- Luke 9:23-26 -
Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny
himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to
save
his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.
What
good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his
very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be
ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father
and
of the holy angels."
_________________________________________________________
Jesus tapped me on the shoulder and said, "Bob, why are you resisting me?"
I
said, "I'm not resisting you!" He said, "You gonna follow me?" I said,
I've
never thought about that before!" He said, "When you're not following me,
you're resisting me."
- Bob Dylan
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May 3rd - Sts. Alexander and Antonina, Holy Martyrs
Saint Antonina hailed from the city of Krodamna (Asia Minor). For being a
Christian they brought her before the governor named Festus, who urged her
to wor****p the pagan gods, promising to bestow upon her the esteemed title
of priestess of the goddess Artemis. But the saint bravely confessed
Christ
and she urged the governor to renounce the wor****p of demons in the form
of
idols. Festus gave orders to strike the saint on the face and lock her up
in
prison. The martyress spent all her time at prayer, she ate and drank
nothing, but then she heard the voice of God: "Antonina, fortify thineself
with food and be brave. For I am with thee". When they again led her
before
the governor, the martyress continued firmly to stand up for the Christian
faith and to denounce the pagans. The governor decided to give the holy
virgin over for defilement by soldiers, but the Lord inspired one of them,
Saint Alexander by name, to save the martyress. He sought permission to go
in to the virgin, on the pretense that he might sway her to fulfill the
will
of the governor. Saint Alexander then suggested that the martyress don his
military attire and flee. Saint Antonina was afraid, but the Lord ordered
her to agree. Having put on the garb of a soldier, and recognised by no
one,
she emerged from her imprisonment. The soldiers sent by Festus found Saint
Alexander alone. To the questions of the governor he answered not a word,
and he was given over for torture and mercilessly beaten.
Through the inspiration of the Lord Jesus Christ, Saint Antonina also came
to stand before Festus. For the both of them they cut off their hands,
they
then smeared them with pitch and threw them into a pit, where a fire was
burning. When the fire went out, they threw s****s into the pit, so that
Christians should not be able to gather up the bones of the martyrs.
Returning homewards, Festus became numb, and was able neither to eat nor
to
drink, and after seven days of terrible torments he died.
The holy Martyrs Alexander and Antonina died on 3 May 313. But in the
Prologue their memory is placed under 10 June. The relics of the saints
were
transferred to Constantinople and placed in the Maximov monastery.
Kontakion Tone 2
Let us bless godly Alexander and Antonina,
/ spiritual kinsmen in Christ and of one mind in holiness;
/ receiving their struggles and wounds as fragrant myrrh
/ He has glorified them.
Another Source:
Antonina was a virgin and Alexander an imperial soldier, both from
Alexandria and both Christians. Antonina was first taken before the judge
and tortured. When they threw her into prison, Alexander went to it at the
command of an angel of God (being up to that time a stranger to Antonina),
draped her in his military cloak and told her to keep her head lowered and
go out through the guardhouse in front of the gates. In this way, she
escaped and he remained in the prison. They brought Alexander before the
judge, and began to interrogate him for the name of Christ. When Antonina
heard of this, she came before the judge herself, and he put them both to
various tortures. He cut off their hands and then flayed their ****d
bodies,
scorching their wounds with torches, and finally cast them into a fire set
in a hole in the ground, covering them with earth. They suffered with
honor
for the name of Christ and entered into the courts of the heavenly King on
May 3rd, 313. The wicked judge, Festus, became dumb at the time of the
martyrs' deaths, and an evil spirit fell on him, torturing him for seven
days before killing him.
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Troparion Tone 1
Let us praise the two holy Martyrs,/
renowned Alexander and noble Antonina;/
in their holy contests they shone with love,
faith and healing/ for those who cry together:/
Glory to Him Who has strengthened you;
glory to Him Who has crowned you; /
glory to Him Who through you works healings for all.
<><><><>
Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth. -Matt. 5:4
"Meekness is a virtue which implies loftiness of soul. For this reason
worldlings usually are wanting in meekness, for this loftiness is found in
them but rarely and imperfectly. If they are not the first to use harsh
and
discourteous expressions, yet when they are addressed to them by others,
they resent and return them promptly, showing by their revenge that they
have a rude and ignoble heart. And so the servants of God, remaining
always
quiet and peaceable, though provoked by words or acts, manifest a perfect
loftiness of soul superior to all rudeness"
-St. Thomas Aquinas
This holy Doctor confirmed this noble sentiment by his actions, for in
whatever trying position he was placed, he never gave the least sign of
resentment, but at all times and on all occasions showed a calm and
spiritual insensibility to everything.
(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". May - Meekness)
Bible Quote
But the hidden man of the heart in the incorruptibility of a quiet and a
meek spirit, which is rich in the sight of God. (1 Peter 3:4)
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TO MY ANGEL GUARDIAN.
O glorious guardian of my frame!
In heaven's high courts thou ****nest bright,
As some most pure and holy flame,
Before the Lord of endless light.
Yet for my sake thou com'st to earth,
To be my brother, Angel dear:
My friend and keeper from my birth,
By day and night to me most near.
Knowing how weak a child am I,
By thy strong hand thou guidest me;
The stones that in my pathway lie,
I see thee move them carefully.
Ever thy heavenly tones invite
My soul to look to God alone;
And ever grows thy face more bright,
When I more meek and kind have grown.
O thou who speedest through all space
More swiftly than the lightnings fly!
Go very often, in my place,
To those I love most tenderly.
With thy soft touch, oh! dry their tears;
Tell them the cross is sweet to bear;
Speak my name softly in their ears,
And Jesu's name, supremely fair.
Through all my life, though brief it be,
I fain would succor souls from sin.
Dear Angel, sent from heaven to me,
Kindle thy zeal my heart within!
Naught but my holy poverty,
And daily cross to give have I;
0 join them to thine ecstasy,
And offer them to God on high.
Thine are heaven's glory and delight,
The riches of the King of kings;
The Host in our ciboriums bright
Is mine, and all the wealth pain brings.
So with the Cross, and with the Host,
And with thine aid, dear Angel Friend,
I wait in peace, on time's dark coast,
Heaven's happiness that knows no end.
-St. Teresa-February, 1897.
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