Saint Cornelius

"There was a man in Caesarea named Cor nelius, w Cornelius Roman centurion, the first pagan converted to Christianity. ho was a captain in the Roman Legion. He was pious and God-fearing, as was his whole household; he gave many alms to the poor, and often prayed to God. Now, at the ninth hour of the day, he saw an angel enter his house, who said to him: Cornelius! Having looked at him, he said with fear: Lord, what do you want of me? — The angel replied: Your prayers and your alms have ascended before God. Send someone to Joppa, and have Simon, surnamed Peter, brought here. He will be found in the house Simon surnommé Pierre Apostle and first pope, mentioned as the father of Petronilla. of Simon the tanner, by the sea; a nd it is he w tanneur Simon Host of Saint Peter in Joppa. ho will tell you what you must do. — The angel, having spoken thus, departed; and Cornelius called two servants and a God-fearing soldier. He told them what had happened and sent them to Joppa."

At the same time, Saint Peter had also had a vision, by which he was told that he must call to Christianity and baptize not only the Jews, but also the Gentiles. Therefore, when the messengers of Cornelius arrived at his house, he already knew why they had come. The following day he went with them to Caesarea. We quote the sacred text again:

"Cornelius was waiting for them, having gathered his relatives and close friends. Now, as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, showing him great honors and worshipping him. But Peter lifted him up, saying: Stand up; I myself am also a man. Then he went in with him into the room where the assembly was; there he told them how God had made him understand that he should not reject the Gentiles, and he asked them why they had called him."

"Cornelius told him what had happened; then he said to him: We are all here in the presence of God, ready to listen to everything that you will tell us from God. Peter answered: I recognize clearly today that God shows no partiality, and that in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him."

Then Saint Peter spoke to the assembly about Jesus Christ, His divine nature, His mission, His miracles, His death on the cross, His resurrection, His future coming as judge of the living and the dead; about the remission of sins and the sanctification of souls; and about the vocation and divine mission of the Apostles. While the prince of the Apostles was s prince des Apôtres Apostle and first pope, mentioned as the father of Petronilla. peaking thus, the Holy Spirit opened the hearts and minds of those who were listening; in the same way that He had descended upon the Apostles ten days after the Ascension of Our Lord, He descended upon those present, thus testifying that pagans too, if they sincerely believe in the word of God, must be admitted into the number of the faithful. It should be known that the first Christians had imagined that the doctrine of Jesus Christ was only for the Jews, and that pagans, before being admitted among the Christians, had first to embrace Judaism. But Peter, seeing t hat the judaïsme Religion that some early Christians considered mandatory before baptism. Holy Spirit Himself had descended upon the pagans assembled at the house of Cornelius, hesitated no longer, and had them baptized immediately.

It would be beautiful to know how this holy man lived afterwards, who as a pagan had already served God so well; this man who, after being visited by an angel, was then visited by the prince of the Apostles, and finally by the Holy Spirit himself. Some say that Cornelius later became a bishop; others that he suffered martyrdom; others add that the house he occupied in Caesarea was converted into a church: but none of these facts is certain. Many men have led a life holily hidden in God; and history knows of their actions only what it has pleased God to make known for the edification of other men.

We must add, however, as a faithful historian, that in the time of Saint Jerome, a church was shown in Caesarea, at the place where the h saint Jérôme Father of the Church and author of the original biography of Saint Asella. ouse of Saint Cornelius had been, which Saint Paula visited in 385. The Greeks, who celebrate his fe ast on Septe sainte Paule Virgin and martyr in Malaga, companion of Saint Cyriacus. mber 13, recount that he caused an idol temple to collapse where they wanted to force him to sacrifice.

He is represented receiving baptism from the hands of Saint Peter.

Of all the biblical stories, that of Saint Cornelius is one of the most interesting. How great and noble he is, this pagan, endowed with the gifts of fortune, one of the superior commanders of the Roman army! He seeks the true God; by what means? Through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving; the Jews themselves proclaim his virtues; his house is the asylum of prayer and the fear of God; and when the messenger of God presents himself at his home, he shows him a veneration that is more than filial. And God himself, with what favors has He not showered him? Among a hundred million men, He deigns to choose Cornelius, to inspire in him the desire to seek Him sincerely... And in what way did He reward him? — He gave him the greatest and most precious gift that God Himself can give to men: He made His only Son Jesus Christ known to him.