Subj : =?UTF-8?Q?March_8th_=E2=80=93_SS=2E_Philemon_and_Apollonius=2C_Martyrs? To : All From : rich Date : Thu Mar 07 2019 08:51:17 From: rich March 8th =E2=80=93 SS. Philemon and Apollonius, Martyrs Died c. 305. Apollonius was a deacon at Antinoe in the Thebaid, Egypt, and was said to have converted Philemon, a popular musician and entertainer. According to legend, he was arrested during the persecution of Diocletian and, fearful of torture, offered the pagan Philemon four gold pieces if he would perform the rite of eating food sacrificed to false gods in his place. Philemon agreed. He dressed himself in Philemon's clothes and his hooded cloak to hide his face. Philemon appeared before the judge, who asked him to carry out the rite. The Holy Spirit entered Philemon, and he claimed himself a Christian and refused to partake of the sacrifice. The judge Arrian argued with him, and finally thinking he was speaking to Apollonius, asked that Philemon be brought to him. Unable to find Philemon, the court officers brought Philemon's brother, Theonas. Asked where his brother was, he pointed out Philemon in Apollonius's cloak. The judge saw the situation as a joke but insisted that Philemon perform the rite. Philemon refused. Arrian responded that it was foolish of him to refuse when he was not even baptized. Philemon prayed, and a cloud miraculously appeared and rained upon him. He claimed that he was thus baptized. Arrian appealed to him, begging him to think of what a terrible loss of musical skill such resistance would mean. The musician's pipes were then said to have been destroyed by Philemon himself or to have spontaneously burst into flames. Officers arrested Apollonius, proclaimed the two men as Christians, and they were condemned to death. One legend says that before the execution, Apollonius and Philemon asked that a great pot be brought before them and a living baby be placed inside it. They then asked soldiers to shoot arrows at it, which they did, the arrows piercing the pot. The baby remained unharmed. The judge then ordered the soldiers to shoot the men with arrows, but all the arrows hung suspended in the air, except one, which blinded Arrian. Despite this and several other miracles, Apollonius is said to have been tied in a sack, thrown into the sea, and drowned. Arrian's sight was said to have been restored when clay from Apollonius's tomb was applied to his eyes. This led to the conversion of Arrian and four other officials (Benedictines, Encyclopedia, White). In art, Apollonius is depicted on a funeral pyre or drowning in the sea or being crucified (White). Saint Quote: I would willingly endure alone all the sufferings of this world to be raised a degree higher in Heaven and to possess the smallest increase of the knowledge of God's greatness. --St. Teresa of Jesus Bible Quote: For you, brethren, have been called unto liberty. Only make not liberty an occasion to the flesh: but by charity of the spirit serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Galatians 5:13-14 ) DRB <><><><> O most merciful Jesus O most merciful Jesus, lover of souls, I beseech Thee, through the agony of Thy most holy Heart and through the sorrows of Thy Immaculate Mother, wash in Thy Blood the sinners of the whole world who are now in their agony and will die today. Amen. V. Heart of Jesus once in agony. R. Pity the dying. (a) V. Praised be Jesus Christ. R. Amen - or - Forever. (b) V. Praised be Jesus and Mary. R. Today and forever. (c) V. Glory to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. R. Glory to the immaculate heart of Mary. Graciously grant, O Lord, peace in our times, that, aided by the help of Thy mercy, we may always be free from sin and secure from all disturbance. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen. Burn, O Lord, our loins and our hearts with the fire of the Holy Ghost, that we may serve Thee with a chaste body and please Thee with a pure heart. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen. --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .