St Justin Martyr: A Christian Apologist

 St Justin was born into a pagan family during the second century. He later converted to Christianity and spent much time learning his faith and defending it. He was martyred when he refused to adore the pagan gods. You can read more about him here.
In researching today's saint, I came across his writing on the Eucharist and Weekly Worship of the Christians~ what we now call Sunday Mass. He wastes no time in getting right to the point; the first sentence reads:

"And this food is called among us the Eucharist of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined."

This reinforces what St Paul tells us in Corinthians on this same topic: "Therefore whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord." (1Cor. 11:27)

I found Justin's writings on the Eucharist to be quite timely. We seem to be living in an age when as a society we have lost our sense of sin.

In this month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, let us continue to pray and make reparation for all the sacrilege and outrage committed against this Heart in the Blessed Sacrament. 

St Justin Martyr, pray for us!