From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   April 30th - St. Maximus of Ephesus, Martyr   
      
   Died May 14, c. 251. Maximus, a citizen of Ephesus, was a merchant by   
   profession. On the publication of the edict of Decius against the Christians   
   in 250, he presented himself to Proconsul Optimus as a Christian and was   
   martyred. His proconsular Acta which are still extant state that when   
   Optimus asked his name and state in life, Maximus responded: "I am born   
   free, but am the slave of Jesus Christ."   
   Optimus: "What is your profession?"   
      
   Maximus: "I am a plebeian, and live by my dealings."   
      
   Optimus: "Are you a Christian?"   
      
   Maximus: "Yes, I am, though a sinner."   
      
   Optimus: "Have not you been informed of the edicts that are lately arrived?"   
      
   Maximus: "What edicts, and what are their contents?"   
      
   Optimus: "That all the Christians forsake their superstition, acknowledge   
   the true prince whom all obey, and adore his gods."   
      
   Maximus: "I have been told of that impious edict, and it is the occasion of   
   my appearing abroad."   
      
   Optimus: "As then you are apprised of the edicts, sacrifice to the gods."   
      
   Maximus: "I sacrifice to none but that God to whom alone I have sacrificed   
   from my youth, the remembrance of which affords me great comfort."   
      
   Optimus: "Sacrifice as you value your life: if you refuse to obey, you shall   
   expire in torments."   
      
   Maximus: "This has ever been the object of my desires: it was on this very   
   account that I appeared in public, to have an opportunity offered me of   
   being speedily delivered out of this miserable life, to possess that which   
   is eternal."   
      
   Then the proconsul commanded him to be beaten, and in the meantime said to   
   him, "Sacrifice, Maximus, and you shall be no longer tormented."   
      
   Maximus: "Sufferings for the name of Christ are not torments, but   
   comfortable unctions; but if I depart from his precepts contained in the   
   Gospel, then real and eternal torments would be my portion."   
      
   Next, Optimus ordered him to be stretched on the rack, and while he was   
   tortured, said to him, "Renounce, wretch, your obstinate folly, and   
   sacrifice to save your life."   
      
   Maximus: "I shall save it if I do not sacrifice; I shall lose it if I do.   
   Neither your clubs, nor your our iron hooks, nor your fire, give me any   
   pain, because the grace of Jesus Christ dwells in me, which will deliver me   
   out of your hands to put me in possession of the happiness of the saints,   
   who have already, in this same conflict, triumphed over your cruelty. It is   
   by their prayers I obtain this courage and strength which you see in me."   
      
   Optimus: "I command that Maximus, for refusing to obey the sacred edicts, be   
   stoned to death, to serve for an example of error to all Christians."   
      
   Saint Maximus was immediately seized by the executioners and carried outside   
   the city walls, where they stoned him to death. The Greeks honor him on May   
   14; the Roman Martyrology today (Benedictines, Husenbeth).   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Under the cross I have understood the destiny of God's people; I believe   
   that those who understand that all this is the cross of Christ ought to take   
   it up themselves in the name of all the others.   
   --St. Edith Stein   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   1 Unto the end, a canticle of a psalm of the resurrection. Shout with joy to   
   God, all the earth, 2 Sing ye a psalm to his name; give glory to his praise.   
   (Psalms 65:1-2)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   IT'S RAINING TEARDROPS FROM HEAVEN   
      
   It's raining teardrops from Heaven   
   The gates are opened anew   
   To show to Jesus and Mary   
   The souls that haven't been true.   
   Their heads are bent low in sorrow;   
   Their hearts are bleeding with care,   
   For they have asked to love Them,   
   And sent our hearts up in prayer.   
   I stroke His face with compassion,   
   I kiss the face wet with tears-   
   For time has not erased His heartache;   
   He's suffering more in our years.   
   His children turn from His pleadings,   
   For worldly cares means forgetting   
   The One who begs us to love Him;   
   To save our souls from regretting.   
   He'll take a crumb of affection;   
   The smallest sign He does seek-   
   But why must we give rejection,   
   When sinful ways make us weak?   
   He puts His hand out in pity;   
   To touch us is all He can do-   
   For God gave man a born conscience   
   To choose to be faithful and true.   
   The pleasures are steeped more in evil;   
   The goodness inspired by God.   
   The road to satan is easy;   
   But Heaven is earned very hard.   
   The only ladder to Heaven is found   
   In our climbing in prayer;   
   Each step will be shorter and higher   
   If we just try a little to care.   
   We'll accept all the burdens and sorrows;   
   The joys will be just added graces.   
   We'll reserve our bright spot up in heaven   
   By accepting here lowly places.   
      
   St. Teresa   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)