St. Priscilla—Feast day January 16th
Who is Priscilla?
There are apparently three saints known as Priscilla,
though between them the legends and details can be sketchy
and confusing.
Who is Priscilla?
There are apparently three saints known as Priscilla,
though between them the legends and details can be sketchy
and confusing.
Our patroness, St. Priscilla, a martyr of Rome is listed on
Catholic Online. She was the wife of one Manius Acilius Glabrio, who
was put to death probably because his wife was a Christian. She was the
mother of a roman senator, St Prudens. Tradition has it that, like her
namesake from Acts of the Apostles, her home was used for church
activities, in this case, as a headquarters for Peter’s work in Rome. To this
day there is a catacomb beneath where she lived that is named after her.
The second and probably best know St. Priscilla, was one of the
earliest of saints, is actually mentioned in the bible, not once, but several
times. Her name sometimes appears as Prisca, but since she is always
mentioned with her husband, Aquila, we can be sure it is her. She and her
husband were friends of St. Paul.
Priscilla and Aquila first met Paul in Corinth, Greece. There were Jews
who lived in Rome until emperor Claudius expelled the Jews from there
in about 40 AD. Aquila was a native of a place called Pontus, in today’s
northern Turkey. Paul stayed with Priscilla and Aquila in Corinth
because, like him, they were tentmakers. (Acts 18:1-3).
A third century virgin martyr, St. Prisca, is also called Priscilla.
Little is known about her except that it is believed she was martyred and
buried in the catacomb of Priscilla. A Roman basilica on Aventine Hill in
Italy is dedicated to her.
So in our prayers we can thank St(s) Priscilla, the patron Saint(s) of our
parish, for work they did and the courage they had to keep Peter, Paul
and other Christians active in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus. We can
also look to their example of working quietly in the background to
further the cause of the Church, for while Sts. Peter and Paul receive
most of the acclaim, God knows that they had Saints called Priscilla
working quietly, courageously and effectively in important supporting
roles and that ultimately, He Himself rewarded them with Sainthood,
with the vision of His own glory in heaven.
Catholic Online. She was the wife of one Manius Acilius Glabrio, who
was put to death probably because his wife was a Christian. She was the
mother of a roman senator, St Prudens. Tradition has it that, like her
namesake from Acts of the Apostles, her home was used for church
activities, in this case, as a headquarters for Peter’s work in Rome. To this
day there is a catacomb beneath where she lived that is named after her.
The second and probably best know St. Priscilla, was one of the
earliest of saints, is actually mentioned in the bible, not once, but several
times. Her name sometimes appears as Prisca, but since she is always
mentioned with her husband, Aquila, we can be sure it is her. She and her
husband were friends of St. Paul.
Priscilla and Aquila first met Paul in Corinth, Greece. There were Jews
who lived in Rome until emperor Claudius expelled the Jews from there
in about 40 AD. Aquila was a native of a place called Pontus, in today’s
northern Turkey. Paul stayed with Priscilla and Aquila in Corinth
because, like him, they were tentmakers. (Acts 18:1-3).
A third century virgin martyr, St. Prisca, is also called Priscilla.
Little is known about her except that it is believed she was martyred and
buried in the catacomb of Priscilla. A Roman basilica on Aventine Hill in
Italy is dedicated to her.
So in our prayers we can thank St(s) Priscilla, the patron Saint(s) of our
parish, for work they did and the courage they had to keep Peter, Paul
and other Christians active in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus. We can
also look to their example of working quietly in the background to
further the cause of the Church, for while Sts. Peter and Paul receive
most of the acclaim, God knows that they had Saints called Priscilla
working quietly, courageously and effectively in important supporting
roles and that ultimately, He Himself rewarded them with Sainthood,
with the vision of His own glory in heaven.
-courtesy Ron Vader
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