Saint Julius
Traudel
Born in Rome; died there in April 12, 352. Saint Julius, son of Rusticus,
was elected pope on February 6, 337, to succeed Pope Saint Mark. Soon Julius
was involved in the Arian controversy when Eusebius of Nicomedia opposed the
return of Saint Athanasius to the see of Alexandria in 338. The Arian
bishops in the East sent three deputies to Julius to accuse Athanasius.
Julius shared the charges they presented with Athanasius, who thereupon sent
his representatives to Rome. Upon questioning them, he decided that the
accusations of Eusebius were false. At the insistence of the Arians, Julius
convened a synod in Rome in 340 or 341 in which Athanasius and other
orthodox bishops participated. Neither the Arians or semi-Arians attended.
When Julius demanded the they appear before him, they answered by convening
the council of Antioch in 341 during which Eusebius and his followers
elected George as patriarch of Alexandria, whereupon the Arians elected
Pistus (so now there are three bishops of the same see).
In a letter to the Eusebian bishops, Julius declared that Athanasius was the
rightful patriarch of Alexandria and reinstated him. In it the Holy Father
demonstrates the authority of the bishop of Rome. He writes:
"If they [Athanasius and Marcellus] had been guilty, you should have written
to us all, that judgment might have been given by all: for they were bishops
and churches that suffered, and these not common churches, but the same that
the apostles themselves had governed. Why did they not write to us
especially concerning the church of Alexandria? Are you ignorant, that it is
the custom to write to us immediately, and that the decision ought to come
from hence? In case therefore that the bishop of that see lay under any
suspicions, you ought to have written to our church. But now, without having
sent us any information on the subject, and having acted just as you thought
proper, you require of us to approve your measures, without sending us any
account of the reasons of your proceedings. These are not the ordinances of
Paul, this is not the tradition of our fathers; this is an unprecedented
sort of conduct. I declare to you what we have learned from the blessed
apostle Peter, and I believe it so well known to everybody, that I should
not have mentioned it, had not this happened." This letter is considered
one of the most momentous pronouncements of the Roman see, according to the
historian Socrates, who wrote: "Julius, by virtue of the prerogative of his
see, sent the bishops into the East, with letters full of vigor, restoring
to each of them his see." Sozomen similarly writes: "For, because the care
of all belonged to him, by the dignity of his see, he restored to every one
his church." The matter was not really settled until the Council of Sardica
(Sofia), summoned by the Emperors Constans and Constantius in 342 or 343 at
the urging of Julius, which declared Julius's action correct and that any
deposed bishop had the right of appeal to the pope in Rome. It declared
Athanasius and Marcellus of Ancyra as orthodox and restored them to their
respective sees. (This was an ecumenical council but is considered as an
appendix to the Council of Nicaea because it only confirmed its decrees,
although it enacted 21 disciplinary canons.)
Julius, a model of charity and wisdom, also built several basilicas and
churches in Rome before his death (Attwater2, Benedictines, Delaney,
Husenbeth).
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Martyrology
At Verona, the suffering of St. Zeno, bishop. He governed that diocese with
wondrous constancy amid the storms of persecution, and was crowned with
martyrdom in the time of Gallienus.
In Cappadocia, St. Sabas the Goth. Under the Emperor Valens, when King
Athanaric of the Goths was persecuting the Christians, Sabas was severely
tortured and then cast into a river. It was at the same time, as St.
Augustine relates, that many orthodox Goths were adorned with the crown of
martyrdom.
At Braga in Portugal, St. Victor, martyr. While still a catechumen, he
refused to worship an idol and confessed Christ Jesus with great firmness.
After enduring many torments, he was beheaded, thus meriting to be baptized
in his own blood.
At Rome, on the Via Aurelia, the birthday of Pope St. Julius I, who labored
greatly for the Catholic faith against the Arians, and after many
illustrious deeds rested in peace, famed for his sanctity.
At Fermo in Piceno (Italy), St. Vissia, virgin and martyr.
At Gap in Gaul, St. Constantine, bishop and confessor.
At Pavia, St. Damian, bishop. +
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Short prayers to the Holy Ghost:
O Holy Ghost, Spirit of truth, come into our hearts; shed the brightness of
Thy light upon the nations, that they may please Thee in unity of faith.
Spiritus Sancte, Spiritus veritatis, veni in corda nostra; de populis
claritatem lucis tuae, ut in fidei unitate tibi complaceant.
[Traditional indulgence - 300 days]
May the graces of the Holy Ghost enlighten our senses and our hearts.
Spiritus Sancti gratia illuminet sensus et corda nostra.
[Traditional indulgence - 500 days]
May our hearts be cleansed, O Lord, by the inpouring of the Holy Ghost, and
may He render them fruitful by watering them with His heavenly dew.
Sancti Spiritus, Domine, corda nostra mundet infusio, et sui roris intima
aspersione fecundet.
[Traditional indulgence - 500 days]