From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Do not be afraid to follow Jesus all the way   
      
   Jesus probably expected to meet opposition from the highest religious   
   authorities in Jerusalem. For him to meet opposition from his own   
   relatives must have been even harder. When we choose to be disciples   
   of the Lord Jesus and to follow his will for our lives, we can expect   
   to meet opposition from those who are opposed to the Gospel message   
   and Christian way of life. But the hardest opposition may actually   
   come from someone close to us, a family member or close friend who   
   doesn't want us to take the Gospel message too seriously.   
   Jesus met opposition--whether from family, friend, or foe--with grace   
   and determination to fulfill his Father's will. Are you ready to obey   
   and follow the Lord Jesus even if others oppose your doing so?   
      
   "Lord Jesus, may I always put you first and find joy in doing your   
   will. May your love and charity grow in me, especially in the face of   
   opposition and adversity."   
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   March 7th - Sts. Felicitas and Perpetua, Martyrs   
      
   I will now subjoin a short account of the holy martyrs Perpetua and   
   Felicitas. They lived, during the reign of Septimus Severus and   
   Antoninus, in Mauritania, a country of Africa. Both were married and   
   remarkable for their holy lives. They were unexpectedly arrested and   
   thrown into prison with four other Christians--Satirus, Saturninus,   
   Revocatus, and Secundulus. St. Felicitas was soon to be a mother,   
   whilst Perpetua was nursing an infant. They all prepared themselves by   
   prayer for their approaching martyrdom, and besought the Lord for His   
   powerful assistance. During the night, St. Perpetua beheld a golden   
   ladder extending from the earth to the sky, but bristling with sharp   
   knives and swords, so that it was almost impossible to mount it   
   without injury. At the foot lay an enormous dragon, breathing fire,   
   who obstructed the approach to the ladder. She also noticed that   
   Satirus, her fellow-martyr, was safely mounting, though not without   
   receiving some wounds, and when he had reached the summit was crying   
   out, not to fear the dragon, but to advance boldly. She related her   
   dream the next day, and all concluded that they would conquer heaven   
   by martyrdom. This caused them great joy, and whilst thanking God,   
   they incessantly begged of Him to assist them in their trials.   
      
   They were shortly afterwards brought before the judge, who commanded   
   them to worship the idols or suffer the most cruel torments. They were   
   not frightened, but showed themselves ready to undergo all for the   
   love of Christ. As St. Felicitas was near her time, she was led back   
   to prison, and her sentence was postponed until after her confinement.   
   The judge employed promises and caresses, and even sent her   
   grey-headed father to St. Perpetua, in order to weaken her resolution,   
   and bring her over to the service of the gods. The father did his   
   utmost: falling at her feet, he conjured her to pity his grey hairs by   
   obeying the imperial mandate. He took her babe, and holding it up   
   before her, besought her to have mercy on this innocent being. She   
   remained unshaken, and replied: "Dearest father, in everything else I   
   owe you obedience, but in the present affair, I must obey God rather   
   than you." When the judge saw that every effort was vain, he ordered   
   Perpetua to be stripped and most cruelly scourged, and then to be cast   
   again into a dungeon. The holy matron returned thanks to God for his   
   support in this first trial, and begged for renewed constancy for the   
   future tortures. The others also were arming, by prayer, for the   
   storm, and asked the favor of not being separated from one another in   
   their martyrdom. They petitioned the Lord to hasten the confinement of   
   St. Felicitas, that she might belong to their band. Their prayers   
   ,were heard, and St. Felicitas was safely delivered. During the throes   
   of childbirth, the sufferings drew forth groans from her. On hearing   
   them, the prison-keeper said: "If you cannot bear this pain, how will   
   you be able to undergo the tortures of tomorrow?" She replied: "Today   
   I am suffering, but tomorrow Christ will suffer in me and with me.   
   Today nature struggles with natural pains, but tomorrow the grace of   
   God will overcome all suffering and torments." The sequel proved the   
   truth of her words.   
      
   The six martyrs were again brought before the judge, and as they   
   steadfastly refused to deny Christ, he ordered them to be led naked   
   through the streets, and then to be given a prey to the wild beasts.   
   This order was fulfilled. The Saints, gladdened by the approach of   
   their execution, sang, in a clear voice, the verses of the Psalmist:   
   "The idols of the Gentiles are silver and gold, the work of the hands   
   of men; the gods of the Gentiles are devils, but the Lord made the   
   heavens. They have mouths and speak not, they have ears and hear not,   
   etc., etc." The judge, enraged at their singing, commanded it to be   
   stopped by blows and cuffs. But it was in vain, for they continued   
   praising God until they reached the place of their martyrdom. The wild   
   beasts were let loose, and the two holy matrons, with St. Satirus,   
   were torn to pieces; St. Saturninus and Revocatus perished by the   
   sword; whilst Secundulus died in prison. The holy martyrs Felicitas   
   and Perpetua are frequently mentioned in terms of praise by the   
   Fathers of the Church.   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Practical Consideration   
      
   The holy Perpetua and Felicitas led a most exemplary life, even in   
   their childhood.  How did you spend the years of youth? What was your   
   I course of life? Reflect on the past. Have you not reason to cry out,   
   with David: "The sins of my youth and I my ignorance do not remember"   
   (Ps. xxiv.). Awaken in your heart, today and for the future, sincere   
   contrition for the sins of your youth. Be sorry for your sloth in the   
   Divine service, and ask pardon. Still this is not sufficient, but,   
   like St. Gerasimus, who endeavored to satisfy for what he had   
   neglected while in his heretical errors, do you strive to make amends   
   for your negligence in the things of God. Serve the Lord more   
   faithfully, be zealous in the performance of good works, and neglect   
   nothing that may be conducive to your eternal welfare. Perhaps the end   
   of your days is nigh, and then comes the night in which you are unable   
   to work for salvation. A traveller who has tarried too long at some   
   spot, when he perceives the approach of night, quickens his step to   
   make up for the time lost and reach his destination. Imitate his   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)