The first successor of Saint Peter, Saint Linus governed the Church with zeal for over a year before suffering martyrdom. He is notably known for mandating that women wear veils in churches and for his miracles of resurrection and exorcism. His tomb was rediscovered at the Vatican in 1630 next to that of the Apostle Peter.
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SAINT LINUS OF VOLTERRA, POPE AND MARTYR
Succession and ecclesiastical discipline
Saint Linus succeeds Saint Peter as bishop of Rome, demonstrating great pastoral zeal and establishing the obligation for women to wear a veil in church.
functions which were committed to him, that after the deat h of this prince o prince des Apôtres Apostle and first pope, mentioned as the father of Petronilla. f the Apostles he was judged worthy to fill his place where he gave excellent testimonies of his zeal and his pastoral vigilance. In the two times that he held Ordinations in the month of December, he created fifteen bishops and eighteen priests.
He forbade women from entering the church without having their heads covered with a veil: which Saint Peter had saint Paul Apostle cited by Saint Jerome to illustrate divine decrees. also forbidden. And Saint Paul judged this so necessary for the edification of the faithful, that he made it an express law, as one sees in chapter XI of his first Epistle to the Corinthians.
Writings and historical testimonies
Accounts concerning the apostles and Simon Magus are attributed to him, although the authenticity of certain texts is debated by historians such as Bellarmine.
It is also from Saint Linus that we hold the story of the dispute of the Prince of the Apostle s with Simon Magu Simon le Magicien Adversary of the apostles mentioned in the writings attributed to Linus. s, although the original has disappeared. He also wrote two books on the martyrdom of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, which are in the seventh volume of the Library of the Fathers; but the errors with which they are filled, in certain places, sufficiently show that we do not have them in their purity, and one may see what Cardinal Bell cardinal Bellarmin Theologian and cardinal who analyzed the writings attributed to Saint Linus. armine says about them in his Treatise on Ecclesiastical Writers.
Miracles, death, and burial
Renowned for his miracles and exorcisms, he died a martyr after a short pontificate and was buried in the Vatican near Saint Peter.
The Roman Breviary states that the faith and holiness of this blessed Pope were so great that he raised the dead and cast out demons from the bodies of many possessed persons. Finally, after having governed the Church for one year, three months, and twelve days, he shed his blood to serve as seed for new believers.
The body of this blessed Pontiff was buried in the Vatican, near t hat of Saint saint Pierre Apostle and first pope, mentioned as the father of Petronilla. Peter, on the 9th of the Kalen ds of October. The l'apôtre saint Paul Apostle cited by Saint Jerome to illustrate divine decrees. Apostle Saint Paul mentions him in chapter IV of his second Epistle to Timothy, and places him among the first and principal Christians of the city of Rome; and the Roman Martyrology, along with those of Usuard and Ado, and the Book of the livre des souverains Pontifes Primary historical source cited for this biography. Sovereign Pontiffs, also speak of him very honorably.
Posterity and archaeology
His tomb was rediscovered in the 17th century under Urban VIII; Christian iconography preserves the memory of his miraculous healings.
In 1630, when Pope Urban VIII had the work on the Confession of Saint Peter completed in the Vatican Basilica, a tomb was discovered on which this inscription could be read: Linus. It was t he fi Linus Immediate successor of Saint Peter before Clement. rst successor of Saint Peter, whose burial place appeared, after so many centuries, next to that of his glorious master.
Saint Linus is depicted delivering the possessed and raising a dead person: it is indeed reported that he delivered the daughter of the consul Saturninu s from the demon. consul Saturninus Roman consul whose daughter was reportedly delivered from a demon by Saint Linus.
Acta Sanctorum and Liber Pontificalis Liber Pontificalis Primary historical source cited for this biography. .
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Successor of Saint Peter as head of the Church
- Creation of fifteen bishops and eighteen priests during two ordinations
- Prohibition for women to enter the church without a veil
- Writing of the history of the dispute between Saint Peter and Simon Magus
- Governance of the Church for one year, three months, and twelve days
- Martyrdom for the faith
Miracles
- Resurrection of the dead
- Exorcism of several demoniacs
- Deliverance of the consul Saturninus's daughter from a demon
Quotes
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Linus
Funerary inscription discovered in 1630