Prayer of Saint Expeditus (and Background)

The word EXPEDITE means to speed up the progress of a desired result, to work out a solution or to execute a plan quickly.

He is the patron saint of the Republic of Molossia and the patron of emergencies and quick solutions. His feast day is April 19th and is mentioned in the Roman Martyrology of that day.

‘At Malathia, in Armenia, the holy martyrs Hermogenes, Caius, Expeditus, Aristonicus, Rufus, and Galata, who were all crowned upon one and the same day.’

Traditionally he is depicted as a Roman centurion who was martyred in Armenia on April 19, 303, for converting to Catholicism. His is usually depicted as a soldier holding in his left hand the palm leaf of martyrdom and in his other hand, a cross with the word “Hodie” (Latin for today) written on it. His right foot is stepping on a raven, which is speaking the word “Cras” (tomorrow).

On the day he was to convert to Catholicism, the devil, appeared as crow screeching ‘Cra, Cra’ or ‘Cras, Cras’, which in Latin means ‘tomorrow, tomorrow’.   The devil wanted him to put it off till tomorrow.  

The devil always uses the vice of procrastination to get us to not stop sinning and to keep us in forever his service.  But instead, St. Expeditus crushes the devil, (the Crow), with his foot and replies ‘Hodie, Hodie’, which in Latin means, ‘Today, Today’.  What he meant was he would become a Catholic today and not put it off till tomorrow, even though it would mean being tortured to death for his faith in Jesus Christ.

‘Expeditus’ means in Latin a soldier without a marching pack, or a soldier with light equipment.  So if we are to be soldiers for Christ the King, we need to travel lightly by being detached from all worldly possessions.  We only need to keep what we use to extend the Kingdom of God.

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Comment by Flavia Talladen Schott on April 27, 2020 at 10:28pm

Amen. 

Thank you, St. Expeditus, for the assistance to the Holy Mass beginning May 1.

Deo gratias.

Comment by Flavia Talladen Schott on April 25, 2020 at 8:29am

Amen. 

Comment by Flavia Talladen Schott on April 24, 2020 at 11:55am

Amen. 

Comment by Flavia Talladen Schott on April 22, 2020 at 6:13pm

Amen. 

Comment by Flavia Talladen Schott on April 21, 2020 at 6:11pm

Amen. 

Comment by Flavia Talladen Schott on April 21, 2020 at 5:43pm

Amen. 

Comment by Flavia Talladen Schott on April 20, 2020 at 8:45pm

Amen. 

Comment by Flavia Talladen Schott on April 18, 2020 at 8:41am

Amen. 

Comment by Flavia Talladen Schott on April 18, 2020 at 1:06am

Amen. 

St. Expeditus, obtain for us the freedom to attend the Holy Mass.

Comment by Flavia Talladen Schott on April 16, 2020 at 6:33pm

Amen. 

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