Saint of the Day, March 13
Saint Roderick was a priest in Cabra, Spain, during the Moorish persecution of Christians. Like Our Lord, he experienced betrayal from someone who was close to him.
March 13 – St. Roderick
Born: 9th Century
Died: 857
Nationality: Spanish
Attributes: priestly vestments, martyr’s palm
Vocation: priest
Canonization: pre-congregation
St. Roderick was a priest in Cabra, Spain, during the Moorish persecution of Christians. Like Our Lord, he experienced betrayal from someone who was close to him.
Roderick had one Muslim brother and another who was a fallen-away Catholic. One day, his brothers were arguing and beat him unconscious when he tried to intervene. While unconscious, Roderick was carried through the streets by his Muslim brother, who falsely announced that Roderick desired to convert to Islam. The other brother also reported to the authorities that Roderick intended to convert.
When Roderick regained consciousness and discovered his brothers’ deception, he confirmed his loyalty to his Catholic faith to the authorities, who then accused him of apostasy under Sharia law. After a long imprisonment, he was beheaded.
He is numbered among the Martyrs of Cordoba.
St. Roderick, pray for us!
