Sts. Mamas, Theodotus, and Rufina
Hildi
Holy Martyr Mamas, son of the eminent Christians Theodotus and Rufina, was
born in Paphlagonia. Because they openly confessed their Faith, Theodotus
and Rufina were arrested and cast into prison in Caesarea of Cappodocia.
Cognizant of his physical weakness, Theodotus prayed that the Lord might
take him before he was tortured. The Lord heard Theodotus' prayer, and
Theodotus died in prison. Thereafter, St. Rufina also died. Untimely
separated from her son, she prayerfully entrusted him to God, asking Him to
be Protector and Intercessor for the orphaned youth. God heeded St. Rufina's
deathbed prayer. A wealthy Christian widow named Ammia interred the bodies
of Saints Theodotus and Rufina with honor, and took the child to her home,
where she lavished motherly care upon him.
St. Mamas grew up a committed Christian. Taking pains to see that he
developed his natural abilities, his new mother enrolled him in school. The
boy learned eagerly and with ease. He was discerning beyond his years and
excelled in early maturity of mind and heart. Through learned speeches and
by his personal example, the young Mamas turned many of his contemporaries
to Christianity. Word of this was relayed to Governor Democritus, who had
the youth arrested and brought to trial. Out of respect for Mamas' noble
birth, Democritus was reluctant to subject him to torture, and instead sent
him to Emperor Aurelius (270-275), who strove, first with pleasant words and
then with threats, to turn St. Mamas toward paganism. However, all of his
efforts were in vain. The Saint fearlessly confessed himself to be a
Christian, and denounced the pagans for worshipping lifeless idols. The
incensed emperor subjected the youth to cruel tortures. They attempted to
drown the Saint, but an Angel of the Lord rescued Mamas and directed him to
live on a high mountain in the desert not far from Caesarea. Submitting to
the will of God, the Saint built a small church and set out on a life of
strict asceticism, struggling in fasting and prayer.
Soon thereafter, he received amazing power over the forces of nature. The
beasts of the surrounding desert would come to his dwelling and listen to
the reading of the Holy Gospel. St. Mamas lived on the milk of wild goats
and does.
The Saint was mindful of his neighbors' needs. From the milk, he made
cheese, which he distributed to the poor without seeking remuneration. Soon
all of Caesarea had heard of St. Mamas' God-pleasing manner of life. The
ruler, troubled by this, sent a detachment of soldiers to seize him. They
encountered St. Mamas on the mountain but did not recognize him, and instead
took him to be a simple shepherd. The Saint invited them into his hut, gave
them milk to drink, and then, knowing that martyrdom from Christ's sake
awaited him, revealed his name to them. Offering himself up to the
torturers, St. Mamas was tried before the local official Alexander, who
subjected him to intense and prolonged tortures. However, they were unable
to break the Saint's Christian will. He gained strength from words from
above, "Be resolute and brave, Mamas." Although the Saint was sentenced to
be devoured by beasts, the beasts refused to touch him. Then one of the
pagan priests stabbed him with a trident. Mortally wounded, St. Mamas walked
out of the town and in a little stone cave rendered up his soul to God, Who
in everyone's hearing called Holy Martyr Mamas to the heavenly abode (+275).
The faithful interred him at the place of his repose.
Soon thereafter, Christians began to receive from him grace-filled help with
their illnesses and sorrows. In a public homily, the Holy Hierarch St. Basil
the Great said of Holy Martyr Mamas: "Remember the Holy Martyr. Those who
have seen him in visions, those living here who have him as their helper,
those who have invoked his name and whom he has materially assisted, those
errant ones whom he has set on the path of life, those whom he has healed of
sicknesses, those whose children, already dead, he has returned to life,
those whose life he has prolonged - all gather together and offer praise to
the Martyr."
This Version taken from:
http://www.stjohndc.org/stjohndc/English/Saints/9909d.htm
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Martyrology
At Rome, St. Maxima, martyr. Together with St. Ansanus, she confessed Christ
in the persecution of Diocletian, and was beaten to death with clubs.
At Pamiers in Gaul, St. Antoninus, martyr, whose relics are preserved with
great veneration in a church in Palencia in Spain.
Also the holy martyrs Diomede, Julian, Philip, Eutychian, Hesychius,
Leonides, Philadelphus, Menalippus, and Pantagapa. Some of these completed
their martyrdom by fire, some by water, others by the sword or by the cross.
At Nicomedia, the holy martyrs Zeno and his sons Concordius and Theodore.
At Lyons in Gaul, St. Elpidius, bishop and confessor.
At Piccno (Italy), another St. Elpidius, abbot. A town which bears his name
glories in the possession of his body. (5)
On Mount Soracte, St. Nonnosus, abbot, who moved a huge rock by his prayer
and was famed for other miracles.
On the same day, the commemoration of the holy martyrs Evodius, Hermogenes,
and Callista, brothers and sister, who underwent martyrdom at Syracuse,
Sicily. They are also commemorated on April 25.
At Lyons in Gaul, the transferal of the relics of St. Justus, bishop and
confessor, and of St. Viator who was his servant. Their birthdays occur
respectively on October 14 and October 21.
(5). Sant' Elpideo a Mare.
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O Little Therese of the Child Jesus, please pick for me a rose
from the heavenly gardens and send it to me as a message
of love. O Little Flower of Jesus, ask God today to grant the
favors I now place with confidence in your hands (mention
specific requests here) St. Therese, help me to always
believe, as you did, in God's great love for me so that I might
imitate your "Little Way" each day. Amen. St. Therese please
help me, pray for me and my miracle. I anxiously await my
rose. Thank you.