SS. JUSTUS AND PASTOR, MARTYRS - 6 AUGUST

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST

Saints celebrated on the 6th of August 

WELCOME!

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.

SAINTS JUSTUS AND PASTOR, MARTYRS 

Saint Justus and Saint Pastor were two brothers, who in their tender age overcame, with an heroic courage, the rage and power of Dacian, armed with all the instruments of cruelty. 

This judge was governor of Spain under Diocletian and Maximian, and one of the most furious ministers of their cruelty in persecuting the Christians. 

PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS

In his progress through his province in search of the servants of the true God, he arrived at Complutum, now called Alcala de Henares [Alcala del Henarez), and having caused the bloody edicts to be read in the market-place, began to put to the most exquisite tortures the Christians who were brought before him. 

HOLY ZEAL

Justus and Pastor, children who were then learning the first elements of literature in the public school of that city (the first being thirteen, the latter only seven years old), hearing of the torments which were inflicted on the generous soldiers of Christ, were fired with a holy zeal to have a share in their triumphs. 

They threw down their books, ran to the place where the governor was interrogating the confessors, and by their behaviour about the racks and other engines on which the martyrs were tormented, gave manifest proofs of the holy faith which they professed. 

THEY WERE APPREHENDED AND PRESENTED TO THE JUDGE

They were soon taken notice of, apprehended, and presented to the judge. He foamed with rage to see children brave his power and authority, and not doubting but a little correction would allay their courage, commanded them to be most severely whipped. 

This was executed in the most barbarous manner; but he who makes the tongues of infants eloquent in his praise, gave them strength to baffle all the efforts of the world and hell. 

THEIR MODEST CONSTANCY

The soldiers and spectators were filled with astonishment to see the modest constancy with which in their turns they encouraged and exhorted each other to bear their torments for Christ, and for an eternal crown; and the wonderful cheerfulness and readiness which they discovered to suffer every torture that could be inflicted. 

THEY WERE BEHEADED

The judge, being informed that it was in vain to expect their resolution could ever be vanquished by torments, to cover his shame, gave an order that they should be privately beheaded. This sentence was executed in a field near the town, and their bodies were buried by the Christians on that very spot which their blood had sanctified. 

A CHAPEL WAS AFTERWARDS BUILT ON THE PLACE

A chapel was afterwards built on the place. Their relics are at present enshrined under the high altar of a great collegiate church at Alcala, of which they are the titular patrons. Their martyrdom happened in 304. 

(From Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints)