From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   The Healing Physician   
      
      "Be assured that all your diseases will be healed. Have no fear.   
   You may say that your diseases are powerful; but this physician is   
   more powerful. There is no disease that the Almighty Physician cannot   
   cure.   
      Just allow yourself to be healed and do not reject his healing   
   hands. He knows what he is doing."   
   --St. Augustine--Commentary on Psalm 72, 32   
      
   Prayer:   
    Bring relief to a serious wound with your great medicine. Mine is   
   serious, but I take refuge in the Almighty. I would despair of such a   
   grave injury unless I had recourse to a great physician.   
   --St. Augustine--Commentary on Psalm 50, 6   
      
   ===============   
   March 10th - The 40 Martyrs at Sebastea   
   (AD 320)   
      
   One of the most dramatic mass martyrdoms of ancient Roman times was   
   that of the 40 Christian soldiers stationed at Sebastea (now Sivas in   
   Turkey). In 313 AD Emperor Licinius had co-signed with his fellow   
   emperor Constantine a decree allowing Christians to be tolerated. But   
   in 320 Licinius went back on his word and ordered that every Christian   
   in Cappadocia abandon the Christian faith.   
      
   We have a contemporary record of what happened when this decree was   
   enforced at Sebastea. Forty Christian military men assigned there   
   simply refused to offer sacrifice to the gods. Death was preferable,   
   they said.   
      
   Agricolaus, the local pagan governor, would not humor this obstinacy.   
   When imprisonment of the whole stubborn company could not break them,   
   he decided on a novel sort of pressure.   
      
   It was a bitterly cold March and the pond outside the city was frozen   
   over. The governor, therefore, ordered that the 40 be herded out to   
   the center of the lake stark naked and allowed to rethink their   
   decision. Meanwhile, he set up on the shore statues of the gods to be   
   worshipped, a nice fire, and a pleasant warm bath. He hoped that the   
   offer of warmth might change the minds of the freezing men and induce   
   them to apostatize. But the prisoners retained their solidarity.   
   Together they prayed, “Lord, we are 40 who are engaged in this   
   conflict; grant that 40 may be crowned and that we may not fall short   
   of that sacred number.”   
      
   During the 3 days of their lethal exposure, only one of the group gave   
   up, stumbled towards the shore, and offered the pagan sacrifice.   
   Actually the hot bath that rewarded his apostasy also brought about   
   his death. Ironically, the sudden heat was too much after the long   
   chill, and he died of shock.   
      
   Although the soldier-victims were saddened by this defection, their   
   prayer was heard. One of the pagan soldiers on hand fell asleep by the   
   fire. He had a strange dream. In the dream he saw himself standing on   
   the same spot and looking out at the freezing soldiers. Suddenly a   
   host of angels came down from heaven and placed crowns on the heads of   
   the martyrs. The soldier counted the crowns -- only 39. It was after   
   he awoke that he saw the 40th man apostatize. Pagan though he was, the   
   soldier got the meaning of the dream. Throwing off his own clothing,   
   he proclaimed with great feeling that he, too, was a Christian. He   
   joined the 39 and died with them, thus receiving a “baptism of blood.”   
      
   After 3 days only a few of the 40 were still alive. Agricolaus ordered   
   that their arms and legs be broken to hasten death, and that, when   
   dead, all be cremated. The military detail entrusted with this task   
   left to the last, Melito, a teenager. They felt sorry for him and   
   thought that if he were left alone he might weaken in his resolve. But   
   his Christian mother went up to the dying youth and encouraged him to   
   hold fast. Indeed, she even gathered up his stiffening body and put it   
   onto the cart that was carrying the dead to the crematory. He soon   
   died, winning his crown and his palm of victory.   
      
   Although all the bodies were burned, the Christians were able to   
   rescue some of their relics from the ashes. A wave of admiration for   
   the 40 flowed over Asia Minor. This was indeed a startling act of   
   Christian heroism, and it hastened the end of the persecution.   
      
   The alien world often tries to bribe us away from our principles by   
   the coinage of physical comforts. When we are chilled to the bone, a   
   warm bath can be mighty attractive. But that is precisely why the   
   Church uses Lent to give us practice in denying ourselves a few   
   breaks. Then, when we are faced by a crisis of faith or morality, we   
   will never forget what is right and seek the heavenly courage to do   
   it.   
   –Father Robert   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Do not pass one day without devoting a half hour, or at least a   
   quarter of an hour, to meditation on the sorrowful Passion of your   
   Saviour. Have a continual remembrance of the agonies of your crucified   
   Love, and know that the greatest saints, who now, in heaven, triumph   
   in holy love, arrived at perfection in this way.   
   --St. Paul of the Cross   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   For we must all be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ, that   
   every one may receive the proper things of the body, according as he   
   hath done, whether it be good or evil.  (2 Cor 5:10) DRB   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Patient Endurance   
      
   "With regard to patience the Lord says, 'You will gain possession of   
   your souls through your patient endurance' (Luke 21:19). He did not   
   say 'through your fasting' or 'through your vigils'. I refer to the   
   patience bestowed by God, which is the queen of virtues, the   
   foundation of courageous actions. It is patience that is peace amid   
   strife, serenity amid distress, and a steadfast base for those who   
   acquire it. Once you have attained it with the help of Christ Jesus,   
   no swords and spears, no attacking armies, not even the ranks of   
   demons, the dark phalanx of hostile powers, will be able to do you any   
   harm."   
   --St Gregory of Sinai.    
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)