January 31 — Saint Titus, Bishop and Confessor

We are to celebrate to-day, the Feast of a holy Bishop of the Apostolic Age— a Disciple of the Apostle St. Paul. Little is known of his life ; but> by addressing to him one of his inspired Epistles, the Apostle of the Gentiles has immortalised his memory. Wheresoever the Faith of Christ has been or shall be preached, Titus' name has been venerated by the Faithful ; and as long as the world lasts, the holv Church will read to her children this Epistle, which was written, indeed, to a simple Bishop of the Isle of Crete, but was dictated by the Holy Ghost, and therefore destined to be a part of those Sacred Scriptures, which contain the word of God. The counsels and directions riven in this admirable Letter, were the rule of the holy Bishop, for whom St. Paul entertained a very strong affection. St Titus had the honour of establishing the Christian Religion in that famous Island, which was one of the strong-holds of Paganism. He survived his master, who was put to death by Nero. like St John, he sweetly slept in Christ at a very advanced age, re-

1 The Feast of St. Titus, which we have placed after the last day of January, is more or less deferred according to circumstances : this is owing to its having no fixed day, and to the Holy See allowing it to be kept on the first that is vacant. In most places, it is not kept till February apected and loved by the Church lie had founded. As we have already observed, his life left but few traces behind it; but these few are sufficient to prove him to have been one of those wonderful men, whom God chose as the directors of his infant Church.

Cretensium Episcopum vix Pauli Apostoli fidei sacramentis, mysteriisque excultum, ea sanctitatis luce tunc vagienti est, ut inter ejusdem Doctoris Gentium discipulos meruerit cooptari. Adscitus in partem oneris pradicatioper- nis adeo evangelizandi aret fidehtate Paulo exstitit cams, ut ipse cum venisset Troadem propter Evangelium Christi testatus sit, non habuisse requiem ihat spiritui suo, eo quod Titum fratrem suum loi non inne venerit. Et paulo post Macedoniam petens, rursus suam in eum charitatem ita exprimit : Sed qui conex* solatur humiles, consolatus est nos Deus in adventu

Titus. Bishop of Crete, was Titnm initiatea into the mysteries of Ihe christian faith by Paul the verbo christian© Apostle ; and being prepared by the sacraments, he shed so bright a light of sanctity on Eccleai© the infant Church, that he effulsiase compertutn merited to be chosen as one of the Disciples of the Doctor of the Gentiles. Being called to bear the burden of preaching the Gospel, so ardent and aevering was he in the dis- dore charge of that duty, that he endeared himself to St. Paul so much, as to make the Apostie say in one of his Epistles, being come to Troas, to preach the faith in that city* found no rest for his heart, because he found not there his brother Titus. And having, a short time after this, gone to Macedonia, he thus presses his affection for his disciple in these terms: But Titi. God who comforteth the humble, comforted us by the coming of Titus.

Quamobrem Corinthum ab Apostolo missus, ea sa« et lenitate Jegationis hujus munere functus est, qua presertim de fidedf lium pietate eleemosynas ad sublevandam Ecclesi® Hebrseorum inospectabat, ut. Corin*

Being sent to Corinth by the Apostle, he acquitted him- •elf in this mission (which pientia mainlv consisted in collecting the alms given by the piety the faithful towards alleviating the distress of the colligendas Hebrew Churcb) with so much prudence and patience, that he pLan

OHBISTMAS. thioa non solum in Christi fide continuerit, sed etiam desiderium, fletum, aemulationem inter eos pro Paulo qui illos primum instituit, excitaverit. Ad effundendum interim inter gentes Unguis, locisque distinctas, divini verbi semen, pluribus terra, marique itineribus relectis, magnaque animi firmitate pro Crucis trophaeo curis laboribusque exantlatis, una oum duce Paulo Crete insulam appulit Cum porro huic Ecclesiae Episcopus ab ipso Apostolo delectus esset, dubitandum non est, quin in eo munere ita versatus sit, ut juxta ipsius Pauli praBceptoris monita, seipsum praebuerit exem-

Slum bonorum operum in octrina, iu integritate, in gravitate.

Itaque tam^uam lucerna inter eos qui in idololatrisa et mendaciorum tenebris, veluti in umbra mortis, sedebant, religionis jubar diffudit Traditur eum inter Dalmatas, ut Crucis vexillum explicaret, atrenue consudasse. Tandem meri torum et dierum plenus quarto supra nonages i mum anno, pndie Nonas Januarii, pretiosa justorum morte obdormivit in Domino, et sepultus est in Ecclesia, ubi ab Apostolo Minister fuerat constitutus. Hujus nomen a not only confirmed the Corinthians in the faith of Christ but made them so desirous of a visit from Paul, who had been their first teacher in the faith, that they shed tears of longing affection. After having undertaken several journeys, both by sea and land, in order to sow the seed of tha divine word among people of various tongues and countries; and after having supported, with great firmness of soul, in order to plant the standar of the Cross he landed at the island of Crete in com-

?any with his master St. Paul, 'he Apostle made him Bishop of the Church which he had founded in that island: and it is not to be doubted but that Titus so discharged his duty as that he became a model to the Faithful, according to the advice given to him by his master, in good works, in doctrine, in integrity, in gravity.

Thus did he become a shining light, pouring forth the rays of christian faith on them that were sitting in the darkness of idolatry and lies, as in the shadow of death. Tradition tells us that he passed into Dalmatia, where he laboured with extraordinary zeal to enlist that people under the banner of the Cross. At length, full of days and merit in the ninety-fourth year of his age, he slept in the Lord the death of the just, on the vigil of the nones of January (January 4th), and was buried tized by G00gk

ST. TIT US. in the Church in which the sancto Joanne Chrysostomo

Apostle had appointed him et a sancto Hieronymo prae-

Minister of the word. St John cipue commendatum, Mar-

Chrysostoni and St. Jerome tyrologio Romano eadem die pass great eulogium upon this inscriptum legitur ; verum noly Bishop, and his name is pro ejus die festo cum Officio inscribed in the Boman Mar- et Missa in catholico orbe tyrology on the day above recolendo ab utroque Clero, mentioned ; but in establish- primam insequentem diem ing his Feast to be celebrated, liberam Summus Pontifex with an Office and Mass, Pius Nonus assignavik throughout the catholic world, by the clergy secular and regular, the Sovereign Pontiff Pius the Ninth ordered it to be kept on the first vacant day following the anniversary of the Saint's death.

Favoured Disciple of the great Apostle t the holy Church has decreed that one of the days of the ecclesiastical year should be spent in celebrating thy virtues, and presenting thee our prayers. Look down with love upon the Faithful who glorify the Holy Spirit that gave thee thy rich graces. Thou didst discharge thy Pastoral duties with untiring zeaL Every quality enumerated in the Epistle addressed to thee by St Paul, as required in a Bishop, was possessed by thee ; and thou sninestin the crown of Jesus, the Prince of Pastors, as one of the brightest of its gems. Forget not the Church militant, of which thou wast one of the first guides. Eighteen hundred years have passed away since thou wast taken from her. During this long period, she has nad sufferings and trials without end ; but she has triumphed over every obstacle, and she continues her glorious path, saving souls and offering them to her heavenly Spouse ; and this will she persevere doing, until her Jesus comes to stop the course of time, and open the gates of eternity. Meanwhile, O glorious Saint ! she counts on the aid of thy prayers, in the great work of the salvation of souls. Ask of Jesus, that he send us Pastors like unto thee. Pray for that Island, which thou didst convert to the true faith, but which is now buried in the darkness of infidelity and schism. Pray, too, for the Greek Church, that it may regain its ancient glory by union with the See Df Peter.