Page Title

Text Box: Saint Longinus the Centurion, may have been in charge of the detail which scourged Christ. He was definitely in charge of the Crucifixion detail. Upon the death of Christ He witnessed the entire world being without light, yet people could see clearly yet as though in a shadow world. He witnessed the dead rising from their graves. To confirm Christ was dead Saint Longinus thrust his lance into the side of the Crucified Christ, blood and water from the Heart of Christ falling on the face of Longinus as he proclaimed the obvious saying, “Indeed this was the Son of God.” And note well that his conversion also occurred at the confection of the Eucharist - again, it being the bloody Sacrifice. Saint Longinus and the detail which had crucified Christ were assigned to guard the Tomb of Christ. That detail witnessed the resurrection, but Longinus and only two of his fellow soldiers witnessed the entire resurrection, for the other guards hid and were smitten in their rejection of Christ, God. The very first Gentile convert to Christianity of whom we know is Saint Longinus. And this very Gentile, with two of his companions, were the only living humans to witnesses the complete Resurrection. When ordered to recant the Resurrection and to lie saying the Apostles and Christ’s Disciples had removed the dead body of Christ, Saint Longinus and his two companions refused. They received Baptism from the Apostles, though one could say in a very real sense that Longinus had already been Baptized with the blood and water from the Heart of Christ. They resigned from the Roman military and returned to Cappadocia - where Longinus had made his home - where they very successfully preached the Gospel. There they were martyred, beheaded, at the orders of Pontius Pilate when they refused to cease proclaiming the Gospel and preaching the Risen Christ.

Text Box: Pilate had the head of Longinus cast into the rubbish heap outside of Jerusalem, near Golgatha, near where Christ was crucified, buried, and rose from the dead. There the relic of the head of Longinus was God’s instrument for working amongst the first miracles wrought through the relics of Saints. It happened in this manner: A blind widow from Cappadocia went to Jerusalem with her son to pray at the holy places, and seek miraculous restoration of her sight. She had sought the assistance of physicians after losing her sight to no avail. The woman’s son, who also was her guide, became ill and died soon after reaching Jerusalem. Saint Longinus appeared to her in a dream and comforted her. He told her that she would see her son in heavenly glory, and also receive her sight. He told her to go outside the city walls where she would find his head in a great pile of refuse. Guides led the blind woman to the rubbish heap, and she began to dig with her hands. As soon as she touched the the head of Saint Longinus, the woman received her sight, and she glorified God and Saint Longinus. Taking up the head, she brought it to where she was staying and washed it. The next night, Saint Longinus appeared to her again, this time with her son. They were surrounded by a bright light, and Saint Longinus said, “Woman, behold the son for whom you grieve. See what glory and honor are his now, and be consoled. God has numbered him with those in His heavenly Kingdom. Now take my head and your son’s body, and bury them in the same casket. Do not weep for your son, for he will rejoice forever in great glory and happiness.” The woman carried out the saint’s instructions and returned to her home in Cappadocia. There she buried her son and the head of Saint Longinus. From weeping for grief and abandonment at the death of her son she was transformed into joy when she saw her

Text Box: son with Saint Longinus. She had sought healing for her eyes, and also received healing of her soul. Incidentally, historical research indicates the spear or lance used by Saint Longinus is the same one currently reposing in the Hofburg Treasure House in Vienna. Saint Stephen is named as the first martyr. Since we do not know exactly when he and Saint Longinus were martyred, it is probably accurate to state Saint Stephen is the first martyr. But the first Saint of the Christian era was a Jewish brigand named Dismas who in a very real sense was Canonized by Christ, God, Himself. And the first Gentile convert of whom we know, and perhaps the first Martyr or the first Gentile Martyr, was the Roman Centurion named Longinus who crucified Christ - who killed the Sacred Sacrificial Victim. And both attained eternal salvation through the Eucharist. Miracles are often associated with salvation. Salvation often is prompted or accessed through miracles. But it is important to realize salvation is not a miracle. It is the natural result of a Sacrament - the Sacrament of the Most Sacred Eucharist. It is a Sacrament which one must receive while in a state of Grace and with which the recipient must work for the completion of Salvation which Christ has begun in that individual. Gal. 4:22-31; John 6:1-15 +

Go to page