The Feast of Justin Martyr – and my birthday

Who was Justin Martyr?

Justin was a Greek, born in the year 100 AD in what is now known as the West Bank. He was greatly influenced by pagan philosophy when he was growing up. But in his 30s he had a conversion to Christianity. He wrote and traveled much to convert others to his new faith. Eventually, he was martyred under the authority of Rome.

Several of St. Justin’s works survive to this day and you can read them here.

Justin’s conversion

In his writing, The Dialogue with Trypho the Jew, Justin wrote about the influence an older Christian had on him. He met the elderly Christian in Ephesus, walking along the shore. The old man talked about Jesus and excitedly explained how Jesus fulfilled all of the prophecies from the past. As he talked Justin says,

“Straightway a flame was kindled in my soul,” he writes, “and a love of the prophets and those who are friends of Christ possessed me.”

Justin is probably the most known for his description of the mass, which is the same as today. You can read that in part here.

And once upon a time many years ago –

I was born in a convent run by the Medical Missionary Sisters near Santa Fe, New Mexico. My mother was attended to by her own mother and the sisters. It was a long labor that started on May 31. I could have been born on the feast of the Visitation! But that was not to be.

After trying all day and all night to have me (and even threatening to give up and go home once!) I finally put in an appearance around 8 a.m. on June 1.

That was many years ago.

I think about my mama often and thank her for all of the sacrifices she made for me.

Pondering growing older

Justin Martyr wrote:

“For if on earth He healed the sicknesses of the flesh, and made the body whole, much more will He do this in the resurrection, so that the flesh shall rise perfect and entire. In this manner, then, shall those dreaded difficulties of theirs be healed.”

Justin Martyr

Last year, I tore my meniscal root and couldn’t walk at all because of the pain and swelling. I was so scared that I might have surgery and never be the same again. But while praying the Christmas Novena, I put in a little request that my knee would be totally healed. For all intents and purposes, that has come true. My doctor tells me that it’s not healed, but it’s not painful or swollen and I can go about my daily life and even work out – so to me, that’s good enough.

I can do 30 minutes on my elliptical at a clip of 8 miles/hour and then walk my dog for a mile. At my age, I’m considering all of that a blessing. I’m allowed to play my flute at church again and even had a big concert with a featured part in April. And in two days, my completely-homeschooled baby graduates from high school.

My biggest accomplishment, and the one I thank God for, is this:

And looking forward to meeting this guy.