• August 5th - Saint Afra, Martyr

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Sat Aug 4 10:10:23 2018
    From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

    August 5th - Saint Afra, Martyr
    died 304

    Saint Afra was a woman of ill-repute but had kindly hid her local
    bishop during the persecution of Christians. From his influence, she
    converted to the faith, dedicated herself to acts of charity, and was eventually persecuted and executed for her beliefs. The life of Saint
    Afra reminds us that true conversion and repentance for past sins is
    always possible, and that Our Loving Father calls us to Him regardless
    of the sins we have committed in the past!

    Afra was originally a courtesan in the German town of Augsburg, having
    grown up in Cyprus, and moved to that area. Upon moving to Augsburg,
    it is likely that Afra worked in a brothel, possibly close to the
    pagan Temple of Venus. At the onset of the persecution of Christians
    under the orders of Emperor Diocletian, Afra and her mother, Hilaria,
    hid the local bishop from harm. The holy man, Bishop Narcissus of
    Girona, did not know the profession of Afra and her mother, and
    through his witness, converted them to the faith. Afra and her mother,
    as well as her servants, were baptized, and began spending their time
    in charitable acts to the poor and suffering around them.

    Despite the threat of death and persecution, Afra continued to hide
    the holy bishop until she herself was arrested and brought before the authorities. The judge, Gaius, knew of Afra and her profession, and
    ordered her to sacrifice to the pagan gods or be condemned to death.

    Afra declared: =E2=80=9CI was a great sinner before I knew God; but I will = not
    add new crimes, nor do what you command me. My capitol is Jesus
    Christ, whom I have always before my eyes. I every day confess my
    sins; and, because I am unworthy to offer him any sacrifice, I desire
    to sacrifice myself for his name, that this body in which I have
    sinned may be purified and sacrificed to him by torments.=E2=80=9D

    Gaius persisted, referencing her former profession, and urging her to
    recant her faith. =E2=80=9CI am informed,=E2=80=9D he said, =E2=80=9Cthat y=
    ou are a
    prostitute. Sacrifice, therefore, as you are a stranger to the God of
    the Christians, and cannot be accepted by him.=E2=80=9D

    But Afra replied, =E2=80=9COur Lord Jesus Christ hath said, that he came do=
    wn
    from heaven to save sinners. The gospels testify that an abandoned
    woman washed his feet with her tears, and obtained pardon, and that he
    never rejected the publicans, but permitted them to eat with him.=E2=80=9D

    Gaius said, =E2=80=9CJesus Christ will have nothing to do with you. It is i=
    n
    vain for you to acknowledge him for your God: a common prostitute can
    never he called a Christian.=E2=80=9D

    Afra replied, =E2=80=9CIt is true, I am unworthy to bear the name of a Christian; but Christ hath admitted me to be one.=E2=80=9D

    Growing frustrated, the judge ordered her again: =E2=80=9CSacrifice to the gods, and they will save you.=E2=80=9D

    The martyr replied: =E2=80=9CMy Savior is Jesus Christ, who upon the cross promised paradise to the thief who confessed him. The only subject of
    my confusion and grief are my sins.=E2=80=9D

    Having run out of patience, Gaius declared, =E2=80=9CI am ashamed that I ha=
    ve
    disputed so long with you. If you do not comply, you shall die.=E2=80=9D

    Afra replied: =E2=80=9CThat is what I desire, if I am not unworthy to find
    rest by this confession. Let that body which hath sinned undergo
    torments; but as to my soul, I will not taint it by sacrificing to demons.=E2=80=9D

    Throwing up his hands, Gaius sentenced Afra to death. =E2=80=9CWe condemn
    Afra, a prostitute who hath declared herself a Christian, to be burnt
    alive, because she hath refused to offer sacrifice to the gods.=E2=80=9D

    Afra was immediately seized, stripped of her clothing, tied to a
    stake, and set ablaze. While she burned, she lifter her eyes to heaven
    and prayed: =E2=80=9CO Lord Jesus Christ, Omnipotent God, who camest to cal=
    l
    not the righteous, but sinners to repentance, accept now the penance
    of my sufferings, and by this temporal fire deliver me from the
    everlasting fire, which torments both body and soul. I return thee
    thanks, O Lord Jesus Christ, for the honor thou hast done me in
    receiving me a holocaust for thy name's sake; thou who hast vouchsa=
    fed
    to offer thyself upon the altar of the cross a sacrifice for the sins
    of the whole world, the just for the unjust, and for sinners. I offer
    myself a victim to thee, O my God, who livest and reignest with the
    Father and the Holy Ghost world without end. Amen.=E2=80=9D

    Having prayed and handed her life over to her creator, Saint Afra
    died. Her mother and her servants rescued her body and interred her
    relics in a selpuchre. In the process of this act they were caught,
    and refusing to sacrifice to the pagan gods, were likely executed.
    by Jacob


    Saint Quote:
    Many a man curses the rain that falls upon his head, and knows not
    that it brings abundance to drive away the hunger.
    --Saint Basil

    Bible Quote:
    Put away from you crooked speech,
    and put devious talk far from you. Proverbs 4:24 RSVCE


    <><><><>
    Lord Jesus Christ, most merciful Savior of the world, we humbly
    beseech You, by Your most Sacred Heart, that all the sheep who stray
    out of Your fold may in one days be converted to You, the Shepherd and
    Bishop of their souls, who lives and reigns with God the Father in the
    unity of the Holy Spirit, world without end.
    Amen.
    --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
    * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)