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"He was bishop of Constantinople, a faithful friend of St. Athanasius, and companion in all his labours for the defence of the Catholic faith against the Arians, who greatly feared him. By their false accusations, he was unjustly deposed, and took shelter in the West, where he was graciously received by the Emperor Constans. After two years he was reinstated in his dignity at Constantinople; but was still furiously persecuted by the Arians, and banished by the Emperor Constantius. He came back however to Constantinople; but his situation continued very uneasy, always suffering from the power and malice of the Arians. At their instigation, the emperor again drove him from his see, and sent him into banishment, to which the saint cheerfully submitted. He was loaded with chains, and sent into Mesopotamia; whence he was carried to a town in Syria; and afterwards to a small town on the confines of Cappadocia, notorious for its bad air and unhealthy situation. Here he was confined in a close, dark place, and left to starve to death. After he had passed six days without food, he was, to the great disappointment of his enemies, found alive. Upon which they strangled him, and gave out that he died after a short sickness. His martyrdom happened in 350 or 351.

The constancy of this prelate in the time of so powerful opposition and general confusion is easily admired; but how far can you go in the imitation of it? When we see how easily Christians fall under dejection, whether upon the experience of their own weakness, when their victory does not answer the haste of their impatient desires, or from sickness or surprising troubles; when we see how small provocations cause differences among Christians; how passion follows upon every ordinary occasion, and that peace is broken for mere humour and trifles; we cannot but think that all have reason enough to be earnest in their prayers for obtaining greater steadiness of mind. Examine yourself: and if your circumstances demand not your prayers, offer them for your neighbours: this charity will be your own advantage." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

Prayer for Persecuted Priests

All Powerful and Eternal God, through the merits of Your Son Jesus, and Through Your love for Him, I implore You, have pity on the priests of the Holy Church. In spite of their sublime dignity, they are fearful and weak, like all created beings. In your infinite mercy, inflame their hearts with the fire of Divine Love. For the sake of Jesus, Your Son, bestow grace on the priests and uphold them. Do not let them fall into temptation and tarnish their noble vocation.
O Jesus, we implore you. Look with pity on the priests of the Holy Church: those who are serving You faithfully and proclaiming Your glory; those who are persecuted for tending your flock; those who are abandoned, weary and sorrowful: those who are lukewarm, confused and who have denied their faith; those who are sick, dying, or in Purgatory. Lord Jesus, we entreat You. Listen to our supplication, have pity and console them.
O Jesus, we entrust to You the priests of the whole world: the priests who baptized me, absolved my sins, offered Holy Mass and consecrated the Eucharist to nourish my soul. We entrust to You the priests that instructed me when I was ignorant, gave me strength in my weakness, showed me the Way and the Truth and comforted me in my sorrow and affliction. For all the blessings they obtained for me, I implore You to support them in Your Loving Kindness.
O Jesus, shelter our priests in Your Sacred Heart. Let them take refuge in Your mercy and love, in this life, and to the hour of death. Amen.

By his Eminence the late Ignatius Cardinal Kung, Bishop of Shanghai.
Published 7/16/1953 during the early years of persecution of the Roman Catholic Church in China by its communist government. He was imprisoned from 1955 to 1988.