SAINT FEAST DAY 2 OCTOBER: ST MODESTUS, DEACON AND MARTYR

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN OCTOBER

Saints celebrated on the 2nd of October

Prayer to the Angels and the Saints

Heavenly Father, in praising Your Angels and Saints we praise Your glory, for by honouring them we honour You, their Creator. Their splendour shows us Your greatness, which infinitely surpasses that of all creation.

In Your loving providence, You saw fit to send Your Angels to watch over us. Grant that we may always be under their protection and one day enjoy their company in heaven.

Heavenly Father, You are glorified in Your Saints, for their glory is the crowning of Your gifts. You provide an example for us by their lives on earth, You give us their friendship by our communion with them, You grant us strength and protection through their prayer for the Church, and You spur us on to victory over evil and the prize of eternal glory by this great company of witnesses.

Grant that we who aspire to take part in their joy may be filled with the Spirit that blessed their lives, so that, after sharing their faith on earth, we may also experience their peace in heaven. Amen.

SAINT MODESTUS, DEACON AND MARTYR 

Saint Modestus, deacon in Sardinia, died in 303 for the Christian faith. Descended from respected parents, he was very pious from his tenderest youth.

With extraordinary perseverance he endeavoured to develop his natural talents and to use them in the service of Jesus.

HE SHONE WITH ALL VIRTUES

Soon he shone with all virtues, especially through humility, purity, devotion, and mercy. To grow even more in this, he devoted much time to reading and contemplating the scriptures. 

Before long he had acquired a reputation for heavenly healing power; the blind and the lame took refuge in him and were healed. He is even said to have awakened a dead man through prayer and tears. 

HE HAD ACQUIRED A REPUTATION FOR HEAVENLY HEALING POWER

As was to be expected, this man, especially in his capacity as a deacon, drew the eyes of the persecutors of Christians [during the persecution of the Roman Emperor Diocletian.]

THE JUDGE TRIED EVERYTHING TO SWAY ST MODESTUS AWAY FROM CHRIST

St Modestus persevered in the faith, even though the judge tried everything to sway the defendant away from Christ - from flattering words to threats, and torture.

St Modestus completed his glorious triumph by being thrown into the thermal baths, where he burnt to death. 

(Information from Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints)