SS. EMERITUS AND CHELIDONIUS, MARTYRS - 3 MARCH

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MARCH 

Saints celebrated on the 3rd of March

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.

SS. EMERITUS AND CHELIDONIUS, MARTYRS 

They were soldiers of distinguished merit in the Roman army in Spain, and suffered martyrdom at Calahorra [on March 3, 298.]

Their courage and cheerfulness seemed to increase with their sharpest torments, and to them fires and swords seemed sweet and agreeable. 

THE PERSECUTORS BURNED THE ACTS OF THEIR MARTYRDOM

Prudentius says, that the persecutors burned the acts of their martyrdom, envying us the history of so glorious a triumph. He adds, that their festival was kept in Spain with great devotion by all ranks of people; that strangers came in devout pilgrimages to visit their relics, praying to these patrons of the world; and that none poured forth their pure prayers to them who were not heard and their tears dried up: “For,” says he, “they immediately hear every petition, and carry it to the ear of the eternal king.” 

(From Fr Butler's Lives of the Saints)

PRAYER:

Grant to your Church, we beseech you, O Lord, through the intercession of your holy martyrs Emeritus and Chelidonius, not to think high-mindedly, but to grow in humility pleasing to you; that, despising what is base, she may with unbounded love diligently do whatever is right. 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.