Saints John and Paul

 I forgot to post yesterday. I am so sorry. To make up for it, we will have two Saints today.

A little explanation of why I chose these Saints:  In an attempt to be more focused at Mass, I have been reading along with the prayers, particularly the Eucharistic Prayers, while the Priest prays them at the Mass. Both our Pastor and our Parochial Vicar favor Eucharistic Prayer I for the Sunday Liturgy, so I am reading it with them nearly every week. While doing this I noticed that in the list of Apostles and Martyrs, the names John and Paul are listed twice. It is somewhat obvious that the first time they are mentioned, they refer to the Apostle Paul and the Apostle John. But who then are the "John and Paul" that come between "Chrysogonus" and "Cosmos and Damian"? (Stay tuned for possible future posts on these Saints.)

Saints John and Paul lived during the fourth century in Rome. Very little is known of their lives or their martyrdom. According to their Acts, they were eunuchs of the daughter of Constantine the Great. They were martyred at the command of Julian the Apostate by beheading on June 26 around the year 362.

Although so little is known of their lives, it is certain that these men lived in Rome and were martyred for the faith. In the second half of the fourth century, a Roman senator and his son fashioned their house into a basilica. On the ground floor of this house, which remains under the Basilica to this day, lie the tombs of the two martyrs. They are decorated with interesting frescoes. There is evidence that the tombs of these martyrs were venerated as early as the fifth century.

The feast day of Saints John and Paul is June 26.