Patrizia Cattaneo

SAINT CYRIACUS
Deacon and Martyr (†304)

Saint Cyriacus, or Saint Cyriac, is a Christian Martyr who was killed in the persecution of the Roman Emperor Diocletian.

The legend tells that he was born of a noble patrician family. He embraced the Christian religion and gave all his wealth to the poor. He was ordained a deacon at Rome, under Pope Marcellinus. Diocletian was emperor at that time, assisted by Maximian. The latter decided to build a beautiful palace for the emperor, the Baths of Diocletian, and to make the Christians work as slaves at the construction. Several thousand of Christian were helping build the new great Baths.

A Roman nobleman desired to relieve the sufferings of these slaves and sent them Cyriacus, Largus and Smaragdus with alms and encouragements who accepted at the risk of their lives. Cyriacus was said to be both deacon and confessor, while Largus and Smaragdus were just confessors.At that time in Church history, deacons were a rung below bishops but apparently weren't required to be priests before that.There were always supposed to be seven Deacons in Rome and one amongst them was to be chosen as the next Bishop of Rome.

Cyriacus was well known to Diocletian. The emperor’s daughter Artemia became possessed by a demon, and the demon who possessed her body revealed that only Cyriacus could deliver her. Diocletian sent for him, and the deacon delivered his daughter. She became a Christian like her mother, who is today Saint Serena. A short time later Jobias, the daughter of the king of Persia, also became possessed and Diocletian sent Cyriacus to her. He cast out the demon, thus bringing about the conversion of the king, his family and four hundred persons, whom he baptized. When Cyriacus returned to Rome, the Baths were finished, the Christian slaves on hand were all killed in one fell swoop. The legend indicates that Maximian seized Cyriacus for torture, including pouring hot pitch over his body before finally beheading him on the Via Ostiense on 8 August 304. With him were martyred his companions Largus and Smaragdus, and twenty others.

Today the body of Saint Cyriacus is buried in Santa Maria in Via Lata, in Rome. The church also possesses the bodies of SS. Largus, Smaragdus and companions and many other precious relics.

THE FIRST EXORCIST
OF THE ROMAN CHURCH

Cyriacus is venerated in Eastern Orthodox Church (feast on 7 July), in the Roman Catholic Church (feast on 8 August) and Oriental Orthodoxy. The deacon is represented with the book of exorcism.
There were monasteries dedicated to Saint Cyriacus in the now destroyed Arab village of Madjal Yaba in Israel and in the existing village of Al-Fasayil near Jericho. Both villages venerated this Saint during the Byzantine period.
Saint Cyriacus is also venerated as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, is protector against demonic possession and eye disease, and he's possibly one of the earliest if not the first exorcist of the Roman Church.

NINE DAYS NOVENA
TO ST CYRIACUS

O glorious St. Cyriacus, mighty exorcist and intercessor, powerful in the struggle against rebel spirits, servant of God, deliver us from all evil and danger, who turn to you with confidence and enable us by your gracious protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day.
Pray for us, O glorious St. Cyriacus, Martyr of the Church of Jesus Christ, that we may be made worthy of His promises.

Almighty and Everlasting God, Who, by a prodigy of goodness and a merciful desire for the salvation of all men, has glorified the most glorious Martyr and deacon St. Cyriacus, make us worthy, we ask You, to be delivered from all our enemies, that none of them may harass us at the hour of death, but that we may be conducted by him and your angels into Your Presence. This we ask through the merits of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

THE LITANY OF SAINT CYRIACUS
For Private Devotion

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Queen of Martyrs, pray for us
St. Joseph, helper in all needs, pray for us

St. Cyriacus, valiant Deacon, pray for us
St. Cyriacus, martyr of Christ
St. Cyriacus, mighty exorcist
St. Cyriacus, mighty intercessor in danger
St. Cyriacus, shining mirror of faith
St. Cyriacus, terror of Hell
St. Cyriacus, helpful advocate in death
St. Cyriacus, exemplar of patience in adversity
St. Cyriacus, despiser of the world
St. Cyriacus, valiant champion of the Faith
St. Cyriacus, mighty patroness of the dying
St. Cyriacus, in temptations against faith
St. Cyriacus, in adversity and trials
St. Cyriacus, in anxiety and want
St. Cyriacus, in every struggle
St. Cyriacus, in every temptation
St. Cyriacus, in sickness
St. Cyriacus, in all needs
St. Cyriacus, in fear and terror
St. Cyriacus, in dangers of salvation
St. Cyriacus, in dangers of honor
St. Cyriacus, in dangers of reputation
St. Cyriacus, in dangers of property
St. Cyriacus, in every danger

Be merciful, spare us, O Lord!
Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Lord!
From all sin, deliver us, O Lord!

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

V. St. Cyriacus pray for us.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promise of Christ.

Let us Pray:
Almighty and eternal God, Who hast bestowed extraordinary graces and gifts on Thy Saint Cyriacus, we beseech Thee to graciously hear the petitions of all who invoke his intercession. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, who didst miraculously fortify St. Cyriacus in the confession of the Faith, grant us we beseech Thee, to imitate his fortitude in overcoming all temptations against it, and protect us through his intercession in all dangers of soul and body. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

SAINT CYRIACUS: HIS SHRINE AT TORRE LE NOCELLE (ITALY)

SAINT CYRIACUS: RELIC OF HIS BLOOD

THE LITANY OF THE FOURTEEN HOLY HELPERS
For Private Devotion

LORD, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Queen of Martyrs, pray for us

St. Joseph, helper in all needs, pray for us

Fourteen Holy Helpers, pray for us
St. George, valiant Martyr of Christ,
St. Blaise, zealous bishop and benefactor of the poor,
St. Erasmus, mighty protector of the oppressed,
St. Pantaleon, miraculous exemplar of charity,
St. Vitus, special protector of chastity,
St. Christophorus, mighty intercessor in dangers,
St. Dionysius, shining mirror of faith and confidence,
St. Cyriacus, terror of Hell,
St. Achatius, helpful advocate in death,
St. Eustachius, exemplar of patience in adversity,
St. Giles, despiser of the world, St. Margaret, valiant champion of the Faith,
St. Catherine, victorious defender of the Faith and of purity,
St. Barbara, mighty patroness of the dying,
All ye Holy Helpers, etc.
All ye Saints of God,
In temptations against faith,
In adversity and trials,
In anxiety and want,
In every combat,
In every temptation,
In sickness,
In all needs,
In fear and terror,
In dangers of salvation,
In dangers of honor,
In dangers of reputation,
In dangers of property,
In dangers by fire and water,
Be merciful, spare us, O Lord!
Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Lord!
From all sin, deliver us, O Lord.
From Thy wrath, etc.
From the scourge of earthquake,
From plague, famine, and war,
From lightning and storms,
From a sudden death,
From eternal damnation,
Through the mystery of Thy holy incarnation, etc.
Through Thy birth and Thy life,
Through Thy Cross and Passion,
Through Thy death and burial,
Through the merits of Thy blessed Mother Mary,
Through the merits of the Fourteen Holy Helpers,
On the Day of Judgment, deliver us, O Lord!
We sinners, beseech Thee hear us.
That Thou spare us,
We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wilt pardon us, etc.
That Thou wilt convert us to true penance,
That Thou wilt give and preserve the fruits of the earth,
That Thou wilt protect and propagate Thy holy Church,
That Thou wilt preserve peace and concord among the nations,
That Thou wilt give eternal rest to the souls of the departed,
That Thou wilt come to our aid through the intercession of the Holy Helpers,
That through the intercession of St. George Thou wilt preserve us in the Faith,
That through the intercession of St. Blaise Thou wilt confirm us in hope, That through the intercession of St. Erasmus Thou wilt enkindle in us Thy holy love,
That through the intercession of St. Pantaleon Thou wilt give us charity for our neighbour,
That through the intercession of St. Vitus Thou wilt teach us the value of our soul,
That through the intercession of St. Christophorus Thou wilt preserve us from sin,
That through the intercession of St. Dionysius Thou wilt give us tranquillity of conscience,
That through the intercession of St. Cyriacus Thou wilt grant us resignation to Thy holy will,
That through the intercession of St. Eustachius Thou wilt give us patience in adversity,
That through the intercession of St. Achatius Thou wilt grant us a happy death,
That through the intercession of St. Giles Thou wilt grant us a merciful judgment,
That through the intercession of St. Margaret Thou wilt preserve us from Hell,
That through the intercession of St. Catherine Thou wilt shorten our Purgatory,
That through the intercession of St. Barbara Thou wilt receive us in Heaven,
That through the intercession of all the Holy Helpers Thou wilt grant our prayers,

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us O Lord
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us

V. Pray for us, ye Fourteen Holy Helpers.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promise of Christ.

Let us Pray: Almighty and eternal God, Who hast bestowed extraordinary graces and gifts on Thy Saints George, Blase, Erasmus, Pantaleon, Vitus, Christophorus, Dionysius, Cyriacus, Eustachius, Achatius, Giles, Margaret, Catherine, and Barbara, and hast illustrated them by miracles; we beseech Thee to graciously hear the petitions of all who invoke their intercession. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
O God, who didst miraculously fortify the Fourteen Holy Helpers in the confession of the Faith; grant us, we beseech Thee, to imitate their fortitude in overcoming all temptations against it, and protect us through their intercession in all dangers of soul and body, so that we may serve Thee in purity of heart and chastity of body. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE FOURTEEN HOLY HELPERS

This group of Nothelfer (=helpers in need) originated in the 14th century and all of them except Giles were martyrs. They are invoked as a group, apart from individual patronage, because of the epidemic called the Black Death, or bubonic plague, which devastated Europe between 1346-1349. The malady was incurable, it attacked people and killed them within a few hours.
During this affliction, among the Saints invoked were these 14 who already had patronage over certain illnesses or tragedies:
St. Christopher and St. Giles, plagues; St. Denis, headaches; St. Blaise, ills of the throat; St. Elmo, patron of abdominal maladies; St. Barbara, against fever; St. Vitus against epilepsy; St. Pantaleon, patron of physicians; Saint Cyriacus against temptation on the deathbed; Sts. Christopher, Barbara, and Catherine for protection against a sudden death; St. Giles was implored for making a good confession; St. Eustace, patron of all kinds of difficulties, especially family troubles.
Domestic animals were also attacked by the plague: Sts. George, Erasmus, Pantaleon and Vitus were invoked for their protection.
St. Margaret of Antioch is the patron of safe childbirth deliveries.

INVOCATION OF
THE HOLY HELPERS

Fourtheen Holy Helpers, who served God in humility and confidence on earth and are now in the enjoyment of His beatific vision in Heaven; because thou persevered till death thou gained the crown of eternal life. Remember the dangers that surround us in this vale of tears, and intercede for us in all our needs and adversities. Amen.

Fourteen Holy Helpers, select friends of God, I honour thee as mighty intercessors, and come with filial confidence to thee in my needs, for the relief of which I have undertaken to make this novena. Help me by thy intercession to placate God's wrath, which I have provoked by my sins, and aid me in amending my life and doing penance. Obtain for me the grace to serve God with a willing heart, to be resigned to His holy will, to be patient in adversity and to persevere unto the end, so that, having finished my earthly course, I may join thee in Heaven, there to praise for ever God, Who is wonderful in His Saints. Amen.

ADDRESS

FATHER MICHELE BIANCO
SANCTUARY OF SAN CIRIACO
83030 TORRE LE NOCELLE
ITALY