Our Lady of Guadalupe

Date: January, 19

Saint Germanicus was a youth who was arrested and martyred for his faith in Smyrna during the reign of the Roman Emperor Antoninus. He was thrown to wild animals in a local amphitheater. 

As Germanicus stood in the arena, facing a wild beast, the Roman proconsul pleaded with him that in view of his youth he should deny his faith to obtain a pardon. But the young man refused to apostatize, and willingly embraced martyrdom.

When the beasts did not attack, Germanicus provoked them into attacking, gaining the admiration of the pagans of the arena. Germanicus was praised for his courage facing the wild beasts used to kill him, and was referenced in the Martyrdom of Polycarp.

PRAYER:

Almighty God, your courageous and bold servant, Saint Germanicus displayed by his life that a fierce love of you can see us through the most terrible paths in life, if we rely on you in trust and complete faith, keeping the flame of our love for you and living in purity and holiness.

May we take the edifying moments of his brief life as an example of how our faith should stir us to be sanctified and fearless in the spirit. Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son. Amen