From: hildegard8@excite.com   
      
   January 7th - St. Lucian of Antioch, Martyr   
      
   Born at Samosata, Syria; died at Nicomedia, Bithynia, January 7, 312; feast   
   day   
   in the East is October 15.   
   Saint Lucian was born of a wealthy family. After the death of his parents,   
   he   
   gave all his possessions to the poor and dedicated himself to the study of   
   rhetoric, philosophy, and, under Macarius at Edessa, the Scriptures.   
   Following   
   his ordination to the priesthood in Antioch, he headed (some say founded)   
   the   
   theological school there of which the infamous heretic Arius was a member.   
   Lucian made it his chief duty to examine the variants of the texts of the   
   Greek   
   version of the Old Testament and those of the four Gospels in order to   
   record   
   them, to correct spellings, improve the style and make comments, which Saint   
   Jerome later declared quite important and used in preparing the Vulgate.   
   Lucian   
   also did much to promote the understanding of Scripture in its literal   
   sense.   
      
   Lucian was a student or associate of Paul of Samosata, who was condemned at   
   Antioch for heresy in 269, and it is possible that Lucian, too, was   
   excommunicated and remained so under three bishops. He lived in a period of   
   great disorder when heresy proliferated. Whether or not he was a known   
   heretic,   
   it seems he was in communion with the Church in 285 and at his death.   
      
   Being at Nicomedia when Diocletian's persecution began, he was arrested in   
   303   
   and imprisoned there for nine years; he was twice brought up for   
   examination,   
   when he defended himself ably and refused to renounce Christ. His Defense of   
   Christianity, addressed to his executioners, gives indisputable historical   
   evidence that Lucian underwent martyrdom for the faith:   
      
   "It has never been in secret or in some disgraceful way that we adored the   
   unity   
   of God announced to us in Jesus Christ and whose faith is inspired in us by   
   the   
   Holy Spirit," he wrote. He denounces the idols, exalts the beatitudes,   
   invites   
   Christians to rejoice because of poverty, to preserve their gentleness as   
   well   
   as to strive for peace. "Look at how the pagans fear us," he exclaims, "that   
   they must lead us before kings and tribunes as bound victims. But let them   
   look   
   in the history books and they will see the miracles which inevitably follow   
   our   
   deaths at their hand." He affirms the universality of redemption, declares   
   that   
   the voice of the Church leads us to God, and emphasizes his own fidelity.   
      
   At his trial he was asked: "Who are you?" His reply is a famous one: "I am a   
   Christian."   
      
   "What is your profession?" "I am a Christian."   
      
   "What is your name?" "I am a Christian."   
      
   "Your origin?" "Christian."   
      
   "Your family?" "Christian."   
      
   To each question he gives the deservedly famous reply, one more audacious   
   than   
   any writer could have invented, and which won the acclaim of Saint John   
   Chrysostom.   
      
   He was either starved to death or, more probably, killed by the sword, and   
   was   
   buried nearby at Drepanum (later renamed Helenopolis by Constantine in honor   
   of   
   his mother). Firm evidence of his cultus is provided by Eusebius, John   
   Chrysostom, and church dedications. Later on it was said that he had been   
   drowned in the sea and that his body had been brought to land by a dolphin.   
   How   
   this piece of pagan folklore came to be attached to Saint Lucian is unknown   
   (Attwater, Benedictines, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Farmer).   
      
   Saint Lucian can be identified in art as a priest lying on potsherds in   
   prison,   
   consecrating the Eucharist on his own breast (Roeder).   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   "We can actually come and adore Him like the shepherds; we can prostrate   
   ourselves before Him like the Magi; we need no longer regret our not having   
   been   
   present at Bethlehem."   
   -Bl. Julian Eymard   
      
   Bible Quote   
   69 And Simon Peter answered him: Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the   
   words   
   of eternal life. (John 6:69)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Dies Iræ, dies illa   
   That Day Of Wrath, that dreadful day   
      
   Day of wrath! O day of mourning!   
   See fulfilled the prophets' warning,   
   Heaven and earth in ashes burning!   
      
   Oh what fear man's bosom rendeth,   
   when from heaven the Judge descendeth,   
   on whose sentence all dependeth.   
      
   Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth;   
   through earth's sepulchers it ringeth;   
   all before the throne it bringeth.   
      
   Death is struck, and nature quaking,   
   all creation is awaking,   
   to its Judge an answer making.   
      
   Lo! the book, exactly worded,   
   wherein all hath been recorded:   
   thence shall judgment be awarded.   
      
   When the Judge his seat attaineth,   
   and each hidden deed arraigneth,   
   nothing unavenged remaineth.   
      
   What shall I, frail man, be pleading?   
   Who for me be interceding,   
   when the just are mercy needing?   
      
   King of Majesty tremendous,   
   who dost free salvation send us,   
   Fount of pity, then befriend us!   
      
   Think, good Jesus, my salvation   
   cost thy wondrous Incarnation;   
   leave me not to reprobation!   
      
   Faint and weary, thou hast sought me,   
   on the cross of suffering bought me.   
   shall such grace be vainly brought me?   
      
   Righteous Judge! for sin's pollution   
   grant thy gift of absolution,   
   ere the day of retribution.   
      
   Guilty, now I pour my moaning,   
   all my shame with anguish owning;   
   spare, O God, thy suppliant groaning!   
      
   Thou the sinful woman savedst;   
   thou the dying thief forgavest;   
   and to me a hope vouchsafest.   
      
   Worthless are my prayers and sighing,   
   yet, good Lord, in grace complying,   
   rescue me from fires undying!   
      
   With thy favored sheep O place me;   
   nor among the goats abase me;   
   but to thy right hand upraise me.   
      
   While the wicked are confounded,   
   doomed to flames of woe unbounded   
   call me with thy saints surrounded.   
      
   Low I kneel, with heart submission,   
   see, like ashes, my contrition;   
   help me in my last condition.   
      
      
   Ah! that day of tears and mourning!   
   From the dust of earth returning   
   man for judgment must prepare him;   
   Spare, O God, in mercy spare him!   
      
   Lord, all pitying, Jesus blest,   
   grant them thine eternal rest. Amen.   
      
   Words: Thomas of Celano, 13th cent.;   
   trans. William J. Irons, 1849   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)