ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN APRIL
Saints celebrated on the 22nd of April
SAINT CAIUS, POPE AND MARTYR
Saint Caius succeeded St Eutychian in the apostolic see, in 283. The church then enjoyed a calm, but was soon afterwards disturbed by a tumultuous persecution for two years, on the death of Carinus.
HE ENCOURAGED THE MARTYRS AND CONFESSORS
St Caius encouraged St Sebastian and the other martyrs and confessors. However, to preserve himself for his flock, he withdrew for a time to avoid the fury of the storm. The ancient pontificals say he was of Dalmatia, and related to the emperor Diocletian.
Having sat twelve years, four months, and seven days, he died on the April 21, 296, and was interred on the 22nd, on which day his name is honoured in the Liberian Calendar. His sufferings obtained him the title of martyr, as Orsi takes notice.
MANIFOLD TRIALS
What had not these early saints to suffer not only from the persecutions of infidel princes and magistrates, but also from the ignorance, stupidity, jealousy, and malice of many whom they laboured daily to gain to Christ, and from the manifold trials and dangers of so many souls in their dear flock whom they bore in their hearts, and whose sufferings they felt much more severely than their own! We are not to be surprised.
THE SUMMIT OF PERFECT VIRTUE
These were so many special effects of a most tender love and mercy in Him by whose providence these trials were sent them; they were the steps by which their souls were raised to the summit of perfect virtue.
We perhaps daily meet with domestic persecutions and contradictions, and look upon them as obstacles to our progress in the way of perfection, as thorns in our road. They may, indeed, be called thorns, but they produce and guard the sweetest and most beautiful flowers of virtue. It is owing to our sloth, cowardice, and impatience; it is our fault if they are hindrances of what they are designed by God to advance and perfect in our souls.
A PERPETUAL SPRING WOULD PRODUCE ONLY LEAVES AND FLOWERS
Virtues exercised in prosperity, which are fair to the eye, and applauded by men, are usually false or superficial. A perpetual spring would produce only leaves and flowers, and bring no fruit to maturity.
To understand the incomparable value and merit of the little crosses of which we are so apt to complain, we must not lose sight of the saints. Those Christian heroes, of whom the world was not worthy, all suffered, and were persecuted many ways. These crosses both purchased and ensured to them their greatest crowns.
From Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints
PRAYER:
Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Caius may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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