July 28: devotion to Saints Nazario and Celso
Paolino, biographer of Sant'Ambrogio reports that the bishop of Milan had an inspiration that guided him to the unknown tomb of two martyrs in the gardens outside the city. They were Nazario and Celso. The body of the former was intact and was transported to a church in front of Porta Romana, where a basilica was built in his name. On the relics of Celsus, the bones, a new basilica arose. Nazario had preached in Italy, in Trier and in Gaul. Here he christened Celsus who was nine years old. They were martyred in Milan in 304, during the persecution of Diocletian. (Avvenire)
PRAYER IN SAN CELSO
We rejoice with you, o glorious St. Celso for the glorious stages of your apostolic life: when illuminated by grace, at a very young age, you knew how to follow the doctrine of the Divine Master, overcoming the threats of your relatives and the mockery of your companions; when in the prime of the years, you knew how to overcome passions, generously following the evangelical counsels; when leaving home, relatives and friends, together with Nazario, your teacher, you ardently preached the Christian faith to foreign and pagan countries, converting many souls to the true religion of Jesus Christ. Oh, let a single spark of that divine light, which shone in you, illuminate our minds and warm our hearts, so that we too get the grace to spend our lives for the glory and triumph of the Word of God Amen.
Glory to the Father ...
O glorious S. Celso. Pray for us.
We rejoice with you o glorious S. Celso, for that unwavering constancy and for that heroic courage with which you faced, during Nero's dominion, in Milan, the martyrdom for the glorification of the Divine Word. Miraculously saved from the sea, you firmly faced the wrath of the tyrant Anolino and joyfully tolerated the beheading, praising God among the sufferings of martyrdom. Oh, get us that with the same constancy and with the same courage we face the incessant assaults of the temptations, the hardships and the struggles of life, in order to testify before the world the Word of God. Amen.
Glory to the Father ...
O glorious S. Celso. Pray for us.
We rejoice with you, o glorious St. Celsus, who, still very young, knew so gloriously to give your life to Jesus, who in turn gathered your beautiful soul in heaven with the double crown of innocence and martyrdom. We pray to you for your merits and for the sublime glory, with which you are now surrounded in heaven, deh, continually watch over this people, which is yours and who elected you as their special protector. Your powerful patronage extends continuously, at all times and in all circumstances. In the many needs that beset life, be our administrator; in the bitterness with which the pilgrimage in this exile is troubled, be our comforter; in the continuous temptations, which hell moves against our souls, be our diligent defender. Thus supported by your protection, we will follow the luminous example of your testimony to the Divine Word on earth, in the last moments of our life we will invoke your name with that of Jesus and Mary and we will meet in heaven, or our miraculous protector, to enjoy together the eternal glory of God, our happiness. Amen.
Glory to the Father ...
O glorious S. Celso. Pray for us.
NOVENA TO SAINTS NAZARIO AND CELSO
(to be repeated for 9 consecutive days)
I. Glorious San Nazario, who, for your docility to the insinuations of your pious mother Perpetua, learned by the same s. Pietro, you were from the early years a true model of all virtues; obtain all of us the grace to always be docile to the instructions and examples of anyone who works for our good. Glory…
II. Glorious San Nazario, who, always zealous of the health of others, gained all those whom you happened to converse with, and became attached to your companion s way. Celsus, that you made him a constant emulator of your holiness; obtain for us all the grace of always leading us in a way that sanctifies all those with whom we deal with. Glory…
III. Glorious San Nazario, who, passed along with s. Celsus, from Rome to Milan to better satisfy your zeal to gain souls for Jesus Christ, you were among the first to seal your faith in the Neronian persecution with blood; obtain all of us the grace to uphold, even at the cost of our life itself, the truths from God revealed to us for our eternal salvation. Glory…
IV. Glorious San Nazario, who, together with your faithful companion s. Celsus, you were also glorified on earth by keeping the blood you shed in the sustained take off for three hundred years fluid and vermilion; obtain for us all the grace to deserve us with our perseverance in the good the incorruptibility, which is reserved for the true righteous in the house of eternity. Glory…
V. Glorioso San Nazario, which, together with s. Celsus, you worked infinite miracles in favor of your venerators, especially after s. Ambrose, transferring his sacred bodies triumphantly to the distinguished basilica of the holy Apostles, dispensed the glorious relics to the faithful devotees; obtain for us all the grace which, in measure of our fervor in honoring your memory, we still prove the efficacy of your most powerful protection. Glory…