ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN FEBRUARY
Saints celebrated on the 1st of February
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.
ST PIONIUS, PRIEST AND MARTYR
Saint Pionius was priest of Smyrna, a true heir of the spirit of St Polycarp, an apostolic man, who converted multitudes to the faith. He excelled in eloquence, and in the science of our holy religion. The paleness of his countenance bespoke the austerity of his life.
HE WAS FOREWARNED BY A VISION
In the persecution of Decius, in 250, on February 23, he was apprehended with Sabina and Asclepiades, while they were celebrating the anniversary festival of St Polycarp’s martyrdom. Pionius, after having fasted the eve with his companions, was forewarned thereof by a vision.
THEY WERE SEIZED
On the morning after their solemn prayer, taking the holy bread (probably the eucharist) and water, they were surprised and seized by Polemon, the chief priest, and the guardian of the temple. In prolix interrogatories before him, they resisted all solicitations to sacrifice; professed they were ready to suffer the worst of torments and deaths rather than consent to his impious proposals, and declaring that they worshipped one only God, and that they were of the Catholic church.
THE CONSUBSTANTIAL ITY OF GOD THE SON
Asclepiades being asked what God he adored, made answer: “Jesus Christ.” At which Polemon said: “Is that another God?” Asclepiades replied: “No: he is the same they have just now confessed.” A clear confession of the consubstantiality of God the Son, before the council of Nice. Being all threatened to be burnt alive, Sabina smiled. The pagans said: “Dost thou laugh? thou shalt then be led to the public stews.” She answered: “God will be my protector on that occasion.”
THEY WERE CAST INTO PRISON
They were cast into prison, and preferred a low dungeon, that they might be more at liberty to pray, when alone. They were carried by force into the temple, and all manner of violence was used to compel them to sacrifice. Pionius tore the impious garlands which were put upon his head, and they resisted with all their might.
THEIR CONSTANCY REPAIRED THE SCANDAL CAUSED BY THE BISHOP OF SMYRNA
Their constancy repaired the scandal given by Eudaemon, the bishop of Smyrna, there present, who had impiously apostatised and offered sacrifice.
WE ADMIRE HIS ARDENT PIETY AND COURAGE
In the answers of St Pionius to the judges, and in all the circumstances of his martyrdom, we admire the ardent piety and courage of one who had entirely devoted himself to God, and employed his whole life in his service. When Quintilian the proconsul arrived at Smyrna, he caused Pionius to be hung on the rack, and his body to be torn with iron hooks, and afterwards condemned him to be burned alive: he was accordingly nailed to a trunk or post, and a pile heaped round him and set on fire. Metrodorus, a Marcionite priest, underwent the same punishment with him. His acts were written by eye-witnesses, quoted by Eusebius.
(From Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints)
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