¤ Saint Of The Day ¤

I’m sure you heard of Saint George. He is one of the best known Saints. You know… Saint George? He slayed a dragon?

Even though this Saint is known in virtully every catholic household, not much is known about him.

Among the greeks, St. George is known as “the Great Martyr”, and his feast day is a holy day of obligation. His intercession was said to be implored in battles, as he is said to have been a soldier.

St. George is generally represnted engaged in battle with a dragon. He died about the year 303.

LORD, we acclaim Your might and humbly pray. Just as St. George imitated the LORD’s Passion, so let him now come to the aid of our weakness.
Amen.

Born in Szczepanow, Poland, on July 26, 1030, St. Stanislaus was ordained a priest after being educated in the cathedral schools of Gniezno.
He was appointed preacher and archdeacon to the bishop of Kraków, where his example brought about real conversion in many of his penitents, both clergy and laity. He became bishop of Kraków in 1072.

During an expedition against the Grand Duchy of Kiev, St. Stanislaus became involved in the political situation of Poland. Known for his outspokenness, he aimed his attacks at the evils of the peasantry and the king, especially the unjust wars and immoral acts of King Boleslaus II.

The king first excused himself, then made a show of penance, then relapsed into his old ways. St. Stanislaus continued his open opposition in spite of charges of treason and threats of death, excommunicated the king in the year 1709. This decision cost the Saint his life.
When he learned of his excommunication, the king, enraged, ordered soldiers to kill the bishop. When they refused, the king killed him with his own hands.

God, for your honor the holy Bishop Stanislaus fell before the swords of his persecutors. Grant that we may be strong in the Faith and persevere until death.
Amen.

Today’s post is taken from www.degrandisssj.com. It’s a lovely site –check it out!

St. Marcellinus of Carthage lived during the fourth century and was a friend of St. Augustine. This friendship was so close that St. Augustine dedicated his work “City of God” to Marcellinus. At the beginning of the fifth century, Marcellinus was asked by the Emperor Honorius to act as the Secretary of State for the Empire.

In 409 the Emperor granted freedom of worship to a heretical group called the Donatists and was met with strong dissent from many of the Catholic citizens of the Empire. Soon after this decision, St. Marcellinus was sent to settle disputes between the Catholics and the Donatists. After learning the details of the situation, he asked the Donatists to return the churches they had claimed to the Catholics. Furthermore, he believed that the Donatists were in error and he told them to return to communion with the Church.

Two years after this decision Marcellinus was the victim of political intrigue worked by Donatist sympathizers. He was accused of involvement in a rebellion. The truth of these accusations were never discovered and Marcellinus was executed for treason in 413.

Today’s prayer:

Almighty, ever-living God, You enabled St. Marcellinus to fight to the death for justice. Throuh his intercession enable us to bear all adversity and with all our strength to hasten to You Who alone are life.
Amen.

The Christians in Persia had been blessed with twelve years of peace during the reign of Isdegerd, son of Sapor III, when in 420 it was disturbed by the zeal of Abdas, a Christian Bishop who burned the Temple of Fire, the great sanctuary of the Persians. King Isdegerd threatened to destroy all the churches of the Christians unless the Bishop would rebuild it.

As Abdas refused to comply, the threat was executed; the churches were demolished. Abdas himself was put to death, and a general persecution began which lasted forty years. Isdegerd died in 421, but his son and successor, Varanes, carried on the persecution with great fury. The Christians were submitted to the most cruel tortures.

Among those who suffered was St. Benjamin, a Deacon, who had been imprisoned a year for his Faith. At the end of this period, an ambassador of the Emperor of Constantinople obtained his release on condition that he would never speak to any of the courtiers about religion.

St. Benjamin, however, declared it was his duty to preach Christ and that he could not be silent. Although he had been liberated on the agreement made with the ambassador and the Persian authorities, he would not acquiesce in it, and neglected no opportunity of preaching. He was again apprehended and brought before the king. 
The Saintlymartyr died from the tortures applied to him in the year 424.

Alimighty, ever-living God, You enabled St. Benjamin to fight for justice even uno deah. Trough his help, grant that we may tolerate all adversity and hasten with all our might to You Who adversity and hasten with all our might to You Who alone are life.
Amen.

Links:
http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/BENJAMIN.HTM
http://saints.sqpn.com/saintb81.htm

Saint Margaret Clitherow (patron of businesswomen, converts, and martyrs) was born in Middleton, England in the year 1555. Both of her parents, Thomas and Jane Middleton, were Protestants.
She was a beautiful, joyful child, with a charming personality.
When she was only 16, she married a wealthy butcer named John Clitherow, and a few years later, after she was a mother of two, entered the Catholic Church.

She was so impassioned by her faith, she begain harboring fugitive priests, including her brother in law. She was arrested, and held in prison.

Her captors tried everything to make her renounce her faith, but St. Margaret stood firm, holding fast to her love of Jesus Christ.
She was condemed to death on March 25th, 1586, at the age of 31. She was stoned to death, dying within 15 minutes.
Her strength is obvious in the numerous quotes we have;

“The sheriffs have said that I am going to die this coming Friday; and I feel the weakness of my flesh which is troubled at this news, but my spirit rejoices greatly. For the love of God, pray for me and ask all good people to do likewise.”

“God be thanked, I am not worthy of so good a death as this”

“I die for the love of my Lord Jesu.”

She was canonized in 1970, by Pope Paul VI.
Here is a prayer to help us remember this holy woman;

God, by Your gift virtue is perfected in weakness. Grant to all who recall the glory of St. Margaret that she who obtained strength from You to triumph may also ever obtain from You the grace to enable us to triumph.
Amen.

A few good links:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04059b.htm
http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/CLITHER.htm
http://www.catholictradition.org/Saints/clitherow.htm
Enjoy!