ST PRISCA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR - 18 JANUARY

  

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY

Saints celebrated on the 18th of January 

WELCOME!

SAINT PRISCA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR

She was a noble Roman lady, and after many torments finished her triumph by the sword, about the year 275. 

Her relics are preserved in the ancient church which bears her name in Rome, and gives title to a cardinal. 

SHE IS MENTIONED IN ALMOST ALL WESTERN MARTYROLOGIES

She is mentioned in the sacramentary of St Gregory, and in almost all western Martyrologies. 

The acts of her martyrdom deserve no regard: St. Paul, in the last chapter of his epistle to the Romans, salutes Aquila, a person of Pontus, of Jewish extraction, and Priscilla, whom he and all churches thanked, because they had exposed themselves for his sake. 

He mentions the church which assembled in their house, which he attributes to no other among the twenty-five Christians whom he saluted, and were then at Rome. 

This agrees with the immemorial tradition at Rome, that St Peter consecrated an altar, and baptised there in an urn of stone, which is now kept in the church of St Prisca. 

AQUILA AND PRISCILLA

Aquila and Priscilla are still honoured in this church, as titular patrons with our saint, and a considerable part of their relics lies under the altar. 

Aquila and Priscilla were tent makers, and lived at Corinth, when they were banished from Rome under Claudius: she who is called Priscilla in the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles to the Romans, and first to the Corinthians, is named Prisca in the second to Timothy.  

Source: Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Prisca 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.