Saint of the Day: Sts. Timothy and Titus

Bishops (First Century)

Their story

+ According to the New Testament Timothy was the child of a Greek father and a Jewish mother, Eunice, who eventually became a Christian. Saint Paul tells us that Timothy’s grandmother, Lois, was also instrumental in Timothy’s growth in the Christian Faith.

+ Timothy became a Christian during Paul’s first missionary journey and was highly recommended to Paul by the Christian community at Lystra.

+ Timothy later traveled to Macedonia, Thessalonica, and Corinth. On two occasions when Paul was imprisoned, Timothy was sent to give him support. According to ancient tradition, Timothy became the bishop of Ephesus.

+ Titus was born to a pagan family and, like Saint Timothy, was a convert of Saint Paul.

+ He accompanied Paul and Barnabas to the Council of Jerusalem, where Paul received official approbation to proclaim the Gospel among the Gentiles.

+ Paul later expressed great trust in Titus as an intermediary in working for peace in the church at Corinth. Tradition relates that Titus later served as bishop of the Christian community in Crete.

For prayer and reflection

“The sources concerning Timothy and Titus highlight their readiness to take on various offices that also often consisted in representing Paul in circumstances far from easy. In a word, they teach us to serve the Gospel with generosity, realizing that this also entails a service to the Church herself.”—Pope Benedict XVI

Spiritual bonus

On this day, we also remember Saint José Gabriel del Rosario Brochero. Known for his willingness to travel long distances across his native Argentina dressed in sombrero and poncho, this beloved pastor came to be known as the “Gaucho Priest.” Saint José died from complications related to leprosy (which he contracted through his care of the sick) on January 26, 1914, in Villa del Tránsito, Argentina, and was canonized in 2016.

Prayer

O God, who adorned Saints Timothy and Titus
with apostolic virtues,
grant, through the intercession of them both,
that, living justly and devoutly in this present age,
we may merit to reach our heavenly homeland.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.