Subj : October 23rd - St. Theodoret, Martyr To : All From : rich Date : Mon Oct 22 2018 09:06:09 From: rich October 23rd - St. Theodoret, Martyr About the year 361, a man by the name of Julian, was Emperor at that time. The Emperor also had a nephew by the name of Julian, who was made Count (Governor) of the East. The terrible thing about these two men is that they were Apostates. An Apostate is a person who was a Catholic at one time but has left the Catholic Church. The Count was told that there was a great amount of gold and silver in the main Catholic Church in Antioch. He was eager to steal all the gold and silver from the Church, which was a terrible sin! He closed all the Catholic Churches at Antioch and ordered all the priests and clergy to leave the city. St. Theodoret was a very good and holy priest, who had destroyed many false idols in the past, built many churches and shrines over the relics of martyrs. He refused to obey the sinful ideas of the Count! The holy priest gathered the Christians together and continued to have the Mass and other prayers said publicly. Count Julian was terribly angry about this and ordered St. Theodoret to be brought before him, with his hands tied. The Count ordered him to be beaten and tortured. The holy priest's arms and legs were tie= d to pulleys and stretched until his body was about eight feet long! When St. Theodoret was tormented and bleeding, Count Julian sneered, =E2=80=9CI see that you are not suffering enough!=E2=80=9D The saint replied, =E2=80=9CGod is with me and I do not feel any pain!=E2= =80=9D The wicked Count then had fire applied to the body of the martyr. As his skin was burning, the saint prayed aloud, =E2=80=9C Dear Lord, I beg of Thee to glorify my name throughout all ages.=E2=80=9D Then God worked a miracle and caused the tormenters to fall to the ground. Julian was afraid, but then ordered the men to continue burning this priest! The tormenters then cried out, =E2=80=9CWe can not torture this man= ... There are four angels clothed in white, standing with Theodoret! Then the Count in a rage, ordered the tormentors to be thrown in the water and drowned. Then St. Theodore cried out, =E2=80=9CO wretched man, you know well that on the Day of Judgment God will send you and the tyrant you serve to Hell!=E2=80=9D The saint was then beheaded and he flew to Heaven! A short time afterwards, the judge himself was arraigned before the judgment-seat of God. Reflection: Take care to reflect upon the four last realities--death, judgment, resurrection, and eternity in either heaven or hell. Thus you will live in holy fear, and will learn to love God better. His justice is part of His goodness and is worthy like Himself of adoration. Saint Quote: When Jesus is corporally present within us, the angels surround us as a guard of love. --St. Bernard Bible Quote: For I will not trust in my bow: neither shall my sword save me. But thou hast saved us from them that afflict us: and hast put them to shame that hate us. In God shall we glory all the day long: and in thy name we will give praise for ever.=C2 (Psalms 43:7-9) <><><><> "Heavenly Father, during this time of world crisis, let all souls find their peace and security in Your Divine Will.=C2 Give each soul the grace to understand that Your Will is Holy Love in the present moment." "Benevolent Father, illuminate each conscience to see ways that he is not living in Your Will.=C2 Grant the world the grace to change and the time in which to do it.=C2 Amen." May the Holy Cross be to you light and health, the benediction and the Will of Our Lord Jesus Christ.=C2 Amen. --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .