From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
December 9th - Saint Leocadia of Toledo, Virgin, Martyr
(d. 303)
Saint Leocadia was the fervent daughter of an illustrious Christian
family of Toledo, apprehended and martyred in 303 by an order of
Dacian, the cruel governor under Diocletian.
When Dacian arrived in Toledo, she was soon denounced. Summoned before
his tribunal, she replied to his contemptuous words concerning the
true religion that she considered herself infinitely happy to serve
God and His Son Jesus Christ, and that nothing whatsoever would be
able to make her renounce her religion. She was flogged until covered
with blood, then imprisoned with threats. She went to the prison with
joy, consoling the Christians along the route who deplored her
condition, telling them to rejoice in the grace she received to suffer
for her Lord and Spouse. It was in this prison that she heard of the
incredibly cruel martyrdom inflicted on her compatriot, Saint Eulalia,
and she was so grieved by these cruelties, and by the condition of the
true servants of God in those days, that she prayed to be retired from
this world. Her prayer was heard, and she expired peacefully there on
December 9, 303, kissing a cross which the touch of her hand imprinted
on the hard rock of the prison wall.
A church was built over her tomb, in which several archbishops of
Toledo chose to be buried. Two other famous churches in Toledo bear
her name, one built over the site of the prison, and the other at that
of the paternal home. Saint Leocadia is honored as the principal
patroness of the city. Her relics were kept in that church with great
respect, until during the incursions of the Moors, they were conveyed
to Oviedo, and again elsewhere, then they were eventually carried back
to Toledo with great pomp, and placed in the great church there on the
26th of April, 1589.
Reflection: If we were not blinded by the world and the enchantment of
its follies, and would choose to meditate frequently on the certain
prospect of eternity and the uncertainty of the hour of our death, the
precepts of Christ would produce in us the same fervent dispositions
which they did in the primitive Christians. (Rev. Alban Butler)
Sources: Les Petits Bollandistes: Vies des Saints, by Msgr. Paul
Gu=C3=A9rin (Bloud et Barral: Paris, 1882), Vol. 14; Little Pictorial Lives
of the Saints
Saint Quote:
Virtue is nothing without the trial of temptation, for there is no
conflict without an enemy, no victory without strife.
--Pope St. Leo the Great
Bible Quote:
37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and
proclaimed, =E2=80=9CIf any one thirst, let him come to me and drink=C2 =
38 He
who believes in me, as[e]the scripture has said, .Out of his heart
shall flow rivers of living water.'=E2=80=9D 39 Now this he said ab=
out the
Spirit, which those who believed in him were to receive; for as yet
the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
[John 7:37-39]=C2 =C2 RSVCE
[e] John 7:38 Or let him come to me, and let him who believes in me drink
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A PRAYER TO MY LORD
My Lord,
I offer you my thoughts:
to be fixed on you;
My words:
to have you for their theme;
My actions:
to reflect my love for you;
My sufferings:
to be endured for your greater glory.
I want to do what you ask of me:
In the way you ask,
For as long as you ask,
Because you ask it.
Lord, enlighten my understanding,
Strengthen my will,
Purify my heart,
and make me holy.
Help me to repent of my past sins
And to resist temptation in the future.
Help me to rise above my human weaknesses
And to grow stronger as a Christian.
Amen.
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