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FEAST OF SAINT GERMANICUS OF SMYRNA – 19th JANUARY

FEAST OF SAINT GERMANICUS OF SMYRNA, MARTYR
FEAST DAY – 19th JANUARY

Saint Germanicus was a youth who was arrested and martyred for his faith in Smyrna during the reign of the Roman Emperor Antoninus. As Germanicus stood in the arena, facing a wild beast, the Roman proconsul pleaded with him that in view of his youth he should deny his faith to obtain a pardon. But the young man refused to apostatize, and willingly embraced martyrdom.

Germanicus was praised for his courage facing the wild beasts used to kill him, and was referenced in the Martyrdom of Polycarp. At first the animals ignored him, but Germanicus provoked them, just to get it over with. He was Canonized by Pre-Congregation and is represented as a young man with a palm, a young man with a lion, a young man in an amphitheatre with wild animals.

PRAYER

Almighty God, your courageous and bold servant, Saint Germanicus displayed by his life that a fierce love of you can see us through the most terrible paths in life, if we rely on you in trust and complete faith, keeping the flame of our love for you and living in purity and holiness.

May we take the edifying moments of his brief life as an example of how our faith should stir us to be sanctified and fearless in the spirit. Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son. Amen

 

Saint Germanicus, pray for us.

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ALSO CELEBRATED:

FEAST OF SAINT FILLAN – MONK, ABBOT 

Fillan, also known as Philan, was born presumably in the 7th century AD, in Ireland, to Prince Feriach and Princess Kentigerna, in Ireland. The family moved to Scotland in 717 AD. Not much of Fillan’s childhood is known definitively but it is said that he first became a monk at Yanghom in Wexford before settling in Fife.

He then became an abbot of a monastery in Fife. Legend has it that he possessed powers like healing the sick and a luminous glow in his left arm, which he used to write his scriptures in the dark.

It is believed that while ploughing a certain land in Killin, a wolf killed his ox. He then performed a miracle and the wolf took the dead ox’s place, hence was able to continue with his work.
It is also said that, there is a set of river stones kept in Killin, that have great healing powers granted to them by Saint Fillan, if used in the right way.

Later in the 19th century, people used to bind the mentally ill and were dunked in St Fillan’s pool, which was situated in a ruined chapel and left there overnight. If the bonds were found there the following morning, it was said that a healing had occurred, thus, St Fillam was regarded as the patron saint of the mentally ill.

St. Fillan died presumably in the 8th century AD. He is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church. His feast day is celebrated on January 19. He is the patron saint of those suffering from mental illnesses.

PRAYER

All-powerful God, help us who celebrate the memory of Saint Fillan to imitate his way of life. May the example of your saints be our challenge to live holier lives. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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