St. Genesius

St. Genesius lived during the brutal persecution of Christians under the evil emperor Diocletian in the third and fourth centuries. He was a pagan actor who initially sought to advance his career by mocking the Christian faith that Diocletian was determined to destroy. His story is one of the most dramatic conversions in Christian history, demonstrating how God can transform even the most unlikely circumstances into moments of divine grace.

In the year 303, when Diocletian traveled to Rome to celebrate twenty years as emperor, Genesius saw an opportunity to curry favor with the emperor by writing and performing in a play that would mock the Christian faith. He knew of Diocletian's hatred of Christianity and thought he could enhance his standing in the empire through this blasphemous performance.

Christian tradition tells us that Genesius decided the best way to learn about Christianity in order to write such a satirical play was to deceive members of the Christian community into believing that he wanted to enter the catechumenate and prepare for Baptism. He was successful in his deception, and the Christians accepted him into their instruction program.

During the months of instruction in preparation for Baptism, Genesius learned about the Christian claims that Baptism washed away sin and brought the baptized into a new life in Jesus Christ. He planned to make these claims the subject of his mocking play, which he would perform in front of Diocletian himself. However, during this period of instruction in the Christian Way, he found himself increasingly drawn to the Savior whom the Christians proclaimed and became conflicted about his original intentions.

Despite his growing internal conflict, Genesius finally left the catechumenate and rejected the claims of Christianity. He then decided to proceed with his blasphemous plan to write a play that was a parody of Christianity and perform it in front of the Emperor, hoping to gain favor with this evil ruler.

When the time came for the performance of the play before the emperor, Genesius appeared on stage, playing a bedridden sick man who cried out to be Baptized. An actor playing a Christian priest came to baptize the sick man. The entire play was supposed to mock the Savior Jesus Christ and the Christian way of life. But the Lord had other plans.

As the actor playing the Christian priest poured water over the head of Genesius, the grace of God fell upon him. He encountered the Risen Jesus Christ and saw the truth of the Christian faith. According to the Acts of the Martyrs, Genesius began to give testimony to Jesus Christ in front of all who were watching and affirmed the Christian faith. He boldly called on Diocletian to give his life to Jesus Christ.

Diocletian became enraged at this unexpected turn of events. He had this holy, newly baptized Christian tortured and beheaded when Genesius refused to renounce his faith in Jesus Christ the Lord. St. Genesius is now recognized as the Patron Saint of Actors and all those involved in the performing arts, a testament to how God can use even the theatre to manifest His beauty and truth.

Liturgical Celebration

St. Genesius is celebrated on August 25th. This feast day honors his dramatic conversion, his courageous witness to Christ, and his patronage of actors and artists who seek to use their talents for the glory of God.

Traditions and Customs

On this day, many Catholics pray for actors, artists, and all those involved in the performing arts, asking for St. Genesius's intercession in using their talents for the glory of God. It's also a day to reflect on how God can work through any circumstance to bring about conversion and renewal.

Prayer and Devotion

The feast day is an excellent time to pray for Christian artists, for the renewal of culture through the arts, for those seeking conversion, and to ask for St. Genesius's intercession in using our talents to manifest God's beauty in the world.