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Saint for the Day - January 24 - St. Timothy,
Bishop, Martyr
Timothy was a convert
of St. Paul. He was born at Lystra in Asia Minor.
His mother was a Jewess, but his father was a pagan;
and though Timothy had read the Scriptures from his
childhood, he had not been circumcised as a Jew. On
the arrival of St. Paul at Lystra the youthful
Timothy, with his mother and grandmother, eagerly
embraced the faith.
Seven years later, when the Apostle again visited
the country, the boy had grown into manhood, while
his good heart, his austerities and zeal had won the
esteem of all around him; and holy men were
prophesying great things of the fervent youth. St.
Paul at once saw his fitness for the work of an
evangelist. Timothy was forthwith ordained, and from
that time became the constant and much-beloved
fellow-worker of the Apostle. In company with St.
Paul he visited the cities of Asia Minor and
Greece—at one time hastening on in front as a
trusted messenger, at another lingering behind to
confirm in the faith some recently founded church.
Finally, he was made the first Bishop of Ephesus;
and here he received the two epistles which bear his
name, the first written from Macedonia and the
second from Rome, in which St. Paul from his prison
gives vent to his longing desire to see his "dearly
beloved son," if possible, once more before his
death. St. Timothy himself not many years after the
death of St. Paul, won his martyr's crown at
Ephesus. As a child Timothy delighted in reading the
sacred books, and to his last hour he would remember
the parting words of his spiritual father, "Attende
lectioni—Apply thyself to reading."
Saint for the Day - St. Timothy, Bishop, Martyr
Read about the Saint for today - January 24 and spare a thought for family or friends who might suffering from ill health or are experiencing times of trouble.
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Daily Reflection
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St. Paul, in writing to Timothy,
a faithful and well-tried
servant of God, and a bishop now
getting on in years, addresses
him as a child, and seems most
anxious about his perseverance
in faith and piety. The letters
abound in minute personal
instructions for this end. It is
therefore remarkable what great
stress the Apostle lays on the
avoiding of idle talk, and on
the application to holy reading.
These are his chief topics. Over
and over again he exhorts his
son Timothy to "avoid tattlers
and busybodies; to give no heed
to novelties; to shun profane
and vain babblings, but to hold
the form of sound words; to be
an example in word and
conversation; to attend to
reading, to exhortation, and to
doctrine." |
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Saint for the Day Website
We hope that you gain spiritual knowledge and inspiration reading about the saint for today - January 24. An online Catholic resource providing a short Reflection for the year ahead. Use these short, inspiring words to request guidance or assistance for yourself and for the sake of others. |
