One of the things that makes the first Eucharistic Prayer special is its listing of saints.
Often, however, we hear these names rattled off like reading a telephone directory or priests taking the option of not reading all of them.
And yet each name is deep with meaning, for each was chosen by the early Church in the city of Rome, whose memory of these holy people was especially dear and in some ways still very fresh.
As the Christians of Rome heard these names, these blessed memories came back and as they gathered before the table of the Lord on earth, they felt specially united with these brothers and sisters who were already gathered before the throne of God in heaven.
These names also brought them courage, for many of these saints were marytrs, who endured great suffering rather than turn away from Christ.
As we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints today, it is good for us to take a little time to go beyond just the names from the first Eucharistic Prayer and to look more closely at each of these heroes of our faith, our brothers and sisters who already stand before the throne of God.
* * * * *
First and foremost of these believers in Christ was
...the glorious ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ....And, after Christ, closest to her would be...
...blessed Joseph, her Spouse ... And then...
blessed Apostles and Martyrs...beginning with the princes of the Apostles...
...Peter and Paul...
(and then the rest of the Eleven)
...Andrew...
(brother of Simon Peter, crucified on an X-shaped cross)
...
James...(brother of John)
...John...(the beloved disciple, entrusted with Christ’s mother)
...Thomas...
...James...(first bishop of Jerusalem)
...Philip...(the disciple of John the Baptist who brought Bartholomew to Christ)
...Bartholomew...
(reportedly martyred by being skinned alive)
...Matthew...
(the tax collector called to become an apostle and evangelist)
...Simon...
(reportedly martyred by being sawed alive)
...and Jude;
(like his brother James, a relative of Christ, and who reportedly resembled the Lord)(After the Apostles, the early Church in Rome remembered Peter’s immediate successors as their bishop: all of whom also followed him in martyrdom for Christ.)
...Linus...(Peter’s immediate successor as Bishop of Rome – mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:21)
...Cletus...(the 3rd Pope -- also known as Anacletus – converted by St. Peter himself)
...Clement...(the 4th Pope - wrote an important post-Apostolic letter to the Corinthians)
...Sixtus...(Pope less than a year in the 3rd century – affirmed that baptism does not depend on virtue of minister)
...Cornelius...(the 21st Pope – who reconciled the “fallen away”)(...and then other martyrs whose memory was especially beloved by the Christians of Rome)
...Cyprian...(North African bishop and theologian who worked with Cornelius)
...Lawrence...(deacon of the Church of Rome under Sixtus – martyred by burning)
...Chrysogonus...(an early 4th century martyr and patron of an ancient church)
...John and Paul...(brothers and imperial servants martyred by a 4th century apostate emperor, patrons of a Roman basilica)
...Cosmas and Damian...(twins and physicians martyred in the 4th century)]...and all God's saints.* * *
Then, later...
To us, also, your servants,
who, though sinners,
hope in your abundant mercies,
graciously grant some share and fellowship
with your holy Apostles and Martyrs...
with John the Baptist...
...Stephen...(the first Christian martyr)
...Matthias...(chosen to replace Judas as an Apostle)
...Barnabas...(companion of St. Paul)
...Ignatius...(bishop of Antioch, mauled by animals in the 2nd century)
...Alexander...(martyred with his brothers and mother in 2nd century)
...Marcellinus, Peter...(a priest and an exorcist of the Church in Rome, martyed in the early 4th century)
...Felicity, Perpetua...(maid and noblewoman in north Africa, mauled by beasts and then beheaded)
...Agatha...(virgin martyr - disfigured and tortured)
...Lucy...(virgin martyr - blinded then martyred - patron saint of eyes)
...Agnes...(virgin martyr - martyred around the age of 12)
...Cecilia...(virgin martyr - patron of music)
...Anastasia...(wife of a pagan - martyred in the early 4th century)...and all your Saints:
admit us, we beseech you,
into their company,
not weighing our merits,
but granting us your pardon,
through Christ our Lord. Happy All Saints Day!
(updated from a previous post)
A Penitent Blogger
