MEMORIAL OF SAINTS SOTER AND CAIUS, POPES AND MARTYRS; SAINT LEONIDES, MARTYR AND SAINTS EPIPODIUS AND ALEXANDER, MARTYRS ~ FEAST DAY: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saints Soter and Caius, Popes and Martyrs; Saint Leonides, Martyr and Saints Epipodius and Alexander, Martyrs. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the Church, the Clergy, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners and for Christians all over the world. We also pray for bachelors, victims of betrayal and torture and for the poor and the needy, especially during these incredibly challenging times.

SAINT SOTER, POPE, MARTYR: Saint Soter, Pope (c. 174-175 A.D.) was the twelfth bishop of Rome. He was of Greek origin, though born in Fondi, Italy. He reigned as Pope from 166-175. Saint Soter is known for declaring that marriage was valid only as a sacrament blessed by a priest and also for formally inaugurating Easter as an annual festival in Rome. He was attentive to the needs of Christians and the east, and his pontificate was marked by works of charity and care for the poor. He fought against Montanism, and regulated the order of deaconesses. Saint Soter was raised to the papacy upon the death of Saint Anicetus in 161. By the sweetness of his discourses he comforted all afflicted persons with the tenderness of a father, and assisted the indigent with liberal alms, especially those who suffered for the Faith. He liberally extended his charities, according to the custom of his predecessors, to remote churches. He aided in particular that of Corinth, to which he addressed an excellent letter. Saint Dionysius of Corinth in his letter of thanks to Saint Soter, adds that the Pontifical letter together with the letter of Saint Clement, Pope, was read for the edification of the faithful on Sundays, during their assemblies to celebrate the divine mysteries. One of Saint Soter’s ordinances required all Christians except those in public penance to receive Communion on Holy Thursday. Saint Soter vigorously opposed the heresy of Montanus, and governed the Church up to the year 175. He was martyred on April 22, 175, under the emperor Marcus Aurelius, and buried on the Appian Way in the catacombs of St. Callixtus. His feast day is April 22nd.

SAINT CAIUS, POPE, MARTYR: Saint Caius, Pope was born in the Dalmatian city of Salona, to a noble family, possibly related to the emperor Diocletian. He was Pope  for 13 years, reigned from 283 to 296, and may have been the uncle of St Susanna. He fought against emerging heresies and gave definitive structure to the lower orders of the episcopate. Pope Saint Caius, though a relative of the emperor Diocletian, him or his family were not spared during the bloody persecution of the years 283 to 296, during which the Christians of Rome were obliged to conceal themselves in caverns and cemeteries. Saint Caius counseled a patrician named Chromatius to receive the tracked disciples of Christ in his country residence. He himself went to visit them on a Sunday, and said to the faithful assembled there that Our Lord Jesus Christ, knowing the fragility of human nature, established two degrees in the practice of Christianity, confession and martyrdom. Our Saviour did so, he said, so that those who do not believe they could stand up under torment, may nonetheless conserve the grace of the faith by their confession. Our Lord had indeed specified, When you are persecuted in one city, flee to another… Then he said, Those who wish to stay in the house of Chromatius, remain with Tiburtius, while those who prefer to return with me to the city, come. Several followed him back to Rome; among them are the martyrs of the same persecution, the brothers Saints Marcus and Marcellinus, and Saint Sebastian. Saint Caius himself received the crown of martyrdom in the final year of the persecution, 296, and was buried in the cemetery of St. Callixtus, where his body was found in 1622, with an inscription identifying him as Vicar of Christ. His feast day is April 22nd.

Both St. Soter and St. Caius are buried in the cemetery of St. Calixtus and are venerated on the date of the death of Pope St. Caius.

PRAYER: O God, who to pasture your people filled the Bishops blessed Soter and Caius with a spirit of truth and of love, grant that, as we celebrate their feast day with honor, we may benefit by imitating them and be given relief through their intercession. 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

SAINT LEONIDES, MARTYR: The Emperor Severus, in the year 202, the tenth of his reign, raised a bloody persecution which filled the entire empire with martyrs, but especially Egypt. The most illustrious of those who by their triumphs ennobled and edified the city of Alexandria was Leonides, father of the great Origen. He was a Christian philosopher and excellently versed both in the profane and sacred sciences. He had seven sons; the eldest was Origen, whom he brought up with very great care, returning thanks to God for having blessed him with a son of such an excellent disposition for learning, and so remarkable a piety. After his son was baptized, he would come to his bedside while he was asleep and, bending over the child, would kiss his breast respectfully, as the temple of the Holy Spirit.

When the persecution reached Alexandria in 202, under Laetus, governor of Egypt, Leonides was cast into prison. Origen, who was then only seventeen years of age, burned with a fervent desire for martyrdom, and sought every opportunity of facing it. His ardor redoubled at the sight of his father’s chains, and his mother was forced to lock up all his clothes to oblige him to stay at home. She conjured him not to forsake her; thus, unable to do more, he wrote a letter to his father in very moving terms, strongly exhorting him to look at the crown that was offered him with courage and joy. He added this exhortation: Take heed that for our sakes you do not change your mind! Leonides was indeed beheaded for the faith in 202. He’s the Patron Saint of Large families. His feast day is April 22nd.

Saint Leonides, Martyr ~ Pray for us 🙏🏽

SAINTS EPIPODIUS AND ALEXANDER, MARTYRS: Sts Epipodius and Alexander, Martyrs, were two Christian young men of Lyon, both unmarried and of good position. St. Epipodius was a native of Lyon, while St. Alexander was said to be a native of Phrygia, and a physician by profession. They were both martyred during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. During the fierce persecution of Marcus Aurelius in that city (178), they were arrested, imprisoned, and finally brought before the governor. Their ready acknowledgment of being Christians elicited astonishment of the governor who was well aware of the fierce tortures and executions that had already been meted out to Christians. However, the governor was not deterred in carrying out his task. He separated the two and attempted to cajole St. Epipodius (the younger of them) to abandon his Faith. But the loyal youth continued to profess it. Then he was stretched out on a rack and his sides were rent by iron claws. He was finally beheaded.

Two days later, it was St. Alexander’s turn. Instead of being frightened by the reminder of his companion’s fate, he thanked God for his example and expressed a firm desire to join him. He was scourged unmercifully but stood fast in the Faith. Finally, he was sentenced to be crucified, and the moment his battered body was fastened to the cross he passed on to his heavenly reward. St. Epipodius is the patron saint of bachelors, victims of betrayal, and victims of torture. Saints Epipodius and Alexander are great intercessors for anyone who has felt the coldness of betrayal.

PRAYER: May the prayers of Sts. Epipodius and Alexander make us pleasing to You, Lord, and strengthen us in professing Your truth. Amen 🙏🏽