St. Linus, Pope & Martyr & St. Thecla, Virgin & Martyr (23 September) ~ Dom Prosper Guéranger

About this sermon

On September 23, the traditional Roman calendar honors St. Linus, Pope and Martyr, with a commemoration of St. Thecla, Virgin and Martyr. This reading from The Liturgical Year by Dom Prosper Guéranger celebrates two witnesses from the Church’s apostolic foundations. St. Linus was the first successor of St. Peter as Bishop of Rome. Born in Volterra in Tuscany, he governed the Church during its earliest and most dangerous years. Tradition remembers his holiness, miracles and constancy in confessing the Christian faith. He was ultimately beheaded and buried near the tomb of St. Peter on Vatican Hill. Though the earthly lives of the earliest successors of St. Peter remain partly hidden, their mission is clear: Christ’s authority entrusted to Peter continued through his lawfully appointed successors. The Church continued to hear the command of the Divine Shepherd—“Feed My lambs”—through the Roman Pontiffs. The reading then turns to St. Thecla of Iconium, honored as the protomartyr among Christian women. A disciple of St. Paul, she consecrated her virginity entirely to Christ. Her courage equaled her knowledge of the Gospel as she survived fire, wild beasts and other torments without abandoning her heavenly Bridegroom. Dom Guéranger concludes with the beautiful hymn attributed to Thecla: “For Thee, O Bridegroom, I keep myself pure, and with burning lamp I come to meet Thee.” May St. Linus obtain for us fidelity to Christ and His Church, and may St. Thecla teach us courage, purity and complete devotion to our Divine Bridegroom. St. Linus, pray for us. St. Thecla, pray for us. 0:00 St. Linus and St. Thecla 0:16 The hidden foundations of the Church 0:38 Gratitude for the earliest popes 0:53 St. Linus beside St. Peter’s tomb 1:01 Life of Pope St. Linus 1:09 Miracles and the Acts of St. Peter 1:24 Martyrdom of St. Linus 1:38 Burial near the Prince of the Apostles 1:47 His governance and ordinations 1:55 St. Peter’s apostolic authority 2:04 St. Linus receives the Keys of the Kingdom 2:21 The authority of Peter continues 2:29 Prayer for obedience and eternal light 2:44 Commemoration of St. Thecla 3:00 Praise from the Eastern and Western Fathers 3:07 Thecla in the Banquet of Virgins 3:24 Disciple of St. Paul 3:32 Her knowledge, purity and courage 3:40 Triumph over fire, beasts and the sea 3:49 Thecla’s triumph at the heavenly banquet 4:03 The virgins give thanks to the Lord 4:11 “For Thee, O Bridegroom” 4:35 Thecla abandons worldly honors 4:49 Triumph over the serpent, fire and beasts 5:06 Christ becomes everything to Thecla 5:29 Concluding prayer https://sensusfidelium.com/the-liturgical-year-dom-prosper-gueranger/september/september-23-st-linus-pope-thecla-virgin-martyr/ #SaintLinus #StThecla #CatholicSaints #FeastDay #Martyrs #CatholicChurch #EarlyChurch #LivesOfTheSaints #PopeLinus #VirginAndMartyr 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴

Topics

• Suffering & Trials