From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   The Intimate Friendship of Jesus (2)   
      
      WHEN Jesus is near, all is well and nothing seems difficult. When   
   He is absent, all is hard. When Jesus does not speak within, all other   
   comfort is empty, but if He says only a word, it brings great   
   consolation.   
       Did not Mary Magdalen rise at once from her weeping   
   when Martha said to her: "The Master is come, and calleth for thee"?   
   John 11:28.  Happy is the hour when Jesus calls   
   one from tears to joy of spirit.   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Book 2, Chapter 8   
      
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   March 12th - Saint Maximilian of Thebeste   
      
   Also known as Maximilian of Tebessa, Maximilian of Theveste,   
   Mamilian….   
      
   1. On the 12th day of March during the consulship of Tuscus and   
   Anolinus [295], when Fabius Victor had been brought into the forum at   
   Tebessa, together with Maximilianus, and their advocate Pompeianus had   
   been granted an audience, the last declared, "The temonarius Fabius   
   Victor is present, together with Valerianus Quintianus, the   
   praepositus Caesariensis, and the fine recruit Maximilianus, Victor's   
   son. Since he is acceptable, I ask that he be measured." The proconsul   
   Dion said, "What are you called?" Maximilianus replied, "Why do you   
   want to know my name? It is not permitted to me to serve in the   
   military since I am a Christian". The proconsul Dion said, "Ready   
   him". When he was being got ready, Maximilianus replied, "I cannot   
   serve in the military; I cannot do wrong; I am a Christian." The   
   proconsul Dion said, "Let him be measured". When he had been measured,   
   an official reported, "He is five feet ten inches tall." Dion said to   
   the official, "Let him be marked." And as Maximilianus resisted, he   
   replied, "I will not do it; I cannot serve in the military."   
      
   2. Dion said, "Serve so that you do not perish." Maximilianus replied,   
   "I will not serve; cut off my head; I do not serve the world, but I do   
   serve my God. "Dion the proconsul said, "Who has persuaded you of   
   this?" Maximilianus replied, "My soul and he who has called me." Dion   
   said to his father Victor, "Advise your son." Victor replied, "He   
   himself knows--he has his purpose--what is best for him." Dion said to   
   Maximilianus, "Serve and accept the seal." He replied, "I will not   
   accept the seal: I already have the seal of my Christ." Dion the   
   proconsul said, "I will send you to your Christ right now." He   
   replied, "I wish that you would do so. That is even my title to   
   glory." Dion said to his staff, "Let him be marked." And when he was   
   resisting, he replied, "I do not accept the world's seal, and if you   
   give it to me, I will break it, since I value it at nought. I am a   
   Christian. It is not permitted to me to bear the lead upon my neck   
   after [having received] the saving seal of my Lord Jesus Christ, the   
   Son of the Living God, he whom you do not know, who suffered for the   
   life of the world, whom God surrendered for our sins. All of us   
   Christians serve Him. Him we follow as the source of life and author   
   of salvation." Dion said, "Serve, and accept the seal, so that you do   
   not suffer a terrible death." Maximilianus replied, "I will not die.   
   My name is already with my Lord; I cannot serve in the military." Dion   
   said, "Have regard to your youth and serve; for this befits a young   
   man." Maximilianus replied, "My service is for my Lord; I cannot serve   
   the world. I have already said: I am a Christian." Dion the proconsul   
   said, "There are Christian soldiers in the sacred retinue of our lords   
   Diocletian, Maximianus, Constantius, and Maximus, and they serve."   
   Maximilianus replied, "They themselves know what is best for them. But   
   I am a Christian, and I cannot do wrong." Dio said, "What wrong do   
   they who serve do?" Maximilianus replied, "You know well what they   
   do." Dion replied, "Serve, lest, having scorned military service, you   
   begin upon a terrible death." Maximilianus replied, "I will not die;   
   even if I do depart the world, my spirit will live with my Lord   
   Christ."   
      
   3. Dion said, "Strike out his name." And when it had been struck out,   
   Dion said, "Because you have disloyally refused military service, you   
   will receive the appropriate sentence in order to serve as an example   
   to others." And he read his decision from his tablet, "Maximilianus,   
   since you have disloyally refused the military oath, it has been   
   decided for you to be punished by the sword." Maximilianus replied,   
   "Thanks be to God." He was 21 years, 3 months, and 18 days old. And   
   when he was being led to the place [of execution], he spoke as   
   follows, "Dearest brothers, with an eager desire, hurry with as much   
   courage as you can so that it may befall you to see the Lord and that   
   he may reward you also with a similar crown." And with a joyous face,   
   he addressed his father as follows, "Give that guard the new clothing   
   which you had got ready for me during my military service, so that I   
   may welcome you with a hundredfold reward and we may glory with the   
   Lord together." And so he suffered death shortly afterwards. And the   
   matron Pompeiana obtained his body from the judge and, having placed   
   it in her carriage, she brought it to Carthage, and buried it beneath   
   a little hill near the martyr Cyprian and the palace. And so, after   
   the 13th day, the same woman died, and was buried there. But his   
   father Victor returned to his home with great joy, thanking God that   
   he had sent on ahead such a gift to the Lord, he who was about to   
   follow shortly afterwards.   
      
   Select Bibliography   
   Primary Text   
   Bastiaensan, A.A.R. et al. (eds.), Atti e passioni dei martiri (1987),   
   238-45 [BHL 5813]   
      
      
   Readings   
   My army is the army of God, and I cannot fight for this world.   
   – Saint Maximilian   
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Love Mary! She is loveable, faithful, constant. She will never let   
   herself be outdone in love, but will ever remain supreme. If you are   
   in danger, she will hasten to free you. If you are troubled, she will   
   console you. If you are sick, she will bring you relief. If you are in   
   need, she will help you. She does not look to see what kind of person   
   you have been. She simply comes to a heart that wants to love her. She   
   comes quickly and opens her merciful heart to you, embraces you and   
   consoles and serves you. She will even be at hand to accompany you on   
   the trip to eternity.   
   -- Saint Gabriel Possenti   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   And when the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they were all   
   together in one place: 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven,   
   as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)