The Martyrs of Alexandria, A.D. 261-2-3.
by VP
Posted on Friday February 28, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
"THESE were many holy priests, deacons, and laymen, who when the city of Alexandria, for its sins, lay under the scourge of a most severe plague, in the third century, exposed their lives for the service and comfort of those who were infected. There was not a single house in that great city which entirely escaped the pestilence, or had not to mourn for some dead. All places were filled with groans, and the living appeared almost dead with fear. This sickness was the greatest of calamities to the Pagans, but an exercise and trial to the Christians, who shewed on that occasion, how contrary the spirit of charity is to the interested spirit of self-love. In the time of this public calamity, most of them, regardless of their own lives, visited, relieved, and attended the sick, and comforted the dying. They closed their eyes, and buried them; and the charity of many of them being rewarded by death, the Church has thought proper to honour their memory, making but little difference between so glorious a death, and that of the martyrs. "Thus," adds St. Dionysius, "the best of our brethren have departed this life; some of the most valuable both of priests, deacons, and laics; and it is thought that this kind of death is nothing different from martyrdom."
If the Church has such value for this generous charity, learn also to set a value on it, and practise it as far as your circumstances will permit. There are frequent occasions of giving comfort and help to your neigbour. As many as are diseased, afflicted, or in prison, call upon your charity; and whatever you can do for them, either by visits or money, Christ takes it as done to himself, and has promised himself for your reward. Happy are you if this charity be the business of your life: and happy too, if whatever time you can spare from other business, be employed in this. To how much better account will this turn, than what is given to idleness, unprofitable conversation, and dangerous amusements? Learn only to offer what you do of this kind to God, and you will lay up for yourself treasures in heaven." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
Saint Proterius
THE FURY OF HATRED. Proterius having been elected patriarch of Alexandria, in 452, in the place of Dioscorus, who had been deposed by the Council of Chalcedon, and was a partisan of the arch-heretic Eutychius, great troubles prevailed in the city. The civil power succeeded in repressing them, without, however, being able to prevent a third patriarch, named Timotheus, from being consecrated and violently expelling Proterius from his see. The civil power once more intervened and exiled the intruder. Under this blow, the Eutychians, who were aware of the unbending firmness of Proterius, could no longer contain themselves: they pursued him furiously, on the Good Friday in the year 457, even to the baptistry of the church of St. Quirinus, there trampled him under foot and bound him with cords; thereupon, according as their rage was being glutted, they accumulated their blows and trailed him through the streets. They tore him limb from limb, burnt the mangled remains, and scattered the ashes to the wind. The bishops of Thrace bore a glorious testimony to his memory in a letter addressed by them to the Emperor Leo.
MORAL REFLECTION. The apostle depicts in other
features the charity which should animate Christians: "It is patient, is
kind. Charity believeth all things, rejoiceth not in iniquity, and
thinketh no evil."-(1 Cor. xiii. 4.) Abbe Lecanu
