November 11th - St. Menna of Egypt, Matryr
(also known as Menas, Mennas)
Died c. 295 or 303? Mennas was probably born in Egypt and martyred there.
All the earliest representations of him agree in showing him accompanied
by
two camels, so he may well have been a camel- driver before he enlisted in
the Roman army. He was also a Christian. When his legion reached Phrygia
the
persecutions under Diocletian began. Mennas deserted his post in order to
escape death and hid in a mountain cave.
But as more and more Christians were put to death under Diocletian's
edicts,
Mennas decided he too ought to make a public profession of his faith. He
carefully chose his time. During the annual games in the arena at Cotyaeum
in Phrygia, Mennas suddenly appeared before the spectators and announced
that he was a Christian. He was tortured and beaten, but would not recant,
and so he was put to death by beheading. After his death Saint Mennas's
body
was taken back to Egypt for burial.
This basic story has been expanded and embellished with preposterous
marvels
and the fame of the hero as one of the so- called soldier-saints grew in
pro****tion: the little terracotta bottles (ampullae) for water from his
shrine, brought away by pilgrims, have been found in all countries
bordering
the Mediterranean.
That shrine was at Karm Abu Mina, southwest of Alexandria and Lake
Mareotis,
on the edge of the Libyan desert, where the ruins of the church and
ancillary buildings have been laid bare, and many tokens of the cultus of
Saint Mennas found. He has been popularly looked on as one of the great
saints of Egypt down to today (Attwater, Benedictines, Bentley,
Encyclopedia).
Saint Mennas is ****trayed as a young knight with a halberd. A 6th century
ivory includes two camels in the piece. Sometimes he is shown with his
hands
cut off and eyes plucked out. He was greatly venerated in the Middle Ages.
Patron of wandering peddlers and those falsely accused (Roeder).
This Version taken from:
http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/ss-index.htm
Saint Quote:
Thou who standest at the holy altar, . . . remember us all, and implore
for
us the forgiveness of sins and the enjoyment of the eternal kingdom.
-St. Gregory of Nyssa (124)
Bible Quote
6 Go to the ant, O sluggard, and consider her ways, and learn wisdom: 7
Which, although she hath no guide, nor master, nor captain, 8 Provideth
her
meat for herself in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
(Proverbs 6:6-8)
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Novena to Our Guardian Angel for the Holy Souls
O Holy Angel, whom God, by the effect of His goodness and His tender
regard
for my welfare, has charged with the care of my conduct, and who assists
me
in all my wants and comforts me in all my afflictions, who sup****ts me
when
I am discouraged and continually obtains for me new favors, I return thee
profound thanks, and I earnestly beseech thee, O most amiable protector,
to
continue thy charitable care and defense of me against the malignant
attacks
of all my enemies. Keep me away from all occasions of sin. Obtain for me
the
grace of listening attentively to thy holy inspirations and of faithfully
putting them into practice, In particular, I implore thee to obtain for me
the relief and deliverance of all the Souls in Purgatory, the ones who
prayed for the Souls themselves while still on earth; the forgotten and
abandoned Souls; the souls of my relatives and friends; the souls of
priests
and religious; the souls of all those to whom I am obligated by charity to
pray for and may have neglected by laxity in memory; and most especially
for
the Soul I here name in this novena.
(Mention the person or think of them)
Protect me in all the temptations and trials of this life. but most
especially at the hour of my death, and do not leave me until thou hast
conducted me into the presence of my creator in the mansions of
everlasting
happiness. - Amen.
(To be said for nine consecutive days)
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