From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   February 13th - St. Martinian the Hermit (AC)   
   (Also known as Martinian of Caesarea)   
      
   Died c. 400. Recluse near Caesarea, Palestine, who put his feet in the fire   
   and another time jumped into the sea to escape from the so-called weaker   
   sex. You may ask how this all came about.   
   Martinianus retired to the 'place of the Ark' near his hometown of Caesarea   
   when he was about 18. He lived for 25 years among holy solitaries practicing   
   penance and the virtues, and manifesting the gift of miracles.   
      
   The harlot Zoë, hearing of his sanctity and inspired by the devil,   
   determined to pervert him. She pretended to be a poor woman, lost and   
   helpless in the desert late at night, and prevailed upon Martinianus to   
   allow her to spend the night with him in his cell. About dawn she tossed   
   aside her beggar's rags and donned her city finery. Zoë told him that she   
   offered herself and all her wealth and estates to him. She also appealed to   
   the Old Testament saints who were wealthy and married, and urged him to   
   abandon his purpose.   
      
   It seems that Martinianus may have assented in his heart for he did not send   
   her away immediately. He was expecting certain people to call upon him for a   
   blessing and instructions but told her to wait. He intended to dismiss his   
   guests, but was touched with remorse. Returning speedily to his cell he   
   built a fire and stuck his feet into it. Hearing his scream of pain, Zoë ran   
   to him. "If I cannot bear this weak fire, how can I endure the fire of   
   hell?"   
      
   This example excited Zoë to sentiments of grief and repentance. She asked   
   Martinianus's help in finding the way to salvation. Thus, she entered the   
   convent of Saint Paula in Bethlehem, where she lived in continual penance,   
   lying on the floor and consuming only bread and water.   
      
   It took nearly 7 months for Martinianus's legs to heal. When he was able to   
   rise from the ground, he retired to a rock surrounded by water on every side   
   to be secure from the approach of danger and all occasion of sin. Here he   
   lived exposed to the elements and seeing no one except a boatman who brought   
   him supplies twice annually.   
      
   After six years on the rock, he one day spied a ship wrecked at the bottom   
   of his rock. All on board had perished except for one girl, who cried out   
   for help. He rescued her but, fearing temptation of living alone with her   
   for two months until the boatman came again, resolved to leave her and his   
   provisions. She freely chose to live out her days on the rock in imitation   
   of Martinianus.   
      
   He threw himself into the sea to shun all danger of sin, swam to the   
   mainland, and travelled through many deserts to reach Athens, where he lived   
   out the rest of his life.   
      
   Martinianus's name does not appear in the R.M., but does occur in the Greek   
   Menaea. Some have questioned whether this story is entirely fictitious   
   (Benedictines, Encyclopedia, Husenbeth).   
      
   Saint Martinian's emblem is a dolphin, standing on a rock in the sea   
   (Roeder).   
      
      
   Saint Quote   
   We must always choose the most perfect. Two good works present themselves to   
   be done, one in favour of a person we love, the other in favour of a person   
   who has done us some harm. Well, we must give preference to the latter.   
   --Saint John Vianney   
      
   Bible Quotes:   
   And answering, he said to them: Go and relate to John what you have heard   
   and seen: the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are made clean, the deaf   
   hear, the dead rise again, to the poor the gospel is preached: And blessed   
   is he whosoever shall not be scandalized in me.  (Luke 7:22-23)   
      
   Anyone who so much as looks with lust at a woman has already committed   
   adultery with her in his heart.  (St. Matthew 5:28)   
      
      
      
   <><><><>   
   THIRTY-ONE DAYS OF PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SOULS   
   FROM THE PURGATORIAN MANUAL   
    (Imprimatur 1946)   
      
   Twenty-First Day   
      
   EFFICACY OF THE ROSARY FOR THE SUFFERING SOULS   
      
        St. Dominic declares that the redemption of the holy souls from   
   Purgatory is one of the principal effects of the Rosary. The Venerable   
   Alanus writes that many of the brethren had appeared to them whilst reciting   
   the Rosary, and had declared that next to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass   
   there was no more powerful means than the Rosary to help the suffering   
   souls. Also, that numerous souls were daily released thereby, who otherwise   
   would have been obliged to remain there for years. St. Alphonsus Liguori   
   therefore says: "If we wish to be of material assistance to the souls in   
   Purgatory, we must always recommend them in our prayers to the Blessed   
      
   Virgin Mary, and especially offer the holy Rosary for them."   
      
        Let us then frequently and with devotion recite the Rosary, which is so   
   pleasing to our blessed Mother, recommended most especially by the Holy   
   Church, discloses to us a rich source of grace, and is so efficacious in   
   relieving the suffering souls and opening Heaven to them. Should our labor   
   prevent us from reciting the entire Rosary every day, let us, at least, say   
   it in part. This simple homage to the Queen of Heaven will draw down great   
   blessings upon us, and the holy souls will be wonderfully consoled and   
   relieved, if this devotion be offered in their behalf.   
      
   Prayer: Graciously hear, O Lord! the prayer we offer Thee in the holy   
   Rosary, in honor of Mary, Thy Virgin Mother, for the relief of the souls in   
   Purgatory, while by devoutly meditating upon Thy holy life and suffering, we   
   implore Thy divine assistance.Who livest and reignest, world without end.   
   Amen.   
      
   Special Intercession: Pray for the souls who were most devoted to the holy   
   Rosary.   
      
   Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon   
   them; may they rest in peace. Amen.        (Three times)   
      
   Practice: Recite the Rosary for the suffering souls.   
      
   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)