The Lives of the Saints, Volume 01 (of 16): JanuaryBaring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Religion
The Lives of the Saints, Volume 01 (of 16): January
Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Christian saints
[Roman Martyrology. This Priscilla is not to be confounded with the
wife of Aquila (Acts xviii. 26.) She was the mother of S. Pudens (2
Tim. iv. 21), who was the father of SS. Praxedes and Pudentiana,
the guests and disciples of S. Peter. Nothing more is known of
her.]
S. MARCELLUS, POPE, M.
(ABOUT A.D. 309.)
[The Greeks have confounded Marcellus with his predecessor,
Marcellinus, who is commemorated on April 26th. Roman Martyrology,
that of Bede, Ado, Notker, &c. The Acts are not to be trusted.]
Saint Marcellus succeeded Pope Marcellinus, in 308, after the see had
been vacant for three years and a half. An epitaph written on him by
Pope Damasus, says that by enforcing the penitential canons, he drew on
himself the hostility of lukewarm Christians. For his severity to an
apostate he was exiled by the tyrant Maxentius.
Relics, in the church of S. Marcellus at Rome; also at Mons and Namur,
in Belgium.
S. MELAS, B. C. OF RHINOCLUSA.
(4TH CENT.)
[Roman and German Martyrologies. Authority for his life, Sozomen.]
Rhinoclusa, or Rinocorurus, was near the river of Egypt, dividing Egypt
from Palestine; of this city and monastic settlement S. Melas was
Bishop. Sozomen, in his Ecclesiastical History, gives the following
account of him (lib. vi. c. 31):--
"Rinocorurus was celebrated at this period, on account of the holy men
who were born and flourished there. I have heard that the most eminent
among them were Melas, the Bishop of the country; Denis and Solon, the
brothers and successors of Melas. When the decree went forth for the
ejection of all bishops opposed to Arianism, the officers appointed to
execute the mandate found Melas engaged in trimming the lights of the
church, and clad in an old cloak soiled with oil, fastened by a girdle.
When they asked him for the Bishop, he replied that he was within, and
that he would conduct them to him. As they were fatigued with their
journey, he led them to the episcopal dwelling, made them sit down at
his table, and placed before them such things as he had. After the
repast, he supplied them with water to wash their hands, and then told
them who he was. Amazed at his conduct, they confessed the mission on
which they had arrived; but, from respect to him, gave him full liberty
to go wherever he would. He, however, replied that he would not shrink
from the sufferings to which the other bishops, who maintained the same
sentiments as himself, were exposed, and that he was ready to go into
exile. He had been accustomed, from his youth up, to practise all the
virtues of asceticism. The Church of Rinocorurus, having been thus, from
the beginning, under the guidance of such exemplary bishops, never
afterwards swerved from their doctrine. The clergy of this Church dwell
in one house, sit at the same table, and have all things in common."
S. HONORATUS, B. OF ARLES.
(ABOUT A.D. 430.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account