Friday, January 20, 2012

St. Fabian, Bishop & Martyr

Today the Church remembers a long forgotten Bishop of Rome, Fabian. Upon the death of Bishop Antherus in 236, a council was convened in Rome to elect his successor. In the crowd was Fabian (Fabianus), a layman from another part of Italy. According to the historian Eusebius, a dove flew into the building and landed on Fabian's head. The people immediately interpreted this to be a sign from God that he should be the next bishop, and they unanimously acclaimed Fabian as bishop!

Fabian turned out to be an excellent leader. He organized the parish structure of the Church that is in use to this day.

In 239 the Emperor Decius instituted a persecution of Christians. This was the first persecution to be waged throughout the entire Empire instead of just locally. Fabian was captured and brutally executed. The courage with which he went to his death was an inspiration to thousands who followed him in martyrdom. You can still see Fabian’s broken tombstone in Rome, and there are 3 barely legible words on it: “Fabian ... bishop ... martyr.”

Let us pray: Almighty God, you called Fabian to be a faithful pastor and servant of your people, and to lay down his life in witness to your Son: Grant that we, strengthened by his example and aided by his prayers, may in times of trial and persecution remain steadfast in faith and endurance, for the sake of him who laid down his life for us all, Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

CONFIRMATION CLASS on Sundays starting at 10:50 a.m. If you want to be Confirmed when Bishop Harrison visits us on Sunday, 5 February, you will need to participate in the Confirmation class. Please come!

SACRED PLACES TOUR: St. Augustine will be on the tour this year in February. It is a wonderful opportunity to share our faith history with others. Please plan to be a part of it.

PLEASE REMEMBER everyone on our Prayer List, especially those who are chronically ill, the lonely, the depressed, the unemployed, the ill and those who have no one to pray for them.

“It is the Bible that must judge the culture. Where a conflict results, the cultural element must give way.”—Dr. Byang Koto, a Nigerian evangelical theologian (1936-1975)

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550

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