Saint Apollinaris, Bishop and martyr

Apollinaris is said to be a native of Antioch and a follower of Saint Peter. He is said to have traveled with Saint Peter from Antioch where, sometime later, Peter ordained him as bishop and sent him to Ravenna. Soon after his arrival, Apollinaris performed his first miracle when a Centurion asked him to cure his son who was blind. When Apollinaris made the sign of the cross on the boy’s eyes, his sight was instantly restored. Local secular leaders, seeing the success that Apollinaris was having, aroused the people against him and caused him to be beaten to near death and left on the seashore. Christians in his community cared for him and nursed him back to health.

Few of us have faith as strong as Apollinaris and might break down in the face of the trials that he faced, but God is always there for us.