San expedito
His feast is celebrated on April 19
Biography of Saint Expeditus
Saint Expeditus lived at the beginning of the 4th century under the rule of Diocletian, the emperor who years later would have him assassinated, and was the commander of a legion of Roman soldiers.
Despite defending the Roman Empire from the Asian Barbarians, one day he was touched by the grace of God and received the Divine Light; this episode would change his life forever by immediately converting to Christianity.
At the time of his conversion, a raven appeared symbolizing the Spirit of Evil and told him Cras… Cras… Cras…, (which in Latin means Tomorrow… Tomorrow… Tomorrow… ) trying to persuade him at the very hour of his conversion to Christianity to leave it for later. Saint Expedite reacted energetically by crushing the raven with his right foot while he exclaimed Hodie… Hodie… Hodie (which in Latin means Today… Today… Today…) I will not leave anything for tomorrow, from Today I will be a Christian.
On April 19, 303, by order of the Emperor Diocletian, he was sacrificed at Melitene, seat of one of the Roman Provinces in Armenia, along with his companions Caius, Galatians, Hermogenes, Aristonicus, and Rufus. The reason was because having become Christians, they refused to worship the pagan gods.
San Expedito is a Saint who attends to urgent cases in which a delay would cause great harm.
Prayer to Saint Expeditus
My Saint Expeditus of just and urgent causes, intercede for me with Our Lord Jesus Christ, so that he may come to my aid in this hour of affliction and despair.
My San Expedito, you who are the holy warrior. You who are the Saint of the afflicted. You who are the Saint of the desperate. You who are the Saint of urgent causes: protect me, help me, granting me strength, courage and serenity. Heed my request! (Indicate the request).
My Saint Expeditus, help me to overcome these difficult hours, protect me from all those who could harm me, protect my family, attend to my request urgently. Give me back my peace and tranquility.
My Saint Expedite! I will be grateful for the rest of my life and I will spread your name to all who have Faith.
Supplications to Saint Expeditus
(YO)
Glorious Saint Expedite, martyr, our protector! Knowing your value before God, we come to present our pleas. You know our most urgent needs. We put them in your hands. We hope that you reach us before God a prompt solution. We want to feel your protection today. At the same time we ask you to obtain for us from God a firm faith that never fails, an ardent charity that inflames us in the love of him and in the love of others, and a joyful hope even in the midst of our problems. We pray through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
(II)
Glorious martyr of the faith, Saint Expeditus, assisted by divine grace, you courageously confessed Christ; in life, with the examples of heroic holiness, and in martyrdom, with the serene and humble oblation of your generous blood shed for Him. Admit me, I beg you, in the number of devotees who trustingly entrust themselves to you, so that, presented by your hands to the Lord, the request that I humbly address to him today, be promptly and favorably dispatched, to the glory of God, the splendor of your name and the good of my soul. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
(III)
I come to you, San Expedito, so you can remedy me (indicate the cause). May your strength and support grant me through the work of Jesus, the Holy Spirit and our Holy Father what I ask of you. For this reason, I beg you that, by improving myself in my daily life, you get me what I want so much right now. Amen.
(It is accompanied by an Our Father, a Hail Mary and Glory Be) “.
Triduum to San Expedito
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
act of contrition
(for everyday)
Father, against you alone I sinned. This is my pain and this is my shame. Lord, I know how to be good to others. I don’t hurt anyone. I don’t like causing pain. And yet, to you and only to you, I have caused pain. I have betrayed your friendship, and I have hurt your feelings. “Against you, against you, I only sinned.” No one has any complaints against me, but you do, Lord. I have broken your law, I have disobeyed your will, I have offended you.
“O Lord, create in me a pure heart, renew me from within with a steadfast spirit.” Give me the joy of your forgiveness. I want to tell everyone the bitterness of my sin and the blessing of your forgiveness. May I proclaim to the world the greatness of your mercy. Blessed be your mercy and blessed your love, Father, that you welcome me even though I am a sinner. Thank you, Father, for your forgiveness. Amen.
Day 1. – The faith of Saint Expeditus
Expeditus was a good soldier and a good Christian. He wore the uniform of the Roman legionnaire on his body and the sign of the cross on his forehead. “The Lord lavished his grace on him by giving him faith and love for Christ-Jesus.” He learned very well the lesson of Jesus: “give to God what is God’s and to Caesar what is Caesar’s.” He fought for the interests and glory of the empire, and even more ardently for the interests and glory of Jesus, feeling and behaving as a Christian.
At the time of confessing his faith, he gave testimony of his faith and confessed that Jesus was his Lord and friend, and he always remained faithful to friendship. “I give thanks to Christ-Jesus, Our Lord, who made me capable, trusted me”.
Think of Saint Expeditus, Lord, when you narrate your victories to men.
Prayer
Jesus chose you, Expeditus, as a friend and trusted you. He knew well what he was doing. Although a soldier by profession, coming from a pagan mentality, in a world with many weaknesses, in the midst of weaknesses the strength of faith once again shone.
I ask that despite the pagan mentality that has invaded my world, that my faith does not decline or waver.
Grant me the totality of faith. I do not want half measures or ambiguities. I want for myself the integrity of the Word, the totality of the revelation. I do not wish to change the truths of the Gospel of Jesus for passing fads. May my faith shine without shadows. May it be fidelity to the Lord that governs my life forever. Amen.
Day 2. – The fortress of San Expedito
In the name of the Father…
act of contrition…
(for everyday)
Expedito, together with five other companions, suffered arrest, jail, and interrogations. He confessed his faith in Christ, heard the sentence and put her to death without despair. The sentence was followed by the application. He was martyred on an unknown date, in the era of persecution of the Christians.
He is depicted standing, young, dashing. His right hand points to the cross: “Christian, the cross will not be lacking; but the cross ends up being victorious!”
Expeditus, like Saint Paul, thought: “Who will separate me from the love of Christ? Affliction? Anxiety? Persecution? As the Scripture says, in all this we easily overcome because of him who loved us” (Rom. 8). “Well, he encourages us in our struggles to the point of being able to encourage others in any struggle, sharing with them the encouragement that we receive from God” (2 Cor.1,3)
Prayer
Expedito, give me your strength. There are moments in my life when I seem to be at the end of life. And sometimes the desolation of my soul overcomes me. I know what it means to feel anguish, despair, loneliness, abandonment. I have felt like abandoned, I don’t see my path clearly.
I ask you to strengthen me in my weaknesses. Let me hear clearly that he tells me “He encourages us in our struggles to the point of being able to encourage others in any struggle by sharing the encouragement we have received from God.” (2 Cor. l). May he never lose sight of the fact that “God looks at us, that Christ looks at us while we fight for the faith. That it is great happiness to fight under the gaze of God and to be crowned by Christ.
May you always be ready to fight with a sincere faith, with a total dedication. (Cipri, letter 8). Amen.
(Recite three Our Fathers).
Day 3. Divine Protection
In the name of the Father…
act of contrition
(for everyday)
San Expedito lawyer for difficult cases.
The Church has used at all times to proclaim a special patron saint from among the saints in order to take advantage of the powerful intercession of our heavenly patron and help us with the example of his life.
Devotion to Saint Expeditus Martyr is not from today but comes from far away and has been experienced in many European nations. His devotion is based on the singular gift that God has granted him to quickly come to the aid of those who call on him with faith.
“Let us have confidence in the intercession of the holy martyrs and entrust ourselves to them because their supplications are very efficient before God” (San Alfonso de Ligorio, Victoria de los martires).
If we go to San Expedito, it is not so that he will remove our difficulties, but rather so that he will give us the strength to be able to face them. If we come looking for solutions to our difficult cases, it is not to impose our solutions on you, but to accept yours, whatever it may be. If we present our difficult cases to him, it is not to force him to see our things as we see them, but as he sees them. We do not even know ourselves what we want or need. But just knowing that you are there, that you can help us, you restore tranquility to our hearts.
Prayer
Expedito, restore confidence to my soul. I need strength, I need courage to face life. I need a helping hand to save me from my dangers and difficulties in life. I need your hand, your vision, your light and your power. I need day by day the certainty of divine protection and the firmness of your arm. If you are always by my side, even the dangers of my life will become the joy of living. If you are by my side, and tell me your help, I will relive the faith and hope that I need to continue.
Holy martyr, may I also have the certainty that thanks to your protection “misfortune will not come near me… because the Lord has given orders for his saints to guard me on my paths, and carry me in the palm of their hands.” so that my foot does not stumble on the stone” (sal.90).
This beautiful promise fills me with comfort. It is beautiful to know that the saints watch over my steps so that I do not fall. May through your protection God always make me visible as protection and love, in my life.
Thank you, Lord, for the care you have of me. Thank you for your help and for your love.
Amen.
(Recite three Our Fathers).
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