CAPG's Blog 

St. Theodorus

RESOLUTION AND STEADFASTNESS. Theodorus, who had been recently enrolled in the army, was stationed with his legion at Amasius, when the edicts of persecution were published by Galerian and Maximian. "As for me, I am a Christian!" exclaimed the youthful warrior, " and will not sacrifice to the gods." Although not bruiting abroad his faith ostentatiously, he did not shrink from avowing it. "I know nothing of your gods," he said to the magistrates; "I am a Christian; do with me what you like!" They released him, that he might have time for reflection; but, as soon as he was at liberty, he snatched up a torch and proceeded to set the temple of Cybele on fire. "The temple was of wood," he exclaimed, with a smile, "and the deity was of stone; the one is reduced to ashes and the other to lime. Is the misfortune, then, very great?" In the midst of the most horrible tortures, Theodorus displayed the most inflexible courage; while the iron was rending his flesh, he calmly chanted some verses of the Psalms. At last the judge, utterly subdued and at a loss for further expedients of cruelty, sentenced him to the stake, on the 17th of February, in the year 306.

MORAL REFLECTION. "Let him that asketh in faith waver not, for let not that man think he shall receive anything of the Lord." (Jas. i. 6.)

Source: Pictorial Half Hour with the Saints by Abbe Auguste Lecanu

Mariano Salvador Maella: Saint Leocadia before the Praetor

DOCILITY OF VIRTUE.-The practice of the highest virtues is really difficult to those only who are animated with the worldly spirit. Any one who is trained to well-doing accomplishes it without effort, but the transition from evil to good is more arduous, because the habits already contracted, and the sentiments long cherished, oppose a formidable barrier. Leocadia was living at Toledo in the practice of all Christian virtues, and had grown accustomed thereto from her childhood. Far from aspiring after the advantages and prospects of the world, she only longed for martyrdom; her soul was inflamed with ardour in reading the lives of the saints, and she piously envied above all the combats and goodly reward which fell to St. Eulalia. God lent a favourable ear to her yearnings; she was brought before the governor Dacian during the course of Diocletian's persecution, cast into chains, tortured with horrible atrocity, and finally thrown into prison, where she expired from her sufferings. Thus does death itself become sweet to any one that knows how to desire it aright.

MORAL REFLECTION.- "By thy commandments I have had understanding; how sweet are thy words to my palate! more than honey to my mouth."-(Psa. cxix. 103.) Pictorial Half Hours with the Saints by Fr. Auguste Lecanu