From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

June 10: Blessed Olivia of Palermo
(ninth century)

Today we celebrate the feast of Blessed Olivia of Palermo, holy Virgin
and martyr of the Church. While it is commonly believed that Blessed
Olivia is a fictitious character, whose story reached prominence in
the early Church when it was mistaken as biography, she has been
venerated as Blessed since that time. As with many of the early Church
saints, lessons may be learned from their virtuous lives=E2=80=94lessons wh= ich
strengthen our faith today and remind us of the importance of
Christian virtue.

Not much is known specifically about the life of Blessed Olivia. Her
legend states that she was a beautiful young woman of approximately 13
years old, who had been born and piously raised in Palermo, Sicily.
When she reached her 13th year, invading Muslims from Tunisia, Africa, kidnapped her from her noble home, and took her with them back to
Africa. There, she was made to serve as a slave, which she did with cheerfulness, obedience, and diligence.

She was observed to go about her duties=E2=80=94some the most undesirable a=
nd
menial=E2=80=94with a song in her heart. She was frequently heard singing a=
nd
writing songs, which is why today she is considered the patroness of
music by some.

Eventually, her captors were so impressed with her attitude, virtue,
chastity, and beauty, they freed her from her servitude, allowing her
to take up residence in a nearby cave and live as a hermitess. There,
she spent her days in prayer and penance, and was the recipient of
heavenly visions. Local residents sought her out for pious advice,
miraculous cures, and instruction in the faith. Through her witness,
many were brought to Christianity, which later angered local leaders. Eventually, due to her influence with the people, she was imprisoned,
tortured, and subsequently executed for her faith. Sentenced to be
burned alive, her torturers grew fearful when she was unharmed by the
flames that leapt around her. Blessed Olivia was then beheaded,
earning her the glorious crown of the martyrs. At the moment of her
death, her soul was observed flying to heaven, in the form of a pure
white dove.

Blessed Olivia continues to be venerated today, especially in Carthage
and Palermo (where she is one of four patrons, alongside Saint Agatha,
Saint Christina, and Saint Nympha). She continues to be held in great
esteem in Tunisia, where the great mosque is named for her. Tunisian
Muslims, to this day, assert that any who speaks ill of Blessed Olivia
is always punished by the Lord.

The name Olivia is a symbol of peace, fruitfulness, dignity, and
beauty. We are inspired today, through her pious legend, to embrace
these virtues of our faith, and live them visibly for all to see.

Holy Virgin of the Lord, Olivia, pray that after we are gone from this
life that the memory of our purity remains. Amen.
=C2 by Jacob


Saint Quote:
It is almost certain that excess in eating is the cause of almost all
the diseases of the body, but its effects on the soul are even more
disastrous.
--St. Alphonsus Liguori

Bible Quote:
For behold the day shall come kindled as a furnace: and all the proud,
and all that do wickedly shall be stubble: and the day that cometh
shall set them on fire, saith the Lord of hosts, it shall not leave
them root, nor branch.
But unto you that fear my name, the Sun of justice shall arise, and
health in his wings: and you shall go forth, and shall leap like
calves of the herd.=C2 [Mal 4:1-2]

<><><><>
O Divine Jesus!
Lonely in So Many Tabernacles
By St Pope Pius X (1835-1914)
=E2=80=9CPope of the Blessed Sacrament=E2=80=9D

O Divine Jesus!
Lonely today in so many Tabernacles,
without visitor or worshipper,
I offer Thee my lonely heart.
May it's every beat be a prayer of love to Thee.
Thou are ever watching under the Sacramental Veils,
in Thou love, Thou never sleeps
and Thou are never weary of Thy vigils for sinners.
O Loving Jesus!
O Lonely Jesus!
may my heart be a lamp,
the light of which shall burn and beam
for Thee alone.
Watch, Sacramental Sentinel!
Watch for the weary world,
for the erring soul
and for Thy poor lonely child.
O Jesus, my God, I adore Thee,
here present in the Sacrament of Thy love.
Amen


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