"The former was a deacon of Spain, who for preaching the Gospel in the time of Dioclesian, was apprehended. St. Augustine assures us that he suffered torments far beyond what any man could have endured, unless supported by a supernatural strength; and that he preserved such peace and tranquillity in his words, countenance, and gestures, in the midst of them, as quite astonished his very persecutors, and visibly appeared as something divine. He continued faithful under the trial of scourges, racks, and fire, and variety of other torments; and at length a soft bed was prepared for him, on which he was no sooner laid than he expired.

Pray for this spirit of patience under all trials. There is no living in this world, but under some kind of persecution.

Relations, neighbours, your own indiscretion and passions may be to you a Dioclesian. If you have not a trial of your faith, you have at least of your fidelity to your God; and if you could but hold out with the charity and patience of the martyrs, you need not doubt of meeting with the crown of martyrs. Pray therefore that you may be just and faithful in little occasions. These present themselves often, and so often are you tried. If you sincerely honour the constancy of a martyr on the rack, be ashamed of your ordinary weakness, and beg pardon for it.

St. Anastasius was a Persian monk, who after cruel torments, was put to death with seventy other Christians, who were all ordered to be strangled. Pray for the empire of Persia, that God would please to bring it to the knowledge of his truths. Pray for all under any affliction whatever. Be careful never to sink under your own trials, nor consent to the least secret murmuring. Pray for all who are in their agony, or near death, that God would comfort and support them with his divine grace." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

St. Agnes by Cesare Dandini

"She was a Roman virgin, who, at the age of thirteen, having chosen Christ for her spouse, continued faithful to him, amidst all the solicitations and attempts made against her. Flatterers could not move her, nor threats, nor torments terrify her. She had given her heart to Christ; and was resolved that nothing of this world should take it from him. Her constancy was first tried by the fire, from which, like pure gold, she came out without hurt. Afterwards, by the sword of the executioner, she gave up her soul, a holy victim into the hands of her heavenly spouse. Pray for this spirit of the love of God, that you may sincerely give your heart to him, and be ever faithful in what you do. Be ashamed to be outdone by a virgin of thirteen years; and that not having half the trials which she had, you are so often overcome. You pretend to love God: and yet upon every little difficulty, or the flattery of creatures, you surrender yourself, and become a prey, either to impatience, sensuality, or self-love. Humble yourself at the sight of your infirmity and inconstancy: lay a better foundation, and beg for the strength of this saint.

Lament the unhappy education of both sexes, in these tender years; who are trained up to an early knowledge of the follies and vanities of this world; but little acquainted with the practice of a Christian life. Instead of humility, they are instructed in pride: instead of meekness, they are taught to be imperious: instead of forsaking the world, they are taught to admire it: instead of self-denial, they are bred up in the practice of indulging themselves. Thus, instead of loving God, and being prepared to sacrifice all to him, they fall a sacrifice to vanity and self-love. Pray, therefore, for all parents, that their care and love for their children may be substantial; that nature may not be their rule, but the gospel; and that, if they have faith, they may give proof of it in this point." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

St Fabian and St. Sebastian

"ST. FABIAN was bishop of Rome, and succeeded St. Anterus in the year 236. Eusebius relates that he was elected in consequence of a miraculous sign of a dove appearing over his head. He governed the Church sixteen years, and died a glorious martyr in the persecution of Decius, in the year 250. St. Cyprian calls him an incomparable man; and says that the glory of his death had answered the purity and holiness of his life. Pray for the present bishop of that holy see, that in piety and zeal for his flock, he may imitate his holy predecessors. Pray for yourself, that in all afflictions you may suffer with the meekness, submission, and patience of the martyrs.

St. Sebastian was chief commander under Dioclesian. For encouraging and assisting the persecuted Christians, he was, by order of the emperor, bound to a tree, shot with arrows, and left for dead. Irene, a pious widow, going to bury him, found him still alive, and took him to her lodgings; where by care, he recovered of his wounds, but refused to fly. He even reproached the emperor for his unjust cruelties to the Christians. This freedom of speech greatly astonished the emperor, especially from a person whom he supposed to have been dead. But recovering from his surprise, he gave orders for St. Sebastian to be beaten with cudgels, which finished his glorious martyrdom.

Pray for the spirit of charity so eminent in this saint; that according to your circumstances, you may be ever ready to counsel, comfort and relieve those who are in distress. It is the most effectual means of drawing down the divine assistance for your own help: for your charity to others opens God's hands to you. Pray for all soldiers, that they may be better prepared for death than too generally they are: and pray for their commanders, that they may keep up Christian, as well as military discipline." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

"He was remarkable from his childhood for his temperance, "close attendance on church duties, and punctual obedience to his parents. Having heard these words read in the Gospel: If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and come, follow me; he understood them as spoken to himself, sold all that he had, and distributed it to the poor. Pray for a like obedience to all the commands of Christ, and that as often as you read the Scripture, it may be with the like fruit to your soul. Pray for poverty of spirit; that your affections being taken off from the things of this world, you may ever be in readiness to forsake all. If you find your heart too eagerly set on anything here, have you not reason to judge yourself unsafe? If forsaking creatures be the way of perfection, must not seeking and loving them be very dangerous ?

St. Antony retired from his father's house into a desert, where he lived in the exercise of prayer, rigorous fasting, and the constant practice of all virtues, to the age of a hundred and five years. He separated himself as much as possible from all creatures, that his heart might not be withdrawn from God. Pray for this spirit. Your obligation of seeking and loving God is as great as his; but your difficulty in doing it is so much greater than his, as you are more engaged with creatures than he was. If the life of hermits who had quitted the world, was so mortified, are not greater watchfulness and self-denial necessary for you, who are in much greater danger than they were?

In that retirement, St. Anthony was assaulted with much greater temptations than before. But he went on with courage, not fearing what the devil could do. Pray for constancy like his. Be not dejected by the most violent temptations: the devil may terrify, but he cannot hurt you, unless you are willing. If God is pleased thus to exercise you, submit with patience and humility, ever placing your confidence in his assistance. Peaceable devotion is more to your inclination; but a life of greater exercise is also one of greater merit, and if you overcome, will gain you a greater crown." Source:  The Catholic Year; Or Daily Lessons on the Feasts of the Church, Rev. Fr. John Gother, 1861.

"He was bishop of Rome. Pray for the present Bishop of that Holy See; that God would please to assist him with His heavenly grace, answerable to the greatness of his charge. Pray for all other bishops and pastors of Christ's Church.

St. Marcellus, by enforcing the canons of holy penance, drew upon himself the contradictions and persecutions of many tepid and refractory Christians; and for his severity against a certain apostate, he was banished by the tyrant Maxentius. He died in 310, having sat one year, seven months, and twenty days; and is styled a martyr. Pray for a spirit like his, that you may be ready to embrace all kinds of humiliations. God may be served in all lawful states: be but faithful, and God will be so too. If your lot and manner of life be contemptible to the world, patience and humility will make it honorable in the sight of God. Grieve not therefore, nor be uneasy at your condition, whatever it be. The laborious Christian is much better than the idle one. He that eats by the sweat of his brow, is in a much safer way, than he that lives at ease. If your difficult circumstances will not allow you the time you desire to pray; remember that patience, and humble suffering and laboring, are all praying. God regards not the form, but a sincere heart. Pray what you can; and never doubt but your desires will be heard.

God makes every thing serve for the sanctification of His servants. He wonderfully ordains and directs all human events to their spiritual advancement, both in prosperity and adversity. In their persecutions and trials, especially, we shall discover, at the last day, the tenderness of His infinite love, the depth of His unsearchable wisdom, and the extent of His omnipotent power. In all His appointments, adore these His attributes, earnestly imploring His grace, that according to the designs of His mercy, you may make every thing, especially all afflictions, serve for your exercise and improvement in virtue, and progress in perfection." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother

Guercino  (1591–1666): St. Paul the Hermit Fed by the Raven

"To escape the persecution of Decius and Valerian, he went into the desert at the age of fifteen. Pray for the light of heaven, that you may seriously consider the persecution you are under. Ill company is a persecution; evil habits are a persecution; pride, vanity, the love of yourself and the world, are a persecution; all your violent passions and perverse inclinations are a persecution. Compare these with your ordinary weakness; and see whether you have not reason to think yourself in danger. Why not then resolve to withdraw, for your own security? There is no need of finding a desert, the world may be a solitude to you, if you are but resolute enough to separate yourself from the unnecessary dangers of it. These you too often create to yourself, in favor of your sensuality, pride and self-love. Pray for grace truly to discern, and then to overcome them.

Saint Hilaire, peint par Pierre-Floréal Crémière

• The Church is the Ship outside which it is impossible to understand the Divine Word, for Jesus spoke from the boat to the people gathered on the shore.
• The utter folly of our time is lamentable, that men should think to assist God with human help and to protect the Church of Christ by worldly ambition.

"He was of a most illustrious family in Gaul, and brought up in idolatry. But by the divine grace he was happily converted to the Christian faith; and from his baptism led a life of eminent zeal and piety. He had lived with so much regularity in a conjugal state, that for his extraordinary virtues he was made choice of to be bishop of the diocese wherein he lived. Pray for all who have the care of families: they have the charge of them under God, being his vicegerents, and must give an account of all the disorders, whether in children or servants, which are occasioned by their ill example or neglect. How few families are to be found, in which Christian discipline and order are observed! Those who should give the example, are irregular themselves; and then what becomes of those who are under their charge? Spare not your prayers on a subject which demands your tears; and if you have any part in this duty, pray that you may be faithful in it. Beg pardon for past errors, and take effectual care to amend. Think not your charge small: weigh it in all its particulars, and you will find it very great.

St. Hilary, being made bishop, applied himself wholly to the discharge of his duty. He stood resolutely against the enemies of the Christian faith, by preaching, writing, and disputing, and opposed the then prevailing errors of the Arians. Pray for the extirpation of all errors, especially that of the Arians. Pray for all the bishops of Christ's Church; that in their piety, vigilance, and zeal, they may follow the example of this saint in reforming all abuses destructive of faith and a good life. Do your part in being an advocate for truth by your good example.

St. Hilary died in the year 368. He is styled by St. Augustin, "the illustrious doctor of the Churches :" and St. Jerome says that he was a "most eloquent man, and the trumpet of the Latins against the Arians." Recommend yourself and all belonging to you on this his festival to his holy intercession." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother

DEATH RATHER THAN SIN.--The emperors Valerian and Gallianus raised against the Church a persecution so violent that the Christians for a time deemed that the reign of Antichrist had come. The persecution began in the year 259, and lasted three years and a half; it is reckoned as the eighth general persecution. The number of persons of every age and condition who preferred death to apostasy cannot be computed: the East, the West, Africa, and the world at large, were deluged with Christian blood; there were isolated slaughterings, as well as general massacres. The Martyrology mentions, on the 13th of January, the forty soldiers who suffered death on the same day, in these terms:-"At Rome, the triumph of the forty blessed soldiers who deserved to bear off the crown of martyrdom for their profession of faith, in the Lavinian Way, under the reign of Gallianus."

MORAL REFLECTION.-The abject spirits that have apostatized in order to save their lives are sighing away in utter darkness. The generous Christian souls that preferred death are dwelling with God in His glory. "For he that will save his life shall lose it, and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it," saith Jesus Christ. -(Matt. xvi. 25.)

 

Saint Arcadius

FORGIVENESS OF INJURIES.-At the time of Valerian's persecution, about the year 257, a Christian of Cæsarea, named Arcadius, illustrious for his birth and riches, had betaken himself to flight, so as to avoid the risk of suffering; but on learning that one of his relatives had offered himself in his stead, he was deeply touched by such unwonted generosity, reproached himself as a coward, and returned to surrender himself to the judge who was to consign him to death. Unable to induce him by the most enticing promises or the most terrible threats to apostatize from the Christian religion, the judge condemned him to have his limbs amputated one after the other until death should put a term to his sufferings. Arcadius endured this protracted martyrdom with a constancy so marvellous, that the judge, tired out at last, ordered the executioners to end their cruelty by disembowelling the victim. Arcadius continued to pray for his tormentors: "My God, forgive them, they know not what they do!"

MORAL REFLECTION. -This is the example given by Jesus Christ upon the cross, and by St. Stephen while he was being stoned. Let us not lose sight of this injunction of the Divine Master: "Pray for those that hate you and persecute you." "Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven."-(Matt. v. 44. Luke vi. 37.)

Saint Theodosius

BE MINDFUL OF DEATH.-Theodosius was born in Cappadocia towards the year 423, and was brought up in sentiments of tender piety. He first devoted himself to the priestly state; but feeling afterwards called to contemplation and retirement, he adopted the life of a cœnobite. His humility failed to hide from the eyes of the world at large the splendour of his sanctity; and a great throng of persons of every age having assembled round his cell, he withdrew into a solitude more retired still, with the intent to remain unknown to men. A few companions went to join him, and subsequently numerous disciples followed; so that he saw himself obliged to found a new monastery; for his charity exceeded all bounds. He never refused to receive any one, nor denied anything to any one. He often expended the last resources of the monastery in favour of strangers, pilgrims, and the poor. The thought ever-present to his mind was that of death; the first advice which he offered to his disciples was to prepare to die. Despite his great austerities and labours, his life was prolonged to the age of 106.

MORAL REFLECTION.-The Holy Spirit has told us by the lips of the Wise Man, "Have ever before thy eyes the remembrance of thy last end, and thou shalt never sin."-(Eccles. vii. 40.) (Pictorial half hours with the saints, by Abbe Auguste François Lecanu)