February 18th - SS. Leo and Paregorius, Martyrs
Died c. 260. Saint Leo witnessed the martyrdom of Saint Paregorius at
Patara, Lycia, and found his heart divided between joy for his friend's
glorious victory, and sorrow to see himself deprived of the happiness of
sharing in it.
In the absence of the proconsul of Asia, the governor of Lycia
demonstrated
his piety to the gods by publi****ng an order obliging all citizens to
offer
sacrifice to Serapis. Leo, sad to see both the pagans and some Christians
going to adore the idol, went to the tomb of Saint Paregorius and passed
the
temple of Serapis en route.
The heathens that saw him knew that this was a Christian because of his
modesty. From his youth, Leo had practiced austerity and the devotions of
an
ascetic life. Returning home he fell asleep and dreamed that God was
calling
him to martyrdom, too.
The next time he visited Paregorius's tomb he walked boldly through the
market place and passed the temple of Fortune, which he saw illumined by
lanterns. He pitied their blindness and, moved with zeal for the living
God,
broke many of the lanterns and trampled on the tapers, saying, "Let your
gods revenge the injury if they are able to do it." The priest of the
temple
cried out, "Unless this impiety be punished, the goddess Fortune will
withdraw her protection from the city."
An account of the affair soon reached the governor's ears. He ordered the
saint brought before him, and said: "Wicked wretch, your sacrilegious
action
surely bespeaks that you are either ignorant of the immortal gods, or
downright mad, in flying in the face of our most divine emperors, whom we
justly regard as secondary deities and saviors."
The martyr replied, "You are under a great mistake, in supposing a
plurality
of gods; there is but one, who is the God of heaven and earth, and who
does
not stand in need of being wor****pped after that gross manner that men
wor****p idols. The most acceptable sacrifice we can offer him is that of a
contrite and humble heart."
Offered the choice of sacrificing or dying, Leo chose the narrow way
rather
than the broad, commodious path offered by the governor. "When I called it
narrow," said the martyr, "this was only because it is not entered without
difficulty, and that its beginnings are often attended with afflictions
and
persecutions for justice' sake. But being once entered, it is not
difficult
to keep in it by the practice of virtue, which helps to widen it and
render
it easy to those that persevere in it, which has been done by many."
After continued debate, the saint was mercilessly scourged. The governor
relented because of Leo's venerable age and told him he would only have to
acknowledge the gods and not sacrifice, but still Leo refused. He was then
dragged by his feet to his place of execution. After his death his
executioners threw his body over a precipice into a deep pit, but it
received only a few bruises. The Christians recovered Leo's body and found
it of a lively color, and entire, and his face appeared comely and
smiling,
and they buried it in the most honorable manner they could (Benedictines,
Husenbeth).
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Whoever humbleth himself shall be exalted. -Lk. 14:11
"I am despised and derided, and I resent it; just so do peacocks and apes.
I
am despised and derided, and I rejoice at it; thus did the Apostle. This
is
the deepest grade of humility, to be pleased with humiliation and
abjection,
as vain minds are pleased with great honors; and to find pain in marks of
honor and esteem, as they find it in contempt and affronts"
-St. Francis de Sales
St. Dominic remained more willingly in the diocese of Carcassone
than
in that of Toulouse, where he had converted so many heretics. On being
asked
his reason, he replied that in the latter he received many honors, but in
the former only injuries and insults.
St. Felix the Capuchin experienced great affliction in seeing himself
honored and esteemed; and he was often heard to say that he would have
been
glad to be frightfully deformed, that all might abhor him. He repeated
many
times that it would have been more agreeable to him to have been dragged
and
scourged through the streets of Rome, than to have been reverenced by the
people.
(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". February - Humility)
Bible Quote
20 But the prophet, who being corrupted with pride, shall speak in my name
things that I did not command him to say, or in the name of strange gods,
shall be slain. (Deuteronomy 18:20)
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Prayer to the Eternal Father
To be said before a Crucifix in Times of Calamity
Eternal Father, behold Your Son Jesus Christ, crucified for us!
Have mercy on us, poor sinners, in His Name and by His merits.
We repent and have recourse to Your infinite mercy. Let Yourself
be touched and have mercy on us, for we are His heritage. O
Lord, do not violate the pact You have made: to answer the
prayers Your children address to You.
It is true that our great iniquities have provoked Your justice. But
You, my God, are good by nature. Make the greatness of Your
infinite mercy ****ne forth. O Lord, if You look upon our iniquities,
who could stand in Your presence? O Lord, we confess it: we
are very guilty, and our sins have called down these scourges
upon us. But You, Lord, have desired that we call You Our
Father" every day. Look down upon Your children's affliction and
spare them such great calamities. Spare us, my God, by the
merits of Jesus Christ. Spare us, by the love You have for
Yourself. Forgive us, by the love of the Virgin Mary, our Mother!
Remember, Lord, that we are called Your people. Have mercy
on human folly. Send down a ray of Your divine light to dispel the
darkness of our intelligence. May our amended souls change
their ways and no longer steep the Heart of their God in
bitterness!
O Lord, only the hand of Your infinite mercy can save us from so
many calamities. O Lord, we are reeling with affliction from within
and from without, have mercy on us! O Lord, turn Your face
away from our sins and look upon Jesus Christ, who gave You
satisfaction by suffering and dying for us, for He is Your Son!
Thus will we celebrate Your infinite mercy.
Hasten, Lord, to answer us, or our courage will fail because we
have fallen into such wretchedness. Hasten, Lord, to show us
Your mercy, for we have no hope left but in You alone. You are
our Father and Creator. You must preserve and save those who
are Yours forever. Amen.
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