Justin Martyr
One
Today is the Feast of St. Justin Martyr
He was born just north of Jerusalem near the Palestinian city of Nablus around the year 100. He spent a long time seeking the truth, studying philosophy under the Stoics, but he wanted to learn about God. So he approached a Pythagorean who refused to teach him anything until he first learned everything about math – so that didn’t work out either. I can relate to that!
Finally, one day as he walked by the seashore, Justin met an old man who helped him realize that while human reason by itself could prove that God exists, it couldn’t tell him who God is or what God wanted for his life. The only person who could do that was Jesus Christ. And this resulted in his conversion to Catholicism.
After his conversion, he went to all the Holy Sites connected with Jesus, especially the birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem as well as Calvary and the Empty Tomb of the Resurrection, all well known to the early Catholics.
Then Justin moved to Rome where he started a school to teach people the Catholic Faith free of charge. This is another reason I like Justin Martyr. He was a layman who wanted to teach people the Catholic Faith. That has always been my desire. That is why I started the School of Faith in 2005 and it’s why we aim to teach the faith and teach people how to pray through the Rosary, free of charge.
Two
Account of His Martyrdom
Justin knew that if he kept teaching the Catholic Faith it would get him killed. In his second "Apology" (iii) Justin says, "I, too, expect to be persecuted and to be crucified by some of those whom I have named, or by Crescens, that friend of noise and of ostentation." Indeed, Eusebius (Church History IV.16.7-8) says that it was the intrigues of Crescens which brought about the death of Justin.
St. Justin was condemned to death by the prefect, Rusticus, towards A.D. 165, with six companions. We still have the authentic account of their martyrdom which ends in this way, "The Prefect Rusticus says: Approach and sacrifice, all of you, to the gods. Justin says: No one in his right mind gives up his duty to the True God for the worship of false gods. The Prefect Rusticus says: If you do not obey, you will be tortured without mercy. Justin replies: That is our desire, to be tortured for Our Lord, Jesus Christ, and so to be saved, for that will give us salvation and firm confidence at the Last Judgment, the more terrible universal tribunal of Our Lord and Savior. And all the martyrs said: Do as you wish; for we are Christians, and we do not sacrifice to idols. The Prefect Rusticus read the sentence: Those who do not wish to sacrifice to the gods and to obey the emperor will be scourged and beheaded according to the laws. The holy martyrs glorifying God betook themselves to the customary place, where they were beheaded and consummated their martyrdom confessing their Savior."
Three
St. Justin Martyr and the Mass
St. Justin wrote to the pagan emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161) around the year 155, explaining what Christians did at the Mass and in doing so, shows that the Mass has had the same structure and format since the time of the Apostles.
On the day we call the day of the sun, (Sunday) all who dwell in the city or country gather in the same place. The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read, as much as time permits (the Liturgy of the Word with the readings from the Old and New Testament). When the reader has finished, he who presides over those gathered admonishes and challenges them to imitate these beautiful things (homily). Then we all rise together and offer prayers for ourselves . . and for all others, wherever they may be, so that we may be found righteous by our life and actions, and faithful to the commandments, so as to obtain eternal salvation (prayers of Intercession). When the prayers are concluded we exchange the kiss (Sign of Peace). Then someone brings bread and a cup of water and wine mixed together to him who presides over the brethren (offertory, the collection basket is passed and the gifts of bread and wine and money are brought to the altar). He takes them and offers praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and for a considerable time he gives thanks (in Greek: eucharistian) that we have been judged worthy of these gifts (Liturgy of the Eucharist). When he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all present give voice to an acclamation by saying, 'Amen.' When he who presides has given thanks and the people have responded, those whom we call deacons give to those present the "eucharisted" bread, wine, and water and take them to those who are absent (Communion).
Isn’t that amazing, Justin Martyr gives us an account of the Catholic Mass in the second century showing us that the Mass has had the same basic structure since the time of the Apostles right down to the present time.
Four
Justin Martyr on the Real Presence of the Eucharist
In his teaching and writing Justin Martyr not only gives us an account of the Mass, he also teaches clearly that the Eucharist is not a symbol, it is the real presence of Jesus Christ, Body and Blood.
He writes, “This food is called by us Eucharist, of which no one else may have a share, except he who believes that our teaching is true and has been baptized for the forgiveness of sins and so lives as Christ taught. For we do not receive these things as common bread or common drink; but as Jesus Christ, our Savior, having been made flesh by a Word of God, had flesh and blood for our salvation, so we have learned that the food made a Eucharist by a word of prayer that comes from Him, from which our blood and flesh are nourished, by change are the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ.”
Five
Mary is the New Eve
In the second century, Justin Martyr taught that Mary has a central role in Christianity and that She is the Spiritual Mother of All People.
He writes, "The Son of God became man through a Virgin, so that the disobedience caused by the serpent might be destroyed in the same way it had begun. For Eve, who was a virgin and undefiled, gave birth to disobedience and death after listening to the serpent’s words. But the Virgin Mary conceived faith and joy; for when the angel Gabriel announced the glad tidings that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and the power of the Most High would overshadow her, so that the Holy One born of her would be the Son of God, she answered, “Let it be done to me according to your world.’” (Justin Martyr, "Dialogue with Trypho," 100)
In the second century Justin teaches that as the first Eve brought death to the world by her disobedience, Mary brings salvation to the world by her obedience.
As St. Irenaeus will write just a few years later, "Being obedient Mary became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race." Hence not a few of the early Fathers gladly assert. . .: "The knot of Eve's disobedience was untied by Mary's obedience: what the virgin Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith." Comparing her with Eve, they call Mary "the Mother of the living" and frequently claim: "Death through Eve, life through Mary."