Today the Church remembers and honors one of the early saints and defenders of the faith, Justin. He was born around the year 100 A.D. and he died about 65 years later at the hands of Junius Rusticus who was urban prefect from 163-167. Justin, along with six others, was beheaded, probably in the year 165 A.D.
Justin was known for his writings explaining the Christian faith using Greek philosophy. Before converting to Christianity, Justin wandered around a bit. He first tried the Stoic philosophers, but they were unable to explain God’s being. Justin then went to a Peripatetic philosopher, but he was put off because the philosopher was too eager for his fee. Then he went to hear a Pythagorean philosopher, who demanded that he first learn music, astronomy and geometry, which he did not wish to do. After this he was drawn to Platonism, until meeting an old man who told him about Christianity; then, Justin converted. Justin’s conversion was influenced by the fearless conduct of the Christians facing execution.
Some of Justin’s works have survived, but many have been lost. Here is what Justin said about the Eucharist in The First Apology addressed to the Emperor Titus Ælius Adrianus Antoninus Pius Augustus Caesar:
For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Savior, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh. For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them, which are called Gospels, have thus delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them; that Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, said, “Do this in remembrance of Me, this is My body;” and that, after the same manner, having taken the cup and given thanks, He said, “This is My blood;” and gave it to them alone.
Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God, who found your martyr Justin wandering from teacher to teacher, seeking the true God, and revealed to him the sublime wisdom of your eternal Word: Grant that all who seek you, or a deeper knowledge of you, may find and be found by you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially those who are ill, alone, all of the men and women serving in the armed forces at home and abroad, and all of the victims of natural disasters in the United States.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
Justin was known for his writings explaining the Christian faith using Greek philosophy. Before converting to Christianity, Justin wandered around a bit. He first tried the Stoic philosophers, but they were unable to explain God’s being. Justin then went to a Peripatetic philosopher, but he was put off because the philosopher was too eager for his fee. Then he went to hear a Pythagorean philosopher, who demanded that he first learn music, astronomy and geometry, which he did not wish to do. After this he was drawn to Platonism, until meeting an old man who told him about Christianity; then, Justin converted. Justin’s conversion was influenced by the fearless conduct of the Christians facing execution.
Some of Justin’s works have survived, but many have been lost. Here is what Justin said about the Eucharist in The First Apology addressed to the Emperor Titus Ælius Adrianus Antoninus Pius Augustus Caesar:
For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Savior, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh. For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them, which are called Gospels, have thus delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them; that Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, said, “Do this in remembrance of Me, this is My body;” and that, after the same manner, having taken the cup and given thanks, He said, “This is My blood;” and gave it to them alone.
Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God, who found your martyr Justin wandering from teacher to teacher, seeking the true God, and revealed to him the sublime wisdom of your eternal Word: Grant that all who seek you, or a deeper knowledge of you, may find and be found by you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially those who are ill, alone, all of the men and women serving in the armed forces at home and abroad, and all of the victims of natural disasters in the United States.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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