This is the Liturgy of the Hours for June 01. Your local date is .
June 1
Memorial
“Straightway a flame was kindled in my soul; and a love of the prophets, and of those men who are friends of Christ, possessed me; and whilst revolving his words in my mind, I found this philosophy alone to be safe and profitable.” – Saint Justin [1]
Today is the memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr. Saint Justin was born in Palestine around the beginning of the 2nd century. He was educated in Greek thought and studied the preeminent philosophies of his day, a true eclectic. Despite these pagan influences, he came to believe God’s message was embodied in Christian teachings and his conversion account describes that Christian moral beauty and truth brought him to Christ. Saint Justin is beloved as a pure pagan philosopher who witnessed the early Church, was transformed, and evangelized – prior to his martyrdom, in Asia Minor and Rome. His writings are well-respected to this day and include such works as; A Discourse to the Greeks, On the Soul, and The First and Second Apology, addressed to the Roman Senate. [2]
Written by Sarah Ciotti
[1] Saint Justin, “Dialogue with Trypho,” in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Christian Classics Ethereal Library, www.ccel.org.
[2] Catholicpedia: The Original Catholic Encyclopedia (1917) for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. s.v. “St Justin Martyr.”