Today's Holy Saint: Alban

Alban, the first British martyr, was tortured and killed in the place of a priest who was fleeing persecution.

Alban lived (at some time during the 3rd century) in the Roman city of Verulamium. Although he was then a worshipper of Roman gods including the emperor, he gave shelter to a Christian priest fleeing from persecution. Influenced by the priest's prayer and teaching he became a Christian.

When the authorities discovered the priest's hiding place Alban exchanged clothes with him. The priest escaped and Alban was bound and taken before the judge. The judge was furious at the deception, and ordered that Alban should receive the punishment due to the priest, if he had indeed become a Christian.

Alban declared his Christian faith, saying in words still used as a prayer "I worship and adore the true and living God, who created all things." Despite flogging he refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods and was sentenced to death. He was brought out of the town, across the river and up a hill to the site of execution where his head was cut off.

Legend tells us that on the hill-top a spring of water miraculously appeared to give the martyr a drink; also that moved by his witness the original executioner refused to carry out the deed, and that after his replacement had killed Alban the executioners' eyes dropped out. [Other stories indicate that the original executioner became the second British martyr after hearing Alban's testimony and being so impressed that he became a Christian on the spot, and refused to kill Alban. The third martyr was the priest, who when he learned that Alban had been arrested in his place, hurried to the court in the hope of saving Alban by turning himself in.]

Info taken from the Cathedral & Abbey Church of St Alban.

Lessons and prayers: http://www.io.com/~kellywp/LesserFF/Jun/Alban.html
For more info: http://satucket.com/lectionary/Alban.htm