Saint Justin the Martyr
Aug
16
Written by:
Sunday, August 16, 2009
St. Justin Martyr
Pastor’s Column
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 16, 2009
Saint Justin the Martyr lived from A.D. 100-165. He was born a pagan, but after searching through the ancient philosophies, was converted to Christianity. Justin was a prolific writer, and has left us invaluable records of the beliefs and worship of Christians in their earliest years. What he describes will sound familiar to any Roman Catholic who attends Sunday Mass! These few excerpts of his 1st and 2nd apologia are only appetizers. Why not look up the rest?
Father Gary
“On the day which is dedicated to the sun, all those who live in the cities or who dwell in the countryside gather in a common meeting; and as long as there is time the Memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read. Then, when the reader has finished, the president verbally gives a warning and appeal for the imitation of these good examples.
“Then we all rise together, as we said before, and when our prayer is ended, bread is brought forward along with wine and water, and the president likewise gives thanks to the best of his ability, and the people call out their assent, saying the Amen. Then there is the distribution to each and the participation in the Eucharistic elements, which are also sent with the deacons to those who are absent. Those who are wealthy, and who wish to do so, contribute whatever they themselves care to give; and the collection is placed with the president, who aids the orphans and the widows, and those who through sickness or any other cause are in need, and those who are imprisoned, and the strangers who are sojourning with us – and in short, he takes care of all of those who are in need.
“We call this food Eucharist; and no one else is permitted to partake of it, except the one who believes that our teaching is true and who has been washed in the washing which is for the remission of sins and regeneration [Baptism], and is thereby living as Christ enjoined. For not as common bread nor common drink do we receive these; but since Christ our Savior was made incarnate by the word of God and had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so too, as we have been taught, the food which has been made into the Eucharist by the Eucharistic prayer set down by him, and by the change of which our blood and flesh is nourished, is both the flesh and blood of the incarnate Jesus.
“The Apostles, in the Memoirs which they produced, which are called Gospels, have thus passed on that which was enjoined upon them: that Jesus took bread and, having given thanks, said, “Do this in remembrance of Me; this is My Body.” And in like manner, taking the cup, and having given thanks, He said, “This is my Blood.” And he imparted this to them only.”
Taken from The Faith of the Early Fathers Volume 1 by William A. Jurgens: Liturgical press, Collegeville, Minn., pp 55-56