From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   The heavenly image within us   
      
     We cannot bear the heavenly image within us unless we show a   
   likeness to Christ in the life upon which we have now entered. This   
   means changing from what we used to be and becoming something   
   altogether new, so that our divine birth may be seen in us, so that we   
   may imitate the Father by our holy way of life, and so that our lives   
   may give honor and praise to God and he may be glorified in us. This   
   is what he himself has taught and urged us to do, promising that those   
   who glorify him will be rewarded. I will glorify those who glorify me,   
   he says, and those who despise me shall be despised. To instruct us   
   and prepare us for this glorification and produce in us a likeness to   
   God the Father, our Lord, the Son of God, says in his gospel: You have   
   heard it said: Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you   
   to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you   
   may be like your Father in heaven   
   --St. Cyprian of Carthage   
      
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   April 5th - Martyrs of Seleucia   
   d. 345.   
      
   IN the fifth year of our persecution, say the acts, Sapor being at   
   Seleucia, caused to be apprehended in the neighbouring places 120   
   Christians, of which 9 were virgins consecrated to God; the others   
   were priests, deacons, or of the inferior clergy. They lay six months   
   in filthy stinking dungeons, till the end of winter: during which   
   Jazdundocta, a very rich, virtuous lady of Arbela, the capital   
   city of Hadiabena, supported them by her charities, not admitting of a   
   partner in that good work. During this interval they were often   
   tortured, but always courageously answered the president that they   
   would never adore the sun, a mere creature, for God; and begged he   
   would finish speedily their triumph by death, which would free them   
   from dangers and insults.   
      
    Jazdundocta, hearing from the court, one day, that they were to   
   suffer the next morning, flew to the prison, gave to every one of them   
   a fine, white, long robe, as to chosen spouses of the heavenly   
   bridegroom; prepared for them a sumptuous supper, served and waited on   
   them herself at table, gave them wholesome exhortations, and read the   
   holy scriptures to them. They were surprised at her behaviour, but   
   could not prevail on her to tell them the reason. The next morning she   
   returned to the prison, and told them she had been informed that that   
   was the happy morning in which they were to receive their crown, and   
   be joined to the blessed spirits. She earnestly recommended herself to   
   their prayers for the pardon of her sins, and that she might meet them   
   on the last day, and live eternally with them. Soon after, the king’s   
   order for their immediate execution was brought to the prison. As they   
   went out of it Jazdundocta met them at the door, fell at their feet,   
   took hold of their hands, and kissed them. The guards hastened them   
   on, with great precipitation, to the place of execution; where the   
   judge who presided at their tortures asked them again if any of them   
   would adore the sun, and receive a pardon. They answered, that their   
   countenance must show him they met death with joy, and contemned this   
   world and its light, being perfectly assured of receiving an immortal   
   crown in the kingdom of heaven. He then dictated the sentence of   
   death, whereupon their heads were struck off.   
      
   Jazdundocta, in the dusk of the evening, brought out of the city two   
   undertakers, or embalmers, for each body, caused them to wrap the   
   bodies in fine linen, and carry them in coffins, for fear of the   
   Magians, to a place at a considerable distance from the town. There   
   she buried them in deep graves, with monuments, five and five in a   
   grave. They were of the province called Hadiabena, which contained the   
   greater part of the ancient Assyria, and was in a manner peopled by   
   Christians. Helena, queen of the Hadiabenians, seems to have embraced   
   Christianity in the second century. [1] Her son Izates, and his   
   successors, much promoted the faith; so that Sozomen says, [2] the   
   country was almost entirely Christian. These one 120 martyrs suffered   
   at Seleucia, in the year of Christ 345, of King Sapor the 36th, and   
   the sixth of his great persecution, on the 6th day of the moon of   
   April, which was the 21st of that month. They are mentioned in the   
   Roman Martyrology on the 6th.   
      
     From their genuine acts in Syriac, published by Assemani, t. 1. p. 105.   
      
   Note 1. See Baronius ad an. 44. n. 66.   
   Note 2. Sozom. b. 2. c. 12.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Truly we are passing through disastrous times, when we may well make   
   our own the lamentation of the Prophet: "There is no truth, and there   
   is no mercy, and there is no knowledge of God in the land(Hosea 4:1).   
   Yet in the midst of this tide of evil, the Virgin Most Merciful rises   
   before our eyes like a rainbow, as the arbiter of peace between God   
   and man.   
   -- Pope Saint Pius X   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; because you are like to   
   whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear to men beautiful but within   
   are full of dead men's bones and of all filthiness. So you also   
   outwardly indeed appear to men just: but inwardly you are full of   
   hypocrisy and iniquity.  (Mt. 23:27,28)   
      
      
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   THANKS FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS   
      
   Blessed are You, loving Father,   
   For all your gifts to us.   
   Blessed are You for giving us family and friends   
   To be with us in times of joy and sorrow,   
   To help us in days of need,   
   And to rejoice with us in moments of celebration..   
      
   Father,   
   We praise You for Your Son Jesus,   
   Who knew the happiness of family and friends,   
   And in the love of Your Holy Spirit.   
   Blessed are you for ever and ever. Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)