Today is the commemoration of Saint Justin Martyr (reformed calendar). Born about 100 AD in Samaria to pagan parents, he converted to Christianity in Ephesus at the age of 38. A noted philosopher of the early Church, he is best known for two post-Apostolic writings. One, the Dialogue, is a discourse with Trypho (or Tryphon) the Jew in defense of Christian beliefs, particularly in relation to Jewish writings. The other is the Apology, a treatise of customs and practices of 2nd-century Christianity. One highlight of the latter is an early description of the Mass, the most detailed account by that early date.
"And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each..."Justin was martyred circa 165 AD, during the persecution of Marcus Aurelius.
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