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"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

"They being troubled and affrighted, imagined that they saw a spirit. This was the first effect of Christ's manifesting Himself to His apostles, after His rising from the dead. He presented Himself in the midst of them; but such was their difficulty of believing, that they could not persuade themselves that it was any more than an apparition. This their incredulity was necessary for establishing the faith of this mystery; since they required most convincing proofs to persuade them to believe it. This therefore was so ordered by Providence, in all the witnesses of this truth. The women that carried perfumes to His sepulchre, went with a persuasion of His being dead. The two disciples going to Emmaus, seemed disappointed in the hopes which they had once had of His Resurrection. The apostles, though prepared by the information which they had received, were not hasty in believing it. St. Thomas positively declared his disbelief, and that he would not believe, but upon evidence of seeing. Now though this was a weakness in all, yet it was permitted for our greater assurance. For had they shewn an over-credulity, their testimony might have been questioned, in a mystery so difficult. When however they give their lives in testimony of the truth, this renders them witnesses above all exception.

It is our duty therefore, to give hearty thanks to our Redeemer, for setting this fundamental article of our religion in so eminent a degree of certainty, that it equals and surpasses that of all other things in the world. For, the Resurrection of Christ being proved, all other articles are proved by it. If Jesus Christ is risen, then the whole Gospel is to be believed; then the Church is to be believed, which is promised in the Gospel; in fine, the whole Christian religion is to be believed, because it is all linked to the truth of the Resurrection.