O Antiphons

Our family will be taking a week long adventure over the next week.  I think we will dub this vacation our O Antiphon Trip! (Check out our adventure on my other blog when we get back.)

What are the O Antiphons?  You might ask.  Well here is a quick review and I encourage you to learn more by doing a search on the internet...

These reminders of Christ coming date back to the 4th century, and help us in the final push before the feast day of Christmas that we should prepare as the Messiah is coming.  These antiphons address Christ with seven magnificent Messianic titles, based on the Old Testament prophecies and types of Christ.

December 17...O Wisdom...

Come, O divine Wisdom, teach us the way of knowledge. We are unwise; we judge and speak according to the vain standards of the world, which is foolishness in the eyes of God.

December 18...O Lord and Ruler of the House of Israel...

O Lord and Ruler of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come and redeem us with outstretched arm.

December 19...O Root of Jesse...

O Root of Jesse, who stands for an ensign of the people, before whom kinds shall keep silence and unto whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: Come to deliver us, and tarry not.

December 20...O Key of David...

O Key of David, and Sceptre of the House of Israel, who opens and no man shuts, who shuts and no man opens: Come and bring forth the captive from his prison, he who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death.

December 21...O Radiant Dawn

With the rising of the sun, you will soon see the King of kings and Lord of lords, coming forth from His Father, as the bridegroom, from His bridal chamber.

December 22...O King of the Gentiles...

O King of the Gentiles and their desired One, the Cornerstone that makes both one: Come, and deliver man, whom You formed out the dust of the earth.

December 23...O Emmanuel...

O Emmanuel, God with us, our King and Lawgiver, the expected of the nations and their Savior: Come to save us, O Lord our God.

May God bless you in this last year of Advent.

The Nursing Nun

Today's saint bloomed where she was planted by continuing her calling even though her family needed her assistance.

St. Maria Crocifissa Di Rosa

Feast day: December 15
Born 1813
Death 1855
Italy

Maria was born to a wealthy family and was educated by the Sisters of the Visitation.  She left school after the death of her mother and by age seventeen she was running her father's household and caring for the girls in her father's mill and estate.

During the cholera epidemic of 1836 she worked in the hospital in Brescia and became well known as she directed a home for girls and began another residence for deaf and mute young ladies.

However, through it all her greatest desire was to enter into the convent.  At the age of thirty, she finally was able to follow her calling, and would eventually create a new order known as the Handmaids of Charity.  The sisters mission was to care for the poor, the sick and the suffering.  They would soon minister to the wounded on the battlefields of northern Italy and in hospitals.

Her spirituality was grounded in the imitation of Christ’s suffering on the Cross. This was the basis of her teaching and contemplation. In her love of the crucified Christ, she translated her dedication to him towards the suffering members of his Mystical Body.

She continued her work until she died in 1855.

St. Maria Crocifissa Di Rosa, pray for us!

The Dark Night of the Soul

This phrase has become common place for us these days, but today's saint is the one who brought this concept to light!  If you have never read any of these classic Christian books, I encourage it...a great read for the new year book list!

St. John of the Cross

Feast day: December 14
Birth: 1542
Death: 1591
Patron:  Contemplative life; mystical theology; Spanish poets
Spain

The life of John actually should begin with his parents.  His father was born of a wealthy noble family but fell in love with a weaver's daughter.  In this period of time, this was not acceptable but John's father gave up everything to be with her.  Unfortunately, John's father died soon after John was born and his mother was left to take care of a baby alone.  They would remain homeless for most of his childhood.

John was allowed to attend a small school set up to teach the poor children.  He was chosen to serve as an acolyte at a nearby monastery of Augustinian nuns.  At fourteen, John took a job caring for hospital patients who suffered from incurable diseases and madness.

In 1564, John professed his religious vows as a Carmelite and studied theology and philosophy at the university.  After John joined the Carmelite order, Saint Teresa of Avila asked him to help her reform the order back to its original rule.  At this time he changed his name to John of the Cross.

However, there were a few in the order who did not approve of this reform and had John kidnapped.  He was locked in a cell six feet by ten feet and beaten three times a week by the monks. There was only one tiny window high up near the ceiling. Yet in that unbearable dark, cold, and desolation, his love and faith were like fire and light. He had nothing left but God.

John spent his days in prayer and he wrote beautiful poetry (a gift he considered from God).  He lived in this cell for nine months and escaped by unscrewing the lock on his door, sneaking past the guard and descending through a window on a blanket rope.  It is said a dog led him out of the wilderness to safety.

He found refuge in a convent and read his newly written poetry to the nuns as he recovered.  He never spoke of his harsh treatment in an ill way.  Instead, his poetry gave way to love and a deeper faith.  John left us many books of practical advice on spiritual growth and prayer that are just as relevant today as they were then. These books include:

• Ascent of Mount Carmel
• Dark Night of the Soul
• A Spiritual Canticle of the Soul and the Bridegroom Christ

Through his writings we learn that God is always with us in spite of our trials and doubts.  By showing love, even in hard situations, we are sharing in God's love and are united with him.  

"What more do you want, o soul! And what else do you search for outside, when within yourself you possess your riches, delights, satisfaction and kingdom -- your beloved whom you desire and seek? Desire him there, adore him there. Do not go in pursuit of him outside yourself. You will only become distracted and you won't find him, or enjoy him more than by seeking him within you." 

John would go on to lead the establishment of monasteries for the reformed order throughout Spain.  During one of his travels, he acquired a terrible infection and he soon died from complications of this illness in 1591.

"With what procrastinations do you wait, since from this very moment you can love God in your heart?"

St. John of the Cross, pray for us!

Seeing Through the Blindness

Today's saint understood and saw the importance of her faith even after she was blinded.

St. Lucy (Lucia of Syracuse)

Feast day: December 13
Born: 283
Death: 304
Patron of Blindness

All that is really known for certain of Lucy is that she was a martyr in Syracuse during the Diocletianic Persecution of 304 AD. Her veneration spread to Rome, and by the 6th century to the whole Church. The oldest archaeological evidence comes from the Greek inscriptions from the catacombs of St. John in Syracuse.

The oldest record of her story comes from the fifth-century Acts. Jacobus de Voragine's Legenda Aurea was the most widely read version of the Lucy legend in the Middle Ages. In medieval accounts, Saint Lucy's eyes are gouged out prior to her execution.

According to the traditional story, Lucy was born of rich and noble parents about the year 283. Her father was of Roman origin, but died when she was five years old, leaving Lucy and her mother without a protective guardian.

Lucy had consecrated her virginity to God, and she hoped to distribute her dowry to the poor. However, her mother, not knowing of Lucy's promise and suffering from a bleeding disorder feared for Lucy's future. She arranged Lucy's marriage to a young man of a wealthy pagan family.  Lucy convinced her mother to make a pilgrimage to Catania, in hopes of a cure. While there, St. Agatha came to Lucy in a dream and told her that because of her faith her mother would be cured and that Lucy would be the glory of Syracuse.  Lucy took the opportunity to persuade her mother to allow her to distribute a great part of her riches among the poor.

The governor of the region heard of this distribution of their wealth and had Lucy arrested.  Lucy told the governor that he would be punished and he became so angry that he had Lucy's eyes gouged out.  She was then martyred.

A custom of Sweden that our family has adopted is to make cinnamon rolls and serve to the family.  The oldest daughter (I took this spot this year to continue the tradition until Zaira can assist.) wakes early in the morning and dressed in a special costume (a white robe and a wreath upon her head with candles) and runs through the house shouting, "Make way for the Lord, for he is good and his love is everlasting!"  Fun tradition that everyone loves!

St. Lucy, pray for us!

The Rest of the Story

Pegs painted by another mother

Today we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  I explained the inspiration of Juan Diego earlier in the week.  Although it is not the apparitions themselves that make St. Juan a holy inspiration, his visions of the Lady play an important role in his life.  Here is the story:

In the year 1531, Mary would appear to Juan Diego, an elder Aztec Indian, as Our Lady of Guadalupe on his way to Mass in Mexico City.  He first heard beautiful music and then a simple call of his name as he passed by Tepeyac Hill.  Our Lady appeared to him in his native dress and identified herself as the Virgin Mary.  She simply asked him to deliver a message to the bishop.  She desired a chapel to be built on the hill to aid in the conversion of Mexico.

Although Juan quickly fulfilled her request, the bishop doubted the vision and asked for a sign from the Lady.  When Juan returned to the Lady, she promised a sign if he would return the following day.
Unfortunately, Juan returned home to find his uncle very sick and on his deathbed.  Instead of returning to the Lady on the hill the next day, Juan hurried to find a doctor and a priest to aid his uncle.  The Lady stopped him as he made his way around the hill and told him to not worry.  Juan was under her protection and his uncle was already well.  They proceeded to the top of the hill where Our Lady placed Castillian roses (only found in Spain), miraculously growing in the cold of winter, on Juan's tilma.  She arranged the roses and sent Juan on his way to the bishop.

When he arrived, Juan believed the miracle of the roses would be enough to convince the bishop of her request.  Juan and the bishop would both be surprised as the roses fell away from his tilma and a beautiful image of Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared.

The bishop immediately fell to his knees, and came to believe in Juan Diego's message. A church was built on the spot of the apparition, as Mary had requested, and 8 million people converted to Catholicism in a short period of time upon hearing of or viewing the miraculous image of Our Lady.

In 1910 Our Lady of Guadalupe was declared Patroness of Latin America, and in 1945 Pope Pius XII declared Her to be the Empress of all the Americas.

The tilma of Juan Diego has been the subject of much modern research. The tilma, woven out of coarse cactus fiber, should have disintegrated after 20 years, but although over 500 years have passed the tilma is still in perfect condition. The pupils of Mary in the picture reflect the Indians and clergy present at the time of the first revelation of the image. No paint was used, and chemical analysis has not been able to identify the color imprint. Additionally, studies have revealed that the stars on Mary's mantle match exactly what a Mexican would have seen in the sky in December of 1531.

Many miracles have taken place in the presence of the image of our Lady.  The tilma has been through many events over the years.  I encourage you to read the many stories surrounding the image.  However, most of all, I encourage to remember the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe of conversion:

“Know and understand well, you the most humble of my son, that I am the ever virgin Holy Mary, Mother of the True God for whom we live, of the Creator of all things, Lord of heaven and the earth. I wish that a temple be erected here quickly, so I may therein exhibit and give all my love, compassion, help, and protection, because I am your merciful mother, to you, and to all the inhabitants on this land and all the rest who love me, invoke and confide in me; listen there to their lamentations, and remedy all their miseries, afflictions and sorrows."

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!

The Happy Courageous Carmelite

As a newer saint, I did not know a lot about her.  This is one of the things I love about painting my saint dolls and writing my blog.  I have truly expanded my understanding of the saints and found new inspiration in their lives.

St. Maria Maravillas de Jesus

Feast Day: December 11
Birth: 1891
Death: 1974
Patron
Spain

Maria was born into a family who had a close connection with the pope.  Her father was the Spanish ambassador for the Holy See and her family was faithful to the Church teachings.  By the time  Maria turned five years old. she had already made a personal vow of chastity and was performing works of charity.

Maria wanted to enter into the Carmelite order; however, after her father's death, her mother refused to let her daughter leave.  She would not make her final vows until 1924, yet within a year she was being called to found the first of the series of Teresian Carmelite Monasteries that she would establish.  These monasteries would reach into India by 1926.  The convents were sparse in their needs but were considered a place to further in the vows given as Carmelites.  Many criticized this simple life but Maria was humble and told her critics that these establishments would last as long as they were needed.

Maria was known for her courage; however, she spent many days of her life struggling with her prayer life.  These times she called her "dark night" were times when she fully abandoned herself to trust God and do his will.

In order to unite the monasteries founded by her and others that had the same finality, she founded the Association of St Teresa, which received official approval from the Holy See in 1972.

On 8 December 1974, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, Mother Maravillas was anointed and received Holy Communion. On 11 December, surrounded by her community in Madrid, she died. At the time of her death, her sisters report that Mother Maravillas kept repeating the phrase: "What happiness to die a Carmelite!".

St. Maria Maravillas de Jesus, pray for us!

An Unlikely Choice

Today's saint, by his on admonition, was not the person for the task that was set before him.  However, God does not always see us the way that we see ourselves.  Furthermore, Mary chose him because of his humility for the task at hand.

These little saints were painted by other moms
during our Lenten saint exchange

St. Juan Diego

Feast day: December 9
Birth: 1474
Death: 1548
Patron of Mexico

Juan was a faithful convert from the pagan faith of the region in Mexico.  He was devoted to daily Mass and was on his way to Mass when he was greeted by a beautiful lady who asked a favor of him.  I will speak of this experience in further detail on the feast this weekend.  However, it is easy to see from this story why the Church looks to Juan Diego as a person who can inspire us in our own journey.

Juan lived a humble life with few extras and he was given the gift of humility as he lived this life.  In the story we will see that he did not consider himself worthy to take the message of the Lady to the bishop.  He told the Lady, "I am a nobody, I am a small rope, a tiny ladder, the tail end, a leaf."

We will also see that he was patient as he tried to convince the bishop of her message.

Later in the story we will see that he was also kind and loving.  He would go around the needs of the Lady to help his uncle who was dying.  However, once he knew that his uncle would be healed, he continued with her plan out of obedience to her.

Juan Diego deeply loved the Holy Eucharist, and by special permission of the Bishop he received Holy Communion three times a week, a highly unusual occurrence in those times.

With the Bishop's permission, Juan Diego lived the rest of his life as a hermit in a small hut near the chapel where the miraculous image was placed for veneration. Here he cared for the church and the first pilgrims who came to pray to the Mother of Jesus.

He died in 1548 and was buried in the first chapel dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Not Soiled

So much can be said about the feast day of the Immaculate Conception.  However, I thought this video from a program we are participating in explains it so well.

Holy Heroes link

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception is the patroness of North America.  We praise God for allowing us to have such a wonderful spiritual mother.  May we never forsake her son.

Praise God!

He Gave It All Up...

Today's saint had it all...a successful career, a position in the government, the esteem of the emperor and all the possessions and wealth that come with it.  However, he felt a call that he could not refuse.

St. Ambrose

Feast Day:  December 7
Born: 340
Death: 397
Patron of bee keepers; bees; candlemakers; chandlers
Born in modern day France
Roman Christian family
Bishop of Milan

Ambrose was born to a pious family with siblings who are also considered saints.  There is a legend that as an infant, a swarm of bees settled on his face while he lay in his cradle, leaving behind a drop of honey. His father considered this a sign of his future eloquence and honeyed tongue.

Although his father died when he was young, Ambrose would study and follow in his father's profession.  By 372, Ambrose would be named governor of Milan, second largest city of the empire.  He was a very popular and esteemed member of the court.

However, in 374 a turn of events led to a change in the life of Ambrose.  At this time the bishop of Milan die and a fight broke out in the city as they tried to determine who should take on this role.  Still a catechumen, Ambrose was placed in the middle of this feud between the Catholics and Arians (a heretic group that did not believe in the full divinity of Christ).  Suddenly, a child's voice was heard calling, "Make Ambrose the bishop!"  The crowd agreed that Ambrose should take on this religious role.  He was soon baptized and made bishop within days!

It seems he just as quickly gave up all his worldly possessions and began to learn as much as he could from the writings of the Church Fathers and Scripture.  He had little care for the Arian movement before he became bishop; however, he quickly had the heresy removed from the diocese.  Unfortunately, the Arians would not give up  so easily.  They appealed their position to various leaders until they had the backing of enough to call a general council from all parts of the empire.  A synod composed of thirty-two bishops was held at Aquileia in the year 381. Ambrose led the council, but Palladius was asked to refute the Arian views but did not make himself present.  When a vote was made by the council the Arian leaders were removed from their episcopal offices.  The heresy continued to thrive in the empire and Ambrose would continue to teach the true faith.  He was asked to give over the possession of the basilica, but he refused.  Bishop Ambrose declared:

"If you demand my person, I am ready to submit: carry me to prison or to death, I will not resist; but I will never betray the church of Christ. I will not call upon the people to succour me; I will die at the foot of the altar rather than desert it. The tumult of the people I will not encourage: but God alone can appease it."

He used his gift to learn and express his knowledge as he began to lead the people in the faith.  His preaching caught the eye of a young wayward man by the name of Augustine.  It was through this friendship that Ambrose was able to teach him and bring Augustine (feast day in August) back into the fold.

After many years of leadership, Ambrose retired from his position and died peacefully in 397.
Ambrose wrote much on the Scriptures and Fathers, preached a homily every Sunday.  All of these writings were influential in the future teachings of the Church.  He composed many hymns, promoted sacred chant, and took a great interest in the Liturgy.  He is considered one of the Doctors of the Church.

St. Ambrose, pray for us!

Not Santa Claus!

Today's saint is so much more than what we hear about in the cartoons and sitting at the mall.  I love this saint and it has nothing to do with coming down the chimney!

St. Nicholas of Myra

Created by another mom
from our summer saint exchange

Feast day: December 6
Born 270
Death 343
Patron of Bakers and Pawnbrokers and SO MANY others that it could fill this page!
Greece

Nicholas was born into a wealthy family and the only son to his pious parents.  He was very religious from an early age and according to legend, Nicholas was said to have rigorously observed the canonical fasts of Wednesdays and Fridays. His wealthy parents died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young and he was raised by his uncle—also named Nicholas—who was the bishop of Patara. Nicholas was tonsured soon after as a lector as studied to become a priest.  During this time, he would also be given the opportunity to live with a group of monks outside of Bethlehem and other sites within the Holy Land.  In 317, While in prayer, he felt that he was being called back to his home.  Upon his return he was quickly consecrated as bishop of Myra.

In 325, he was one of many bishops to answer the request of Constantine and appear at the First Council of Nicaea. There, Nicholas was a staunch anti-Arian, defender of the Orthodox Christian position, and one of the bishops who signed the Nicene Creed.  This was a volatile session, and tradition has it that Nicholas became so angry with the heretic Arius during the Council that he punched him in the face.  Although not a very saintly act, it shows that Nicholas was determined to stop this heresy from continuing.

There are many stories told of his care for his flock.  Many of these stories are miracles that some find hard to believe as they are so extraordinary.  Although these experiences in his life do not make him a saint...it his desire to do the work of God that give him the honor.  Of course, ultimately it is the fact that he is in heaven...we see him as a saint (someone to look to and be inspired for our own faith journey) because of his virtuous life and the miracles attributed to him after his death when devout Christians asked for his intercession.  I encourage you to read some of his stories...the St. Nicholas Center is always a good website to start...and maybe you will see why his life is so much better than any Santa story!

Due to the location of Myra, many sailors came to know about Nicholas and carried stories of his piety and miracles.  It seems that they also carried off his bones as well!  Several churches are known for holding parts of the remains of St. Nicholas.  However, the message of St. Nicholas spread, he is known far and wide for his acts of charity.  Maybe that is why he is known so well as a giver of gifts and his love for youth.  It makes sense that he would have a special connection to Christmas as well.  His life inspires to all give a little during this time.  I pray that the gifts of faith will far out reach the commercial gift giving found during this time of year!

We were especially blessed today at Mass.  As has become a part of our Mass attendance, we brought along our saint peg doll.  Although our little saintly pegs have made it onto the small chapel altar on during daily Mass, we have never felt that they should be on the Sunday altar.  Well, Father Hall asked that we bring the doll forward to place on the altar this morning (read more of this on my Other blog)!  What a wonderful surprise!  I was a little embarrassed, however, as this little peg saint was not my creation (another mom from our saint exchange last summer), so I did not deserve any praise.  Besides, I create the saint dolls to help us remember the saints not to be recognized in Mass.

Later in the day, our meal was a nod to this Greek saint as well...we made our delicious Greek-style pizza!

We are truly blessed by the presence of St. Nicholas to remind us of our faith in Jesus!

St. Nicholas, pray for us!

Saint of the Tower

Today's saint might make you think of the fairy tale Rapunzel; however, she chose to live her life in prayer.

St. Barbara of Nicomedia

Feast Day:  December 4
Born: ??
Death: 267
Patron of Army field artillery
Pagan family
Turkey

Born to a pagan family, Barbara spent many of her years locked in a tower by her father.  He was concerned about her being influenced by the outside world.  It seems he could not take away her free will, as she secretly became a Christian and refused an offer of marriage that her father presented her.

Furthermore, her father decided to create a wall around her dwelling to allow her a place to bathe.  He left for an extended trip and left his workers to build the wall.  Barbara had the plans altered to include a third window so she could be reminded of the Trinity.  When her father returned he asked of the third window, so Barbara explained that she was a Christian and the importance of the three windows.  He was outraged and drew his sword to kill her; however, she prayed and an opening in the wall appeared and allowed her to escape.  Barbara fled to a field but he father found her with the assistance of a shepherd.

Her father immediately took her to the authorities where she was tortured.  She continued to hold firm to her faith.  She was thrown into a cell and tortured for several days.  Each night her cell would fill with light and the next morning her wounds would be healed.  Finally, she was condemned to death and her father would be the one to behead her.  On his way home from this deed, he was struck by lightning and killed.

Another Christian obtained her body for burial.  Her grave would become a place of miracles.  St. Barbara is considered one of the Fourteen Helpers.  Her association with the lightning that killed her father has caused her to be invoked against lightning and fire; by association with explosions, she is also the patron of artillery and mining.

This may seem like a pretty fanciful story; however, I just cannot help but believe as the stories of her life have been passed down for centuries with little variation.  It seems to me that the faith of this young maiden was so strong and her prayers so pure that she was able to not put limits on what God could do for her.

St. Barbara, pray for us to have even a portion of your faith.!

Missionary of the East

I find it interesting that today's saint would one day meet with his enemy and realize after great witness to true faith would reconcile and work together to form the Jesuit order.

St. Francis Xavier

Feast day: December 3

Birth: 1506

Death: 1552

Patron of foreign missions and of all missionary works 

Basque Spain

Francis was born into a family with great desires for fame and fortune.  He knew little of the faith other than the weekly trip to Mass with his family. He was a great scholar and would avoid war unlike his brothers, so he was sent off to college in France.  Upon his entrance to the university, he met Ignatius of Loyola.  Ignatius had been crippled in the very battle that Francis' brothers fought against him.  Such a true witness to forgiveness, as Ignatius did not seek revenge.  Instead, Ignatius remembered what he had discovered through revelations and showed kindness to Francis.

Francis on the other hand had no desire to be cordial to Ignatius.  Through persistent use of Biblical wisdom, Ignatius was able to win the heart of Francis for the love of Christ.  Ignatius and Francis, along with others, formed a missionary order that would become the Society of Jesus.  They made private vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience to the Pope, and also vowed to go to the Holy Land to convert infidels. Francis began his study of theology in 1534 and was ordained in 1537.  The order would later be approved by Pope Paul III in 1540.  

Francis Xavier devoted much of his life to missions in Asia, mainly in four centers: Malacca, Amboina and Ternate, Japan, and China. His growing information about new places indicated to him that he had to go to what he understood were centers of influence for the whole region. He devoted almost three years to the work of preaching to the people of southern India and Ceylon, converting many. 

Arriving on the island of Sancian at the mouth of the Canton river, he became ill of a fever and would have died abandoned on the burning sands of the shore if a poor man named Alvarez had not taken him to his hut. Here he lingered for two weeks, praying between spells of delirium, and finally died, his eyes fixed with great tenderness on his crucifix. He was buried in a shallow grave and his body covered with quicklime, but when exhumed three months later it was found fresh and incorrupt. It was taken to Goa where it is still enshrined. 

He once wrote of his desire to continue missionary work, "I looked or desired for nothing here but to wear myself out with work and sacrifice my life itself in bringing about the salvation of souls."

We celebrated the feast day with a humble yet delicious French Onion Soup to remember his time at the university in Paris.  We consider this the conversion era of Francis when he came to understand the real meaning of the faith and embrace it for himself.

Martyr for Los Angeles

Today's saint is one of the early saints before Christianity was allowed in the Roman empire.  Her entire family gave their lives for the faith.  Little is known about their lives before they came to their martyrdom.

St. Bibiana

Feast Day:  December 2
Born:  ??
Death ??
Italy

I did not have time to research and write my own account of the saint for today.  I found this record of St. Bibiana:

In the year 363, Julian the Apostate made Apronianus Governor of Rome. St. Bibiana suffered in the persecution started by him. She was the daughter of Christians, Flavian, a Roman knight, and Dafrosa, his wife. Flavian was tortured and sent into exile, where he died of his wounds. Dafrosa was beheaded, and their two daughters, Bibiana and Demetria, were stripped of their possessions and left to suffer poverty. However, they remained in their house, spending their time in fasting and prayer.

Apronianus, seeing that hunger and want had no effect upon them, summoned them. Demetria, after confessing her Faith, fell dead at the feet of the tyrant. St. Bibiana was reserved for greater sufferings. She was placed in the hands of a wicked woman called Rufina, who in vain endeavored to seduce her. She used blows as well as persuasion, but the Christian virgin remained faithful.

Enraged at the constancy of this saintly virgin, Apronianus ordered her to be tied to a pillar and beaten with scourges, laden with lead plummets, until she expired. The saint endured the torments with joy, and died under the blows inflicted by the hands of the executioner.

An interesting side note...when we were at Mass today, we learned that the cathedral of Los Angeles was originally dedicated to St. Bibiana.  Her body was given the the diocese and she was placed in a glass coffin on a side chapel.  The diocese has since built a new cathedral; however, her body was moved to the new cathedral as well.  We might need to make a special trip to learn more about St. Bibiana.

The Recommitted Saint

Today's saint was highly praised by all as an exquisite speaker and learned man.  He drew the attention of the queen at the age of thirteen.  However, this would not be in his favor when it came to his faith.

St. Edmund Campion

Feast Day:  December 1
Born:  1540
Death:  1581
Patron saint of Wales
London, England

Edmund was raised in a business class family who were devout Catholics.  He attended school and quickly advanced in his education.  He was praised by many for his brilliance and ability to share his knowledge.

However, he took the allegiance to the queen as head of the church of England and became a Anglican deacon in 1564.  This oath would trouble Edmund in the next years.  He would eventually further his studies and recant his oath in 1569.  This decision would cause him to flee the persecutions of England.  He traveled to France and joined the Jesuits.  His vast knowledge would be utilized in the university of Prague.

It was at the university when he was ordained in 1578.  Two years later, he and another priest were sent back to England as missionaries.  His decision to return to England was a dangerous endeavor intensified by his outspoken desire to teach the faith.  He entered England in the guise of a jewel merchant, and at once began to preach.  Edmund would spend the next year conducting an underground ministry,  During this time he wrote his "Ten Reasons", arguments against the validity of the Anglican Church. This pamphlet, in Latin, was printed and 400 copies were delivered to Oxford.  This enraged those who sought him even more.

Edmund continued to preach but was eventually betrayed.  He was arrested by priest hunters and left in London Tower for an additional four months of torture.  He was finally convicted of high treason, and then he was hanged, drawn and quartered.

At his trial, Edmund gave the final response to his sentence:

"In condemning us, you condemn all your own ancestors, all our ancient bishops and kings, all that was once the glory of England — the island of saints, and the most devoted child of the See of Peter."

St. Edmund Campion, pray for us!