Bishop of Jerusalem in the 2nd century, peacemaker, and guardian of Easter Sunday, Saint Narcissus reminds us that fidelity to the Resurrection depends on the unity of believers. His venerable age and steadfastness bear witness to a Church rooted in prayer and harmony, even amidst divisions. He remains a figure of spiritual vigilance and fraternal peace, a shepherd who placed the light of Christ above all human considerations, even unto his death at over a hundred years old.
Called to serve the Church of Jerusalem at over a hundred years of age, Saint Narcissus remains a witness to divine patience. While communities argued over the day to celebrate Easter, he dared to convene a council to affirm the joy of Resurrection Sunday. Even today, his figure inspires those who seek unity, peace, and a deeper faith amidst the world's tensions.
A Pastor of Unity
Born at the end of the 1st century, perhaps in Palestine, Narcissus led a secluded life before being called to the episcopate of Jerusalem around 190. His late election, at over one hundred years of age according to Eusebius of Caesarea, astonished his contemporaries. He presided over the Council of Palestine, which established that Easter should coincide with Sunday, and not with the Jewish date of the 14th of Nisan. His decisions marked a decisive step toward liturgical unity between East and West. Wrongfully accused, he withdrew into solitude, then returned to forgive his detractors and resume his office. He died around 212, at over one hundred and ten years of age, in the peace of the Lord. His memory remained alive in the letters of his successors: "He still governs the Church through his prayers."
The Miracle and the Memory
One evening during the Easter Vigil, there was no oil to light the lamps. Narcissus poured water into the lamps and prayed. Yet the flame lit itself and burned all night, a sign of the shepherd's invincible faith. This miracle, recounted by Eusebius, became a symbol of the light that God causes to shine forth despite our shortcomings. It is said that Saint Narcissus's oil continued to burn in holy places to remind us that faith, even when old and fragile, still illuminates the world.
Message of the day
Walking in inner peace, even when everything seems to fade away, is the path shown by Saint Narcissus. His spiritual longevity invites us to remain faithful to the rhythm of the Resurrection: each Sunday is a miniature Easter. Like oil transformed into light, prayer transforms the poverty of heart into a beacon of hope. Today's message: cultivate ardent patience, nourished by forgiveness and prayer, remaining confident in Christ's victory over the darkness.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, light of Easter,
Grant me peace of heart, my servant Narcissus.
May my faith not be extinguished when the sources are lacking.
Teach me to love unity, to seek truth without judgment,
and to let your love burn in my daily actions.
Make me faithful to Sunday, the day of your joy and victory.
Amen.
To live
- Light a candle and entrust to God a division experienced or observed.
- To offer a concrete gesture of peace to someone with whom a misunderstanding persists.
- Meditate for ten minutes on John 17:21: "That they may be one as we are one."
Memory
The memory of Saint Narcissus is honored in Jerusalem, where tradition places his tomb near Mount Zion. In the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a perpetual lamp commemorates the miracle of the oil. His feast day, celebrated on October 29, remains in the Roman calendar as a commemoration of ecclesiastical peace. Pilgrims still evoke his image in Caesarea, where Eusebius recounted his story. Throughout the Christian East, his name remains a sign of hope: that of an old man who kept the flame of faith alive.
Liturgy
- Readings/Psalm: Isaiah 25:6-9; John 17:20-26 — Theme: Unity in the light of Christ.
- Song/hymn: Lumen Christi — light that never goes out.
