ST AQUILINUS, PRIEST AND MARTYR

ST AQUILINUS, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 29 JANUARY

SAINT AQUILINUS, PRIEST AND MARTYR

Saint Aquilinus was born to noble parents in Würzburg in Franconia and, even as a boy, defended Catholic truth against Arian-minded classmates.

HE STUDIED IN COLOGNE

Sent to Cologne by his parents to study, he joined the bishop there, became canon and subsequently provost at the cathedral church.

THEY WANTED TO HAVE HIM AS THEIR BISHOP

But when, after the bishop's death, the clergy and people of Cologne considered the idea of electing him (Aquilinus) as their bishop, he fled to Paris in order to escape this dignity. At that time, the plague was spreading through the area, which, by his ardent prayer, he caused to cease. The people were so grateful to him for taking the plague away by his prayers, and he won the love of all, so that they wanted him to be bishop as well.

HIS PRAYERS RESTORED THE CITY TO HEALTH

But even here he fled, went to Pavia (Ticinum) to learn the Italian language, and then came to Milan, where he joined the canons of St Laurence. Until to the end of his life he fought the Arian sect with all his might. These his efforts brought many back to the Catholic faith, but also incurred the deadliest hatred of the adherents of the Arian heresy.

THE ARIANS LAY IN WAIT FOR HIM

Once, when he was on his way to St Ambrose's church, they lay in wait for him and attacked with a torrent of blows and afterwards left him half dead. But when he had recovered and continued to make a stand against the sect, utterly undeterred, they attacked him a second time and cut his throat, so that he gave up the ghost.

A DIGNIFIED CHRISTIAN BURIAL

After this shameful deed, the murderers wanted to dispose of his lifeless body secretly, but were prevented from doing so by a very dense fog, whereupon it was eventually buried by the Christians in a chapel in the church of St Laurence with great honour. The year in which he suffered martyrdom, as well as the period in which he lived, is not given. His name is on January 29 both in the general Roman Martyrology and the particular for the Canonici Regulares.

Source: Stadler's Complete Encyclopedia of Saints, 1858

PRAYER:

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

WELCOME

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