Lectio Divina: Sacred Scripture and Mental Prayer
Lectio Divina means “Divine Reading...
In the fourth century, Roman Emperor Diocletian was determined to rid the empire of Christians.
He issued four edicts calling for the arrest, torture, and murder of Christians. The second, in 304, targeted all priests, bishops, and deacons.
Marcellinus, who was a priest, was arrested and imprisoned. There, he met Peter who was an exorcist.
Condemned, the two were taken to an out-of-the-way location to be murdered so that other Christians would not be able to find, bury, and venerate their bodies.
They cleared the spot for their own execution themselves and then they were beheaded and buried.
However, The Holy Spirit guided two women, Lucilla and Firmina, who found the bodies of Marcellinus and Peter and had them re-located in the catacomb where St. Tiburtius was buried.
The details of their execution were revealed to Pope Damasus, by the man who executed them.
Sts. Marcillinus and Peter, please pray for us.
