Let me warn anyone bent on following Christ

[Traudel]

Let me warn anyone bent on following Christ

Let me warn anyone bent on following Christ to listen to Saint Paul:
One who claims to abide in Christ ought to walk as he walked. Would
you follow Christ? Then be humble as he was humble; do not scorn his
lowliness if you want to reach his exaltation. Human sin made the road
rough but Christ's resurrection leveled it; by passing over it himself
he transformed the narrowest of tracks into a royal highway.
Two feet are needed to run along this highway; they are humility
and charity. Everyone wants to get to the top--well, the first step to
take is humility. Why take strides that are too big for you--do you
want to fall instead of going up? Begin with the first step, humility,
and you will already be climbing.
-- St. Caesarius of Arles

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10 July – St Anatolia & Victoria

(Died 250)
Martyrs – Sisters who gave their lives for Christ.

Patronages – against earthquakes, against lightning, against severe
weather, 18 cities. Anatolia was first mentioned in the De Laude
Sanctorum composed in 396 by Victrice (Victricius), bishop of Rouen
(330-409) and they are both mentioned together in the Martyrologium
Hieronymianumunder 10 July.

The two saints appear in the famous mosaics of Basilica of
Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, at Ravenna (see image below – 22 martyrs shown
offering their crowns of martyrdom to the Christ. ), between Saints
Paulina and Christina.

A Passio Saints Anatoliae et Audacis et Saint Victoriae of the 6th or
7th century, which added the name of Audax, was mentioned by Aldhelm
(died 709) and Bede (died 735), who list the saints in their
martyrologies. Caesar Baronius lists Anatolia and Audax under 9 July
and Victoria under 23 December.

Saint Victoria and her sister Saint Anatolia are remembered as
beautiful Catholic noble women who lived during the reign of Emperor
Decius 249-251. They were promised in marriage to noble pagan men who
were far from pleased at having heard that they were practising
Catholics. Saint Victoria was initially content with marrying the
pagan, as she hoped that she would be able to convert him but her
sister refused to marry and convinced St Victoria to do the same. They
both sought to devote their lives solely to God.

The noble pagan suitors both managed to strike a deal with Roman
authorities that allowed them to imprison each sister in their
respective houses, in order to hopefully convince them to denounce
their faith. Both sisters responded by selling all of their
possessions, giving all of their money to the poor and devoting
themselves to God. Both sisters, during their imprisonment, converted
all of the guards, maids and servants in their respective houses.

Needless to say, the suitors were both furious at the sister’s failure
to denounce their faith and acts of converting the guards, maids, etc.
Saint Anatolia’s suitor, Titus Aurelius, was furious and hired St
Audace, to execute her. He initially locked her in a room with a
venomous snake which failed to harm her. Upon seeing this, St Audace
converted and was later martyred. Saint Anatolia’s suitor was
violently angry and became her murderer himself, by stabbing her to
death.

Saint Victoria’s suitor, Eugenius, soon heard of this murder of
Anatolia but continued to try and convince Victoria to aposthasise. He
went through periods of great kindness towards her followed with
periods of extreme ill-treatment. Eventually he renounced his suite
and stabbed her to death himself, in a fit of rage. According to
legend, he was instantly struck with leprosy and died 6 days later
eaten by worms.

The relics of Saint Victoria are enshrined in the church of Santa
Vittoria in Metanano, Italy and the relics of Saint Anatolia, as well
as those of Saint Audace, are enshrined in the Basilica of Saint
Scholastica in Subiaco.

https://anastpaul.com/2018/07/10/


“Suffering without Christ just hurts.
But suffering with Christ,
can transform the world.”
--Father Mike Schmitz

Saint Quote:
"What are all the gains, all the fortunes, all the offices and
careers, even all the kingdoms of the world, compared to an offence
against God, to a sin which is the greatest evil in the world? There
is no work greater or more noble either in heaven or on earth than
this: to prevent offences [sins] against God."
--St. Joseph Cafasso (Confessor, 1811-1860)--"The Priest The Man Of
God. His Dignity and Duties

Bible Quote:
And we know that to them that love God, all things work together unto
good, to such as, according to his purpose, are called to be saints.
[Romans 8:28] DRB


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Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
have mercy upon me a sinner.

HYMN OF THE EVENING

O joyful Light! Light and Holy Glory of the Father immortal, the
heavenly, holy, the Blessed One; O Jesus Christ. Now that we have
reached the setting of the sun, and see the evening light, we sing to
God, Father + Son, and Holy Spirit. It is fitting at all times to
raise a song of praise in measured melody to You, O Son of God, the
giver of life. Behold the universe sings your glory.