Saint Onesimus - The Catholic Church of St. John the Baptist, Edmond, Oklahoma

Catholic Saint

Saint Onesimus

 

Died c.90

 

February 16

Memorial:  16 February


Profile
Slave of the Colossian Christians Saint Philemon and Saint Apphia. Committed a theft and fled from punishment to Rome where he hid with Saint Paul. Paul converted him, then sent him home carrying the canonical Letter to Philemon. He was freed.


Died:  c.90
Name Meaning:  helpful; profitable

Reading
Therefore, although I have the full right in Christ to order you to do what is proper, I rather urge you out of love, being as I am, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus. I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment, who was once useless to you but is now useful to both you and me. I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I should have liked to retain him for myself so that he might serve me on your behalf in my imprisonment for the gospel, but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary.

Philemon 1:8-14