St. Mamas, the Great Martyr (17 August): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

Discover the inspiring life of St. Mamas the Martyr, remembered in Father Alban Butler’s Lives of the Saints for August 17. St. Mamas was a poor shepherd boy of Caesarea in Cappadocia who, from his youth, sought the Kingdom of God with extraordinary fervor. Though insignificant in the eyes of the world, his love for Christ would make him one of the celebrated martyrs of the ancient Church. His martyrdom is placed during the reign of Emperor Aurelian, whose persecution brought suffering upon many Christians. Around the year 274–275, Mamas was seized by the persecutors and subjected to cruel torments. Yet according to the ancient accounts cited by Butler, the young martyr endured his suffering with holy joy, remaining faithful to Jesus Christ and receiving the crown of martyrdom while still young. Butler uses the life of St. Mamas to contrast two kingdoms. Aurelian possessed armies, gold, imperial power, and earthly glory. Mamas possessed Christ. And when both lives ended, only one kingdom remained. Every Christian, whatever his position in this world, is offered an eternal Kingdom whose glory makes the wealth and power of this earth appear as dust. May St. Mamas obtain for us the grace to despise empty worldly promises, endure suffering faithfully, and seek first the Kingdom of God. St. Mamas the Martyr, pray for us. 0:00 – St. Mamas the Martyr 0:16 – Ancient Sources on St. Mamas 0:24 – A Great Martyr Under Emperor Aurelian 0:30 – The Rise of Emperor Aurelian 0:55 – Aurelian’s Military Power and Severity 1:02 – Cruelty, Pride and Imperial Glory 1:19 – Persecution of Christians Under Aurelian 1:28 – Queen Zenobia and the Eastern Empire 1:46 – The Fall of Palmyra 2:09 – Zenobia and the Christians 2:17 – Aurelian’s Edicts Against Christianity 2:31 – Divine Judgment and the End of Aurelian 2:46 – The Martyrs of the Persecution 2:53 – St. Mamas, the Poor Shepherd Boy 3:00 – Seeking the Kingdom of God From Childhood 3:09 – Arrested for the Christian Faith 3:16 – Tortured With Holy Joy 3:25 – Julian the Apostate and the Church of St. Mamas 3:41 – Every Christian Is Offered an Eternal Kingdom 3:57 – The Saints as Heirs of Heaven 4:21 – Are We Willing to Suffer for Eternal Glory? 4:38 – The Emptiness of Earthly Pleasures 4:45 – Using Earthly Goods as Steps Toward Heaven https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/august/st-mamas/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ 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/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 #StMamas #SaintMamas #ChristianMartyrs #CatholicSaints #OrthodoxSaints #LivesOfTheSaints #SaintOfTheDay #August17 #Martyrdom #EarlyChurch #EarlyChristianity #ChurchHistory #CatholicHistory #ChristianHistory #EmperorAurelian #RomanEmpire #ChristianPersecution #FaithInChrist #KingdomOfGod #KingdomOfHeaven #ChristianCourage #ChristianSuffering #CatholicSpirituality #SeekFirstTheKingdom #AlbanButler

Topics

• Suffering & Trials