Pope Linus (♰ 79 A.D.)
Source: http://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Linus2.jpg
Author: Unknown.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Saint Thecla.
Virgin and Martyr.
Illustration:
Saint Thecla of Iconium.
Feast Day 23 September.
From: Butler’s Lives of the Saints.
Available on YouTube
By: Abbot Guéranger, O.S.B.
Volume 14.
Time After Pentecost.
Book V.
The lives of the first Vicars of Christ are buried in a mysterious obscurity; just as the foundations of a monument built to defy the ravages of time are concealed from view.
Let us leave the learned to discuss certain points in the following short legend; as for ourselves, we will rejoice with The Church on this Feast Day, and pay our loving Veneration to the humble and gentle Pontiff, who was the first laid to rest beside Saint Peter in the Vatican Crypts. And, in addition, to the Holy Virgin and Martyr, Saint Thecla.
Pope Saint Linus was born at Volterra, Tuscany, and was the first to succeed Saint Peter in the government of The Church.
His Faith and holiness were so great , that he not only cast out devils, but even raised the dead to life. He wrote the Acts of Blessed Peter, and, in particular, what he had done against Simon Magus.
Pope Linus decreed that no woman should enter a Church with her head uncovered. On account of his constancy in confessing the Christian Faith, this Pontiff was beheaded by command of Saturninus, a wicked and ungrateful ex-Consul, whose daughter Pope Linus had delivered from the tyranny of the devils.
He was buried on the Vatican, near the sepulchre of The Prince of The Apostles, on the ninth of the Kalends of October. He governed The Church eleven years, two months, and twenty-three days.
In two Ordinations in the month of December, he Consecrated fifteen Bishops and eighteen Priests.
We Pray: “Obtain by thy Prayers, that the shadows of Earth may never cause us to waver in our obedience; and that hereafter we may merit, with thee, to contemplate our Divine Head in The Light of Eternal Day”.
While honouring the first successor of Saint Peter, Rome Commemorates the Proto-Martyr of the female sex. Together with Holy Church, then, let us unite in the concert of praise unanimously lavished upon Saint Thecla by the Fathers of East and West.
When the Martyr, Bishop Methodius, gave his “Banquet of Virgins” to The Church, about the end of the 3rd-Century A.D., it is on the brow of The Virgin of Iconium that he placed the fairest of the Crowns distributed at the banquet of The Spouse.
And justly so; for had not Thecla been trained by Saint Paul, who had made her more learned in the Gospel than she was before in philosophy and every science ?
Heroism in her kept pace with knowledge; her magnanimity of purpose was equalled by her courage; while, strong in the virginal purity of her Soul and body, she triumphed over fire, wild beasts, and sea monsters, and won the glory of a triple Martyrdom.
A fresh triumph is hers at the mysterious banquet. Wisdom has taken possession of her, and, like a divine harp, makes music in her Soul, which is echoed on her lips in words of wondrous eloquence and sublime poetry.
When the Feast is over, and the Virgins rise to give thanks to The Lord, Thecla leads the chorus, singing:
“For Thee, O Bridegroom, I keep myself pure; and with burning lamp I come to meet Thee.
“Having escaped the enchanting wiles of the serpent, and triumphed over the flaming fire and the attacks of wild beasts, I await Thee from Heaven.
“For Thee, O Bridegroom, I keep myself pure; and with burning lamp I come to meet Thee”. [Editor: Methodius: Conviv. dec. virg. vii, viii, xi.]
PRAYER.
Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we, who Celebrate the Festival of Blessed Thecla, Thy Virgin and Martyr, may rejoice in her annual Solemnity, and make progress by the example of such great Faith.
Through Our Lord, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who lives and reigns with Thee in the unity of The Holy Ghost, One God, World without end.
Amen.
Beautiful commemoration of S. Thecla, thank you, Zephyrinus: As Zephyrinus knows, S. Thecla is invoked in the Roman Ritual Litany for a departing soul: "As Thou didst deliver the holy virgin and martyr Thecla from three most gruesome torments, so deliver the soul of this Thy servant; and let him (her) enjoy with Thee the blessings of heaven. Amen.” Sicut sanctam virginem et martyrem Theclam de tribus gravissimis tormentis liberasti, sic libera animam famuli tui; et coelestia tecum fruatur. Amen. It is very comforting to read the prayers for one departing this world and invoke the ancient help of S. Thecla.-Note by Dante P.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dante P, for your most welcome Comment.
DeleteSaint Thecla, indeed, is a Saint that we all would do well to Pray to more often.
As Dante P states, it is most comforting at the point of death to know that Prayers are being offered to Saint Thecla to assist in a departing Soul's journey.
Saint Thecla, Pray for us.