From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   April 22nd - Saint Leonides, Martyr   
   (d. 202)   
      
   The Emperor Severus, in the year 202, the tenth of his reign, raised a   
   bloody   
   persecution which filled the entire empire with martyrs, but especially   
   Egypt.   
   The most illustrious of those who by their triumphs ennobled and edified the   
   city of Alexandria was Leonides, father of the great Origen. He was a   
   Christian   
   philosopher and excellently versed both in the profane and sacred sciences.   
   He   
   had seven sons; the eldest was Origen, whom he brought up with very great   
   care,   
   returning thanks to God for having blessed him with a son of such an   
   excellent   
   disposition for learning, and so remarkable a piety. After his son was   
   baptized,   
   he would come to his bedside while he was asleep and, bending over the   
   child,   
   would kiss his breast respectfully, as the temple of the Holy Spirit.   
      
   When the persecution reached Alexandria in 202, under Laetus, governor of   
   Egypt,   
   Leonides was cast into prison. Origen, who was then only seventeen years of   
   age,   
   burned with a fervent desire for martyrdom, and sought every opportunity of   
   facing it. His ardor redoubled at the sight of his father's chains, and his   
   mother was forced to lock up all his clothes to oblige him to stay at home.   
   She   
   conjured him not to forsake her; thus, unable to do more, he wrote a letter   
   to   
   his father in very moving terms, strongly exhorting him to look at the crown   
   that was offered him with courage and joy. He added this exhortation: "Take   
   heed   
   that for our sakes you do not change your mind!" Leonides was indeed   
   beheaded   
   for the faith in 202.   
      
   Sources: Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, a compilation based on   
   Butler's   
   Lives of the Saints and other sources by John Gilmary Shea (Benziger   
   Brothers:   
   New York, 1894); Les Petits Bollandistes: Vies des Saints, by Msgr. Paul   
   Guérin   
   (Bloud et Barral: Paris, 1882), Vol. 4.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Never see a need without trying to do something about it.   
   --Blessed Mary Mackillop   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Woe to the worthless shepherd that leaveth the flock! The sword shall be   
   upon   
   his arm, and upon his right eye; his arm shall be clean dried up, and his   
   right   
   eye utterly darkened. (Zech 11:17)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Nine Day Novena to Saint Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church   
   Day One - April 22   
      
       Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in   
   your   
   arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my   
   name   
   and kiss His fine head for me and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my   
   dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls - Pray for me.   
      
      
   The man nearest to Christ Jesus was His foster father, Joseph the carpenter.   
   John the Baptist saw Christ briefly near the Jordan and knew that his work   
   as   
   Precursor was over. The Apostles lived and worked with Christ during the   
   brief   
   days of His public life. But Joseph presided over the events of Christ's   
   Infancy, provided for Him the house that sheltered Him from birth to   
   baptism,   
   and was of all the men of earth the one at whose hands Jesus received most   
   in   
   service and love and unselfish devotion. Born of a royal line, Joseph was a   
   carpenter. That trade he passed on to his foster Son. Joseph was destined to   
   immortal honors of the Church, yet no spoken word of his is recorded in the   
   Scriptures. Still the Church with good reason cries out, "Go to Joseph."   
   This   
   injunction we confidently obey as we pray:   
      
         The Prayer of Saint Joseph   
      
         O God, who in thine ineffable providence was pleased to choose blessed   
   Joseph for the spouse of thy most holy Mother, grant we beseech thee, that   
   we   
   may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom we venerate as   
   our   
   protector on earth. Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity   
   of   
   the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.   
      
   Litany to Saint Joseph   
      
               Lord, have mercy on us   
               Christ, have mercy on us.   
               Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.   
               Christ, graciously hear us.   
               God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.   
               God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.   
               God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.   
               Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.   
               Holy Mary, pray for us.   
               Saint Joseph, pray for us.   
               Renowned descendant of David, pray for us.   
               Light of patriarchs, pray for us.   
               Husband of the Mother of God, pray for us.   
               Chaste guardian of the Virgin, pray for us.   
               Foster father of the Son of God, pray for us.   
               Watchful protector of Christ, pray for us.   
               Head of the Holy Family, pray for us.   
               Joseph most just, pray for us.   
               Joseph most chaste, pray for us.   
               Joseph most prudent, pray for us.   
               Joseph most strong, pray for us.   
               Joseph most obedient, pray for us.   
               Joseph most faithful, pray for us.   
               Mirror of patience, pray for us.   
               Lover of poverty, pray for us.   
               Model of workmen, pray for us.   
               Glory of home life, pray for us.   
               Guardian of virgins, pray for us.   
               Protector of families, pray for us.   
               Comfort of the distressed, pray for us.   
               Hope of the sick, pray for us.   
               Patron of the dying, pray for us.   
               Terror of demons, pray for us.   
               Protector of Holy Church, pray for us.   
               Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O   
   Lord.   
               Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously   
   hear   
   us, O Lord.   
               Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy   
   on   
   us.   
               He made him lord of his house, And prince of all his   
   possessions.   
      
               Let us pray   
                 O God, Who didst deign to elect Blessed Joseph spouse of Thy   
   most   
   holy Mother: grant, we beseech Thee, that we may have him whom we venerate   
   as   
   our protector on earth as our intercessor in Heaven. Who livest and reignest   
   world without   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)