October 22nd - St. Abercius

[rich]

October 22nd - St. Abercius
Died c. 200

Abercius Marcellus was the bishop of Hieropolis, which was in the
Roman province of Phrygia Salutaris, Asia Minor (now western Turkey).

The Greek Church has venerated him as a saint since the 10th century,
and he is also listed in the Romam Martyrology--the great calendar of
saints of our Latin rite. Actually, all that is known of him for sure
comes from the inscription he had carved while still alive to mark his
tomb after death.

The Epitaph of Abercius, discovered by archaeologists about a century
ago, has been called “the queen of all ancient Christian
inscriptions.” It dates from before the year 216 A.D. In this fairly
long text, Abercius names himself and recounts the devoted journeys he
had made among Christian peoples, including a special journey to Rome.
He refers to the baptism that bonded all Christians together, and to
the Eucharist that all Christians shared. But he writes of these
matters in a symbolic language that only other Christians could
understand.

This symbolic language formed a part of the early Christian
“discipline of the secret.” When they spoke in public about the great
mysteries of Christian teaching, the faithful couched their remarks in
mysterious terms in order to prevent the revelation of Jesus from
being disclosed to, or ridiculed by, non-Christians.

Read the inscription and you will see what I mean. I will explain the
occult terms later.

“Abercius by name, I am a disciple of the chaste shepherd, who feeds
his flocks of sheep on mountains and plains; who has great eyes that
look on all sides.”

“He taught me…faithful writings. He sent me to Rome, to behold a
kingdom and to see a queen with golden robe and golden shoes. There I
saw a people bearing the splendid seal.”

“And I saw the plain of Syria and all the cities, even Nisibis, having
crossed the Euphrates. And everywhere I had associates, having Paul as
a companion. Everywhere faith led the way, and set before me for food
the fish from the spring, mighty and pure, whom a spotless Virgin
caught and gave this to friends to eat, always having sweet wine and
giving them mixed cup with bread.”

“These words I, Abercius, standing by, ordered to be inscribed. In
truth, I was in the course of my 72nd year.”

“Let him who understands and believes this pray for Abercius…”

Clearly, “he who understands” could only be a Christian. A Christian
would know that the “chaste shepherd” was Jesus Christ, whose “great
eyes” enabled Him to see all, (“He was well aware of what was in man’s
heart.” John 2:25); and who taught what is in the gospels, those
“faithful writings.” Rome, the queen city was the center of the
Church. The faithful Romans were united by the sacrament of baptism,
which left a “splendid seal” on their souls.

In Mesopotamia, too, Abercius found Christians who shared with him the
same Eucharist, for the “mighty and pure fish” to which he alludes was
Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. The Greek word ichthus (fish) was a
common Christian monogram of “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour.” Its
Eucharistic sense is made clear by the reference to “bread” and the
“mixed” cup of wine (and water) consecrated at Mass.

The devout Bishop of Hieropolis was obviously thrilled to observe in
his travels the Catholicity--the universality--of the Church. Today
you and I do not have to journey far to experience an equal thrill. On
our own television sets we have been able to witness the same thing in
watching the travels of the Holy Father as he as visited nations
around the world. The missions who have welcomed him are truly our
brothers and sisters in the Mystical Body of Christ. White or black or
yellow or brown or red, we are all of us sealed forever with the seal
of baptism; we are all nourished by the body and blood of “Jesus
Christ, Son of God, Saviour.” Thank God for this privilege, greater
far than we deserve!
–father bob


Saint Quote:
"...the great movement of apostasy being organized in every country
for the establishment of a One-World Church which shall have neither
dogmas, nor hierarchy, neither discipline for the mind, nor curb for
the passions, and which, under the pretext of freedom and human
dignity, would bring back to the world (if such a Church could
overcome) the reign of legalized cunning and force, and the oppression
of the weak, and of all those who toil and suffer."
--Pope Saint Pius X, "Our Apostolic Mandate," 1910

Bible Quote:
41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and
prayed, 42 “Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me;
nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” 43 And there appeared
to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an
agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops
of blood falling down upon the ground.[a] 45 And when he rose from
prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow,
(Luke 22:41-45)   RSVCE


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Meditation:

Look by faith into that place beyond space or time where God dwells and
whence you came and to which you shall eventually return. "Look unto Him and
be saved." To look beyond material things is within the power of everyone's
imagination. Faith's look saves you from despair. Faith's look saves you from
worry and care. Faith's look brings a peace beyond all understanding.
Faith's look brings you all the strength you need. Faith's look gives you a
new and vital power and a wonderful peace and serenity.
--From Twenty-Four Hours a Day