Confident.Faith

Today we commemorate Martin Luther, Doctor and Confessor. Born on 10 November 1483 in Eisleben, Germany, Martin Luther originally studied law. After a close brush with death during a storm, Luther switched to studying theology and entered an Augustinian monastery in 1505, when he was twenty-one years old. Luther received his doctorate in theology in 1512. Teaching at the newly established University of Wittenberg, Luther began to question some of the doctrines of Rome. Luther’s investigation of the Scriptures and of Roman doctrine led to the posting of the "Ninety-Five Theses" on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg — the spark that started the Reformation.

Today we commemorate the Birth of Philipp Melanchthon, Confessor. Philipp Melanchthon, an academic by nature, became one of the leading proponents of Lutheranism when he took up the task of drafting the Augsburg Confession that was presented to the Emperor on 25 June 1530. Earlier, Melanchthon had been encouraged by Martin Luther (who was under papal excommunication and an imperial ban, and so could not attend Augsburg) to take up teaching theology and Scripture. A fellow professor at Wittenberg, Melanchthon’s writings and reforms would have far-reaching and long-lasting impact.

Today we commemorate Philemon and Onesimus. Onesimus was a slave, owned by Philemon, who ran away from his master. Somehow, Onesimus came into contact with Paul while Paul was in prison. At the urging of Paul, and with an accompanying letter, Onesimus returned to his master. In his letter, Paul urged Philemon to receive Onesimus as a beloved brother, instead of as a runaway slave, as one might expect; however, Paul also, notably, did not command or ask Philemon to free Onesimus.

Today we commemorate Valentine, Martyr. Executed under Emperor Claudius on account of his refusal to renounce the Christian faith, Valentine has long been remembered in the Western Church as an example for all Christians. Today, Valentine’s Day continues to celebrate Valentine, and the tradition of exchanging written expressions of love derives from a note with words of encouragement that Valentine wrote for one of the children of his jailer. Even the irregularity of the shape of the piece of paper on which Valentine wrote his note has carried forward, after a fashion, into modern commemorations on Valentine’s Day.

Today we commemorate Aquila, Priscilla, and Apollos. Remembered as missionaries, Aquila, and his wife, Priscilla, met Paul in Corinth, where he joined them in their trade — tent-making. Later traveling with Paul from Corinth to Ephesus, they established a home in the city which served as a sort of headquarters for new converts to Christianity. One such convert was Apollos, who would become known for his preaching and teaching of the Christian faith. He would later travel to Achaia to continue his efforts to spread the Gospel.

Today we commemorate Silas, Fellow Worker of St. Peter and St. Paul. A leader in the Church at Jerusalem, Silas was chosen by Paul to accompany him on his second missionary journey. Imprisoned with Paul in Philippi, Silas also experienced the rioting in Thessalonica and Berea. Tradition holds that Silas was the first Bishop of Corinth.