From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
February 11th =E2=80=93 Saint Felix the Senator & Comps., Martyrs
Died 304.
The Acta of these African martyrs are believed to be authentic,
contemporaneous to their deaths. Emperor Diocletian had ordered
Christians to give up the holy Scriptures during a year-long
persecution. In the town of Abitina, Saturninus celebrated the
Eucharist on a Sunday in the house of Octavius Felix. The officials
became aware of it and sent soldiers to arrest the entire congregation
of 49 people. Arrested with Saturninus were his four children
Saturninus (junior) and Felix (both lectors), Mary (who had
consecrated her virginity to God), and Hilarianus (a child); and
Dativus and another Felix (senators), Thelica, Emeritus, Ampelius,
Rogatus, and Victoria.
The procession of prisoners was led by the senator and Saturninus, who
were followed immediately by the latter's children. Their courage in
professing Jesus was in stark contrast to the infamous sacrilege
committed just before by Bishop Fundanus of Abitina, who had given up
the sacred books to be burned, but a violent storm put out the fire.
After their resolute confession, the Christians were shackled and set
to Carthage, residence of the proconsul Anulinus. They thought
themselves blessed to be chained for Christ and sang hymns of praise
along the way.
Dativus was the first to be questioned, racked, torn with iron hooks,
and then beaten with cudgels as was each in turn. The women no less
than the men resolutely underwent the trials.
When Anulinus continuously asked why they presumed to celebrate the
Lord's Day against imperial orders, they repeatedly answered: "The
obligation of Sunday is indispensable. It is not lawful for us to omit
the duty of that day. We celebrated it as well as we could. We never
passed a Sunday without meeting at our assembly. We will keep the
commandments of God at the expense of our lives." No dangers nor
torments could deter them from this duty, from which so many now seek
to excuse themselves.
Previously, Victoria, a professed virgin of pagan parents, had leaped
from her window on her wedding day to prevent the marriage but was
miraculously saved from death and escaped to the refuge of a church.
Because she was counted among the nobility and her brother was a
pagan, Anulinus tried every means to prevail upon her to renounce her
faith and save herself.
She continued to profess her faith. Her pagan brother Fortunatianus
undertook her defense, but she refuted his intimation that she had
simply been led astray. Anulinus asked Victoria if she would return
home with her brother. She said that she could not because she only acknowledged as brethren those who kept the law of God. Continued
entreaties did not move her.
Anulinus then turned his attention to the child Hilarianus, son of
Saturninus, thinking that he could sway one of such a tender age. But
the child showed more contempt than fear of the tyrant's threats, and
continued to answer that he was a Christian of his own free will.
While his elders were being tortured, he replied, "Yes, torture me,
too; anyhow, I am a Christian."
These Christians died from the hardships of their confinement and are
all honored in the ancient calendar of Carthage and the Roman
Martyrology on February 11, though only two (both named Felix)
actually died on that day (Benedictines, Husenbeth).
Saint Quote:
It is loving the Cross that one finds one heart, for Divine Love
cannot live without suffering.
--St. Bernadette
Bible Quote:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His compassions never
fail; they are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.
(Lamentations 3:22-23)
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This day is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, where Our Mother
appeared to young Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. The Blessed Virgin
Mary appeared to St. Bernadette 18 times, beginning of the 11th of
February in that year. It was there the Providence of God saw fit to
confirm the long-held belief of Christendom, when Our Mother declared
that she was "The Immaculate Conception". In this place a spring
gushed forth, and to this day the grace of God continues to grant
miracles of healing. Crutches of the legion of cured souls line the
grotto.
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Prayer to Lady of Lourdes
Blessed Mother, our Lady of Lourdes, we thank you for appearing to the
child Bernadette so as to show the world the power of God. The
miracles brought forth then and even until now are a great testimony
of His Love and Mercy. Thank you, Mother, not only for the miraculous
healing power of the waters of Lourdes but also for the love and
compassion that prevails there. We thank our Father in heaven for you,
dear Mother and also for Saint Bernadette and we implore your
intercessions for us that we will always be like little children,
docile and loving and open to His Will. Amen.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)