Tuesday 13th Week of Ordinary Time

The First Martyrs of Rome

In Eucharistic Prayer I, known as the Roman Canon which dates back to the 7th Century

we hear a long list of strange names. 

Linus, Cletus, Clement, Sixtus,

Cornelius, Cyprian,

Lawrence, Chrysogonus,

John and Paul,

Cosmas and Damian.

Who are these people?

They are a list of the first popes and early saints who were martyred.  

Linus, Cletus and Clement were the first three popes who followed after Peter.

All were martyred.  

We celebrate the early martyrs of Rome because their blood watered the ground for the eventual conversion of Rome 300 years later ,

When in the year 313 when Constantine declared the Edict of Milan ending the persecutions of all Christians. 

It is from these early martyrs of Rome,

That we became known as “Roman Catholic”