Saint Longinus the Centurion, who stood at the Cross of the Lord, Martyr


This week’s Saint of the Week is Saint Longinus the Centurion, who commanded the detachment that crucified our Lord.  After watching the death of Jesus and the earthquake that coincided with it, he is credited with proclaiming, “Truly this was the Son of God.” (Matthew 27:54).  

Saint Longinus and two soldiers from his detachment were also present at the tomb and witnessed Jesus’ resurrection.  Refusing go along with the claim that  Jesus’ body was stolen by his followers, Saint Longinus and his two companions left military service, were baptized into the faith and were among the first Christian converts.  They then returned to Saint Longinus’s home town and began evangelizing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  They were so successful in gaining converts to the faith that Jewish leaders compelled Pontius Pilate to dispatch soldiers to arrest and kill them.

Saint Longinus and his two companions came out and greeted the soldiers, revealing they were the ones the soldiers sought.  Their former comrades in arms tried to convince them to flee, but all three professed a desire to die for Christ and were beheaded.  Saint Longinus’ severed head was returned to Pontious Pilate in Jerusalem, who had it thrown into a trash heap outside the city walls. After his Martyrdom, Saint Longinus appeared to a blind woman in a dream, and told her where to find his severed head.  The woman was led to the location told to her and regained her sight immediately upon touching the severed head.

Feast Day:  March 15

Patron of: The blind and people with poor eyesight, of labor, of power, and of good discernment

Prayer to Saint Longinus:

O Saint Longinus, you were chosen as the venerable gate keeper and was granted the gift of discernment by the Lord; an eyewitness of God’s miracle who glorified the resurrected Christ. To your death, you remained Christ’s soldier and for Christ you gave your head.
 
Pray for us, therefore, O St. Longinus so that being inspired by your example and assisted by your prayers, we may live a holy life, die a happy death, and reach eternal life to praise and thank God in heaven with you. I ask you to pray to God this special request if it be His holy will. Amen

Saint Longinus, Pray for us!


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