October 14th - St. Justus of Lyons B (RM)
Born near Viviers; died in Egypt c. 390; feast day formerly September 2.
Deacon Justus of Vienne became bishop of Lyons in 350. He was a model
priest-fearing and wanting nothing but God, exhibiting patience in every
trial. Together with two other Gaulish prelates, he participated in the
great synod at Aquileia in 381, which was chiefly concerned with the Arian
heresy. He may have gained the respect of Saint Ambrose during this
assembly. Two later extant letters from the bishop of Milan concern
questions regarding Holy Scripture addressed to Justus.
Just prior to the synod, Justus's conscience was disturbed by the fear
that
an action of his had been instrumental in bringing about a man's violent
death at the hands of a mob. A madman had stabbed some people in the
streets
and then sought refuge in the cathedral. In order to appease the mob, the
bishop handed the murderer over to the authorities on the promise that his
life would be spared. But the angry mob killed him. Justus felt that
because
he may have been an accessory to murder, he was no longer qualified to
continue his ministry of the altar, but his flock would not allow him to
retire to a monastery.
In consequence he left his see by stealth c. 382 by taking a detour en
route
back from Aquileia. He sought peace of mind in a large monastery in Egypt,
where he was anonymous. His hiding place was discovered by chance, but he
resolutely refused to leave it even when the priest Antiochus was sent to
persuade him to return. The priest decided to remain in Egypt with Justus,
who died in his arms. After his death, Saint Justus's body was taken back
to
Lyons, together with that of one of his clergy, Saint Viator, who had been
with him in retirement (Attwater, Benedictines, Husenbeth).
Saint Quote:
The only consideration of Superiors ought to be the love of God, and the
sanctification of the souls committed to their care. This cannot be
better
attained than by humility, combined with a peaceable disposition and good
example.
--St. Vincent de Paul
Bible Quote
4 And eating together with them, he commanded them, that they should not
depart from Jerusalem, but should wait for the promise of the Father,
which
you have heard (saith he) by my mouth. 5 For John indeed baptized with
water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, not many days hence.
(Acts 1:4-5)
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Canticle Colossians 1
Christ, firstborn of all creatures and firstborn from the dead
Let us give thanks to God the Father, who has made us worthy to share in
the
light that is the saints' inheritance.
He has rescued us from the power of the shadows and brought us to the
kingdom of
his beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation,
for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and
invisible,
thrones and dominations, principalities and powers.
All things were created through him and for him: he is before all things,
and in
him all things hold together.
And he is the head of the body, the Church. He is the beginning, the
first-born
from the dead, and so he is pre-eminent above all.
For it was the Father's will that the fullness of God should dwell in him,
and
that through him all things should be reconciled to himself.
Through the blood of the Cross he brought peace to all things, both on
Earth
and
in the heavens.
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Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
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