From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   April 10th - Saint Bademus, Martyr   
      
   Died 376   
      
   Bademus was originally a rich and noble citizen of Bethlapeta in Persia, who   
   sold his rich possessions to follow Christ, then gave the greater part of   
   the proceeds to the poor. He reserved just enough to found a monastery near   
   that city, to which he retired with several other persons, and then governed   
   it with great sanctity. He conducted his religious in the paths of   
   perfection with sweetness, prudence, and charity.   
      
   To crown his virtue, God permitted him, with seven of his monks, to be   
   apprehended by the followers of King Sapor in the thirty-sixth year of that   
   king's persecution. He lay four months in a dungeon, loaded with chains, and   
   during this lingering martyrdom received every day a cruel flagellation. But   
   he triumphed over his torments by the patience and joy with which he   
   suffered them for Christ.   
      
   At the same time a prince named Nersan, who was a Christian, was cast into   
   prison and his goods confiscated because he refused to adore the sun. At   
   first he seemed resolute, but at the sight of tortures his constancy failed   
   him, and he promised to conform if he could be delivered. The king, to test   
   whether his change was sincere, ordered Bademus to be brought where Nersan   
   was kept in the royal palace, and sent word to Nersan that if he would slay   
   the abbot, he would be restored to his liberty and former dignities. The   
   apostate accepted the condition; a sword was put into his hand, and he   
   advanced to plunge it into the breast of the abbot. But being seized with a   
   sudden terror, he stopped short, and remained some time unable to lift up   
   his arm to strike; he had neither courage to repent, nor heart to accomplish   
   his crime.   
      
   Finally he hardened himself and continued with a trembling hand to aim at   
   the martyr's sides. Fear, shame, remorse, and respect made his strokes   
   forceless and unsteady; and so great was the number of his victim's wounds   
   that the bystanders were in admiration at his invincible patience. Saint   
   Bademus reproached his executioner, saying, "What will you do on the day   
   when you will have to render an account of your actions, and hear the   
   sentence of your condemnation? I offer myself willingly to die for the glory   
   of my Lord Jesus Christ, but I would prefer to die by another hand than   
   yours!" The pagans themselves were horrified at the cruelty of the king, the   
   long martyrdom, and the perfidious acts of the apostate.   
      
   Saint Bademus suffered on the 10th of April in the year 376. His body was   
   cast out of the city, but secretly carried away and interred by the   
   Christians. A short time afterwards Nersan fell into public disgrace, and   
   perished by the sword. The disciples of the Saint were released from their   
   chains four years later, at the death of King Sapor.   
      
   Reflection. What ravishing delights does the soul taste which is accustomed   
   to converse, in the heaven of its own interior, with the Three Persons of   
   the adorable Trinity!   
      
   Saint Quotes:   
   It is only right, with all the powers of our heart and mind, to praise You   
   Father and Your Only-Begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Dear Father, by   
   Your wondrous condescension of Loving-Kindness toward us, Your servants, You   
   gave up Your Son. Dear Jesus You paid the debt of Adam for us to the Eternal   
   Father by Your Blood poured forth in Loving-Kindness. You cleared away the   
   darkness of sin by Your magnificent and radiant Resurrection. You broke the   
   bonds of death and rose from the grave as a Conqueror. You reconciled Heaven   
   and earth. Our life had no hope of Eternal Happiness before You redeemed us.   
   Your Resurrection has washed away our sins, restored our innocence and   
   brought us joy. How inestimable is the tenderness of Your Love!   
      
   We pray You, Lord, to preserve Your servants in the peaceful enjoyment of   
   this Easter happiness. We ask this through Jesus Christ Our Lord, Who lives   
   and reigns with God The Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, forever and   
   ever. Amen.   
   -Easter Prayer by Pope Saint Gregory the Great   
      
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour   
   preferring one another. -Romans 12:10   
      
      
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   Daily Thoughts and Prayers for Our Beloved Dead   
      
   "Have pity on me, have pity on me, at least you my friends, because the hand   
   of the Lord hath touched me" Job. 19-21.   
      
      
   TWENTIETH DAY   
      
   He whom we mourn is in Heaven, safe from all miseries and he awaits us.   
      
   Prayers:  Our Father, Three Hail Marys, Gloria, De Profundis.   
      
   De Profundis   
      
      Out of the depths, I have cried to Thee,   
   O Lord, Lord, hear my voice.   
      Let Thine ears be attentive to the   
   voice of my supplication.   
      If Thou, O Lord, shalt mark my iniquities,   
   O Lord, who shall stand it?   
      For with Thee there is merciful   
   forgiveness: and by reason of Thy   
   law I have waited for Thee, O Lord.   
   My soul hath relied on His word;   
   my soul hath hoped in the Lord.   
      From the morning watch even until   
   night; let Israel hope in the Lord.   
   Because with the Lord there is mercy;   
   And with Him plenteous redemption.   
      And He shall redeem Israel from   
   all its iniquities.   
      Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,   
   And let perpetual light shine upon them:   
      May they rest in peace. Amen.   
      
   Most merciful Jesus, by the merits of Thy five wounds, hear our prayers in   
   behalf of the faithful departed now awaiting Thy word in Purgatory. Grant, O   
   Lord, to show particular mercy to the soul that did most to propagate the   
   devotion to Thy Sacred Heart while on earth. Speed his journey to Heaven,   
   that he may join Thy angels in praising Thee forever   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)