From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

August 18th - St. Helen, Empress

=E2=80 =C2 c.=E2=80=89328/330

=C2 A native of Drepanum. in Asia Minor (it is said) and perhaps the
daughter of an innkeeper, Helen nevertheless caught the eye of a
rising Roman general, Constantius Chlorus. They entered a true
marriage around 270 A.D. When they were living at Nish, in the present Yugoslavia, she bore him a son whom they named Constantine
(Constantinus, i.e., =E2=80=9Clittle Constantius=E2=80=9D).

Constantius gradually became so influential and powerful that in 292
Maximian Herculius, Roman emperor of the West, named him co-emperor,
with the title of =E2=80=9CCaesar=E2=80=9D. Because he was now of imperial = rank,
Constantius decided to break off with the lowborn Helena. He then
married Theodora, stepdaughter of Emperor Maximian. (Marrying the
boss's daughter is an old ploy!)

Constantine, nevertheless, kept very close to his mother, whom he
dearly loved. When his father died in 306 and he was proclaimed
emperor to succeed him, Constantine raised Helena, now about 63, to
full imperial status. He gave her the name =E2=80=9CFlavia Julia Helena=E2= =80=9D,
assigned to her the imperial title =E2=80=9CAugusta=E2=80=9D, and issued a = series of
coins bearing her image.

Emperor Diocletian had divided the rule of the Roman empire among four =E2=80=9Cco-emperors=E2=80=9D. Constantine was to bring it back under the r= ule of a
single emperor. In 312 he conquered his western co-emperor, Maxentius,
on the outskirts of Rome. Up to then, the emperors had been waging war
on Christianity, but the Christian faith attracted Constantine. In 313
he issued a decree ending the persecutions and granting Christians
equal right to exist. He even enrolled as a Christian catechumen,
although he received baptism only on his deathbed. But Helena at once
became a full-fledged Christian, and devoted the rest of her life to
the good works of serving the poor and building and adorning Christian churches. Constantine gave her all the encouragement and aid she
needed in these tasks.

Having built several churches in the West, Helen made a pilgrimage to
the Holy Land in 324. Although now 80 years old, the Empress continued
to assist the needy and build churches. The pagan emperors had sought
to obliterate Christianity by building temples over Mount Calvary at
the Holy Sepulchre. Constantine, Helena and Bishop Macarius of
Jerusalem saw to it that these temples were razed and Christian
basilicas erected on the holy sites. In the process, the very
instruments of Christ's passion =E2=80=93 the three crosses, the na=
ils, the
crown of thorns, and the inscription were found near Mt. Calvary,
buried very deep. The story has it that Helen tested which of the
three crosses was that of Christ by touching each to a dying woman.
When one of the crosses brought about the woman's cure, it was
concluded that one was the true cross. The discovery of the crosses
was indeed a fact, and segments of Christ's cross were soon sent to
principal churches throughout the world.

St. Helena spent her last years in the East, where her son now lived.
She supervised the erection of churches not only in Jerusalem, but on
other Bible sites, especially the Mount of Olives and Bethlehem.
Although a woman of supreme prestige in the Christianized Roman
Empire, Helen made little of her status. She dressed simply and
refused to stand on ceremony. It was her preference to attend church
as a member of the crowd of =E2=80=9Cpraying women=E2=80=9D. The historian = Eusebius
admiringly said of her, =E2=80=9Cthough empress of the world and mistress o=
f
the empire, she looked upon herself as servant of the handmaids of Christ.=E2=80=9D She died in the East around 330. Her body was brought to R= ome
for burial and her splendid porphyry sarcophagus is now in the
Vatican. All women named Helen, Helena, Helene, Ellen, Elaine, Eileen,
Ella or Nell can claim as their patron this devout and humble queen.

Helen, though born a pagan, was a =E2=80=9Cnatural Christian=E2=80=9D. As s= uch she
recognized the cross of Christ as the symbol of the most important
fact of the world, that through it Christ saved mankind. She might
well have expressed this faith in the words of a later Latin
hymnodist: =E2=80=9CO Crux, ave, spes unica=E2=80=9D: =E2=80=9CAll hail, O = Cross, our only
hope!=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=93Father Bob


Saint Quote:
To leave our prayer when we are called to do some act of charity for
our neighbor, is not really a quitting of prayer, but leaving Christ
for Christ. Even in the midst of a crowd we can be going on to
perfection.
--St. Philip

Bible Quote:
Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him show
his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy
and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the
truth. 15 This wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is
earthly, unspiritual, devilish. [James 3:13-15]=C2 RSVCE


<><><><>
Prayer of St. Augustine

=C2 Lord Jesus, our Savior, let us now come to you: Our hearts are cold;
Lord, warm them with your selfless love.=C2 Our hearts are sinful;
cleanse them with your precious blood.=C2 Our hearts are weak;
strengthen them with your joyous Spirit.=C2 Our hearts are empty; fill
them with your divine presence.=C2 Lord Jesus, our hearts are yours;
possess them always and only for yourself.=E2=80=9D


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