The Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Saint Quodvultdeus on September 21 of each year. He was a saint who boldly carried the torch of Christian faith and defended Christians until his last breath.
He grew up in the city of Athens in the late first century. Saint Jerome said: “This saint was educated by the most famous scholars of Athens and was a disciple of the holy apostles.” He became renowned for the boldness of his speech and his keen writing, producing notable defenses of the Christian faith. He carried the torch of true faith to various places and was later appointed bishop in Athens, where the fires of Christian persecution were burning fiercely. He defended them bravely, armed with his living faith. He opposed the unjust judgments of the rulers and championed the honor of Christianity and the nobility of its sacred teachings. He confirmed the good conduct of Christians and their loyalty to the kingdom, using clear evidence and arguments as bright as the sun.
When Emperor Hadrian visited Athens, Quodvultdeus prepared a petition detailing the injustices faced by Christians and personally presented it to the emperor, who was deeply moved by its contents and impressed by the speech he delivered. Subsequently, Hadrian ordered that Christians be treated according to the laws and that no one among them should be sentenced to death except for a proven and serious crime. Thereafter, this bishop, fortified by the word of Christ, continued his mission on earth, distinguishing himself in guiding his flock with fidelity and apostolic zeal, never knowing fatigue or weariness until he transitioned to embrace the joy of eternal life in 138.
Let us pray with this saint that we may learn to walk in his footsteps, defending our true faith with boldness, sincerity, and zeal, without laziness, forever.