LIVES OF THE FATHERS, MARTYRS, AND OTHER PRINCIPAL SAINTS. JUNE 1. ST. JUSTIN, THE PHILOSOPHER, M. From the life of the saint, compiled from his writings by Dom Marand, the learned and judicious editor of St. Justin's works, printed at Paris in 1742; and at Venice in 1747. Also from Tatian, Eusebius, and the original short acts of his martyrdom, in Ruinart. On his writings, see Dom Nourry, Apparatus in Bibl. Patr. Ceillier, and Marechal, Concordance des Pères, t. 1. A. D. 167. ST. JUSTIN was born at Neapolis, now Naplosa, the ancient Sichem, and formerly the capital of the province of Samaria. Vespasian, having endowed its inhabitants with the privileges belonging to Roman citizens, gave it the name of Flavia. His son Titus sent thither a colony of Greeks, among whom were the father and grandfather of our saint. His father, a heathen,* brought him up in the errors and superstitions of paganism, but at the same time did not neglect to cultivate his mind by several branches of human literature. St. Justin accordingly informs us, (1) that he spent his youth in reading the poets, orators, and historians. Having gone through the usual course of these studies, he gave himself up to that of philosophy in quest of truth, an ardent love of which was his predominant passion. (1) Dial. in initio. *St. Epiphanius (Hær. 46,) calls St. Justin a Samaritan; but means such a one by birth, not by principle; our saint declaring himself a Gentile, and uncircumcised, (Dial. n. 28, Apol. 1. n. 53.) VOL. VI. B |