Subj : December 2nd - St. Bibiana, Virgin and Martyr To : All From : rich Date : Sat Dec 01 2018 08:28:47 From: rich December 2nd - St. Bibiana, Virgin and Martyr =C2 (d. 363) Saint Bibiana was a native of Rome, born in the fourth century, the daughter and sister of martyrs. Flavian, her Christian father, was apprehended during the reign of Julian the Apostate, branded on the face as a slave, and banished to Toscany, where he died of his wounds a few days later. Her mother, Dafrosa, was beheaded two weeks later. Their two daughters, Bibiana and Demetria, after the death of their parents were stripped of all they had in the world, and then imprisoned with orders to give them no food. The Roman praetorian offered them rewards if they would abandon their faith, and threatened a cruel death if they would not conform, but they replied courageously that the goods and advantages of this world had no attraction for them, and that they would endure a thousand deaths rather than betray their faith and their Saviour. Demetria, after having pronounced this ardent defense, fell to the ground and expired at her sister's side= ; she is inscribed in the Roman Martyrology on June 21st. The officer gave orders that Bibiana be placed in the custody of a woman named Rufina, who was commanded to corrupt her or mistreat her. But the martyr made prayer her shield and remained invincible. Enraged at the courage and perseverance of the young virgin, the persecutor ordered her to be tied to a pillar and whipped until she expired, with scourges tipped with leaden plummets. The Saint underwent this punishment cheerfully, and died at the hands of the executioners. She was buried by a holy priest at a site where afterwards a chapel and then a church were built above her tomb. In 1628 the church was splendidly rebuilt by Pope Urban VIII, and in it he placed the relics of the two sisters and of Saint Dafrosa, their mother. Reflection: Pray for fidelity and patience like Bibiana's under all trials, that neither convenience nor any worldly advantage may ever prevail upon you to transgress the laws of God. Sources: Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, a compilation based on Butler's Lives of the Saints and other sources Saint Quote: Poverty was not found in heaven; it abounded on earth,---but man did not know its value. Therefore the Son of God longed after it, and came down from Heaven to choose it for Himself, to make it precious to us. -- St. Bernard Bible Quote: Be nothing solicitous: but in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest, whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline: think on these things. (Philippians 4:6-8) DRB <><><><> Meditations for Advent and Christmas Who Is Our King? "The King Who is to come; O come let us adore Him." Our King is Jesus Christ, God and Man. The name Jesus indicates His Divine nature. For Jesus means Saviour ("Thou shalt call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins"-- Matt. i. 21). Now from our sins none can save us but One who is Himself God; none else can pay the debt due for man's sin. Hence He who is our King is also our Saviour; and He who is our Saviour must be God, the God of infinite majesty, infinite power, and infinite knowledge. This is why before the name of Jesus every knee must bow; because the name of Jesus is the name of God. If men glory in having a noble King, how much more ought we to rejoice in having as our King the Omnipotent God and Lord of Heaven and earth. The second name of our King, Christ indicates his human nature. For Christ means anointed, and it was not possible for God as God to receive that sacred anointing of the Holy Spirit which our King claims for Himself in the synagogue of Nazareth (Luke iv. 18). He could be anointed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit only as man. As man, our King shares our human nature; He is bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh; He does not disdain to call us His brethren. He puts Himself on a level with us; knows by His own experience all our difficulties and troubles; and loves us with a true human brotherly love. How happy are we to have a King who will never misjudge or misunderstand us, but has a perfect sympathy and compassion for all our miseries! Our King is Jesus Christ, and therefore at the same time God and Man. This union of the Infinite and the Finite surpasses our comprehension. We can only adore. --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .