Our united parish is blessed to have many patron saints praying for us as we work together to live out the Gospel message. Each of these individuals has guided a segment of our parish community for many years, and now that we are united together as one parish, there is so much we all can learn about these powerful witnesses to the faith. Their example helps bring us closer to Jesus as his disciples on Earth.
(Photo from Palazzo della Santissima Annunziata, Sulmona, Italy)
Saint Pamphilus of Sulmona
(Lived in the 7th Century)
Although St. Pamphilus was not a martyr, his life was a kind of living martyrdom. St. Pamphilus was like St. Stephen in that he courageously lived out his vocation with conviction and had a single-minded love for the Lord. St. Pamphilus of Sulmona earned his reputation for piety and good works. He had a regular routine: singing the Divine Office at midnight, saying Mass before dawn, and giving alms to the poor. Then he would sit and eat his breakfast with the poor.
Pamphilus grew up as pagan and later became a Christian. In coming to Christ, Pamphilus alienated his family, and his father disowned him. Later, Pamphilus would become a priest and eventually the Bishop of Sulmona in the central region of Abruzzi in Italy from 682 until his death around 700.
Some of the priests in his diocese did not appreciate their Bishop’s routine of ministry to the poor. His priests became self-conscious in comparison to him, so out of jealousy, most likely, some of his priests falsely accused Bishop Pamphilus of being an Arian. The Arian heresy denied the Divinity of Christ, and stated that He was created by God the Father. Some of Bishop Pamphilus’ priests made the accusation to the Holy Father, Pope St. Sergius I (reigned 687-701). The pope was so impressed with Bishop Pamphilus’ orthodoxy and apostolic work that he cleared Pamphilus of the allegations and even sent him home with a generous donation to distribute to the poor.
The Catholic Church celebrates Saint Pamphilus of Sulmona on April 28.
Prayer to Saint Pamphilus of Sulmona
Let us Pray, Heavenly Father, Shepherd of your people,
we thank you for your servant Saint Pamphilus of Sulmona,
who was faithful in the care and nurture of your flock;
and we pray that, following his example and the teaching of his holy life,
we may, by your grace, grow into the stature of the fullness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Saint Pamphilus of Sulmona, pray for us!