Sts. Timothy and Titus
Feast day: January 26
St. Timothy was a companion and one of the closest collaborators of St. Paul. Accompanying St. Paul on many of his missionary travels throughout the Gentile world, St. Timothy became one of his most trusted aides. He was assigned important tasks like co-authorship of many of the Pauline epistles. According to tradition, St. Timothy was the first bishop of Ephesus, and it is reported in an apocryphal text that he was martyred there for putting a halt to a pagan procession by preaching the Gospel. St. Titus was also a disciple and companion of St. Paul, who aided in the mission to the Gentiles. St. Paul ordained Titus as the Bishop of Crete. Both men received letters from St. Paul, which are included in the New Testament. St. Titus died peacefully in his old age. St. Titus is celebrated together with St. Timothy on Jan. 26.
Collect
O God, who adorned Saints Timothy and Titus
with apostolic virtues,
grant, through the intercession of them both,
that, living justly and devoutly in this present age,
we may merit to reach our heavenly homeland.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.