Saint Frementius
by VP
Posted on Friday October 27, 2023 at 12:00AM in Saints
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"THE WAYS OF GOD.- God preordains all things with reference to His designs; this consoling truth is too often absent from our minds in times of affliction. Frumentius and Edesius had been brought to Abyssinia while still children, by one of their relatives who had business there, and, while resting under a leafy shade, intent on their studies, were carried off by some of the inhabitants. They grew up in the midst of this half-barbarous race, and were raised to the highest dignities. The king, when at the point of death, restored to them their liberty. Frumentius, on returning to Tyre, his native town, concerted plans with St. Athanasius for the conversion of Abyssinia. He was soon afterwards sent thither as bishop; the inhabitants, being accustomed to respect and obey him, yielded to his appeal with such perfect docility that before long the entire kingdom was Christianized. In vain did the emperor Constantius strive to harass it by seeking to introduce the errors of Arianism; new though they were in Christianity, they refused to listen to his missionaries or to deliver up their bishop. Abyssinia remained and continues to be Catholic. Frumentius died towards the end of the fourth century.
MORAL REFLECTION.-With reference to how many events may the Christian who reflects well exclaim, as in the above instance: "The finger of God is there!"-(Exod. viii. 19.) Source: Pictorial half hours with the saints by Rev. Fr Auguste François Lecanu
"In every age, from Christ down to this very time, some new nations have
been added to the fold of Christ, as the annals of the Church show; and
the apostasy of those that have forsaken the path of truth, has been
repaired by fresh acquisitions. This is the work of the Most High; the
wonderful effect of all-powerful grace. It is owing to the divine
blessing that the heavenly seed fructifies in the hearts of men, and it
is God who raises up, and animates with his spirit zealous successors of the apostles, whom he wouchsafes to make His instruments in this great work. We are indebted to his gratuitous mercy for the inestimable benefit of this light of faith. If we correspond not faithfully, with fear and trembling, to so great a grace, our punishment will be so much the more dreadful. " Source: The Lives of the Saints by Rev. Fr. Alban Butler.
