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St. Jonas and barachisius by Jacques Callot

"King Sapor of Persia, in the eighteenth year of his reign, raised a bloody persecution against the Christians, and laid waste their churches and monasteries. Jonas and Barachisius, two brothers of the city Beth-Asa, hearing the several Christians lay under sentence of death at Hubaham, went thither to encourage and serve them. Nine of that number received the crown of martyrdom.
After their execution, Jonas and Barachisius were apprehended for having exhorted them to die. The president entreated the two brothers to obey the king of Persia, and to worship the sun, moon, fire, and water. Their answer was, that it was more reasonable to obey the immortal King of heaven and earth than a mortal prince. Jonas was beaten with knotty clubs and with rods, and next set in a frozen pond, with a cord tied to his foot. Barchisius had two read-hot iron places and two red-hot hammers applied under each arm, and melted lead dropped into his nostrils and eyes; after which he was carried to prison, and there hung up by one foot. Despite these cruel tortures, the two brothers remained steadfast in the Faith. New and more horrible torments were then devised under which at last they yielded up their lives, while their pure souls winged their flight to heaven there to gain the martyr's crown, which they had so faithfully won.

Reflection: Those powerful motives which supported the martyrs under the sharpest torments ought to inspire us with patience, resignation, and holy joy under sickness and all crosses or trials. Nothing is more heroic in the practice of Christian virtue, nothing more precious in the sight of God, than the sacrifice of patience, submission, constant fidelity, and charity in a state of suffering."

Source: Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, edited by John Shea, 1894

Prayer of the Sick for Vocations

O God, Who through the sufferings and death of Thine Only Begotten Son, didst redeem the race of men, grant, we beseech Thee, that through the sufferings which I now humbly and patiently bear out of love for Thee and in union with Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Thou mayest be pleased to call to the sacred priesthood and the religious life generous youths who will dedicate themselves to the sublime vocation of bringing to souls the saving merits of the Passion and Death of the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest forever and ever. Amen.

Bishop Coleman F. Carroll (1962, Florida)

St. Lomer

Innocence and Justice. "St. Lomer, a priest and treasurer of the church of Chartres, left the world while still young, and withdrew to a forest of the Perche, where he constructed a rude cabin of twigs, there to devote himself to prayer, and occupy himself solely with preparing for eternity amid the austerities of penance and holy meditations. he was there discovered, and many companions came to embrace this kind of life. But at length, being troubled by the concourse of strangers, he betook himself to another hermitage, in order there to remain unknown. The reputation of his sanctify betrayer him, in spite of all his efforts at concealment, and he found himself constrained to build a monastery. A vast crowd of sick persons always surrounded his cell, for the Lord had bestowed on him the gift of miracles. One day a rich man sent him, by way of alms, several pieces of gold, that he might pray for him and obtain his cure. Lomer took one of them only, and sent the others back, saying: "They are the proceeds of robbery; God does not accept such offerings: you will assuredly die." St. Lomer yielded up his spirit in 594.

Moral reflection: Prayer can never be found acceptable to God when proceeding from one who has committed injustice; hence it is said in Ecclasiasticus:"Be not anxious for goods unjustly gotten, for they shall not profit thee in the day of calamity and revenge." (Eccls. v 10)"

Source: Pictorial Half Hours with the Saints by Fr. Lecanu, 1865

"The Conversion of Sinners: Abraham, the solitary, after having disposed of his vast property and distributed the proceeds to the poor, was living in a deep retreat near Edessa, in Mesopotamia, when the bishop of Edessa consecrated him as bishop, and invested him with the mission of converting the inhabitants of a neighboring town, who were still pagans.

Abraham undertook this out of a spirit of obedience, and, God aiding, succeeded in the undertaking, but not without vast efforts, and not without having been thrice on the eve of martyrdom.

He then withdrew to this beloved solitude, but was obliged to leave it once again. A niece whom he tenderly love had abandoned her home, and given herself up to evil courses. When, after two years' seeking and prayer, the pious solitary had at length discovered her abode, he assumed a disguise, and went to visit her. So soon as he made himself known she gave way, while pouring out her sorrow, and, of her own accord, imposed on herself rude austerities which were only to end with her life. St. Abraham died towards 370.

Moral reflection: It is the duty of every Christian to labor for the conversion of sinners, because all partake of the priesthood of Jesus Christ, says the apostle St. Peter: "To declare His virtues, who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. " (1 Peter ii. 9.)"

Source: Pictorial Half Hours with the Saints by Fr. Auguste François Lecanu

"O that we realized the omnipotence of prayer! Every soul was created to glorify God eternally; and it is in the power of every one to add by the salvation of his neighbor to the glory of God. Let us make good us of this talent of prayer, lest our brother's blood be required of us at the last.

"I affectionately entreat you to pray assiduously for the salvation of sinners, for whom I ask of you wrestlings and tearful prayers, that I may satisfy My longing to show them grace and mercy." Revelation to St. Catherine of Siena"

Source: Miniatures Lives of the Saints, for Every Day in the Year, 1883

Novena Prayer for the Return of Lapsed Catholics

O Good Shepherd, you never cease to seek out the lost, to call home the stray, to comfort the frightened, and to bind up the wounded. I ask you to bring (mention names) back to the practice of the Faith, and to remove all obstacles that prevent them from receiving your abundant mercy, which flows sacramentally through the heart of your holy Church.

Through the intercession of Mary, the Mother of God, their Guardian Angel(s), their Patron Saint(s) and the ever-prayerful St. Monica, may you pardon their sins and unshackle them from whatever hinders their freedom to come Home. For you, O Good Shepherd, loved us to the end and offered yourself to the Father for the salvation of all. Amen.

Prayers for the return of a lapsed Catholic should also be accompanied by sacrificial and secret acts of fasting and almsgiving done in their name.

"Gregory was a Roman of noble birth, and while still young was governor of Rome. On his father's death he gave his great wealth to the poor, turned his house on the Coelian Hill into a monastery, which now bears his name, and for some years lived as a perfect monk. The Pope drew him from his seclusion to make him one of the seven deacons of Rome ; and he did great service to the Church for many years as what we now call Nuncio to the imperial court at Constantinople. While still a monk the Saint was struck with some boys who were exposed for sale in Rome, and heard with sorrow that they were pagans. “ And of what race are they?” he asked. “They are Angles.” “Worthy indeed to be Angels of God,” said he. “And of what province ?” “Of Deira,” was the reply. “ Truly must we rescue them from the wrath of God. And what is the name of their king ?” " He is called Ella." “ It is well,” said Gregory; "Alleluia must be sung in their land to God.” He at once got leave from the Pope, and had set out to convert the English when the murmurs of the people led the Pope to recall him. Still the Angles were not forgotten, and one of the Saint's first cares as Pope was to send from his own monastery St. Augustine and other monks to England. On the death of Pope Pelagius II., Gregory was compelled to take the government of the Church, and for fourteen years his pontificate was a perfect model of ecclesiastical rule. He healed schisms; revived discipline ; saved Italy by converting the wild Arian Lombards who were laying it waste ; aided in the conversion of the Spanish and French Goths, who were also Arians; and kindled anew in Britain the light of the Faith, which the English had put out in blood. He set in order the Church's prayers and chant, guided and consoled her pastors with innumerable letters, and preached incessantly, most effectually by his own example. He died A.D. 604, worn out by austerities and toils ; and the Church reckons him one of her four great doctors, and reveres him as St. Gregory the Great.

Reflection.—The champions of faith prove the truth of their teaching no less by the holiness of their lives than by the force of their arguments. Never forget that to convert others you must first see to your own soul. 

Source: Lives of the Saints: With Reflections for Every Day in the Year. 1894

More on Saint Gregory: New liturgical Movement

Prayer to Saint Gregory, Pope and Confessor

O invincible defender of Holy Church's freedom, Saint Gregory of great Renown by that firmness thou didst show in maintaining the Church's rights against all her enemies, stretch forth from heaven thy mighty arm, we beseech thee, to comfort her and defend her in the fearful battle she must ever wage with the powers of darkness.

Do thou, in an especial manner, give strength in this dread conflict to the venerable Pontiff who has fallen heir not only to thy throne, but likewise to the fearlessness of thy mighty heart; obtain for him the joy of beholding his holy endeavors crowned by the triumph of the Church and the return of the lost sheep into the right path.

Grant, finally, that all may understand how vain it is to strive against that faith which has always conquered and is destined always to conquer: "this is the victory which overcometh the world, our faith." This is the prayer that we raise to thee with one accord; and we are confident, that, after thou has heard our prayers on earth, thou wilt one day call us to stand with thee in heaven, before the eternal High Priest, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth world without end. Amen.

Source: CAPG

St. Eulogius pray for our Bishops

Prayer for Holy Bishops

Lord, according to Your promise that the Gospel should be preached throughout the whole world, raise up men fit for such work. The Apostles were but soft and yielding clay till they were baked hard by the fire of the Holy Ghost. So, Good Lord, do now in like manner again with Thy Church Militant; change and make the soft and slippery earth into hard stones; set in Thy Church strong and mighty pillars, that may suffer and endure great labors, watching, poverty, thirst, hunger, cold and heat; which also shall not hear the threatenings of princes, persecution, neither death but always persuade and think with themselves to suffer with a good will, slanders, shame, and all kinds of torments, for the glory and laud of Thy Holy Name. By this manner, good Lord, the truth of Thy Gospel shall be preached throughout all the world. Therefore, merciful Lord, exercise Thy mercy, show it indeed upon Thy Church.

Saint John Fisher (Sermon in 1508) from Saint John Fisher Forum

The Forty Martyrs of Sebace

"Reward and punishment: During the persecution of Licinius, in the year 320 of the Christian era, forty soldiers of the garrison of Sebaste seceding from their comrades, who, in compliance with the emperor's orders, had gone to sacrifice to the idols, proclaimed themselves Christians.
The torments by fire and sword being ineffectual to conquer their constancy, they were exposed, devoid of covering, upon a frozen pool, there to pass the night within sight of a tepid bath, kept ready for such as might apostatize. All remained firm, however; their keeper meanwhile, who was watching them, beheld angels hovering above them with thirthy-nine crowns. While seeking to explain the reason of this number, one of the intended martyrs apostatized and rushed towards the bath, but on entering was struck with death. The keeper, converted by this miracle, went forward and took his place. As all outlived the sufferings of that cruel night, they were huddled into carts, and carried to the stake. Thus the victors received their crown, and the apostate found death and everlasting perdition, instead of the life he had promised himself.

Moral reflection: Such an example is a confirmation of the words of the Gospel, which a Christian cannot have too much in mind: "He that preferreth his life, shall lose it; and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it." Pictorial half hours with the saints, by Rev. Auguste François Lecanu, 1865

Prayer: "Valiant Soldiers of Christ who meet us, with your mysterious number, at this commencement of our Forty Days’ Fast, receive the homage of our devotion. Your memory is venerated throughout the whole Church, and your glory is great in Heaven. Though engaged in the service of an earthly prince, you were the Soldiers of the Eternal King: to Him were you faithful, and from Him did you receive your crown of eternal glory. We, also, are His soldiers. We are fighting for the kingdom of Heaven. Our enemies are many and powerful but, like you, we can conquer them if, like you, we use the arms which God has put in our hands. Faith in God’s word, hope in His assistance, and humility and prudence —with these we are sure of victory.

Pray for us, Holy Martyrs, that we may keep from all compromise with our enemies, for our defeat is certain if we try to serve two masters. During these Forty Days we must put our arms in order, repair our lost strength and renew our engagements. Come to our assistance and get us a share in your brave spirit.

A crown is also prepared for us: it is to be won on easier terms than yours, and yet we will lose it unless we keep up within us an esteem for our vocation. How many times, in our past lives, have we not forfeited that glorious crown? But God in His mercy has offered it to us again, and we are resolved on winning it. Oh, for the glory of our common Lord and Master, make intercession for us!" The Liturgical Year by Dom Gueranger.