Subj : =?UTF-8?Q?August_5th_=E2=80=93_St=2E_Afra_of_Augsburg_VM_=28RM=29?= To : All From : rich Date : Wed Aug 04 2021 10:32:36 From: rich August 5th =E2=80=93 St. Afra of Augsburg VM (RM) Died c. 304. Saint Afra was probably a martyr during the Diocletian persecution at Augsburg, Germany. Her unreliable vita is probably historically worthless, although it does appear to be an embroidery of some historical reference. It says that Afra, a prostitute in Augsburg from Cyprus, had been converted when the Bishop of Gerona, driven from his diocese by persecution, reached Augsburg, Germany, and took refuge in her mother's house. The transformation of her life was complete, though Afra never ceased to live as if she were doing penance for her former sins. When her time came to suffer she saw this too as a form of atonement. The pagan judge before whom she was brought, accused of being a Christian, told her that her own Lord would have nothing to do with such a sinner as she had been. But Afra replied that although she was without a doubt unworthy to be called a Christian, Jesus Christ had indeed admitted her as one. "My body has sinned," confessed the saint at her trial. "Let it suffer. I will not ruin my soul by idolatry." Her executioners tied her to a stake on an island in the River Lech. Dried vine branches were piled up around her and set alight. That night Afra's mother and three other women, who are said to be Afra's servants and former prostitutes themselves, sailed to the island, gathered up Afra's body and buried it in a large tomb at Augsburg. The pagan authorities saw them performing this last act of mercy. The four women were shut up in the family tomb, which was then set on fire. They, like Saint Afra, were burned to death. The Benedictine abbey in Augsburg is dedicated to Saint Afra (Attwater, Benedictines, Bentley, Encyclopedia). In art, Saint Afra is depicted crowned and enthroned, holding a dead tree. She might also be shown (1) suspended from a tree and scourged; (2) bound to a tree and burned; (3) surrounded by flames; (4) boiled in a cauldron; or (5) holding a fir cone (Roeder). She is the patron saint of Augsburg, Germany, and invoked by penitent women (Roeder). Saint Quote: Let us fix our attention on the blood of Christ and recognize how precious it is to God his Father, since it was shed for our salvation and brought the grace of repentance to all the world. -- Pope Saint Clement I Bible Quote: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, for I am the Lord that exercise mercy, and judgment, and justice in the earth: for these things please me, saith the Lord. [Jer 9:24 ] DRB <><><><> Mary Our Strength O Virgin, fair as the moon, delight of the angels and saints in heaven, grant that we may become like you and that our souls may receive a ray of your beauty, which does not decline with the years but shines forth into eternity. O Mary, sun of heaven, restore life where there is death and enlighten spirits, where there is darkness. Turn your countenance to your children and radiate on us your light and your fervour. O Mary, powerful as an army, grant victory to our ranks. We are very weak and our enemy rages with uttermost conceit. But under your banner we are confident of overcoming him. =E2=80=A6. Save us, O Mary, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, awe-inspiring as an army set in battle array and sustained not by hatred but by the ardour of love. Amen By Venerable Pope Pius XII (1876-1958) (Pontiff 1939-1958) <><><><> Meditation for trouble times Ask God in daily prayer to give you the strength to change. When you ask God to change you, you must at the same time fully trust Him. If you do not fully trust Him, God may answer your prayer as a rescuer does that of a drowning person who is putting up too much of a struggle. The rescuer must first render the person still more helpless, until he or she is wholly at the rescuer's mercy. Just so must we be wholly at God's mercy before we can be rescued. I pray that I may be daily willing to be changed. I pray that I may put myself wholly at the mercy of God. --From Twenty-Four Hours a Day --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .