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"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

"Two noble women, who were disciples of the apostles SS. Peter and Paul at Rome. They were some of the first who suffered martyrdom. Their spirit was according to the Gospel in relieving those who suffered by the cruelty of the Emperor Nero, and comforting such as were obliged to retire. Being seized by the emperor's order, they were so little apprehensive of his threats, that they even raised his fury by defending the innocence of those whom he had put to death. Upon which he commanded their tongues and feet to be cut off, and afterwards finished their sacrifice by the sword.

El Triunfo de San Hermenegildo by Francisco Herrera the Younger (1654)

"He was converted from the Arian heresy to the Catholic faith: upon which his father Leovigild, king of the Visigoths in Spain, and an Arian, was so exasperated against him, that he cast him into prison, and loaded him with chains. But perceiving all his cruelty to be fruitless, he ordered him to be murdered on Easter Eve, for refusing to receive the Holy Communion from an Arian bishop. Some time after, being sensible of his error and his crime, he acknowledged the truth of the Catholic faith, though overawed by his people, he never had courage to profess it. And so he died, having first recommended his son Reccared to the care of an orthodox bishop, by whose means, being reclaimed from Arianism, he became the happy instrument of the conversion of the whole nation of Spain in the sixth century.

Learn what your duty is, when for the sake of truth, your parents and dearest friends become your greatest enemies. Christ and His faith are to be preferred to them all; and you cannot be a true disciple, but by forsaking them, and abandoning yourself to their displeasure and cruelty. This martyr, in despising a crown, has taught you to despise all worldly advantages for the sake of Christ. This is the command of the Gospel, and the way to heaven. Pray that this may be your rule whenever you shall be brought into these straits: that you may seek first the kingdom of God and His justice, and make all considerations of flesh and blood give way to this. Pray likewise for all those who are at present under this trial. It is a work of great difficulty, and requires a very powerful grace to renounce all the comforts of tender parents, and the hopes of this world, for the sake of truth, which works only by faith, and has its rewards at a distance. Let them have therefore the assistance of your charity.

Pray for the reclaiming of all those who are the abettors of errors; and beg that none may be obstinate against that light which God gives them, or neglect to follow it, through fear, or human respects. The thoughts of what the world will say, and the difficulty of changing, are temptations to be overcome only by the grace of God." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother

"He was by birth a Goth, converted to the faith in his youth, and a faithful imitator of the obedience, mildness, humility, and other virtues of the apostles. He was affable to all men, yet with dignity; a lover of truth, an enemy to all dissimulation or disguise, intrepid, modest, of few words, and a lover of peace; yet zealous and active. To sing the divine praises in the Church, and to adorn the altars, were his great delight. He was so scrupulously chaste, that he shunned all conversation with women, except what was indispensable. He often spent whole days and nights in prayer, and devoted his whole life to the exercises of penance. By his charity he kept peace with all. He was humble amidst a world of admirers; and ever ready to serve and help all. He esteemed silver as contemptible earth, never providing beyond absolute necessity. He avoided all visits and entertainments, and whatever could serve only as a dissipation; that so his prayers might have less interruption.

Being apprehended for his faith, he was dragged over thorns and briars, and forced along with whips and staves. His hands and feet were afterwards stretched and bound; and in this situation he was tormented for a considerable part of the night. Being violently struck with a javelin, so that all thought he was killed, the saint declared that he felt no more pain than if the javelin had been a lock of wool. He was at length thrown into a river, praising God to the last, and beseeching him to have mercy on his judge, that he might not be lost eternally, who had put him in so compendious a way to heaven. He blessed God, and surprised at his goodness, admired that he should be called to this glory, who was so unworthy.

Here is a disposition of soul which you have reason to ask of God, that when death approaches, it may not be your anguish, but your joy. Ought not that to be your joy, which puts an end to your banishment, and opens you a way to your God? It will be so, if you love God. But for this, prepare your soul by the method of this saint. Keep peace with all, renounce pride, love not money, avoid unprofitable conversation, let your rule be to supply only necessity. Thus if you fence your heart against the world, the love of God will take place, and this will make death more a mercy than a punishment." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother

"He was descended of a noble family, and his great abilities and mature judgment appeared in the rapid progress which he made in his sacred studies. Being made archdeacon of the Church of Rome, he had the chief direction of affairs under Pope Celestine. On the death of Pope Sixtus III., he was elected as most fit and worthy to be seated in the first chair of the church. He trembled at his exalted dignity, considering himself weak and unworthy, and besought God to support and strengthen him. He diligently applied himself however to cultivate the great field committed to his care; preaching to his people with great zeal, and converting many infidels to the faith. His signal victories over the Manicheans, Arians, and other heretics, are proofs of his zeal for the purity of the faith. By his authority the general council of Chalcedon was assembled in the year 451, chiefly against the errors of Eutyches.

"He was a zealous, holy anchoret, who being informed of the cruel persecution of the Christians at Alexandria, under Maximin, left his solitude to visit and encourage those who suffered. He was apprehended by the persecutors at Antinous in Egypt, and cast into prison. Many heathens came to insult and affront him while in chains; and among others one Philemon, a musician, very famous, and admired by the people. He treated the martyr as an impious person, and a seducer, and one who deserved the public hatred. To his insults the saint only answered: "My son, may God have mercy on thee, and not lay these reproaches to thy charge." This his meekness wrought so powerfully on Philemon, that he forthwith professed himself a Christian. Both were brought before the judge, who after making them suffer all kinds of torments, condemned them to be burnt alive. When the fire was kindled about them, Apollonius prayed thus: "Lord, deliver not to beasts the souls who confess thee; but manifest thy power." At that instant, a cloud of dew encompassed the martyrs, and put out the fire. The judge and people cried out at this miracle: "The God of the Christians is the great and only God." The prefect of Egypt being informed of it, caused the judge and the two confessors to be brought to Alexandria loaded with irons. During the journey, Apollonius, by his instructions, prevailed so far upon those who conducted him, that they presented themselves also to the prefect with their prisoners, and confessed themselves likewise Christians. The prefect ordered them all to be thrown into the sea, about the year 311.

See here the force of patience and meekness. These are the arms which the Gospel puts into your hand. Fight with these, if you have enemies to overcome; for they are more powerful than passion and violence. To be more expert, practice daily in ordinary occasions. Do not accustom yourself to anger or peevish expressions of resentment: be not noisy and loud, but with a generous meekness stand your ground. Thus in your patience you will possess your own soul, and gain your enemies." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother

"He was born in Lycia, had been a professed philosopher, and continued to wear the cloak of a philosopher after his conversion to the faith. In the persecution of Galerius Maximianus, he often confessed his faith before magistrates, had sanctified several dungeons, and been condemned to the mines in Palestine. Being released from thence, he went into Egypt, but there found the persecution more violent than in Palestine itself, under Hierocles, the most barbarous prefect of Egypt. St. Edesius being at Alexandria, and observing how outrageously the judge proceeded against the Christians, by tormenting grave men, and delivering up women of singular piety, and even virgins, to the purchasers of slaves, boldly presented himself before this savage monster, rather than man, and reproached him with his inhumanity, and barbarous usage of the Christians. He endured courageously the scourge, and the greatest torments, which the rage of such a tyrant was capable of inventing, and was at length cast into the sea in 306.

Does not this bravery of the primitive Christians inspire you with the same generous thoughts of offering yourself a sacrifice to God? You have opportunity of doing this in all that you suffer, whether in mind or body, whether from God or man. And if a total peace at any time takes this out of your hands, you have your labors still to offer to Him, as likewise the frequent contradictions of your will, in forcing it to submit to the will of God. You have again the difficulties of your state to struggle with, and the trouble caused by your inward corruption, which will not easily be overcome. If you are faithful in these occasions, it is in your power to make your life an acceptable sacrifice to heaven, by giving it every hour to God. Let not then sloth hinder the offering of your labors, nor impatience take your sufferings from the altar, nor self-love cut off self-denial. For this would be unworthy of a member of Christ Jesus, and fellow-member of the martyrs." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

"He was born in Persia, of Infidel parents, but becoming a Christian, he came to Edessa in Mesopotamia. He shut himself up in a little cell outside of the city, applying himself entirely to the exercises of penance and heavenly contemplation. After some time, he removed to a cell in the neighborhood of Antioch, in Syria, where many resorted to him for spiritual advice. He eat nothing but a little bread after sunset; to which, when he grew old, he added a few herbs. He had no other bed than a mat laid on the ground; and his clothing was one coarse garment. Being informed of the great distress of the Catholics in Antioch, by the oppression of the Arian emperor, Valens, who had banished their bishops and priests, and forbidden their assemblies, St. Aphraates quitted his solitude, and by preaching and instruction, in those difficult times supported the flock, in the absence of their pastor Meletius. His reputation for sanctity and miracles gave the greatest weight to his actions and words. The Emperor Valens, being at Antioch, asked the saint how he came to leave his cell and ramble abroad. The holy man replied that he could not sit quiet in his cell, while the flock of the heavenly shepherd was torn to pieces; and he reproved the emperor for his persecution of the Catholics. The emperor made no reply; but one of his officers threatened the saint with death. But God chastised his insolence by an untimely death shortly after, which so terrified the emperor, that he durst not banish the saint. He was also much moved by the miraculous cures which the holy man wrought. Valens himself died a miserable death; and peace being restored to the Church, the saint returned to his solitude, and there waited till God called him to the company of the blessed.

The exercises of prayer and fasting are most commendable ; but if you are bent with so much eagerness on any practices which you have proposed, as not to bear any interruption, or delay, without peevishness and vexation, there is reason to suspect you of too much positiveness, and of a will not yet subdued. Choose rather with more freedom of spirit to turn on all occasions, wherever God seems to call you. Though this may prove some abatement of prayer, yet in thus following God, you may as surely possess him, as by more quiet devotion." The Catholic Year by Fr. Gother