⛪ Saint of the Day : January 8
⛪ Other Names :
• Apollinaris Claudius • Apollinaris of Hierapolis • Claudius Apollinaris
CLAUDIUS APOLLINARIS, Bishop of Hierapolis in Phrygia, was one of
the most illustrious prelates of the second age. Notwithstanding the
great encomiums bestowed on him by Eusebius, St. Jerome, Theodoret,
and ethers, but little is known of his actions; and his writings, which
then were held in great esteem, seem now to be all lost. He wrote
many able treatises against the heretics, and pointed out, as St. Jerome
testifies, from what philosophical sect each heresy derived its errors.
Nothing rendered his name so illustrious, however, as his noble
apology for the Christian religion which he addressed to the Emperor
Marcus Aurelius, about the year 175, soon after the miraculous victory
that prince had obtained over the Quadi by the prayers of the
Christians. St. Apollinaris reminded the emperor of the benefit he had
received from God through the prayers of his Christian subjects, and
implored protection for them against the persecution of the pagans.
Marcus Aurelius published an edict in which he forbade any one,
under pain of death, to accuse a Christian on account of his religion; by
a strange inconsistency, he had not the courage to abolish the laws
then in force against the Christians, and, as a consequence, many of
them suffered martyrdom, though their accusers were also put to death. The date of St. Apollinaris' death is not known; the Roman
Martyrology mentions him on the 8th of January.
⛪ Reflection.—"Therefore I say unto you, all things whatsoever you ask
when you pray, believe that you shall receive: and they shall come
unto you."
Source : Lives Of The Saints By Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. Edition