From: hildegard8@excite.com   
      
   September 3rd - St. Seraphia, Virgin and Martyr and St. Sabina   
      
   Saint Seraphia was born at Antioch in the late first century, of Christian   
   parents who, fleeing the persecution of Adrian, went to Italy and settled   
   there. When her parents died, Seraphia was sought in marriage by many, but   
   having resolved to consecrate herself to God alone, she sold all her   
   possessions and distributed the proceeds to the poor. And then she sold   
   herself into a voluntary slavery, and entered the service of a Roman   
   noblewoman named Sabina. The piety of Seraphia, her love of work, and her   
   charity soon gained the heart of her mistress, who became a Christian.   
      
   Seraphia was denounced as a follower of Christ and condemned to die. She was   
   first placed over a burning pile, but remained uninjured by the flames. The   
   prefect ordered her to be beheaded, and in that way she received the crown   
   she so richly merited. Her mistress buried her with every mark of respect.   
      
   That noble Roman matron, Saint Sabina, was also denounced to the prefect   
   Helpidius a year later. "Christ is my God, I adore Him and serve Him; to Him   
   alone I must sacrifice," she said when questioned. Her humble confession of   
   faith obtained for her the grace of martyrdom; she was beheaded and all her   
   goods confiscated. She was buried in the tomb she herself had had built in   
   Rome, and where she had interred her beloved servant, Seraphia. In the year   
   425 a church was built at the site of the martyrdom of the two holy women,   
   on Mount Aventino. The Church of Saint Sabina was given to Saint Dominic in   
   the 13th century by Pope Honorius III, and still today one venerates, under   
   the main altar there, the bodies of the two holy Martyrs.   
      
   Reflection: Christian courage is in direct relationship to our Faith. If we   
   continue in the Faith, founded and established and immovable, all things   
   will be found possible to us.   
      
   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. 10.   
      
      
   Quote:   
   All perfection is founded upon only two principles, by means of which, with   
   due attention to the daily actions suited to our state, we shall certainly   
   arrive at the summit and fullness of it.  The first principle is a very low   
   esteem for all created things, but, above all, for ourselves.  This low   
   esteem should show itself, in practice, by renouncing ourselves and all   
   creatures; in our hearts, by a firm resolution; and in our lives, in such   
   ways as may be suitable, especially by manifesting contentment and   
   cheerfulness when the Lord takes from us any good.  The second principle is   
   a very high esteem of God, which may be easily acquired by the light of   
   faith, as He is Omnipotent, the Supreme Good and our End; as also because He   
   has loved us so much, and is ever present with us, and guides us in all   
   things, both as to nature and grace, and, in particular, has called us and   
   leads us by a special vocation to a lofty perfection.   
   -Fr. Achille Gagliardi   
      
   Bible Quote   
   Save us, O Lord, our God: and gather us from among nations: That we may give   
   thanks to thy holy name, and may glory in thy praise.  (Psalms 105:47)   
      
   <><><><>   
   Litany of September Saints   
      
   Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.   
   Lord, have mercy, 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.   
   St. Giles, pray for us*   
   St. Stephen, King of Hungary *   
   St. Pius X *   
   St. Lawrence Justinian *   
   St. Hadrian *   
   St. Peter Claver *   
   St. Gorgonius *   
   St. Nicholas of Tolentino *   
   Ss. Protus & Hyacinth *   
   St. Nicomedes *   
   Ss. Cornelius & Cyprian *   
   St. Euphemia *   
   St. Francis of Assisi, who bore the Holy Wounds of Christ *   
   St. Joseph of Cupertino *   
   St. Januarius *   
   Our Lady of La Salette *   
   St. Eustace *   
   St. Matthew *   
   St. Thomas of Villanova *   
   St. Maurice *   
   St. Linus *   
   St. Thecla *   
   Our Lady of Ransom *   
   St. Isaac Jogues and Companion Martyrs *   
   Ss. Cyprian & Justina *   
   Ss. Cosmas & Damian *   
   St. Wenceslaus *   
   St. Michael the Archangel *   
   St. Jerome *   
   All you holy saints and angels, pray for us.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)