St. Justin Martyr

Martyrdom of St. Justin

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia,

St. Justin Martyr was a Christian apologist, born at Flavia Neapolis, about A.D. 100, converted to Christianity about A.D. 130, taught and defended the Christian religion in Asia Minor and at Rome, where he suffered martyrdom about the year 165. Two "Apologies" bearing his name and his "Dialogue with the Jew Tryphon" have come down to us. Leo XIII had a Mass and an Office composed in his honour and set his feast for 14 April.













Readings:

• Pope Benedict's reflection on St. Justin Martyr
• First apology Justin Martyr - optional
• Ch 1 - 10 - Refuting the charge of Atheism leveled against Christians
• Ch 24, 25 - Varieties of Heathen Worship, False Gods abandoned
• Ch 65, 66, 67 - On weekly worship, administration of the sacraments
• Dialogue with Trypho - optional
• Ch 1 - 8 - autobiographical journey through philosophy
• Second apology Justin Martyr - optional
• Hortatory address to the Greeks - optional
• The martyrdom of the holy martyrs Justin (and others) at Rome - optional

Specific questions:

From OSV/Welborn:

• What is an apologist?  How did Justin fill this role?
• What is Logos?
• What was the difference between Justin’s approach to pagan philosophy and his approach to pagan religion?

From OSV/Aquilina:

• In the modern world, can we approach Science as Justin approached pagan philosophy?  Does Science lead us to Christ?
• Does knowing about Science and secular philosophies make us better evangelists?

Justin says:

"...I confess that I both boast and with all my strength strive to be found a Christian; not because the teachings of Plato are different from those of Christ, but because they are not in all respects similar, as neither are those of the others, Stoics, and poets, and historians. For each man spoke well in proportion to the share he had of the Word.... Whatever things were rightly said among all men, are the property of us Christians."