From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
February 24th - SS. Montanus, Lucius and Companions
Emperor Valerian persecuted Christians with vengeance during the days
of the early Church. He had permitted St. Cyprian's execution in
September 258. The Roman official who had actually sentenced Cyprian
died himself soon after. The new official, Solon, was nearly the
victim of an uprising which included a plot on his life. It seems he
suspected the plot to be in revenge for the death of St. Cyprian. He
arrested 8 innocent people. All were Christians; most were clergy.
Each had been a devoted follower of St. Cyprian.
The Christians were taken down into dark dungeons. They found others
there whom they knew. The filth and dampness circled the group. They
realized that they would soon be facing death and eternity. The
Christians were kept many months in the prison. They worked during the
day and often were denied food and water without any reason. Somehow
in such inhuman conditions, the little Christian community bonded and
helped one another. The lay people protected the bishops, priests and
deacons who were especially targets of the emperor's cruelty.
When the Christians were finally called to the place of execution,
each was permitted to speak. Montanus, who was tall and strong, spoke
bravely to all the Christian crowd. He told them to be true to Jesus
and to die rather than give up the faith. Lucius, who was small and
frail, walked quietly to the place of execution. He was weak from the
harsh months in prison. In fact, he had to lean on two friends who
helped him arrive at the spot where the executioner waited. The people
who watched called to him to remember them from paradise.
As each of the Christians were beheaded one after another, the crowd
became more and more courageous. They wept for those who suffered such injustice. But they were joyful, too. They realized that these martyrs
would bless them from heaven. Montanus, Lucius and their companions
were martyred in 259.
Kindness and love for one another marked these saints' lives. Today,
we might consider thinking of doing something good for someone with
whom we do not particularly find it easy to get along.
Saint Quote:
"He who is truly humble must desire in truth to be despised, mocked, persecuted, and blamed, although wrongfully. If he wishes to imitate
Christ, how can he do it better than in this way? Oh, how wise will
he, one day, be seen to be, who rejoiced in being accounted vile and
even a fool! for such was Wisdom itself esteemed"
--St. Teresa
Bible Quote:
A vain man is lifted up into pride, and thinketh himself born free
like a wild ass's colt.=C2 (Job 11:12)
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Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Most Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, Father of the poor, Comforter of the afflicted, Light of hearts, Sanctifier of souls; behold me prostrate
in Thy presence.
I adore Thee with profoundest homage: I bless Thee a thousand times,
and with the Seraphim who stand before Thy throne, I also say: "Holy,
holy, holy."
I firmly believe that Thou art eternal, consubstantial with the Father
and the Divine Son.
I hope in Thy goodness that Thou wilt deign to save and sanctify my soul.
I love Thee, O Divine Love, with all my affections above all the
things of this world, because Thou art Infinite Goodness, alone worthy
of all love.
And since in my ingratitude and blindness to Thy holy inspirations, I
have so often offended Thee by my sins, with tears in my eyes I beg
Thy pardon a thousand times, and am more sorry for having offended
Thee, the Sovereign Good, than for any other evil.
I offer Thee this most cold heart of mine, and I pray Thee to pierce
it with a ray of Thy light, and with a spark of Thy fire, which shall
melt the hard ice of my iniquities.
Thou who didst fill the soul of the most holy Mary with immense
graces, and didst inflame the hearts of the Apostles with holy zeal,
inflame, I beseech Thee, my heart also with Thy love.
Thou art the Divine Spirit; give me courage against all evil spirits.
Thou art Fire; enkindle in me Thy love.
Thou art Light; enlighten my mind with the knowledge of eternal things.
Thou art the Dove; give me innocence of life.
Thou art the gentle Breeze; disperse the storms of my passions.
Thou art the Tongue; teach me how to bless Thee always.
Thou art the Cloud; shelter me under the shadow of Thy protection.
And lastly, Thou art the Giver of all heavenly gifts; animate me, I
beseech Thee, with Thy grace; sanctify me with Thy charity; enlighten
me with Thy wisdom; adopt me by Thy goodness as Thy son, and save me
in Thy infinite mercy; so that I may ever bless Thee, praise Thee, and
love Thee; first during this life on earth, and then in heaven for all eternity. - Amen.
-- Saint Alphonsus M. de' Liguori
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