St. Encratia, VIRGIN AND Mmartyr, a.d. 303.
by VP
Posted on Tuesday April 16, 2024 at 12:00AM in Saints
"She was a holy virgin, born in Portugal; but coming with her father to Saragosa in Spain, and seeing there the great cruelty of Dacian in persecuting the Christians, she was so strongly moved with holy zeal in their behalf, that she publicly reproached him with his barbarous proceedings. Upon which he was so enraged, that he put her to all the torments that a malicious cruelty could suggest, tearing her flesh with hooks of iron, cutting off her breast, and laying open her liver and bones. He then ordered her to be thrown into prison, to die a lingering death under the corruption of her wounds. Thus she finished a glorious combat at the commencement of the fourth century.
Can you Christian, now complain of what you suffer? Your troubles are no other way great, than as your want of patience makes them so. Stand by this martyr of Christ, and compare. And yet she rejoices, while you are complaining. She casts the devil
into despair, while you are pleasing him by your fretful impatience.
Repent, ask pardon for what is past, and by your prayers and tears
prevail on Heaven to grant you a better
spirit. Grieve not at your troubles, but at your weakness: for this is
your only affliction. All others may help you on your way: this only puts you back. While you see how much the patient suffering of the martyrs
was to their advantage, you plainly see likewise how much you are a
loser by your impatience. You see how great is your indiscretion, who
being industrious in managing temporal affairs to your own interest, are
so very careless in the greater concern, as to neglect the improvement of opportunities daily offered for your salvation. You see how much you are your own enemy, in complaining of the injuries which others offer you, and at the same time doing your own soul more hurt by your impatience, than the whole world could do against you. Amend in earnest, and beg God's grace for your entire reformation." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother
