Saints John and Paul

Saints John and Paul were Roman military officers and blood brothers who lived during the fourth century in the Roman Empire. They were martyred in Rome on June 26. The exact year of their martyrdom is uncertain, but it is believed to have occurred under Julian the Apostate (361–363).

After a successful career in the military, they were entrusted by Constantine the Great with the protection of his daughter, Constantia. They received a vast inheritance from Constantia and were very wealthy. Their home is now the site of a basilica.

Their names are included in the Roman Canon of the Holy Mass. Their lives and martyrdom are commemorated on their feast day, which is celebrated on June 26.

The Roman brothers John and Paul distributed to the poor the wealth they had been left by Constantia, the daughter of Constantine, whom they had served justly and faithfully.

Invited by Julian the Apostate to join the members of his household, they boldly declared that they did not wish to live in the house of a man who had abandoned Jesus Christ.

They were therefore given ten days in which to be persuaded to sacrifice to Jupiter.

As they steadfastly refused to commit this sin, they were beheaded in their home, at the command of Terentian the judge, thus meriting the palm of martyrdom.

The news of their glorious death was spread abroad by unclean spirits, who began tormenting the bodies of many persons, among them the son of Terentian.

He was freed of his diabolical tormentor at the tomb of the Martyrs.

This miracle led both him and his father, Terentian, to believe in Christ; and the latter is said to have written the life of the holy Martyrs.

As for their adversaries?

They that trust in their own strength, * and glory in the multitude of their riches,

No brother can redeem, nor shall man redeem: * he shall not give to God his ransom,

Nor the price of the redemption of his soul: * and shall labour for ever, and shall still live unto the end.

He shall not see destruction, when he shall see the wise dying: * the senseless and the fool shall perish together:

And they shall leave their riches to strangers: * and their sepulchres shall be their houses for ever.

Their dwelling places to all generations: * they have called their lands by their names.

And man when he was in honour did not understand; * he is compared to senseless beasts, and is become like to them.

Be not thou afraid, when a man shall be made rich, * and when the glory of his house shall be increased.

For when he shall die he shall take nothing away; * nor shall his glory descend with him.

For in his lifetime his soul will be blessed: * and he will praise thee when thou shalt do well to him.

He shall go in to the generations of his fathers: * and he shall never see light.

Man when he was in honour did not understand: * he hath been compared to senseless beasts, and made like to them.

(1) John and Paul - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_and_Paul.

(2) Saints John and Paul – Martyrs for Our Time in History. https://taylormarshall.com/2012/06/saints-john-and-paul-martyrs-for-our.html.

(3) BIOGRAPHY OF THE STS. JOHN AND PAUL – PASSIOCHRISTI. https://www.passiochristi.org/biography-of-the-ss-john-and-paul/.

(4) Saint Luke the Evangelist :: PA. https://saintluke.net/.

(5) Saints John & Paul Church - Coventry, RI. https://stsjohnpaulri.com/.