From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

May 15th =E2=80=93 Sts. Peter, Paul, Andrew, Dionysia & Decius, Martyrs

Died 251.
=C2 Peter was a young man of Lampsacus on the Hellespont, who was
martyred at Troas together with SS. Paul, Andrew, Dionysia, and
Decius. Peter was remarkable for his physical beauty and the natural
endowments of his mind, as well as his faith and virtue. He was
captured and brought before Proconsul Optimus who said, "You have
before your eyes the edicts of our invincible princes: sacrifice to
the goddess Venus, as they command."

Peter answered: "I am surprised that you should endeavor to persuade
me to sacrifice to an infamous lewd woman, whose actions modesty
forbids me to mention, and are such as are punishable by your own
laws."

Optimus ordered him to be extended on a wheel, with pieces of wood so
disposed and bound on his body with iron chains, that the wheel being
put in motion it might gradually occasion the breaking of his bones.
The martyr, turning his eyes towards the heavens, said, with a
cheerful countenance: "I praise and thank you, O Lord Jesus Christ,
for vouchsafing me patience to overcome this cruel tyrant." Optimus,
seeing his unshaken resolution, ordered his head to be struck off.

After this execution, three other Christians, Andrew, Paul, and
Nicomachus, were brought before him. He asked their origin and
religion. Nicomachus answered loudly with impatience, "I am a
Christian." When ordered to sacrifice to the gods, Nicomachus
answered: A Christian must not sacrifice to devils." The proconsul
gave orders that he should be hung on the rack and tortured. When he
was just ready to expire under his torments, he unhappily lost his
crown, and cried out: "I never was a Christian, and am ready to
sacrifice to the gods."

The proconsul immediately caused him to be taken off the rack, but no
sooner had the miserable man offered sacrifice than he was seized by
the devil, fell on the ground, and beat it with his head in violent
agonies, in which he expired. God afforded his other two servants a
comfort under their affliction for this loss.

Dionysia, a tender virgin about 16 years old, who was standing by, was
struck at this misfortune, and said: "Unfortunate wretch! Why did you
bring upon yourself eternal torments for the sake of a moment's ease?"
Optimus, hearing these words, asked if she was a Christian: she
confessed she was. He then required her to sacrifice, and threatened
to expose her to prostitution, and burn her alive in case of refusal.

Finding his threats made no impression on her constancy, he ordered
her to be put into the hands of two young men to be deflowered. They
took her with them to their lodgings, but she resisted so strenuously
that she tired them out. About midnight they were surprised at the
appearance of a young man, glittering with light, which diffused
itself over the whole house. Seized with fear, they threw themselves
at the feet of the holy virgin. She raised them up, and told them not
to be afraid, saying: "This is my Guardian Angel and protector." They
asked her to intercede for them that they would not be harmed.

The next morning, the mob, stirred up by the priests of Diana, beset
the house of the proconsul, demanding in a tumultuous manner to have
Andrew and Paul delivered up to them. The proconsul, to humor them,
had them brought forth and commanded them to sacrifice to Diana. Upon
their refusal, Optimus had them scourged and then threw them to the
rabble who stoned them to death.

When Dionysia heard the raucous noise surrounding their execution, she
began to weep and wail bitterly. She escaped her guards and ran to the
place where they were. Upon seeing her fellows, she cried out: "That I
may live with you eternally in heaven, I will die with you on earth."
The proconsul being informed of the wonderful preservation of her
chastity, her escape, and desire to die with the martyrs, ordered her
to be taken away from Andrew and Paul, and to be beheaded at a
distance (Benedictines, Husenbeth).


Quote
Then will he who kept his body in subjection (I Col.9:27) have greater
joy than he who lavished every pleasure upon it. Then will the rags of
the poor shine with splendour, and the gorgeous raiment become
tarnished.
--Thomas =C3 Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 1, Ch 24

Bible Quote:
"And Jesus seeing him become sorrowful [for he was very rich], said:
How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God"
...[St. Luke 18:24]


<><><><>
PRAYER TO SEEK GOD CONTINUALLY

O Lord my God,
I believe in you,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit...
Insofar as I can,
Insofar as you have given me the power,
I have sought you.
I became weary and I laboured.
O Lord my God,
My sole hope,
help me to believe
And never to cease seeking you.
Grant that I may always and ardently
Seek out your countenance.
Give me the strength to seek you,
For you help me to find you
And you have more and more given me
the hope of finding you.
Here I am before you
With my firmness and my infirmity.
Preserve the first and heal the second..
Here I am before you
With my strength and my ignorance.
Where you have opened the door to me,
Welcome me at the entrance;
Where you have closed the door to me,
Open to my cry;
Enable me to remember you,
To understand you,
And to love you.

Amen.

--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)