Saint of the Day ~ June 1

SAINT JUSTIN (c.100-165), apologist and martyr
Patron saint of orators and philosophers

Saint Justin, whom the universal Church honors today, was one of the most important Christian writers of the second century. He himself tells how his study of all the schools of philosophy led him to Christianity, and how he dedicated his life to the defense of the Christian faith as “…the one certain and profitable philosophy.”

Justin was born about the year 100 at Nablus in Palestine. The son of Greek speaking parents, he passed his youth in the study of letters. When he grew to manhood, he was so taken with the love of philosophy and the desire for truth that he became a student of philosophy and examined the teachings of all the philosophers.

He was principally attracted to the school of Plato. However, he found that the Christian religion answered the great questions about life and existence better than all the philosophers he had studied.

Upon his conversion to Christianity and his Baptism around the age of thirty, Justin continued to wear the philosopher’s mantle and became the first Christian philosopher. He combined the Christian religion with the best elements in Greek philosophy. In his view, philosophy was a means by which one could be led to Christ through reason.

Justin was known as one of the first great apologists, for he defended, in writing, the Christian religion against the attacks and misunderstandings of the pagans of his time. Three of his works in defense of Christianity have come down to us; one was titled First Apology which was addressed to the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius, the Second Apology addressed to the Roman Senate, and the third titled Dialogue with Trypho, which discussed the process of his conversion. Justin also opened a school in Rome in which public debates were held.

For his staunch adherence to the Christian faith, Justin was ultimately beheaded in Rome in the year 165 under the reign of Marcus Aurelius.

We commemorate his feastday on June 1.

(From catholicnewsagency.com, saints.sqpn.com, americancatholic.org, catholicculture.org and newadvent.org)

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PRAYER

(The following prayer is taken from the Roman Breviary from the Proper for Saint Justin)

“Father, through what many perceived to be the folly of the Cross, You taught Saint Justin the sublime wisdom of Jesus Christ. May we, too, reject falsehood and remain loyal to the faith.

“We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”