March 13th - St. Euphrasia of Constantinople V (RM)
(Also known as Euphraxia)
Born in Constantinople, Byzantium; died c. 420. Saint Euphrasia's father,
Antigonus, was a blood relative of Emperor Theodosius I. Her mother,
Eupraxia, was no less illustrious for her birth and virtue. Because of his
close ties with her parents and the fact that she was an only child, the
emperor took an interest in Euphrasia and, when she was only five, found
her
a rich senator for her future husband. After her birth, her pious parents
mutually consented and vowed themselves to perpetual continence. From that
time they lived together as brother and sister in order to devote
themselves
to prayer, alms-giving, and penance.
Antigonus died within a year, and the holy widow withdrew with her
daughter
to her large estates in Egypt in order to avoid im****tunate suitors for
marriage and the distraction of friends. Near her home in Tabenisi was a
monastery of one hundred and thirty austere nuns, who fasted severely and
regularly, wore and slept on sackcloth that they made themselves, and
prayed
almost without interruption. When sick, they bore their pains with
patience
and thanksgiving, esteeming them an effect of the divine mercy: nor did
they
seek relief from physicians, except in cases of absolute necessity.
Delicate
and excessive attention to health nourishes self-love and often destroys
the
health that it anxiously tries to preserve.
The example of these holy virgins, moved the devout mother to greater
fervor
in the exercise of faith and charity. She frequently visited these
servants
of God, and earnestly entreated them to accept a considerable annual
revenue, with an obligation that they should always be bound to pray for
the
soul of her deceased husband. But the abbess refused the estate, saying:
"We
have renounced all the conveniences of the world, in order to purchase
heaven. We are poor, and such we desire to remain." She could only be
prevailed upon to accept a continuous supply of oil for the votive lamp
and
incense for the altar.
The seven-year-old Euphrasia asked her mother for permission to serve God
in
this convent. Eupraxia joyfully gave permission and soon after presented
Euphrasia to the abbess, who, taking up an image of Christ, gave it into
her
hands. The tender virgin kissed it, saying: "By vow I consecrate myself to
Christ." Then the mother led her before an image of our Redeemer, and
lifting up her hands to heaven, said: "Lord Jesus Christ, receive this
child
under your special protection. She seeks and loves You alone and commends
herself only to You." Then turning to her dear daughter, she said: "May
God,
who laid the foundations of the mountains, strengthen you always in his
holy
fear." And leaving her in the hands of the abbess, she left the monastery
weeping.
At first the nuns supposed the youngster would soon tire of the
austerities
of religious life. None of the burdens, however, discouraged Euphrasia. Of
course, she probably wondered at times whether she had missed some great
pleasure by quitting the world, but her greatest joy was in serving God by
serving others.
When Eupraxia later fell deathly ill, she gave her last instructions to
her
daughter: "Fear God, honor your sisters, and serve them with humility.
Never
think of what you have been, nor say to yourself that you are of royal
extraction. Be humble and poor on earth, that you may be rich in heaven."
The good mother then died.
When news of her death reached the ears of the emperor, Theodosius sent
for
the noble virgin to court, having promised her in marriage to a favorite
young senator. But in her own hand the virgin wrote him: "Invincible
emperor, having consecrated myself to Christ in perpetual chastity, I
cannot
be false to my engagement, and marry a mortal man, who will shortly be the
food of worms. For the sake of my parents, be pleased to distribute their
estates among the poor, the orphans, and the church. Set all my slaves at
liberty, and discharge my vassals and servants, giving them whatever is
their due. Order my father's stewards to acquit my farmers of all they owe
since his death, that I may serve God without let or hindrance, and may
stand before him without the solicitude of tem****al affairs. Pray for me,
you and your empress, that I may be made worthy to serve Christ."
The messengers returned with this letter to the emperor, who shed many
tears
in reading it. The senators who heard it burst also into tears, and said
to
his majesty; "She is the worthy daughter of Antigonus and Eupraxia, of
your
royal blood, and the holy offspring of a virtuous stock." The emperor
punctually executed all she desired, a little before his death, in 395.
Saint Euphrasia was to her pious sisters a perfect pattern of humility,
meekness, and charity. If she found herself assaulted by any temptation
she
immediately confessed it to the abbess, to drive away the devil by that
humiliation, and to seek a remedy. The discreet superioress often enjoined
her on such occasions, some humbling and painful penitential labor; as
sometimes to carry great stones from one place to another; which
employment
she once under an obstinate assault, continued thirty days together with
wonderful simplicity, till the devil being vanquished by her humble
obedience and chastisement of her body, he left her in peace. Her diet was
only herbs or pulse, which she took after sunset, at first every day, but
afterwards only once in two or three, or sometimes seven days. But her
abstinence received its chief merit from her humility; without which it
would have been a fast of devils.
She cleaned out the chambers of the other nuns, carried water to the
kitchen, and, out of obedience, cheerfully employed herself in the meanest
drudgery; making painful labor a part of her penance. To mention one
instance of her extraordinary meekness and humility: it is related, that
one
day a maid in the kitchen asked her why she fasted whole weeks, which no
other attempted to do besides the abbess. Her answer was, that the abbess
had enjoined her that penance. The other called her a hypocrite. Upon
which
Euphrasia fell at her feet, begging her to pardon and pray for her. In
which
action it is hard to say, whether we ought more to admire the patience
with
which she received so unjust a rebuke and slander or the humility with
which
she sincerely condemned herself; as if, by her hypocrisy and
imperfections,
she had been a scandal to others.
She was favored with miracles both before and after her death at the age
of
30. Her name is still mentioned in the preparation of the Byzantine Mass
(Benedictines, Bentley, Encyclopedia, Husenbeth).
Saint Quote:
"If you really want to love Jesus, first learn to suffer, because
suffering
teaches you to love."
-St. Gemma Galgani
Bible Quote:
35. Let your loins be girt, and lamps burning in your hands. 36. And you
yourselves like to men who wait for their lord, when he shall return from
the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open to him
immediately. 37. Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh,
shall find watching. Amen I say to you, that he will gird himself, and
make
them sit down to meat, and passing will minister unto them. (Luke
12:35-37)
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Saint Anthony, Restorer of Speech to the Mute
Dear St. Anthony, how tongue-tied I can be when I should be
praising God and defending the oppressed. My cowardice
often strikes me dumb; I am afraid to open my mouth.
St. Anthony, Restorer of Speech to the Mute, release me from
my fears. Teach me to praise God and to champion the rights
of those unjustly treated. Please remember also all my intentions.
(Name them.)
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