Episode Transcript  

One

Today is the Feast of St. Justin Martyr

He gives us an incredible view of the Catholic Church in the time right after the Apostles. But first, Justin was born just north of Jerusalem near the Palestinian city of Nablus around the year 100. St. Justin Martyr wrote a book called Dialogue with Trypho, in which he explains his conversion, argues that Jesus is the promised Messiah, and shows how the Catholic faith fulfills the prophecies and promises of the Old Testament. He recounts how he spent a long time seeking the truth, studying philosophy under the Stoics, but he wanted to learn about God. So, he approached a Pythagorean who refused to teach him anything until he first learned everything about math, so that didn’t work out either. I can relate to that!!!

Finally, one day as he walked by the seashore, Justin met an old man who helped him realize that human reason by itself could prove that God exists, but it couldn’t tell him who God is or what God wanted for his life. The only Person who could do that was Jesus Christ. And this resulted in his conversion to Catholicism. 

After his conversion, he went to all the Holy Sites connected with Jesus, especially the birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem, as well as Calvary and the Empty Tomb of the Resurrection, all well known to the early Catholics who lived there. Then this ordinary Catholic man taught Justin the Catholic faith. After this, Justin dedicated his life to teaching others the Catholic Faith. 

He moved to Rome, where he started a school to teach people the Catholic Faith. That has always been my desire, too. It is why I started the School of Faith in 2005, and it is why we continue this mission today: to teach the fullness of the Catholic faith, to teach people how to pray, and to equip them to help their loved ones to heaven. 

Two

Account of His Martyrdom 

Justin knew that if he kept teaching the Catholic Faith, it would get him killed. In his second book, he writes, "I, too, expect to be persecuted and to be crucified by some of those whom I have named, or by Crescens, that friend of noise and of ostentation." Indeed, Eusebius (Church History IV.16.7-8) says that it was the intrigues of Crescens that brought about the death of Justin.

St. Justin was condemned to death by the prefect, Rusticus, towards A.D. 165, with six companions. We still have the authentic account of their martyrdom, which ends in this way, "The Prefect Rusticus commanded: “Approach and sacrifice, all of you, to the gods.” However Justin replied, ‘No one in his right mind gives up his duty to the True God for the worship of false gods.’ Infuriated, the Prefect Rusticus shouted, ‘If you do not obey, you will be tortured without mercy.’ Calmly Justin stated, ‘That is our desire, to be tortured for Our Lord, Jesus Christ, and so to be saved, for that will give us salvation and firm confidence at the Last Judgment, the more terrible universal tribunal of Our Lord and Savior.’ And all the martyrs said: ‘Do as you wish; for we are Christians, and we do not sacrifice to idols.’ The Prefect Rusticus read the sentence: ‘Those who do not wish to sacrifice to the gods and to obey the emperor will be scourged and beheaded according to the laws.’ Then the holy martyrs glorifying God went to the customary place, where they were beheaded and consummated their martyrdom faithful to their Savior."

Will I keep teaching the faith, even if it costs me? Will I remain silent because it is easier, or will I love my family and friends enough to speak of Christ when the moment calls for it?

Three

St. Justin Martyr and the Mass

Before his martyrdom, St. Justin wrote to the pagan emperor Antoninus Pius around 155 because Christians were being condemned by rumors, not truth. Justin wanted the emperor to know what Christians actually believed, how they lived, and how they worshiped. This led him to explain what Catholics actually did at Mass. In so doing, Justin gives an account of the Mass that proves the Mass we celebrate today has had the same structure and format since the time of the Apostles.

On the day we call the day of the sun (Sunday), all who dwell in the city or country gather in the same place. The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read, as much as time permits (The Liturgy of the Word with the readings from the Old and New Testaments). When the reader has finished, he who presides over those gathered admonishes and challenges them to imitate these beautiful things (Homily). Then we all rise together and offer prayers* for ourselves . . .and for all others, wherever they may be, so that we may be found righteous by our life and actions, and faithful to the commandments, so as to obtain eternal salvation (Prayers of Intercession). When the prayers are concluded, we exchange the kiss (Sign of Peace). Then someone brings bread and a cup of water and wine mixed together to him who presides over the brethren (Offertory: the collection basket is passed, and the gifts of bread, wine, and money are brought to the altar). He takes them and offers praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and for a considerable time, he gives thanks (in Greek: eucharistian) that we have been judged worthy of these gifts (Liturgy of the Eucharist) When he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all present give voice to an acclamation by saying: 'Amen.' When he who presides has given thanks, and the people have responded, those whom we call deacons give to those present the "eucharisted" bread, wine and water and take them to those who are absent. (Communion).

Isn’t that amazing? This means the Mass is not something Catholics invented later. It is the worship handed down from Jesus to the Apostles and to us.

Four

Justin Martyr on the Real Presence of the Eucharist 

In his teaching and writing, Justin Martyr not only gives us an account of the Mass, but he also teaches clearly that the Eucharist is not a symbol, but that it is the real presence of Jesus Christ, Body and Blood. He writes, “This food is called by us Eucharist, of which no one else may have a share, except he who believes that our teaching is true and has been baptized for the forgiveness of sins and so lives as Christ taught. For we do not receive these things as common bread or common drink; but as Jesus Christ, our Savior, having been made flesh by a Word of God, had flesh and blood for our salvation, so we have learned that the food made a Eucharist by a word of prayer that comes from Him, from which our blood and flesh are nourished, by change are the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ.”

Five

Mary is the New Eve 

Through his writings, Justin not only gives us a testimony of the Mass and the Eucharist, but also that devotion to Mary was essential for the early Christians. Justin teaches that, as the first Eve brought death to the world by her disobedience, Mary brings salvation to the world by her obedience.

He writes, "The Son of God became man through a Virgin, so that the disobedience caused by the serpent might be destroyed in the same way it had begun. For Eve, who was a virgin and undefiled, gave birth to disobedience and death after listening to the serpent’s words. But the Virgin Mary conceived faith and joy; for when the angel Gabriel announced the glad tidings that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and the power of the Most High would overshadow her, so that the Holy One born of her would be the Son of God, she answered, “Let it be done to me according to your world.’” (Justin Martyr, "Dialogue with Trypho," 100)

Just a few years later, St. Irenaeus will write, "Being obedient Mary became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race." In fact, the early Fathers gladly assert, "The knot of Eve's disobedience was untied by Mary's obedience: what the virgin Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith." Comparing her with Eve, they call Mary "the Mother of the living" and frequently claim: "Death through Eve, life through Mary."

So, from the very beginning, the Christians have turned to Mary as our spiritual mother and had deep devotion to her. 

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