August 26 is a day in the Roman Martyrology that lists St. Melchizedek, the unknown priest who offers a sacrifice in Genesis.
While much emphasis is placed on saints from the New Testament and beyond, the Catholic Church also remembers those holy men and women who died before the incarnation.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms, "The patriarchs, prophets and certain other Old Testament figures have been and always will be honored as saints in all the Church's liturgical traditions" (CCC 61).
This is most clearly seen in the Church's Roman Martyrology that lists all the official saints who can be celebrated on specific days of the year.
On August 26, the first entry summarizes the Old Testament figure of Melchizedek:
Commemoration of Saint Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High, who greeted Abraham returning from victory with his blessing, offering the Lord a holy sacrifice, an immaculate victim, and was seen as a prefiguration of Christ, king of peace and justice and priest forever, without genealogy.
Who was Melchizedek?
Scripture scholars continue to debate who Melchizedek was, as Aleteia writer Daniel Esparza relates in his article on the topic.
What we do know is that he is, "king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High" (Genesis 14:18).
The author of the letter to the Hebrews later saw Melchizedek as a typological figure of Jesus Christ:
This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not according to a legal requirement concerning bodily descent but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him,
“Thou art a priest for ever,
after the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 7:15-17)
We may not know much about Melchizedek, but his presence in Salvation History has proven to be pivotal, and has impacted how Christians view Jesus Christ.
