⛪ Saint of the Day: January 4
TITUS was a convert from heathenism, a disciple of St. Paul, one of the
chosen companions of the Apostles in his journey to the Council of
Jerusalem, and his fellow laborers in many apostolic missions. From
the Second Epistle which St. Paul sent by the hand of Titus to the
Corinthians, we gain an insight into his character and understand the strong affection that his master bore him. Titus had been
commissioned to carry out a twofold office needing much firmness,
discretion, and charity. He was to be the bearer of a severe rebuke to
the Corinthians, who were giving scandal and were wavering in their
faith; and at the same time, he was to put their charity to a further test
by calling upon them for abundant alms for the church at Jerusalem. St.
Paul meanwhile was anxiously awaiting the result. At Troas, he writes, "I had no rest in my spirit because I found not Titus, my brother." He
set sail to Macedonia. Here at last Titus brought the good news. His
success had been complete. He reported the sorrow, the zeal, the
generosity of the Christians, till the Apostle could not contain his joy,
and sent back to them his faithful messenger with the letter of comfort
from which we have quoted. Titus was finally left as a bishop in Crete,
and here he, in turn, received the epistle that bears his name, and
here at last he died in peace.
The mission of Titus to Corinth shows us how well the disciple caught
the spirit of his master. He knew how to be firm and to inspire respect.
The Corinthians, we are told, "received him with fear and trembling."
He was patient and painstaking. St. Paul "gave thanks to God, Who had
put such carefulness for them in the heart of Titus." And these gifts
were enhanced by a quickness to detect and call out all that was good
in others, and by a joyousness which overflowed upon the spirit of St.
Paul himself, who "abundantly rejoiced in the joy of Titus."
⛪ Reflection —Saints win their empire over the hearts of men by their
wide and affectionate sympathy. This was the characteristic gift of St.
Titus, as it was of St. Paul, St-Francis Xavier, and many others.
Source: Lives Of The Saints By Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. Edition
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