MEMORIAL OF SAINT NEMESION OF ALEXANDRIA, AND THE OTHER CHRISTIANS OF THE SAME PERSECUTION, MARTYRS AND BLESSED URBAN V, POPE – FEAST DAY ~ DECEMBER 19TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Nemesion and the other Christians of the same Persecution and Blessed Urban V, Pope. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints, we humbly pray for God’s grace and mercy as we prepare for the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ during this season of Advent. Praying for hope, faith, love, joy and peace in our world today, as we face these incredibly challenging times. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for the safety and well-being of all those traveling during this season of Christmas. We pray for the sick and dying, especially sick children, those who are mentally and physically ill, strokes, heart diseases, those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the souls of the faithful departed and we pray for all widows and widowers. We pray for torture victims, the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable in our communities and around the world. We pray for all parents and children, for peace, love, justice and unity in our marriages, our families and our world. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, the Bishops, the Clergy, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world… Amen🙏
SAINT NEMESION OF ALEXANDRIA, AND THE OTHER CHRISTIANS OF THE SAME PERSECUTION, MARTYRS: During the persecution of Decius, Nemesion, an Egyptian, was apprehended at Alexandria upon an indictment for theft. The servant of Christ easily cleared himself of that charge before the judge Emilianus, but was immediately accused of being a Christian. He was twice delivered up to torture, and after being scourged and tormented more than were the true thieves, was sentenced to be burnt with them and other malefactors, in the year 253.
There stood at the same time, near the prefect’s tribunal, four soldiers and another person who, being Christians, boldly encouraged a confessor attached to the rack. They were taken before the judge, who condemned them to be beheaded. The prefect was astonished, seeing the joy with which they walked to the place of execution. Three others, named Heron, Ater and Isidore, all Egyptians, were arraigned at Alexandria with Dioscorus, a youth only fifteen years old, during the same persecution. After enduring the most cruel rending and disjointing of their limbs, they were burnt alive, with the exception of Dioscorus, whom the judge dismissed because of his tender age. Nemesius was scourged and then burned to death. Like Christ, he was executed between two criminals.
Reflection: Can we call to mind the fervor of the Saints, cheerfully laboring and suffering for God, and not feel a holy ardor glow in our own breasts, and our souls strongly affected by their heroic sentiments of virtue? Saint Nemesion and the other Christians of the same Persecution ~ Pray for us 🙏
BLESSED URBAN V, POPE: Blessed Urban V is regarded as the best of the so-called Avignon Popes who ruled the Church for some one hundred and seventy years from Avignon in the 13th and 14th centuries. He was born Guillaume de Grimoard at Grisac in Languedoc, France, in 1310. William of Grimoard studied canon law and theology in Avignon and became a noted Benedictine monk and canonist and served as papal legate to Milan and Naples before being elected Pope in 1362.
The most important event of his reign was his abortive attempt to return the papacy to Rome, which occurred in 1367. He restored the papal buildings and reconciled the Eastern Emperor John V Palaeologus to the Church. He also concluded an alliance with Emperor Charles IV, founded the Universities of Krakow and Vienna, and aided the universities of Avignon, Toulouse, Orange, and Orleans.
However, political conflicts obliged the Pope to return to Avignon in 1370. In June of that year he informed the Romans that he was leaving them for the good of the Church, and on September 5 he sailed for France with a heavy heart. On December 19, he was dead, called by a contemporary “a light of the world and a way of truth; a lover of righteousness, fleeing from wickedness and fearing God.” His cult was approved in 1870 by Pope Pius IX. It is said that as he lay dying he called the people to surround his deathbed, saying “the people must see how popes die.”
PRAYER: Almighty and eternal God, You willed to set Blessed Urban over your entire people and to go before them in word and example. By his intercession keep the pastors of Your Church together with their flocks and guide that in the way of eternal salvation. Amen🙏