in 37 A.D. (Feast of The Conversion of Saint Paul 25 January), went to see Saint Peter at Jerusalem and began his missionary journeys in 44 A.D. Having been Consecrated Bishop of Antioch, with Saint Barnabas (Feast 11 June) in the first missionary journey they visited together Cyprus, of which later on Saint Barnabas became Bishop, and Pamphylia, and Pisidia, and Lycaonia.

Returning to Antioch, Paul attended the Council of Jerusalem, over which Peter presided, about 51 A.D. While The Prince of The Apostles was residing at Antioch, Paul began his second voyage, about 52 A.D., goint to Syria and Lycaonia, and, after having been joined by Timothy, traversed Phrygia and Galatia.

It was about this time that The Church at Colosse was Founded. Paul sailed from Troas with Saint Luke (Feast 18 October), the author of The Acts of The Apostles, visiting Macedonia, Philippi, Thessalonica, Athens, and Corinth. Thence, he returned through Ephesus and Cæsarea to Jerusalem, in time for Easter in 54 A.D.

Saint Paul’s third journey led him across Phrygia and Galatia to Ephesus, where he wrote his Epistle to the Galatians and his first Epistle to the Corinthians. He then revisited Macedonia, where he wrote his second Epistle to the Corinthians and, afterwards, Greece.

After following the Adriatic coast as far as Illyria, he again stayed for a time at Corinth. It was there that the Epistle to the Romans was written. Subsequently, Saint Paul returned to Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost in 58 A.D.

Having been arrested in the Temple, he was taken to Cæsarea, and, after two years in captivity, having appealed to Cæsar, was sent by ship to Rome, where he arrived about 61 A.D. There he found a Church, perfectly organised by Saint Peter, who had been the first to Preach the Gospel in Rome.

Saint Paul’s trial lasted two years more, during which he wrote his Epistles to the Philippians, the Ephesians, and the Colossians. Having been set free, and intending to go to Jerusalem, he sent in advance, as he had done for the Romans, a Letter known to us as the Epistle to the Hebrews.

“Cantate Domino Canticum Novum”.

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It was after the first imprisonment of Saint Paul at Rome that the first Epistle of Saint Peter appears to have been written to the provinces evangelised by The Apostle of the Gentiles and where Saint Peter, himself, probably had preached the Faith.

Saint Paul then visited Ephesus, Macedonia, and Crete, where he left Saint Titus (Feast 6 February) as Bishop, to whom he wrote two Epistles. At Corinth, he met Saint Peter and returned with him to Rome.

There, Saint Peter Baptised Saint Nereus and Saint Achilleus (Feast 12 May), who were beheaded. He was then arrested with Saint Paul and confined with him in the Mamertine Prison on Mount Tarpeia, where they converted their gaolers Saint Processus and Saint Martinian (Feast 2 July), who died as Martyrs.

The two Apostles underwent Martyrdom about 67 A.D. The following year, Jerusalem was besieged and, in 70 A.D., it was taken by Titus and the Temple burnt to the ground.

[Editor: The Epistles referred to in this Article are the Epistles read on Sundays After Pentecost.]

PART THREE FOLLOWS.