From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   July 27th - SS. George, Aurelius, Natalia, Felix & Liliosa   
      
   At the beginning of the Moslem rule in Córdova, Spain, during the 8th   
   century,   
   Christians were allowed to practice their Faith; later, however, when the   
   domination became complete, the Mohammedan leaders began a systematic   
   persecution of the Christians. One of the most prominent martyrs of the day   
   was   
   the Archbishop of Toledo, St. Eulogius, who also wrote a Memorial of the   
   martyrs   
   who suffered before him, among whom were those we honor today.   
      
   Natalia was a converted Moslem and her husband Aurelius was the son of an   
   Arab   
   and a Spanish woman. They conformed to Moslem customs outwardly but   
   practiced   
   their Christian faith in secret. One day Aurelius happened to see a   
   Christian   
   patiently enduring the scorn of the populace and the fierce blows of the   
   whip   
   for having publicly confessed his faith. This worked a dramatic change in   
   Aurelius: from that moment on, he and his wife began to live their Christian   
   faith openly. After setting aside enough money to take care of their   
   daughter's   
   future, they distributed the rest of their possessions to the poor, and gave   
   themselves over to penance and devotion.   
      
   Their example proved to be an inspiration for a relative of Aurelius named   
   Felix, who had apostasized from the Church, and his wife Liliosa who had   
   been   
   practicing her faith in secret. Now, Felix returned to the Church and both   
   gave   
   up all pretense of dissembling. All four began to visit and minister to the   
   Christians who were in prison.   
      
   It did not take long before all four of these dedicated servants of God were   
   arrested and themselves thrown into prison. Also arrested with them was a   
   beggar   
   named George, who belonged to the monastery of St. Sabas in Jerusalem and   
   had   
   toured Egypt and Europe in search of alms for his house. Since he could not   
   be   
   accused of the same crime as the others, apostasy from the Moslem faith,   
   George   
   in order to obtain martyrdom insulted Mohammed to the Cadi's face. Thus,   
   when   
   the first four were condemned to death by beheading, George was also   
   included.   
   On July 27, 852, these saintly followers of Christ achieved the martyrdom   
   they   
   so avidly sought.   
      
   (Comments)   
      
   1. The most important thing a husband or wife can do for their spouse is to   
   help   
   them achieve salvation. These two couples understood that Christ and his   
   Church   
   had to come first in their lives, even though they knew full well that open   
   profession of their faith would ultimately cost them their earthly lives.   
   The   
   heavenly crown they won for themselves far surpasses any suffering they had   
   to   
   endure on earth. So too may we all remember the glory that awaits us when we   
   find ourselves in the midst of trials and persecution.   
      
   2. The monk George openly sought martyrdom-not something that most people   
   would   
   do. Natalia, Aurelius, Felix and Liliosa tried to live in a Moslem society   
   while   
   remaining undercover Christians, but they finally realized that they could   
   hide   
   their faith in Christ no longer. If we ever find ourselves in the position   
   where   
   it would be more expedient to hide our faith, may we pray for the courage to   
   profess it openly and face the consequences with courage and conviction. Our   
   Lord tells us, "Every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will   
   acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before   
   men,   
   I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven" (Mt 10:32-33).   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   When a fire is lit to clear a field, it burns off all the dry and useless   
   weeds   
   and thorns. When the sun rises and darkness is dispelled, robbers,   
   night-prowlers and burglars hide away. So when Paul's voice was raised to   
   preach   
   the Gospel to the nations, like a great clap of thunder in the sky, his   
   preaching was a blazing fire carrying all before it. It was the sun rising   
   in   
   full glory. Infidelity was consumed by it, false beliefs fled away, and the   
   truth appeared like a great candle lighting the whole world with its   
   brilliant   
   flame.   
   --Saint Bernadine of Siena   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and   
   We   
   will come to him and make Our abode with him.  (John 14:23)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   THIRTY-ONE DAYS OF PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SOULS   
   FROM THE PURGATORIAN MANUAL   
    (Imprimatur 1946)   
      
   Eleventh Day   
      
   OUR DUTY TO RELIEVE THE SOULS IN PURGATORY   
      
        In bestowing charity upon any person, we are usually guided by the   
   degree   
   of his poverty; but, who is in such great need as he who possesses   
   absolutely   
   nothing, owes a heavy debt, is unable to labor or gain any merit, or even to   
   beg, and must nevertheless suffer the most excruciating torments until the   
   last   
   farthing has been paid? There is a universal law to assist the needy, which   
   extends even to strangers ; but here the obligation is greatest, because   
   among   
   these souls in Purgatory, are such as were intimately connected with us, who   
   suffer, perhaps, for having loved us excessively. Among the sufferers are   
   our   
   fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, relatives, and friends. How exceedingly   
   painful for them to be forgotten and deserted even by those whose happiness   
   they   
   promoted during their sojourn upon earth; to see the possessions left to   
   their   
   children foolishly squandered, they themselves not receiving the benefit of   
   the   
   least farthing thereof ! What proofs of extreme coldness and ingratitude !   
   Were   
   any of these persons afflicted with the least pain upon earth, we would do   
   all   
   in our power to relieve them, but, as it is, we are devoid of all sympathy,   
   and   
   leave them in their terrible suffering and anguish.   
      
   Prayer: Have mercy, O Lord, upon the suffering souls in Purgatory, and   
   mitigate   
   the severity of Thy judgment, that they, who, during their earthly lives   
   believed in Thee hoped in Thee, and loved Thee, may receive the crown of   
   justice   
   in Heaven. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.   
      
   Special Intercession: Pray for the souls of those who are suffering for   
   their   
   negligence in-praying for the souls in Purgatory.   
      
   Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon   
   them;   
   may they rest in peace. Amen.   (Three times)   
      
   Practice: Suffer patiently the disagreeable occurrences in your intercourse   
   with   
   others.   
      
   Invocation: My Jesus, mercy!   
      
   See entire 31day prayer at:   
   http://www.faithfuldeparted.net/prayers.html   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)