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Saint Justin, Martyr
Memorial
June 1st

Justin Martyr
André Thevet, Les Vrais Pourtraits et Vies Hommes Illustres,
1584 edition supplied by the Special Collections Library, University of Michigan and http://www.earlychurch.org.uk/justin.html

History:

Christian apologist, born at Flavia Neapolis, about A.D. 100, converted to Christianity about A.D. 130, taught and defended the Christian religion in Asia Minor and at Rome, where he suffered martyrdom about the year 165. "Apologies" bearing his name and his "Dialogue with the Jew Tryphon" have come down to us.

(Principal source - Catholic Encyclopedia - 1913 edition)

 

Collect:
O God, who through the folly of the Cross
wondrously taught Saint Justin the Martyr
the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ,
grant us, through his intercession,
that, having rejected deception and error,
we may become steadfast in the faith.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. +Amen.

First Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart." Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:13-19
"You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men.

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

"Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

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Related Page on the Vatican Website: Benedict XVI, General Audience, St Peter's Square, Wednesday, March 21, 2007, St Justin, Philosopher and Martyr (c. 100-165)

Links to New Advent - The Fathers of the Church

Justin Martyr [SAINT]
  - First Apology
  - Second Apology
  - Dialogue with Trypho
  - Hortatory Address to the Greeks
  - On the Sole Government of God
  - Fragments of the Lost Work on the Resurrection
  - Miscellaneous Fragments from Lost Writings
  - Martyrdom of Justin, Chariton, and other Roman Martyrs
  - Discourse to the Greeks

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