From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
December 4th - St. Maruthas, Bishop and Confessor
Also known as Apostle of Iran, Apostle of Persia, Maruf
(Fifth Century)
If you should try to think up a romantic sounding saint's name, you
couldn't find a better one than that of the real Syrian saint,
Maruthas of Maiferkat.
Maruthas was the bishop of a small Syrian diocese near the headwaters
of the Tigris River, now in eastern Turkey. Maiferkat became better
known as Martyropolis, for Maruthas had devoutly gathered there as
many relics as possible of the Christian martyrs of Persia. Because
his diocese was near to the border between the Roman empire and
Persia, he was in close contact with Persia, and in a position to
exert a Christian influence on its kings.
Today we know Persia by the name of Iran. What Iran is today it was
already in the fifth century, a harsh and aggressive country not yet Mohammedanized, but dedicated to the pagan religion called Mazdaism or
(after its leader Zoroaster - Zoroasterianism). Its followers were sun-worshipers.
The Persians had been rather tolerant of Christians up to the
mid-third century. Then the Persian rulers renewed their war against
the Roman Empire. Sapor II (310-381) made it part of his anti-Roman
policy to persecute Christians cruelly. So, just when the Roman
emperors stopped persecuting the Church, the Persians began. As a
matter of fact, the kings of Persia executed far more Christians than
the Roman rulers had. It is said that 16,000 died under Sapor II
alone!
In 399 King Yezdegerd mounted the Persian throne. Bishop Maruthas,
already an experienced shepherd, traveled to Constantinople to counsel
Emperor Arcadius to persuade the new king to go easy on the
Christians.
(An odd story is told of Maruthas during his stay in Constantinople.
At a meeting of the area bishops, the Bishop of Maiferkat, being a
very fat and heavy man, accidentally stepped on the foot of a bishop
Cyrinus. The wound he caused festered, and Cyrinus ultimately died of
the infection.)
The emperor sent Bishop Maruthas himself to Persia to plead for the
Christians. The bishop happened to have some skill as a physician.
When he was able to cure Yezdegerd of his violent headaches, the
Persian ruler called him =E2=80=9Cthe friend of God,=E2=80=9D and listened = with favor
to his petitions.
The Mazdean priests of Zoroaster were on their guard, however. These =E2=80=9CMagi=E2=80=9D tried to trick the king into turning against the vis= iting saint
and his religion. They hid a man underground in the temple. When the
ruler came in to worship, the hidden man pretended to be an oracle
crying out, =E2=80=9CDrive from this holy place him who impiously believes =
a
priest of the Christians!=E2=80=9D
Yezdegerd, taken in, was about to send Maruthas out of the country.
But the bishop persuaded him to return to the temple and open the
floor. The king did so, and saw how he and been gulled. Thereupon, he
told Maruthas he might build Christian churches whenever he wanted in
Persia.
St. Maruthas then set about organizing the Persian Christians. The
organization held up until around 420 AD when a foolish Catholic
bishop, Abdas of Susa, in his extreme zeal, deliberately destroyed one
of the temples of the Zoroastrians and refused to rebuild it. This
prompted Yezdegerd to launch a new persecution of Christians. By that
time, however, Maruthas was most likely dead.
St. Maruthas was reputed to be a miracle worker. He certainly had
diplomatic gifts. Furthermore, the fact that he was overweight and
still a saint can serve as an encouragement to Catholics who are plump
in spite of themselves.
Saint Quote :
Prayer is to our soul what rain is to the soil. Fertilize the soil
ever so richly, it will remain barren unless fed by frequent rains.
--St. John Vianney
Bible Quote
8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient
unto death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted
him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, 10 that at
the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and
under the earth,=C2 (Philippians 2:8-10)=C2 RSVCE
<><><><>
Prayer to St. Joseph over 1900 years old
O St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before
the Throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires.=C2 O St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me
from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our
Lord; so that having engaged here below your Heavenly power I may
offer my Thanksgiving and Homage to the Loving of Fathers.=C2 O St.
Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms.
I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart.=C2 Press him to my
name and kiss His fine Head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss
when I draw my dying breath.=C2 St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls,
pray for us.=C2 Amen
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)