July 30th - St. Julitta
Julitta, a wealthy widow of Caesarea in Cappadocia around the year A.D.
303,
possessed farms, livestock and other goods. A ruthless land baron of the
town unscrupulously gained possession of a considerable part of her
estate.
However, when he could not convince the local judge of his claim to the
title, the man accused Julitta of being a Christian. The Emperor
Diocletian
had deprived Christians of citizen's privileges and all protection under
the
law; therefore this conniving land baron reasoned that the court, finding
that Julitta was a Christian, would deny her claim to property.
The judge ordered that incense be brought into the court, and that Julitta
offer sacrifice to the gods, as was the standard evidence in a charge of
"atheism," synonymous with "Christianity" in the early centuries. Julitta
bravely refused to offer sacrifice to pagan gods but remained faithful to
her belief in the one, true God. She told the court and her accuser that
she
was willing to lose all her property, and even her life before she would
do
anything that might offend the Lord God. "If you take from me a little
****tion of this earth, I shall gain Heaven for it," she declared.
The judge promptly granted the unjust man's claim to the property, and
condemned Julitta to death by fire. She walked courageously into the
flames
and most likely died of asphyxiation, for her executioners withdrew her
dead
body before the fire had marred it.
The secret community of Christians in Caesarea buried the body of Julitta.
The place of her interment apparently produced a miraculous, curative
spring, for St. Basil, speaking of her holy remains, said in one of his
homilies about the year 375, "It enriches with blessings both the place
and
those who come to it." He continued by assuring the faithful that "the
earth
which received the body of this blessed woman sent forth a spring of most
pleasant water, whereas all the neighboring waters are brackish. This
water
preserves health and relieves the sick."
Saint Quote:
There is nothing which edifies others so much as charity and kindness, by
which, as by the oil in the lamp, the flame of good example is kept alive.
-St. Francis de Sales
Bible Quote
1 At that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying: Who thinkest thou is
the
greater in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus calling unto him a little
child, set him in the midst of them, 3 And said: Amen I say to you, unless
you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into
the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this
little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And he that
shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me. (Matthew
18:1-5)
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NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost. R. Amen.
Lord Jesus, Who have deigned to open by Thy special love
the unutterable goodness and riches of Thy Heart to Thy
Bride, the Church: grant to us, Thy servants, that we may
merit to be enriched and refreshed by Thy heavenly graces,
flowing from this sweetest of fountains.
R. Amen.
V. Heart of Jesus, burning with love for us. R. Set our hearts
on fire with love of Thee.
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who have said: Ask and you shall
receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened
unto you; mercifully attend to our supplications, and grant us
the gift of Thy divine charity, that we may ever love Thee
with our whole heart and with all our words and deeds, and
may never cease from praising Thee.
R. Amen. (pause here to make petitions to the Sacred Heart)
V. O Sacred Heart of Jesus, most obedient to the will of the
Father. R. Incline our hearts to Thee, that we may do always
what is pleasing to Thee.
O Divine Heart of Jesus, grant, we pray Thee, eternal rest to
the souls in purgatory, final grace to those who are about to
die, true repentance to sinners, the light of faith to non-
Christians, and Thy blessing to us and all who are dear to us.
To Thee, therefore, we commend all these souls, and in their
behalf we offer unto Thee all the merits of Thy Sacred Heart.
R. Amen.
V. O Sacred Heart of Jesus, thirsting for our salvation.
R. Recall us sinners to Thy Heart, that we may not die in our
sins.
Let us pray.
O God, Who dost deign mercifully to bestow upon us the
infinite treasures of love in the Heart of Thy Son, which was
wounded for our sins; grant, we beseech Thee, that we who
pay Him the devout homage of our piety may in like manner
show unto Thee our due of worthy satisfaction. Through the
same Christ our Lord. R. Amen.
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