St. Apollonius, Martyr

Apollonius was an eminent citizen of second-century Rome and a member of the Senate. He was well versed in philosophy and was a respected member of the Roman elite. He developed an interest in the Jewish scriptures and this led him to Christian writings. He was inspired by these readings enough to be baptized. During this period the Emperor Commodus had informally halted the persecution of Christians, out of regard for his Empress Marcia, who was an admirer of the Faith. Nevertheless the laws of his father Marcus Aurelius, who had persecuted Christians, had not been repealed.

One of Apollonius' slaves publicly accused him of Christianity and the praetorian prefect, Sextus Tigidius Perennis, arrested him. Perversely the slave was immediately condemned to have his legs broken, and to be put to death, as the anti-Christian edict of Marcus Aurelius ordered that the accusers of Christians should also be put to death.
 

Apollonius was summoned before the Senate to defend himself. Due to his standing if he had denounced the charge and Christ he would have been set free. His fellow senators expected him to take such action. However instead of recanting, he defended the Christian Faith and took the opportunity to give the whole court a reasoned apology of his Christian Faith, in a moving and direct summary of the entire Christian creed. He argued that Christianity surpasses paganism, through the salvific work of Jesus Christ, the revealing Word of God and teacher of moral life, who became man to destroy sin by His death. Apollonius said that Christ's death was prophesied both by Scripture and by Plato.
 

Apollonius was condemned by a decree of the Senate, and beheaded about the year 186. His heroic defense of the Truth is an example to civil leaders throughout the world. With his fortune, position and life at risk he refused to be pressured into submission. All too often in Britain (and elsewhere), we see politicians reject the common good because of fear of losing votes, of being isolated by the party leadership or of losing donations. Let us pray that our upcoming elections will return to the common sense-filled members who are prepared to stand and defend the truth and the common good.

 

 

O Lord Jesus Christ, grant us a measure of your Spirit.
Help us to obey your teaching, soothe anger,
cultivate pity, overcome desire, increase love,
cast off sorrow, shun vainglory,
renounce revenge, and not be afraid of death.
Let us ever entrust our spirit to the everlasting God Who with You
and the Holy Spirit lives and rules forever and ever. Amen.
– Saint Apollonius of Rome, Senator, Apologist and Martyr

 

 

Refection.—It is the prerogative of the Christian religion to inspire men with such resolution, and form them to such heroism, that they rejoice to sacrifice their life to truth. This is not the bare force and exertion of nature, but the undoubted power of the Almighty, Whose strength is thus made perfect in weakness. Every Christian ought, by his manner, to bear witness to the sanctity of his Faith. Such would be the force of universal good example, that no libertine or infidel could withstand it.