Saint Narcisse
Évêque de
Jérusalem (+ 212)
Il présida le concile de
Palestine qui décida de célébrer Pâques un dimanche et non au jour anniversaire
du 14 nisan. Il mourut plus que centenaire et son remplaçant écrivit de lui:
«Il gouverne encore l'Église par ses prières. Il vient d'avoir cent seize ans
et il vous engage, comme je le fais aussi, à vivre dans la concorde et la
paix.»
Il était déjà très âgé
quand il fut élu évêque de Jérusalem, ce qui ne l'empêcha pas de prendre une
part très active à la vie de l'Église. Il donna sa vie au Christ, tué par
l'épée selon le récit d'Eusèbe de Césarée.
A écouter sur la radio
RCF la rediffusion de Saint
Narcisse, évêque de Jérusalem, nommé évêque de Jérusalem à l'âge de
100 ans, Narcisse obtient un changement dans la célébration de Pâques, lors de
l'un des nombreux conciles des premiers temps de l'Eglise.
Commémoraison de saint
Narcisse, évêque de Jérusalem, dont il faut louer la sainteté, l’endurance et
la foi. Il fut d’accord avec le pape saint Victor sur
le temps de la célébration de la Pâque chrétienne, affirmant que le mystère de
la Résurrection du Seigneur ne devait être célébré un autre jour que le
dimanche et s’en alla avec bonheur auprès du Seigneur à l’âge de cent treize
ans.
Martyrologe romain
SOURCE : http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/2098/Narcisse.html
Saint Narcisse
Évêque de Jérusalem
(IIe siècle)
Saint Narcisse, né en
Palestine, vers la fin du Ier siècle, s'appliqua dès sa jeunesse, avec un grand
soin, à l'étude des sciences divines et humaines. Il entra dans l'état
ecclésiastique, et l'on put voir en lui le modèle achevé de toutes les vertus sacerdotales;
aussi l'appelait-on le saint prêtre. Pendant toute sa vie il fut entouré de
l'estime universelle; toutefois ce n'est qu'à l'âge de quatre-vingts ans qu'il
fut choisi pour évêque de Jérusalem.
Cette haute dignité lui
inspira un nouveau zèle et une nouvelle ferveur, et il gouverna son troupeau
avec une vigueur qu'on n'aurait pas dû naturellement attendre de son grand âge.
Sa vie austère et pénitente fut toute entière vouée au bien de l'Église. En
195, il présida, avec Théophile de Césarée, un concile tenu relativement à la
célébration de la fête de Pâques, et où il fut décidé que cette fête se
célébrerait toujours un dimanche, et non le jour où il était d'usage de la
célébrer chez les Juifs.
Le Ciel opéra un grand
nombre de prodiges par les mains de ce vénérable pontife: on en raconte un
particulièrement remarquable. Une veille de Pâques, l'huile manquait aux lampes
de son église pour les offices solennels qui avaient alors lieu dans la nuit.
Narcisse commanda de tirer de l'eau à un puits qui était proche et de la lui
apporter; il la bénit et la fit verser dans les lampes; on s'aperçut alors
qu'elle s'était changée en huile, ce qui excita l'admiration des fidèles. On
conserva longtemps avec respect des restes de cette huile miraculeuse.
La vénération que ce
saint évêque s'était attirée ne put le garantir de la malice des méchants.
Trois scélérats l'accusèrent d'un crime atroce et confirmèrent leur calomnie
par des imprécations horribles contre eux-mêmes. L'un dit: "Je veux être
brûlé vif, ci cela n'est pas vrai!" L'autre: "Je veux être couvert de
la lèpre!" Le troisième: "Je consens à perdre la vue!" Narcisse
crut devoir céder à l'orage et se retira dans un désert, où il s'ensevelit
pendant huit années. Dieu Se chargea de sa vengeance. Ses calomniateurs
reçurent le prix de leur crime: le premier périt dans un incendie, avec toute
sa famille; le second fut couvert d'une lèpre horrible; le troisième, frappé
d'effroi et plein de repentir, pleura son péché au point qu'il en perdit la
vue. Narcisse ne put résister plus longtemps aux instances de son peuple et
vint reprendre le soin de son Église. Il mourut à l'âge de cent seize ans.
Abbé L. Jaud, Vie des Saints pour tous les jours de l'année, Tours, Mame, 1950
SOURCE : http://magnificat.ca/cal/fr/saints/saint_narcisse.html
Saint Narcisse
Évêque de Jérusalem (IIe
siècle)
Saint Narcisse, né en
Palestine, vers la fin du Ier siècle entra dans l’état ecclésiastique. Pendant
toute sa vie il fut entouré de l’estime universelle.
A l’âge de quatre-vingts
ans, il fut choisi pour évêque de Jérusalem.
Cette haute dignité lui
inspira un nouveau zèle et une nouvelle ferveur, et il gouverna son troupeau
avec une vigueur qu’on n’aurait pas dû naturellement attendre de son grand âge.
Sa vie austère et pénitente fut toute entière vouée au bien de l’Église. En
195, il présida, avec Théophile de Césarée, un concile tenu relativement à la
célébration de la fête de Pâques, et où il fut décidé que cette fête se
célébrerait toujours un dimanche, et non le jour où il était d’usage de la
célébrer chez les Juifs.
Le Ciel opéra un grand
nombre de prodiges par les mains de ce vénérable pontife : on en raconte
un particulièrement remarquable. Une veille de Pâques, l’huile manquait aux
lampes de son église pour les offices solennels qui avaient alors lieu dans la
nuit. Narcisse commanda de tirer de l’eau à un puits qui était proche et de la
lui apporter ; il la bénit et la fit verser dans les lampes ; on
s’aperçut alors qu’elle s’était changée en huile, ce qui excita l’admiration
des fidèles. On conserva longtemps avec respect des restes de cette huile
miraculeuse.
La vénération que ce
saint évêque s’était attirée ne put le garantir de la malice des méchants.
Trois scélérats l’accusèrent d’un crime atroce et confirmèrent leur calomnie
par des imprécations horribles contre eux-mêmes. L’un dit : "Je veux
être brûlé vif, ci cela n’est pas vrai !" L’autre : "Je
veux être couvert de la lèpre !" Le troisième : "Je consens
à perdre la vue !" Narcisse crut devoir céder à l’orage et se retira
dans un désert, où il s’ensevelit pendant huit années. Dieu Se chargea de sa
vengeance. Ses calomniateurs reçurent le prix de leur crime : le premier
périt dans un incendie, avec toute sa famille ; le second fut couvert
d’une lèpre horrible ; le troisième, frappé d’effroi et plein de repentir,
pleura son péché au point qu’il en perdit la vue. Narcisse ne put résister plus
longtemps aux instances de son peuple et vint reprendre le soin de son Église.
Il mourut à l’âge de cent seize ans.
SOURCE : https://viechretienne.catholique.org/saints/5825-saint-narcisse
Kirche Saint-Barthélémy in Bénévent-l’Abbaye im Département Creuse
(Nouvelle-Aquitaine/Frankreich), Bleiglasfenster mit der Signatur: DIDRON PARIS
187?; Darstellung: Heliger Narcissus von Jerusalem
.jpg)
Kirche Saint-Barthélémy in Bénévent-l’Abbaye im Département Creuse
(Nouvelle-Aquitaine/Frankreich), Bleiglasfenster mit der Signatur: DIDRON PARIS
187?; Darstellung: Heliger Narcissus von Jerusalem
Profile
Bishop of Jerusalem,
consecrated c.180 when
he was already an old man.
Late in life, he was accused of a crime. None of the Christians in
his diocese believed
it, but Narcissus did not believe he should serve after being under such a
cloud, and he became a desert hermit.
After a complete acquittal, Narcissus returned to his see,
older, weathered, but stronger and more zealous than ever, and served several
more years. One Holy
Saturday he turned water into lamp oil so the Easter vigil
services could be conducted. When his age began to wear on him, Narcissus
begged God to
send a bishop to
help him. Saint Alexander of Cappadocia responded,
and the two ruled the diocese together,
Narcissus living to age 116.
Born
215 of
natural causes
bishop holding
a blossoming thistle
bishop with
a pitcher of water
an angel carrying
his soul to Heaven
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MLA
Citation
“Saint Narcissus of
Jerusalem“. CatholicSaints.Info. 22 April 2021. Web. 29 October 2022.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saint-narcissus-of-jerusalem/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-narcissus-of-jerusalem/
Église
de Saint-Narcisse-de-Beaurivage,
Québec, Canada
Narcissus of Jerusalem B
(RM)
Born in Greece; died c.
222. Saint Narcissus was at least 80 when he was made the 30th bishop of
Jerusalem. In a letter written in 212, Saint Alexander, who later became his
coadjutor, refers to Narcissus as being 116 years old. He was one of those who
at a council held at Jerusalem favored the Roman custom of celebrating Easter.
Eusebius states that in
his time many of the miracles wrought by Saint Narcissus were still remembered
by the people of Jerusalem. One Easter Eve, when the supply of oil for the
lamps in the church had run out, Narcissus told his deacons to bring him some
water from the neighboring wells. After he had prayed over it, he had the
deacons pour the water into the lamps, which they did. To the amazement of the
faithful, the water was miraculously converted into oil. Some of this oil was
kept there as a memorial at the time when Eusebius wrote his history.
Although Narcissus was
ancient when he assumed the see of Jerusalem, he was not a weak bishop. He
censured slackness among the laity and clergy throughout his diocese. Perhaps
because of the severity with which he enforced the observance of discipline, he
provoked the hostility of three perjurers who accused him of some crime that
Eusebius does not specify but that the three men affirmed with violent oaths.
"May I be burned alive if I am lying," said the first. "May I be
stricken with leprosy," said the second. "May I be deprived of my
sight," said the third. Not long afterwards, the first died with his
entire family in a house fire, and the second died of leprosy. The third was so
terrified by what had befallen his fellow calumniators that he confessed the
conspiracy and slander. His tears of repentance were so copious that he is said
to have lost his sight before he died.
Though vindicated--indeed
few people at the time had believed the accusation brought against
him--Narcissus use the scandal as an excuse to go into retreat to pray
constantly without distraction, an ambition which he had long cherished.
During his absence, first
Dius (or Pius), then Germanius, and then Gordius filled his see. Narcissus
lived in such complete solitude that it was widely assumed that he had died,
and his sudden return to Jerusalem had the same effect as if he had indeed come
back from the dead. He was received with great rejoicing by the people of his
diocese who urged him to stay and resume his episcopal functions. Narcissus
agreed but, on account of his great age, appointed Saint Alexander to help him.
He continued in his office until his death, which is believed to have taken
place in about 220-222 (Benedictines, Bentley, Delaney, Encyclopedia,
Husenbeth).
In art, Saint Narcissus
is depicted as a bishop holding a thistle in blossom. Sometimes there is a
pitcher of water near him or an angel is shown carrying his soul to heaven
(Roeder).
SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/1029.shtml
Narcissus (Eusebius, Church
History V.12). Narcissus was a man famous for
his virtues and miracles,
but hated by certain vicious people
in the city who feared his severity. They accused him of various
crimes and he, for the sake of peace, retired to an unknown solitude (Eusebius, Church
History VI.9). The neighbouring bishops,
hearing nothing more of him, proceeded to elect and consecrate Dios
as his successor. Dios was succeeded by Germanion and Gordios. Then
suddenly Narcissus reappeared, an old man of 110 years. The other bishops persuaded
him to resume his place as bishop.
Too old to do anything but pray for
his flock, he made a Cappadocian bishop, Alexander,
who came on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem,
his coadjutor.
Fortescue,
Adrian. "Jerusalem (A.D. 71-1099)." The Catholic
Encyclopedia. Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton
Company, 1910. 28 Oct.
2020 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08355a.htm>.
Transcription. This
article was transcribed for New Advent by Donald J. Boon.
Ecclesiastical
approbation. Nihil Obstat. October 1, 1910. Remy Lafort, S.T.D.,
Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.
Copyright © 2020 by Kevin
Knight. Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
SOURCE : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08355a.htm
San
Narciso Church in Quezon Province, Filipinas.
St. Narcissus, Bishop of
Jerusalem
From Euseb. Hist. l. 5,
c. 12, 23, 25; l. 6, c. 9, 10, 11, 12. St. Jerom, De viris illustr. c.
73. Tillemont, t. 3
Second Century.
ST. NARCISSUS was born
towards the close of the first century, and was almost fourscore years old when
he was placed at the head of the church of Jerusalem, being the thirtieth
bishop of that see. In 195, he and Theophilus, bishop of Cæsarea in Palestine,
presided in a council of the bishops of Palestine held at Cæsarea, about the
time of celebrating Easter; in which it was decreed that this feast is to be
kept always on a Sunday, and not with the Jewish passover. Eusebius assures us,
that the Christians of Jerusalem preserved in his time the remembrance of
several miracles which God had wrought by this holy bishop; one of which he
relates as follows. One year on Easter-eve the deacons were unprovided with oil
for the lamps in the church, necessary at the solemn divine office that day.
Narcissus ordered those who had care of the lamps to bring him some water from the
neighbouring wells. This being done, he pronounced a devout prayer over the
water; then bade them pour it into the lamps; which they did, and it was
immediately converted into oil, to the great surprise of the faithful. Some of
this miraculous oil was kept there as a memorial at the time when Eusebius
wrote his history. The veneration of all good men for this holy bishop could
not shelter him from the malice of the wicked. Three incorrigible sinners,
fearing his inflexible severity in the observance of ecclesiastical discipline,
laid to his charge a detestable crime, which Eusebius does not specify. They
confirmed their atrocious calumny by dreadful oaths and imprecations; one
wishing he might perish by fire, another, that he might be struck with a leprosy,
and the third, that he might lose his sight, if what they alleged was not the
truth. Notwithstanding these protestations, their accusation did not find
credit; and, some time after, the divine vengeance pursued the calumniators.
The first was burnt in his house, with his whole family, by an accidental fire
in the night; the second was struck with a universal leprosy; and the third,
terrified by these examples, confessed the conspiracy and slander, and by the
abundance of tears which he continually shed for his sins, lost his sight
before his death.
Narcissus,
notwithstanding the slander had made no impression on the people to his
disadvantage, could not stand the shock of the bold calumny, or rather made it
an excuse for leaving Jerusalem, and spending some time in solitude, which had
long been his wish. He spent several years undiscovered in his retreat, where
he enjoyed all the happiness and advantage which a close conversion with God
can bestow. That his church might not remain destitute of a pastor, the
neighbouring bishops of the province, after some time, placed in it Pius, and
after him Germanion, who, dying in a short time, was succeeded by Gordius.
Whilst this last held the see, Narcissus appeared again like one from the dead.
The whole body of the faithful, transported at the recovery of their holy
pastor, whose innocence had been most authentically vindicated, conjured him to
reassume the administration of the diocess. He acquiesced; but afterwards,
bending under the weight of extreme old age, made St. Alexander his coadjutor. 1 This
primitive example authorizes the practice of coadjutorships; which,
nevertheless, are not allowable by the canons except in cases of the perpetual
inability of a bishop through age, incurable infirmity, or other impediment, as
Marianus Victorius observes in his notes upon St. Jerom. 2 St.
Narcissus continued to serve his flock, and even other churches, by his
assiduous prayers and his earnest exhortations to unity and concord, as St.
Alexander testifies in his letter to the Arsinoites in Egypt, where he says
that Narcissus was at that time about one hundred and sixteen years old. The
Roman Martyrology honours his memory on the 29th of October.
The pastors of the
primitive church, animated with the spirit of the apostles, were faithful
imitators of their heroic virtues, discovering the same fervent zeal, the same
contempt of the world, the same love of Christ. If we truly respect the church
as the immaculate spouse of our Lord, we will incessantly pray for its
exaltation and increase, and beseech the Almighty to give it pastors according
to his own heart, like those who appeared in the infancy of Christianity. And,
that no obstacle on our part may prevent the happy effects of their zeal, we
should study to regulate our conduct by the holy maxims which they inculcate;
we should regard them as the ministers of Christ; we should listen to them with
docility and attention; we should make their faith the rule of ours, and shut
our ears against the language of profane novelty. O! that we could once more
see a return of those happy days when the pastor and the people had but one
heart and one soul; when there was no diversity in our belief; when the
faithful seemed only to vie with each other in their submission to the church,
and in their desire of sanctification.
Note 1. On St.
Alexander, see March 18. [back]
Note 2. Marian, in
S. Hier. de Vir. Illustr. c. 73, t. 1, p. 298, ed. Paris,
1623. [back]
Rev. Alban
Butler (1711–73). Volume X: October. The Lives of the
Saints. 1866.
SOURCE : http://www.bartleby.com/210/10/291.html
San
Narciso Church, Zambales,
Weninger’s Lives of the Saints –
Saint Narcissus, Bishop of Jerusalem
Article
It would be a difficult
task to find a bishop, who governed the flock entrusted to his care so many
years, and who reached so high an age as Saint Narcissus; for, he administered
the church of Jerusalem with apostolic zeal, during 80 years, and reached the
106th year of his age. He was born at Jerusalem, in the first century of the
Christian Era. From his youth he manifested a great desire to obtain the
knowledge of divine truth, and was unwearied in acquiring it. As soon as he was
ordained priest, he was so zealous in instructing the Christians, in
proclaiming the word of Christ, in visiting the sick and in the spiritual
labors required by his position as a minister of the Lord, that on the death of
the Bishop of Jerusalem, he was chosen to succeed him. Invested with this
dignity, he redoubled his zeal, and his daily labor consisted in preaching,
instructing and exhorting, by which he endeavored to strengthen those under him
in the true faith, to keep them from evil and incite them to all good. He was
an enemy to vain and empty pastimes, and would never hear of amusements or
bodily comforts. In his speech, he observed a wonderful care and prudence; he
detested all empty conversations as a loss of precious time. No one was allowed
to utter sinful words in his presence; and as a watchful shepherd, he was
constantly guarding his flock from the raging wolves, the heretics. As much as
he was hated by the latter, so much was he beloved by the former. His learning,
virtue and holiness made him esteemed and venerated by all, and his fame was
augmented still more by the many miracles which the Almighty wrought through
him. Among other things, it is said that once, at Easter, he changed water into
oil, some of which was kept over a hundred years, as by the use of it many sick
were immediately restored to health. Notwithstanding this, some wicked
inhabitants of Jerusalem dared to accuse the holy bishop of some great crime,
to revenge themselves for having been punished by him for their misdeeds. They
even had the audacity to confirm their malicious calumny with oaths and
imprecations; one wishing that he might be burned alive if he did not speak the
truth; the second, that God might punish him with leprosy, or some other terrible
disease; the third, that he might lose his sight. The holy man, seeing himself
so grossly calumniated, forgave his enemies from the depth of his heart, but
refused to remain in the city. Secretly going away, he went into a far distant
wilderness, where he lived in solitude, his only occupation being prayer,
meditation, and devout reading. God, however, made the innocence of His
faithful servant known by the punishment of his calumniators. The house of the
first suddenly took fire, and both he and His family were burned in it; the
second was seized with so dreadful a leprosy, that until the end of his life,
he could not appear among men; the third, seeing his two companions so terribly
punished, repented of his crime, and confessed the wrong done to the bishop;
openly declaring that the accusation against the holy man had been a malicious
slander. His contrition was so great, that from the continual tears he shed, he
at last lost his sight.
Meanwhile, the
inhabitants of Jerusalem were much grieved at the flight of their bishop, and
took the greatest pains to find him. At last, however, they desisted from their
fruitless search, and elected another bishop, who governed them for a few years
and then died piously. On the very day on which this bishop expired, Saint
Narcissus came to Jerusalem, as God had admonished him to return to his see and
to labor again earnestly for the salvation of souls. The joy with which the
holy man was received cannot be described. He then resumed his episcopal
functions and administered them many years with his former zeal. At length,
enfeebled by great age, ceaseless labors and austerity, he prayed to the
Almighty, either to relieve him of his mortal body or to send him some one who
could assist him in his work. God heard and graciously answered his prayer.
Saint Alexander was travelling at that same time from Cappadocia to Jerusalem,
to visit the holy places; and in the night before his arrival, God revealed to
Saint Narcissus that, on the following day, a strange bishop would come to the
church, who would be his assistant, and in course of time, his successor. Saint
Narcissus imparted this revelation, at break of day, to the clergy, and going
with them to meet the bishop, he received him with great kindness, and informed
him of the divine decree. Alexander, although at first greatly amazed at Saint
Narcissus’ words, obeyed the command of God, received the charge which the
Almighty laid upon him, and assisting Saint Narcissus to the best of his
ability, furthered with great zeal, all that this holy man undertook for the
welfare of his fold. Saint Narcissus, greatly comforted that the Almighty had
granted his prayer and sent him so zealous a coadjutor and successor, continued
untiringly, as long as his strength permitted, in the fulfillment of his
apostolic labors, until at last, at the advanced age of 106 years, he was
called by a happy death into the Kingdom of Heaven. The Roman Martyrology says
that this saintly bishop was remarkable for his holiness, patience and strong
faith.
Practical Considerations
• What you have read of
Saint Narcissus is another proof that the most innocent and holy men are not
secure against the calumnies of the wicked. It is also another reason for never
believing calumniators, especially when they attack a priest, or a man who is
known to have always led a devout life. Who would not have thought true, what
three men affirmed with an oath? And yet it was false. Hence you do very wrong,
when you heedlessly believe the false reports which a calumniator disseminates
about your neighbor. How you have to act when some one assails your honor, I
told you on the twentieth of this month; and you can again learn it from Saint
Narcissus. Contemplate here also the punishment of the three calumniators, and
let it teach you that God does not always allow such wickedness to pass
unpunished even on earth. Secondly, observe how horrible a false oath is in the
eyes of the Almighty; and thirdly, that God sometimes lets the evil come to
pass which men wish themselves. To take an oath is, in itself, no sin. When
there is a necessity, or good and sufficient cause, we can take an oath without
sin. A false oath taken deliberately is always a great sin, be the cause to
which we testify with an oath ever so little; since it is an insult to the
Almighty, making Him a liar, or witness to a lie. The three calumniators of
Saint Narcissus made themselves guilty of great sin by their oath, because they
knowingly swore falsely. They, at the same time, cursed themselves, and God
allowed their curses to be fulfilled. Hence, hold in abhorrence cursing, lying
and slandering; because through them we become guilty of great sin. “Let not
thy mouth be accustomed to swearing,” says the Wise Man; “for in it there are
many falls. Everyone that swears and names God, shall not be wholly pure from
sin. A man that swears much shall be filled with iniquity, and a scourge shall
not depart from his house. And if he swears falsely, his sin shall be upon him,
and if he dissemble it, he offends doubly; and if he swears in vain, he shall
not be justified; for his house shall be filled with his punishment.” (Eccl.
23)
• Saint Narcissus
abhorred all idle talk as an irretrievable loss of time. Numberless persons do
not regard such frivolous discourses as wrong, either because they do not think
of the account they have to render of their words, according to the words of
Christ (Matthew 12), or because they do not consider the consequences that
frequently follow. “Whoever wishes to be free from sinful discourses, must avoid
frivolous discourses,” says Saint Chrysostom. For idle words lead to sinful
words. And even if they do not, at times, go so far, yet the time employed in
them is lost. This loss ought to be well considered by us, as it is a great
loss. Saint Bernard writes: “No one ought to esteem lightly the time spent in
frivolous conversation; for it is valuable time, it is the time in which to
work out our salvation. The irrevocable speech passes, and so passes the
irretrievable time, without our being aware of what we lose. They say: Let us
talk a little while, until the hour has passed. Oh! until the hour, the time
has gone by! the hour, which the merciful Creator gives us to do penance, to
obtain pardon for our sins, to gain everlasting glory; the time which you ought
to have used to appease the Divine Majesty, to hasten to the company of the
angels, to sigh after the lost heritage, to animate your cold devotion and to
weep over your past sins! May you not be one of these silly persons! Do not
misuse your time in frivolous conversations. Employ it to that end and aim for
which it was given by the Most High.
MLA
Citation
Father Francis Xavier
Weninger, DD, SJ. “Saint Narcissus, Bishop of Jerusalem”. Lives of the Saints, 1876. CatholicSaints.Info.
21 May 2018. Web. 28 October 2020.
<https://catholicsaints.info/weningers-lives-of-the-saints-saint-narcissus-bishop-of-jerusalem/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/weningers-lives-of-the-saints-saint-narcissus-bishop-of-jerusalem/
Pictorial Lives of the Saints – Saint Narcissus, Bishop
Saint Narcissus was
consecrated bishop of Jerusalem about the year 180. He was already an old man,
and God attested his merits by many miracles, which were long held in memory by
the Christians of Jerusalem. One Holy Saturday in the church the faithful were
in great trouble, because no oil could be found for the lamps which were used
in the Paschal feast. Saint Narcissus bade them draw water from a neighboring
well, and, praying over it, told them to put it in the lamps. It was changed
into oil, and long after some of this oil was preserved at Jerusalem in memory
of the miracle. But the very virtue of the Saint made him enemies, and three
wretched men charged him with an atrocious crime. They confirmed their
testimony by horrible imprecations: the first prayed that he might perish by
fire, the second that he might be wasted by leprosy, the third that he might be
struck blind, if they charged their bishop falsely. The holy bishop had long desired
a life of solitude, and he withdrew secretly into the desert, leaving the
Church in peace. But God spoke for His servant, and the bishop’s accusers
suffered the penalties they had invoked. Then Narcissus returned to Jerusalem
and resumed his office. He died in extreme old age, bishop to the last.
Reflection – God never
fails those who trust in Him; He guides them through darkness and through
trials secretly and surely to their end, and in the evening time there is
light.
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/pictorial-lives-of-the-saints-saint-narcissus-bishop/
Église
Saint-Narcisse, Saint-Narcisse, province de Québec, Canada
San Narciso di
Gerusalemme Vescovo
Sec. III
Narciso aveva quasi
cent'anni quando venne eletto 30° vescovo di Gerusalemme. Era nato nel 96 da
famiglia non israelita. Nonostante l'età, governò a lungo e con fermezza.
Presiedette il Concilio in cui si decise che la Pasqua dovesse cadere di
domenica. E a lui si attribuisce, proprio nel giorno di Pasqua, il miracolo di
aver mutato l'acqua in olio per le lampade della sua chiesa, rimaste a secco.
Per il suo rigore furono sparse calunnie sul suo conto. Si allontanò da
Gerusalemme e, creduto morto, vennero eletti uno dopo l'altro due successori.
Ma lui, alla morte del secondo, ricomparve. L'ultima notizia su di lui è in una
lettera del coadiutore sant'Alessandro: si dice che aveva compiuto 116 anni. (Avvenire)
Emblema: Bastone
pastorale
Martirologio
Romano: Commemorazione di san Narciso, vescovo di Gerusalemme, esemplare
per santità, pazienza e fede, che, in pieno accordo con il papa san Vittore
sulla data della celebrazione della Pasqua cristiana, affermò che il mistero
della Risurrezione del Signore non poteva che celebrarsi di domenica e alla
veneranda età di centosedici anni passò felicemente al Signore.
Nella mitologia, Narciso
era stato l'infelice giovinetto che, per la sua bellezza, si era innamorato di
se stesso, morendo miseramente in una polla d'acqua che, come uno specchio,
rifletteva la sua immagine.
Il mitologico Narciso è dunque simbolo di amore sterile ed egoista, e di
bellezza inutile e senz'anima. Ben diversa, anzi opposta, è -per fortuna - la
figura del Santo di oggi, che con il triste giovane della mitologia non ebbe in
comune altro che il nome.
Il Santo di oggi visse
lungamente, e proprio nell'estrema vecchiaia seppe conquistarsi fama e affetto.
Se l'antico Narciso può essere preso come simbolo di una gioventù
psicologicamente malata, il nuovo Narciso è immagine della vecchiaia
spiritualmente vigorosa, nella salute del corpo e della mente.
Egli fu il trentesimo
Vescovo di Gerusalemme, ma non fu di origine israelita. ra sicuramente gentile,
nato verso il 96, quando a Gerusalemme erano ancor fresche le rovine della
distruzione di Tito.
Per quasi un secolo, egli
vide la città di David faticosamente risorgere e ripopolarsi, ospitando,
accanto agli Ebrei, una vasta comunità cristiana. Aveva quasi cent'anni quando
fu eletto Vescovo di Gerusalemme, per i suoi meriti non tanto di età quanto di
virtù.
Nonostante gli anni, fu
Vescovo attivo, e presiedé un concilio nel quale fu deciso che la festività
della Pasqua dovesse cadere sempre di domenica. Proprio in un giorno di Pasqua,
San Narciso compì il miracolo di tramutare l'acqua in olio per le lampade della
chiesa, i cui lucignoli erano rimasti secchi.
E fu anche Vescovo
energico, tanto da attirarsi l'odio dei corrotti e dei disonesti, i quali si
sentirono minacciati dalla sua severità. Per difendersi, pensarono di
attaccare, spargendo una terribile calunnia sul conto del vecchissimo Vescovo.
La storia non ci dice
quale fosse questa calunnia, ma ricorda che fu confermata da solenni giuramenti
da parte degli accusatori. Non tutti i fedeli prestarono fede alle
insinuazioni, ma per evitare ogni scandalo il vecchio Vescovo, benché
innocente, preferì lasciare la città.
Gli spergiuri, uno ad
uno, furono colpiti da terribili castighi, finché qualcuno rivelò la menzogna.
Tutti pensavano però che il Vescovo, ormai riabilitato, fosse morto nel
frattempo, perciò un altro fu eletto a succedergli, e dopo di questo, un altro
ancora. Alla morte del secondo, San Narciso ricomparve a Gerusalemme, e i
fedeli lo riportarono con grande onore sulla Cattedra vescovile. Vi restò
ancora molti anni, prendendosi però un coadiutore, il primo nella storia
dell'episcopato, secondo un'usanza che ancora continua.
Da una lettera di questo
coadiutore, che fu Sant'Alessandro, conosciamo le ultime notizie sul conto del
longevo Vescovo di Gerusalemme: " Narciso vi saluta, - si legge. - Ha
compiuto centosedici anni, e vi esorta, come me, a mantenere la concordia
".
Fonte : Archivio
Parrocchia
