From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

July 20th - Saint Margaret of Antioch
(died 304)

Saint Margaret of Antioch was a Virgin of the Church, and martyr for
the faith. As with other early saints, much of what we know of Saint
Margaret may be the stuff of pious legend, embroidered with medieval
fantasy, somewhat =E2=80=9Cfar-fetched=E2=80=9D by today's scientif=
ic standards.
Stripping away the dragons, however, we are left with a young woman,
committed to Christ, obedient to her calling, who suffered and died
for her faith=E2=80=A6 and those =E2=80=9Cfacts=E2=80=9D are enough to insp= ire us today.

Saint Margaret was born in Antioch (modern day Turkey) near the end of
the third century. Margaret's father was a pagan priest and her mot=
her
died when Margaret was very young. Her nurse, a pious Christian woman,
raised Margaret, instructing her in the Christian faith against her
father's wishes. When this betrayal was discovered, Margaret=E2=80=
=99s father
disowned her, and she left the home, continuing to live with her
nurse. Before the age of 10, Margaret consecrated herself to Jesus,
pledging to remain a virgin, a pure bride of Christ.

Margaret spent her days in prayer and contemplation, tending sheep in
the fields. One bright day, a local Roman prefect, Olybrius, observed
her during her prayer, and was taken by her delicate beauty. He
attempted to court her, but she refused his advances. In retaliation,
he accused her of being a Christian, which was forbidden at that time
under the reign of Emperor Diocletian. Christians were actively
persecuted upon discovery, and Margaret, who did not deny the charge,
was no exception. She was brought to trial, to which she offered no
defense, and was sentenced to execution upon refusing to offer
sacrifices to the pagan gods.

While imprisoned, Margaret is said to have been visited by the Devil,
in the form of a hideous, scaly dragon. Holy legend tells us that the
dragon, offended by her faith and purity, swallowed her whole.
However, the crucifix that Margaret carried with her so irritated his
throat, that she was coughed up, indigestible due to her faith,
unharmed. Following her emergence from the demon, the dragon
transformed into a handsome young man, whom Margaret immediately
attacked, resisting his charms. Throwing him to the ground, she
exclaimed, =E2=80=9CProud demon, lie prostrate beneath a woman's fo= ot!=E2=80=9D
foreshadowing the triumph of the Blessed Virgin over Satan. For this
reason, due to her delivery from the belly of the beast, it is
believed that Margaret is the patron saint of pregnancy, labor, and
childbirth. She is considered one of the 14 Holy Helpers, assisting in
safe delivery of children.

Multiple attempts were made to martyr Margaret, but each time her
prayers kept her safe. First, she was set afire, but remained
miraculously unharmed. Next, she was boiled in a large cauldron, and
again, emerged unscathed. Finally, at approximately age 15, Saint
Margaret was beheaded, the name of Christ upon her lips until the
final moment of her life.

Following her death, St Margaret is believed to have visited with
Saint Joan of Arc, one of the heavenly voices that assisted Joan in
her holy mission in France. At her trial, St Joan said: "St Michael,
when he came to me, told me that St Catherine and St Margaret would
come to me and that I should act by their advice, that they were
bidden to lead me in what I had to do and that I should believe in
what they would say to me and that it was by God's order."

Saint Margaret's body was buried at Antioch, but her remains were
taken translated to Italy where they were divided between shrines in Montefiascone and Venice. She remains a popular saint today throughout
Europe, with a common belief that those who read and spread her story
will receive an eternal crown in heaven. She is also invoked
frequently by women during childbirth, whom she promised to pray for
following her encounter with Satan.

Fantastical though it may be, St Margaret of Antioch was a young woman
who resisted the temptations of the world. Remaining pure in body,
spirit, and faith, she went to her death with a confidence far beyond
her years, remaining true to the Lord. Whether she physically battled
with the Devil, we can be certain that she did so spiritually each
day, and in the end, triumphed over him, receiving the martyr's cro=
wn,
and taking her rightful place in heaven with the saints.

Saint Quote:
Nothing can be more dangerous than evil companions. They communicate
the infection of their vices to all who associate with them.
=E2=80=94St. John Baptist de la Salle

Bible Quote
And the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into
heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God. 20 But they going forth
preached every where: the Lord working withal, and confirming the word
with signs that followed. (Mark 16:14-20)


<><><><>
Jesus, Lover of chastity, Mary, Mother most pure, and Joseph,
chaste guardian of the Virgin, to you I come at this hour, begging you
to plead with God for me. I earnestly wish to be pure in thought, word
and deed in imitation of your own holy purity.
Obtain for me, then, a deep sense of modesty which will be
reflected in my external conduct. Protect my eyes, the windows of my
soul, from anything that might dim the luster of a heart that must
mirror only Christlike purity.
And when the "Bread of Angels becomes the Bread of me" in my heart
at Holy Communion, seal it forever against the suggestions of sinful
pleasures.
Heart of Jesus, Fount of all purity, have mercy on us. Amen.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)