From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
January 30: -Saint Martina of Rome
=C2 (died 226)
Today we celebrate the feast day of Saint Martina of Rome, virgin
martyr, and model of charity for the poor. Saint Martina was martyred
for her refusal to renounce Christ and sacrifice to the pagan gods.
Martina's witness, made all the more powerful by her youth, is said=
to
have inspired miraculous conversions similar to that experienced by
Saint Paul.=C2 Her faith and conviction inspires us today.
Born into the family of a wealthy and noble consul in Rome, Saint
Martina grew up with the luxuries and privileges reserved for the
wealthy at that time. Nonetheless, she shied away from vain pursuits,
and instead offered her time (and her family's wealth) in service t=
o
the poor.=C2 While still young, both of Saint Martina's parents =
died,
and she was left with a sizable inheritance.=C2 For the love of Christ,
she distributed all that she had to the poor and needy of Rome.=C2 This
she did to sever her ties with the world, that she might be more ready
for martyrdom, should she fall victim to the Christian persecution
sweeping the city.
This persecution, under the direction of Emperor Alexander Severus,
had begun in attempts to rid the city of the Christian faith, a faith
that was deemed threatening to the Roman Empire.=C2 Similar persecution
swept throughout the land, but was most pronounced in Rome.=C2 One
afternoon, Martina was discovered praying in a church.=C2 She readily accompanied the three officers who arrested her, begging them politely
to let her finish her prayers and speak with her bishop.=C2 This they
did, triumphantly returning her to the emperor, certain that she would
renounce the faith and serve as an example to other Christians.
However, when ordered to speak, Saint Martina asserted that she would
never sacrifice to the pagan gods, and certainly never to idols--the
handiwork of men.=C2 She proclaimed the truth of the one true God, and
was sentenced to torture.
Martina was raked with iron hooks across her body, but in the process,
her torturers were thrown to the ground by a powerful shaking of the
earth accompanied by a bright light.=C2 Within this light, Saint Martina prayed for their souls, and when they arose, they had been converted,
similar to Saint Paul's experience on the road.
Not to be embarrassed, the emperor ordered her tortured again.=C2 This
time, she was tied by her hands and feet to posts in the ground and
cruelly scourged.=C2 She was allowed to rest one day, assuming this
torture (and the threat of more) would change her mind.=C2 When brought
to the temple of Diana the next day to offer sacrifice, fire fell from
the heavens and burnt the temple, crushing and killing many pagan
priests and worshipers.
Additional torture attempts were tried, including being thrown to a
lion (who lost interest in her and failed to attack) and being placed
in a fiery furnace (which failed to even singe her clothing).
Eventually, Saint Martina was beheaded, her head displayed as a
warning to Christians.
Saint Martina's relics were discovered during the papacy of Pope Ur=
ban
VIII, in 1634.=C2 Along with the relics of several other martyrs, she
was placed in a beautiful church located in the Roman Forum.=C2 This
church was dedicated in her honor, and hymns were written in her
honor.
Saint Martina's life reminds us that each of us--however small--can
effect great change in our communities with the help of the Lord. All
we need do is ask, through prayer, and the Lord's light will shine
upon us and throughout our world.
=C2 by Jacob
Saint Quote:
Don't you see that Satan and his agents take possession of all
inventions and all achievements of progress to convert them to evil?
All the more reason to finally wake up and get to work in order to
reconquer the positions taken up by the enemy.
--St. Maximilian Kolbe
Bible Quote:
Let your light shine before men, in order that they may see your good
works and give glory to your Father in heaven.=C2 (Matt. 5:16)
<><><><>
Chaplet of Blessed Miguel Pro, SJ
[On the crucifix or medal of Fr. Pro]
Blessed Miguel, before your death, you told your friend to ask you for
favors when you were in Heaven. I beg you to intercede for me and in
union with Our lady and all the angels and saints, to ask Our Lord to
grant my petition, provided that it be God's will. [Mention request]
[On the white beads that symbolize his purity]
We honor and adore Holy Ghost. We pray as Jesus taught us to pray.
[Our Father] We venerate with love the Virgin May.[Hail Mary] All you
angels, bless you the Lord forever. Saint Joseph, Saint [name of your
patron], and all the saints pray for us.
Blessed Miguel, high spirited youth, pray for us. Viva Cristo Rey.
Blessed Miguel, loving son and brother, pray for us. Viva Cristo Rey.
Blessed Miguel, patient novice, pray for us. Viva Cristo Rey.
Blessed Miguel, exile from your homeland, pray for us. Viva Cristo Rey.
Blessed Miguel, prayerful religious, pray for us. Viva Cristo Rey.
Blessed Miguel, sick and suffering, pray for us. Viva Cristo Rey.
Blessed Miguel, defender of workers, pray for us. Viva Cristo Rey.
Blessed Miguel, courageous priest in hiding, pray for us. Viva Cristo Rey. Blessed Miguel, prisoner in jail, pray for us. Viva Cristo Rey.
Blessed Miguel, forgiver of persecutors, pray for us. Viva Cristo Rey.
Blessed Miguel, holy martyr, pray for us. Viva Cristo Rey.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)