Saint Apollinaris

Today the Church celebrates the memorial of Saint Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr. "Early accounts report that Saint Apollinaris was ordained bishop by Saint Peter himself and sent as a missionary bishop to Ravenna during the reign of the Emperor Claudius. Renowned for his powers to heal in the name of Christ, he was frequently exiled, tortured, and imprisoned for the faith, and finally martyred" (Magnificat, 275). I found it interesting that Saint Apollinaris was ordained by our first pope, Saint Peter. That is a great account and it does go back to the early beginnings of the Church. Saint Apollinaris was not afraid to stand up for the gospel and the faith. He was not afraid to give of his very life. We may not experience martyrdom in our lives but we do give of ourselves and we are being asked in our present time to stand up for the faith, to stand up for our Religious Liberty and Freedom. We have the divine assistance to help us at all times. The Entrance Antiphon puts it all into perspective: "This holy man fought to the death for the law of his God and did not fear the words of the godless, for he was built on solide rock" (275). Pray that our lives, our faith will be built on that solid rock of Jesus Christ. Saint Apollinaris, Pray for Us!!!