June 2, non-binding commemoration
Position: martyrs
Death: 304
CURRICULUM VITAE

Marcellinus was a priest, and Peter an exorcist in Rome. Under Emperor Diocletian, they were thrown into prison together, where they helped their fellow prisoners both spiritually and materially. By their actions, they converted pagans to the faith and encouraged Christians to be courageous. They were beheaded for their faith. They are named in the Roman canon of the Mass.
CV FOR MEDITATION

MISSIONS HELD IN THE DUNGEON
After their capture, the priest Marcellinus and the exorcist Peter became prison missionaries. The importance of these martyrs is underlined by their inclusion in the first Eucharistic prayer of the Holy Mass. Perhaps the oldest report about them comes from Pope Damasus, who, as a boy, spoke with the executioner who carried out the execution and later became a Christian himself. Damasus also mentioned this when composing the epitaph for the monument to the martyrs.

Marcellinus and Peter were imprisoned during the bloodiest persecution of the Church during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, which began on February 23, 303, on the feast of the god Therma. He was incited to persecute Christians by his co-emperor, Galerius, who was incited against them by his mother and the devil. Historians Eusebius and Lactantius recorded about that time: “Whoever does not want to worship the gods is condemned and handed over to the executioner. The prisons are crowded. The roads are full of disabled men… Whips, iron hooks, crosses, and wild beasts tear apart tender children with their mothers… If I had a hundred tongues, a hundred speeches, and an iron voice, even then I would not be able to describe all the vile things that judges do to innocent and just people or to enumerate the names of all the martyrs.”

Christians drew strength to endure everything from the Eucharist, prayer, the Bible, and mutual encouragement. Marcellin and Peter are said to have excelled in this. According to historical sources, as M. Liptovská states, “they tried to strengthen their brothers and sisters, forgetting themselves, as if they had forgotten that they themselves were walking to death. They spoke of the glorious resurrection of Christ, with whom they were to meet and remain forever.” As a result, hymns and psalms resounded through the dungeon, transforming it into a temple full of God’s presence. Pagan jailers and executioners became witnesses to the miracle of faith and love, and today’s two celebrants were baptized in the dungeon until they were led to execution.

Their apostolic zeal for their fellow prisoners reminds many of the priests from concentration camps. And what about my apostolic zeal? What would I do if I were taken to prison for my faith, as some were under totalitarian regimes? Even if I did not deny my relationship with God, would I be able to draw strength from it for others? There is little possibility that I would be different from what I am now.

According to the executioner’s story, Marcellinus and Peter had to be beheaded in a remote place in a forest thicket by order so that the Christians would not know about their bodies. They had to dig their own graves before they died. However, the location did not remain a complete secret. The Roman woman Lucilla learned of it soon after and arranged a dignified burial. The grave was located at the third milestone of the Roman road Via Labicana, and Emperor Constantine the Great had a basilica built over it in honor of the martyrs. He also had his mother, St. Helena, buried in the tomb in the basilica.

RESOLUTION, PRAYER

I reflect on the strength of my relationship with God and the need for a zealous apostolate in my community. I pray to the Holy Spirit for the strength needed to bear witness as God expects of me, and to understand my role as a Christian in contemporary society.
O God, who leads your Church to draw strength and courage from the glorious witness of the martyrs; help us, guided by the example of Saints Marcellinus and Peter, to live by faith and to be supported by their intercession. We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.

Justin, philosopher

CURRICULUM VITAE

He studied philosophy in Asia Minor. Seeking wisdom in the teachings of the Stoics, Aristotle, Pythagoras, and Plato, he was consumed by questions: What is my soul? What will happen to me after death? He sought the truth about God. An old man instructed him: ‘Pray fervently to God that he may open the gates of light for you, for understanding these things requires grace from God.’ Justin became acquainted with the Holy Scriptures, and it was through reading them and observing the lives of Christians that he was inspired to receive Holy Baptism. He was consumed by a desire to bring others to Christ, successfully defending the true doctrine. He laid down his life for his beliefs.

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 And to successfully defend

While he was meditating and walking along the seashore, an older man approached him and asked why he had come to this inhospitable solitude. Justin confided in him his search and desire to know the highest being. The older man replied with a smile that everything that the wise men teach is uncertain, erroneous, and foolish. And long before the Greek wise men, there were righteous men in the world who predicted things that came to pass. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they announced the truth to their people, proclaiming faith in the one true God, the Creator of all things, and in his Son Jesus Christ, whose coming they had predicted. He urged Justin to pray that God would give him the grace to know and understand these things and defend them.

Justin was moved and very much desired to know the books of the Bible, the contents of which he had learned from the older man. He then read them carefully and sought advice from Christian interpreters of the Scriptures. He observed the holy life of Christians, many of whom suffered martyrdom for their faith. Their love touched him and became one of them because he had found what he was looking for. It was probably between 130 and 137 that he was baptized in Ephesus. Later, in one of his writings, he stated that he had accepted the faith under the influence of Christians’ exemplary lives. He also heard many objections against them, but he realized that the accusations were not based on the truth. After accepting the faith, Justin devoted himself to defending and spreading Christian doctrine among educated Greeks and Romans. In Rome, he founded a philosophical school and wrote several philosophical writings in defense of Christian doctrine. Two works, entitled Apology and Dialogue with Trypho the Jew, have survived.

The pagan philosopher Crescentius, with whom Justin had heated discussions, accused him of preaching Christian doctrine, leading to his arrest and presentation before the Roman prefect Junius Rusticus. The records of the interrogation have been preserved, in which Justin’s words are recorded: “I tried to study all available philosophies, which finally convinced me that only one teaching is true. That which Christians profess, that God is the Creator and Lord of all creation, that Jesus Christ, according to prophecy, came into the world to save man and teach him the whole truth.”

He was flogged with other convicts and then beheaded, allegedly during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. It could have been after the year estimated by the martyrology. Justin significantly contributed to Christianity’s entry into Greco-Roman culture. His remains are kept at St. Lawrence outside the walls.

gods, but

The Mystery at the Heart of Our Faith

The Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith. Every time we make the Sign of the Cross, we profess our belief in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Christians do not believe in three gods but in one God who exists eternally as three distinct Persons.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the mystery of the Trinity is the most fundamental and essential teaching about God. It is a mystery not because it is irrational, but because it is so profound that the human mind can never fully comprehend it.

One God in Three Personspersonsperson

The Church teaches that:

• There is only one God.

• God is three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

• Each Person is fully God.

• The three Persons are distinct from one another, yet they share the same divine nature.

The Father is God.
The Son is God.
The Holy Spirit is God.
Yet there are not three gods, but one God.

This truth was revealed gradually in Sacred Scripture and fully through Jesus Christ.

The Trinity in the Bible

In the Old Testament, God revealed Himself as the one true God. The fullness of the Trinity, however, was revealed in the New Testament.

At the baptism of Jesus, we see all three Persons present:

• Jesus, the Son, is baptized in the Jordan.

• The Holy Spirit descends like a dove.

• The Father’s voice is heard from heaven: “This is my beloved Son” (Mt 3:17).

Before ascending into heaven, Jesus commanded His disciples:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19).

Notice that Jesus says “name,” not “names.” The three Persons share one divine nature.

The Father

The Father is the source of all creation. He created the world out of love and continually sustains it. He is the loving Father who desires the salvation of all people.

Jesus teaches us to address God as “Our Father,” inviting us into a personal relationship with Him.

The Son

The Son is eternally begotten of the Father. He is the eternal Word of God who became man in Jesus Christ.

Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus revealed the Father’s love and redeemed humanity from sin. Whoever sees Jesus sees the Father.

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. He is the Lord and Giver of Life.

The Holy Spirit dwells in the Church and in the hearts of believers. He guides us to truth, strengthens us with His gifts, and helps us grow in holiness.

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, empowering them to proclaim the Gospel to the world.

A Communion of Love

The Trinity is not a solitary God but a communion of love. The Father eternally loves the Son, the Son loves the Father, and the Holy Spirit is the bond of that divine love.

Because we are created in the image of God, we are also made for relationships, love, and communion. The family, the Church, and all authentic human relationships reflect something of the life of the Trinity.

Living the Mystery of the Trinity

The doctrine of the Trinity is not merely a theological concept. It has practical consequences for our daily lives.

We live the mystery of the Trinity when

• We pray to the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit.

• We love others as God loves us.

• We seek unity within our families and communities.

• We participate in the life of the Church.

• We receive the sacraments with faith.

Every Mass begins and ends in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The entire Christian life is rooted in the Trinity.

Conclusion

The Holy Trinity is the greatest mystery of our faith and the source of our salvation. Though we cannot fully understand it, we can enter into its reality through prayer, worship, and love.

The Father created us.
The Son redeemed us.
The Holy Spirit sanctifies us.

One God, three Persons, a perfect communion of love. Through Baptism, we are invited to share in the very life of the Holy Trinity, both now and forever.

Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Dear brothers and sisters, today we celebrate one of the greatest and at the same time deepest truths of our faith – the feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Today’s feast is not just a theological lesson, it is not a mathematical puzzle: “how can there be three and at the same time one?” Today, we stand before the mystery of the very Heart of God. The mystery of God, who is not solitude, but love. God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – three Divine Persons in perfect unity. 

When a person goes out into nature on a beautiful morning, he can glimpse traces of this mystery. Let us look around us. The sun rises over the landscape, its rays warm the earth, and a gentle wind moves the trees, carrying the scent of blooming meadows. We see three different realities: the sun, its light, and its heat. They are different, and yet they belong together. The sun without light and heat would not be what it is. Thus God is one, but not alone.  

He is a community of love. And today’s beautiful psalm cries out: “Praise be to you, Lord, God of our fathers, glorious and exalted forever.” Today, all of creation seems to be singing this song. The sky, the forests, the rivers, the mountains, the birds, and the human heart. Everything points to the greatness of God. When we look at the beauty of the world, we do not see just the work of chance. We see the signature of the Creator. 

The first reading from the Book of Exodus (Ex 34:4b-6.8-9) leads us to Mount Sinai. Moses ascends to God. The mountain is shrouded in clouds, silence, wind, and sacred fear. And there the Lord reveals his name: “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, long-suffering, abounding in kindness and faithfulness.” This is extremely important. God does not present himself as a distant ruler. He does not say: “I am powerful.” He does not say: “Fear me.” He says, “I am merciful.” This is the first face of the Trinity – God the Father. 

What does the Father do? The Father creates. He gives life. He thinks about each person before they are born. As a parent, He watches over the child. He gives the sun, rain, fields, air, and our days. The Father is the source of everything. But man departed from God. Sin disrupted the relationship. And then the second of the Divine Persons acted – the Son. 

The Gospel of Saint John today brings some of the most beautiful words of Scripture: “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son”. God did not send the Son to condemn the world. This is incredible. Man often judges. He divides, condemns. But God comes to save. 

What does the Son do? The Son of God became man. He was born in Bethlehem. He walked the dusty roads of Galilee, healed the sick, forgave sinners, hugged children, and wept over human pain. And finally, he took up the cross. Jesus shows us the face of the Father. Whoever sees Jesus sees the Father. And then comes the third Divine Person – the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not work noisily. He is like the wind. We cannot see the wind, but we can see its effects. It moves a leaf, stirs the grain, brings the scent of the forest after the rain. This is how the Holy Spirit works. 

What does the Holy Spirit do? It comforts, strengthens, reminds us of God’s words, gives us courage, awakens faith, and brings peace. How many times does a person not know what to do? He is tired, lost, and helpless. And suddenly light comes into the heart. A quiet peace, a thought, the power to forgive. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. The Father creates, the Son saves, the Holy Spirit sanctifies. And yet there are not three gods. They are one. 

Today’s second reading from the Second Letter to the Corinthians conveys to us the beautiful words of the Apostle Paul: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Cor 13:13). Let us note: the grace of the Son, the love of the Father, and the communion of the Spirit. This is the Trinity in everyday life. Perhaps someone asks, “What does this mean for today’s man?” Very much. Today’s world can connect computers, connect continents, and send a message to the other side of the world in a second. But we are still learning to connect human hearts. Families are falling apart; people live side by side but not together, and many are lonely. And the Trinity tells us: true life is born where there is unity and love. 

One beautiful example: Let us imagine a family. The father works, the mother cares, the children bring joy. Each has a different task. Each is different. But when they love each other, they form one home. In a way, God shows us his secret. Not sameness, but unity in love. Brothers 

And sisters, when we bless ourselves today with the sign of the cross and say: “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”, we often say it quickly and without thinking. But at that moment, we enter into the greatest mystery of the universe, into the life of God himself. Let us ask today that the Father protect our families, that the Son guide our steps, and that the Holy Spirit transform our hearts. Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we worship You and thank You for Your infinite love. Father, we thank You for the gift of life and for Your care. Jesus, we thank You for redemption and for Your cross. Holy Spirit, we thank You for light, strength, and peace. Teach us to live in unity, to forgive, to love, and to seek the way to You. May our families reflect the beauty of Your love, and our hearts become a place for You to dwell. Most Holy Trinity, one God, guide us now and forever. Amen.

Today, in memory of Pope Paul VI, we lift up our souls in double gratitude. We thank the Lord Jesus for having kept his word to remain with us until the end of the world (cf. Mt 28:20). God fulfills this promise through his Church, through his Eucharistic presence… But he does so in a very special way through the pope. Paul VI’s contemporaries could sense the clear vision of things and the firmness with which this holy shepherd defended the Church in “turbulent” times.

Thanks to this humble shepherd who, too, was sometimes alone – like Jesus in Gethsemane – suffered and wept for the Church. He embodied the “rock” on which Christ always builds his Church without the gates of hell being able to overcome it. Saint Pope Paul VI took on the enormous task of leading, concluding and applying the Second Vatican Council. Times are changing and the Church – is not falling behind in the face of new challenges. For this reason, the Pope of the Council oversaw a remarkable and courageous “update” of the Church. 

To some it seemed that he had failed, to others that he had gone too far… During his life he was a martyr for the Church entrusted to him… In his simplicity he even said: “Perhaps the Lord has called me and kept me for this ministry not because I am particularly suited to it, or so that I can guide and save the Church from its present difficulties, but so that I can suffer something for the Church, and thus it will be clear that he, and not someone else, is its leader and savior”. Yes, he is Christ, but he counts on us. Perhaps we too should pray more and make sacrifices for the Roman Pontiff, our “holy father”…

We are in Moscow during the last years of the Soviet Union. And teenager Boris Fishkin, the hero of the film My Father is Baryshnikov (2011), is studying at a ballet school. He grew up with only his mother, who had kept his father a secret from him. 

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May 27, non-binding commemoration Position: Archbishop, Prelate of England OSB Death: 604/605 CURRICULUM VITAE

He was sent as a missionary to England with 40 Benedictine monks from the peace of the Roman monastery. En route, he received episcopal ordination. Following the Pope’s instructions, he was successful in England, laying the foundations for the organizational structure of the Church. He won over a significant proportion of the population and educated local priests. 

THE BASIS OF SUCCESS, OBEYING GOD’S WILL The first reports of Augustine date back to 596, when he was the prior of the Benedictine monastery of St. Andrew in Rome. From there, Pope Gregory the Great sent him with 40 monks to England. There, after the collapse of the Roman Empire and the occupation by the pagan English and the Saxons at the end of the 5th century, Christianity almost disappeared. However, the pagan king Ethelbert had a Christian Frankish princess, Bertha, as his wife. This gave some hope, for which Augustine was sent to England with the monks. He obeyed and went.

Their missionary expedition stopped in Gaul, where it was slowed down by bad rumors about the place they were headed to. They heard that the people there were wild, hostile, and that it was impossible to communicate with them, not least because of the language barrier. Augustine therefore apparently returned himself to consult with the Pope. At his insistence that he not give up on his original plan, he set off back with Gregory’s recommendations to the Gallic bishops through whose dioceses his journey led. It was also a matter of obtaining capable Frankish priests to act as interpreters. Before leaving Gaul, he received episcopal ordination.

He is said to have landed with his monks and interpreters at the mouth of the Thames on ththen wase island of Thauet. From there he sent a message to the King of Kent that they wanted to preach the Gospel in his territory. The King came to them and requested a conversation with them under an oak tree that he considered sacred. He had the foundations of the faith explained to him and then allowed them to settle in the seat of the city of Canterbury, even to live in the palace and to preach religion without hindrance. Augustine and the monks probably settled on the outskirts of the city, where the small church of St. Martin stood, in which the queen’s devotions used to be held. There he began his apostolic work. The King had the old church rebuilt into a cathedral and also built for them the Benedictine monastery of Peter and Paul.

Through his exemplary life of preaching the word of God, Augustine gradually gained the favor of the people, and within the first year, a large number of the king’s people accepted baptism, and King Ethelbert also accepted it.
After hearing of Augustine’s success, the Pope sent another group of missionaries to him in 601. With them, he sent Augustine the pallium – the badge of metropolitan rank – and the task of founding two archbishoprics, each with twelve subordinate bishoprics.

The first archbishopric was in Canterbury at Christ Church Cathedral, from where Augustine served as archbishop until his death. For the second, he chose the city of York, where the bishopric began to operate only after his death. In his missionary work, he heeded the instructions of the Pope and respected the local culture, he did not destroy even pagan temples, but converted them into Christian ones. He only gave national customs a Christian character. Instead of pagan feasts, the Anglo-Saxons held love feasts, at which the poor were especially remembered. In these ways, Augustine won everyone over, because the top is more safely reached by slow growth rather than by reckless action.over because

The basis of success was initial obedience, submission to God’s will. Where a person submits his will, he gives space to God’s action. Whoever acts against the gospel acts against himself. Augustine also tried to unite the old British Christians with the new English Church, but he failed. There was too much hostility between the original inhabitants of the island, who had been pushed mostly in the western mountainous regions, and the Anglo-Saxons, who had come to the island as conquerors. King Ethelbert also wanted peace, and Augustine summoned the bishops of both sides to help achieve harmony, and he wanted the old Britons to give up their wrong customs. This also involved a different time for celebrating Easter and baptismal ceremonies. However, the old Britons were reluctant, and Augustine predicted to them that if they did not reconcile, bloody wars would break out, which would be the cause of their deaths. The prediction was sadly fulfilled.

Before that, Augustine focused on his work in the Kingdom of Kent, which soon became Christian. Until his last days, despite his high rank, he lived as a monk and missionary. Before his death, he ordained his successor.