Marcellus, a Roman, governed the Church from the reign of Constantius and Galerius to that of Maxentius. It was by his counsel that a Roman matron named Lucina made the Church of God the heir of all her property. He established 25 Titles, as so many districts, for the administration of baptism and penance to pagans converted to the Christian religion and for the providing burial to the martyrs. All this irritated Maxentius and he threatened Marcellus with severe punishment unless he laid down his pontificate and offered sacrifice to the idols. Marcellus heeded not the senseless words of man and was therefore sent to stables, there to take care of the beasts which were kept at the public expense. In this place Marcellus spent 9 months, fasting and praying without ceasing, and visiting by his letters the Churches he could not visit in person. He thence was delivered by some of his clergy, and was harboured by the blessed Lucina in whose house he dedicated a Church which is now called the Church of Saint Marcellus. Here the Christians assembled for prayer and the blessed Marcellus preached. Maxentius, coming to hear these things, ordered that Church to be turned into the stable for the beasts and Marcellus to be made its keeper. Sickened by the foul atmosphere and worn out by his many cares, he slept in the Lord. The blessed Lucina had his body buried in the Cemetery of Priscilla cemetery on the Via Salaria on the 17th of the Calends of February (January 16.) He sat 5 years, 1 month and 25 days on the throne of Peter. He wrote a letter to the Bishops of the Antioch province concerning the primacy of the Church of Rome, which he proves ought to be called “the Head of the Churches.” In the same letter there occurs this passage that no Council maybe rightly celebrated without the authority of the Roman Pontiff. He ordained at Rome, in the month of December, 25 Priests, 2 Deacons and 21 Bishops for various places.
Dom Prosper Gueranger:
The name of Marcellus is brought before us by the Calendar today — he was a successor of the glorious Hyginus in the papacy and in martyrdom, and their Feasts fall in the same season of the year. Each Christmastide shows us these two Pontiffs offering their Keys in homage to our Jesus, the invisible Head of the Church they governed. In a few days hence we will find our Christmas list of Saints giving us the name of a third Pope and Martyr — Fabian. These three valiant Vicars of Christ are like the three generous Magi — they offered their richest presents to the Emmanuel, their blood and their lives.
Marcellus governed the Church at the close of the last general Persecution. A few months after his death the tyrant Maxentius was vanquished by Constantine and the Cross of Christ glittered in triumph on the Labarum of the Roman Legions. The time for martyrdom was, therefore, very short, but Marcellus was in time. He shed his blood for Christ and won the honour of standing in Stephen’s company over the crib of the Divine Infant, waving his palm branch in his venerable hand. He withstood the tyrant Emperor who bade him abdicate the majesty of the supreme Pontificate, and this in the very city of Rome, for Rome was to be the capital of another King — of Christ — who, in the person of His Vicar, would take possession of it and her old Masters, the Caesars, were to make Byzantium their Rome. It is 300 years since the decree of Caesar Augustus ordered the census of the world to be taken which brought Mary to Bethlehem and where she gave birth to a humble babe, and now the Empire of that babe has out-grown the Empire of the Caesars, and its victory is upon the point of being proclaimed. After Marcellus, we will have Eusebius. After Eusebius, Melchiades, and Melchiades will see the triumph of the Church.
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What must have been your thoughts, glorious Marcellus, when imprisoned in a stable with poor dumb brutes for your companions! You thought upon Jesus, your Divine Master, how He was born in a stable and laid in a manger between two senseless animals. You appreciated the humiliations of Bethlehem and joyfully acknowledged that the Disciple is not above his Master (Matthew x. 24). But, from that stable in which the tyranny of an Emperor had thrust it, the majesty of the Apostolic See was soon to be set free and its glory made manifest to the whole Earth. Christian Rome, insulted in your person, was soon to receive an additional consecration by your martyrdom, and God was on the point of making over to your successors the palaces of that proud city which then knew not the glorious destiny that awaited her. Marcellus, you triumphed, like the Babe of Bethlehem, by your humiliations. Like Him, too, you had your cross and gave your life for your sheep. Forget not the Church of your unceasing love — bless that Rome which venerates so profoundly the spot where you suffered and died. Bless all the faithful children of Christ who keep your Feast during this holy Season, praying you to obtain for them the grace of profiting by the mystery of Bethlehem. Pray for them that they may imitate Jesus, conquer pride, love the Cross and be faithful in all their trials.Also on this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:
At Morocco in Africa, the martyrdom of the holy martyrs of the Order of Friars Minor, Berard, Peter, Accursius, Adjutus and Otto.
At Arles, St. Honoratus, bishop and confessor, whose life was renowned for learning and miracles.
At Oderzo, St. Titian, bishop and confessor.
At Rhinocolura in Egypt, in the reign of the emperor Valens, the holy bishop Melas, who rested in peace after suffering exile and other painful trials for the Catholic faith.
At Fundi in Campania, St. Honoratus, abbot, mentioned by Pope St. Gregory.
In the monastery of Peronne, St. Fursey, confessor.
At Rome, St. Priscilla, who devoted herself and her goods to the service of the martyrs.
And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.
Thanks be to God.
