From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

January 10th =E2=80=93 St. Marcian of Constantinople B (RM)

Died c. 480. Marcian was a saint of Constantinople, though connected
with a Roman family. He was ordained a priest and appointed treasurer
of Santa Sophia. Many churches were in disrepair in Constantinople
but, in his official capacity, Marcian superintended their restoration
to former beauty, and the building of several churches, most notably
the Anastasis. He was also inspired to write splendid hymns. So he
used all his talents to bring people to worship Jesus.

He modeled his life after that of Saint John the Baptist, always
trying to serve God by fasting and praying. But unlike John the
Baptist, he came of a rich family. Marcian gave away much money to the poor=E2=80=94secretly, so as not to gain the approval of his fellow men.

At times he suffered persecution because he was wrongly suspected of
being a Novatian. One of his persecutors, threatening to kill Marcian,
asked him, "Why do you talk of life, if you wish to die?" Marcian
replied, "Because it is everlasting life I look for, not the life of
this world." Eventually people saw that this was an uncommonly good
man, one who should be copied, not persecuted.

One day when he was hurrying to the consecration of a new church, he
passed a miserable, nearly naked beggar. Saint Marcian gave him all
his clothing. All he had left was a chasuble. The congregation,
however, seemed to see a fine golden robe under Marcian's chasuble.
Afterwards Patriarch Gennadius even rebuked the saint for dressing so ostentatiously. Marcian plucked off the chasuble and revealed that he
was wearing nothing else (Benedictines, Bentley).


Saint Quote:
=E2=80=9CA single act of pure love pleases Me more than a thousand imperfec=
t
prayers. One of your sighs of love atones for many offenses with which
the godless overwhelm Me....=E2=80=9D
--Words of Our Lord to Saint Faustina(#1489)

Bible Quote:
Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in
heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. Many will say to me
in that day: Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in thy name, and cast
out devils in thy name, and done many miracles in thy name? [Mat
7:21-22] DRB


<><><><>
HAIL THOU STAR OF OCEAN

Hail thou star of ocean Portal of the sky
Ever virgin Mother Of the Lord Most High

O! by Gabriel's Ave Uttered long ago,
Eva's name reversing, Established peace below

Break the captives' fetters, Light on blindness pour,
=C2 All our ills expelling, Every bliss implore

Show thyself a Mother, Offer Him our sighs,
Who for us incarnate Did not thee despise

Virgin of all virgins To thy shelter take us,
Gentlest of the gentle Chaste and gentle make us

Still, as on we journey, Help our weak endeavor,
Till with thee and Jesus We rejoice forever

Through the highest heaven, To the almighty Three
Father, Son, and Spirit, One same glory be. =C2 Amen.

--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)