Double Saint Day!

I just love it when there are two saints that worked together so closely that the Church joins them together in one feast day!  That is what we have today.

Pope Saint Cornelius and Saint Cyprian were close friends who worked together to fight heresy.  In this case a heresy that would lead to the first anti-pope who believed that those who rejected the faith (apostates) could not repent and be forgiven.

After much debate and joining of forces with another rivaling sect, led to confusion within Rome.  Pope Cornelius called the bishops together (synod) in hopes of resolving these issues.

Later the persecution of the Christians by Emperor Gallus led to his exile.  However, he died on route in the year 251.

During this time, his friend Cyprian was the bishop of Carthage.  He assisted in teaching the need for repentance for apostates.  He encouraged the apostates to come forward and rededicate themselves to Christ.  They did not need to be baptized again because there was only one baptism needed to become a child of God.

While Cornelius was sent to exile for his actions, Cyprian would be sentenced to death and was beheaded under the rule of Valerian

Golden Mouthed Saint

This saint has always been one of interest to me.  I was glad to add him to our collection this week.

Today is the feast day of St. John Chrysostom

Feast Day:  September 13
Patron against epilepsy
Birth: 344
Death: 407
Originally from Antioch
Pagan parents although his father died soon after birth
See of Constantinople
Died on the way to his place of exile in Pythius

John's early schooling was under a pagan orator of the day.  However, once he found his calling used his experience to proclaim the message as a reader of the Word.  At one point he was an anchorite but due to poor health returned to the city to spread the message of the Gospel.

As he became more publicly known throughout the region he was asked to take on the role of See of Constantinople.  He refused to live the lavish life of past leaders.  He also reformed the clergy which was unpopular.  He then began supporting monks who were destroying pagan symbols in the area.

He was sent into exile but died on the way.  John came to be venerated as a saint soon after his death.

"No one can harm the man who does himself no wrong."