Subj : June 10: Blessed Olivia of Palermo To : All From : rich Date : Tue Jun 09 2020 08:30:38 From: rich June 10: Blessed Olivia of Palermo (ninth century) Today we celebrate the feast of Blessed Olivia of Palermo, holy Virgin and martyr of the Church. While it is commonly believed that Blessed Olivia is a fictitious character, whose story reached prominence in the early Church when it was mistaken as biography, she has been venerated as Blessed since that time. As with many of the early Church saints, lessons may be learned from their virtuous lives=E2=80=94lessons wh= ich strengthen our faith today and remind us of the importance of Christian virtue. Not much is known specifically about the life of Blessed Olivia. Her legend states that she was a beautiful young woman of approximately 13 years old, who had been born and piously raised in Palermo, Sicily. When she reached her 13th year, invading Muslims from Tunisia, Africa, kidnapped her from her noble home, and took her with them back to Africa. There, she was made to serve as a slave, which she did with cheerfulness, obedience, and diligence. She was observed to go about her duties=E2=80=94some the most undesirable a= nd menial=E2=80=94with a song in her heart. She was frequently heard singing a= nd writing songs, which is why today she is considered the patroness of music by some. Eventually, her captors were so impressed with her attitude, virtue, chastity, and beauty, they freed her from her servitude, allowing her to take up residence in a nearby cave and live as a hermitess. There, she spent her days in prayer and penance, and was the recipient of heavenly visions. Local residents sought her out for pious advice, miraculous cures, and instruction in the faith. Through her witness, many were brought to Christianity, which later angered local leaders. Eventually, due to her influence with the people, she was imprisoned, tortured, and subsequently executed for her faith. Sentenced to be burned alive, her torturers grew fearful when she was unharmed by the flames that leapt around her. Blessed Olivia was then beheaded, earning her the glorious crown of the martyrs. At the moment of her death, her soul was observed flying to heaven, in the form of a pure white dove. Blessed Olivia continues to be venerated today, especially in Carthage and Palermo (where she is one of four patrons, alongside Saint Agatha, Saint Christina, and Saint Nympha). She continues to be held in great esteem in Tunisia, where the great mosque is named for her. Tunisian Muslims, to this day, assert that any who speaks ill of Blessed Olivia is always punished by the Lord. The name Olivia is a symbol of peace, fruitfulness, dignity, and beauty. We are inspired today, through her pious legend, to embrace these virtues of our faith, and live them visibly for all to see. Holy Virgin of the Lord, Olivia, pray that after we are gone from this life that the memory of our purity remains. Amen. =C2 by Jacob Saint Quote: It is almost certain that excess in eating is the cause of almost all the diseases of the body, but its effects on the soul are even more disastrous. --St. Alphonsus Liguori Bible Quote: For behold the day shall come kindled as a furnace: and all the proud, and all that do wickedly shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall set them on fire, saith the Lord of hosts, it shall not leave them root, nor branch. But unto you that fear my name, the Sun of justice shall arise, and health in his wings: and you shall go forth, and shall leap like calves of the herd.=C2 [Mal 4:1-2] <><><><> O Divine Jesus! Lonely in So Many Tabernacles By St Pope Pius X (1835-1914) =E2=80=9CPope of the Blessed Sacrament=E2=80=9D O Divine Jesus! Lonely today in so many Tabernacles, without visitor or worshipper, I offer Thee my lonely heart. May it's every beat be a prayer of love to Thee. Thou are ever watching under the Sacramental Veils, in Thou love, Thou never sleeps and Thou are never weary of Thy vigils for sinners. O Loving Jesus! O Lonely Jesus! may my heart be a lamp, the light of which shall burn and beam for Thee alone. Watch, Sacramental Sentinel! Watch for the weary world, for the erring soul and for Thy poor lonely child. O Jesus, my God, I adore Thee, here present in the Sacrament of Thy love. Amen --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .