Subj : June 13th - St. Felicula, Virgin, Martyr To : All From : rich Date : Fri Jun 12 2020 10:20:52 From: rich June 13th - St. Felicula, Virgin, Martyr =E2=80 90 =C2 At Rome, on the Ardeatine Way, the birthday of St. Felicula, virgin and martyr, who was delivered to the judge for refusing to marry Flaccus and to sacrifice to idols.=C2 As she persevered in the confession of Christ, he confined her in a dark dungeon without food, and afterwards caused her to be stretched on the rack until she expired.=C2 She was then thrown into a sewer, but St. Nicomedes the Priest recovered her body and buried it on this road. The cultus of St. Felicula is closely connected with that of St. Petronilla, whose foster-sister she is thought to have been. Both martyrs lived and suffered in Rome towards the end of the first century. Their legend asserts that after the death of St. Petronilla, her rejected suitor, Count Flaccus, offered St. Felicula the choice between marrying him and sacrificing to idols. As she refused to do either he delivered her over to an official who imprisoned her in a dark dungeon for 7 days without food or drink. She was then consigned to the Vestal Virgins that they might overcome her opposition. But she would not touch the meals they had prepared, electing rather to starve for another 7 days. At the end of a week she was tortured on the rack and then suffocated in one of the city sewers. Her body was rescued by St. Nicomedes, a priest, and was buried on the Via Ardeatina at the 7th milestone. Several Roman churches--including those of St. Praxedes and St. Laurence in Lucina--claim to possess her relics, but it is uncertain where they actually lie. There were other saints called Felicula in the City itself, and their remains, when discovered, may well have been ascribed to their more famous namesake, the companion of St. Petronilla. The acts of SS. Nereus and Achilleus, to which the account given of St. Felicula forms a kind of supplement, are printed in the Acta Sanctorum, May, vol. iii. See also Fr Delehaye's Commentary on the Hieronymianum, p. 357, and cf. ibid. p. 306. Other references will be found in the bibliography to SS. Nereus and Achilleus on May 12. Reflection. A soul which truly loves God regards all things of this world as nothing. The loss of goods, the disgrace of the world, torments, sickness, and other afflictions are bitter to the senses, but appear light to the one who loves God. If we cannot bear our trials with patience and silence, it is because we love Him only in words. =E2=80=9COne who is slothful and lukewarm complains of everything, and calls the lightest precepts hard,=E2=80=9D says Thomas a Kempis. Saint Quote: Those who can enclose within the little paradise of the soul Him who created heaven and earth, may well believe they are in a good road, and that they shall not fail to arrive at length at the fountain of life, because they will make great progress in a short time. -- St. Teresa Bible Quote He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. 9 For which cause God also hath exalted him, and hath given him a name which is above all names: 10 That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth:=C2 =C2 (Philippians 2:8-10) DRB <><><><> Heart Of Jesus By Blessed Miguel Pro =E2=80=93 Martyr (1891-1927) I believe, O Lord but strengthen my faith, Heart of Jesus, I love Thee but increase my love. Heart of Jesus, I trust in Thee, but give greater vigour to my confidence. Heart of Jesus, I give my heart to Thee, but so enclose it in Thee that it may never be separated from Thee. Heart of Jesus, I am all Thine, but take care of my promise so that I may be able to put it into practice even unto the complete sacrifice of my life. Amen --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .