Holy Martyrs Sophía, Faith, Hope, and Charity (Love)
When the persecuting hand of Hadrian extended even over the virtuous home of Sophia,
Faith was only twelve years old; Hope, ten years old; and Charity (Love), nine years old.
Brought before the emperor, these four held each other's hands "like a woven wreath,'' humbly but steadfastly confessed their faith in Christ the Lord and refused to offer sacrifices to the pagan idol
Artemis. Before their suffering, the mother encouraged her daughters to endure to the end: "Your heavenly Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, is eternal health, inexpressible beauty and eternal life. When your bodies are slain by torture, He will clothe you in incorruption and the wounds on your bodies will shine in the heavens as stars.''
Artemis. Before their suffering, the mother encouraged her daughters to endure to the end: "Your heavenly Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, is eternal health, inexpressible beauty and eternal life. When your bodies are slain by torture, He will clothe you in incorruption and the wounds on your bodies will shine in the heavens as stars.''
One by one the torturers inflicted cruel torments, first on Faith, then on Hope, and then on Love. They beat them, slashed them, cast them into fire and boiling pitch, and finally beheaded them with the sword one after another. Sophia took the dead bodies of her daughters outside the town and honorably buried them. She remained at their grave for three days and three nights, praying to God. Then she gave her spirit to God, flying off to Paradise, where the blessed souls of her glorious daughters awaited her.
Galatians 2:11-16 KJV
11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Saint Luke 3:19-22 KJV
19 But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,
20 Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.
21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
22 And the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
HYMN OF PRAISE
Saint Nikolai Velimirovich
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As a sacrifice to Him, she offered three most-beautiful daughters.
To her daughters she said: ``Be not afraid, my daughters;
Strengthen yourselves in Christ; endure in the Faith;
And be not afraid of torture or bitter misfortunes.
Do not grieve over your bodies-it is better in heaven:
God will give you wonderful bodies in heaven.
Do not grieve over your beauty-with divine beauty
You will shine among the angels in the Kingdom of God,
As the daughters of the King of kings!
Do not grieve over life-what is this earthly life worth?
Its span is at most a hundred years.
In heaven, life without end awaits you:
Life without end, life without beginning.
Do not grieve for the company of earthly friends,
For the company of wonderful saints awaits you there.
Nor should the company of worldly kinsmen cause you grief-
For your kin in the heavens are the glorious martyrs.''
Thus the saintly mother instructed her holy daughters,
As, one by one, they flew off to heaven:
Three white doves, innocent and pure,
Flew swiftly to the bosom of Christ.
And with her soul uplifted, their mother flew after them,
And joined her glorious daughters in Paradise;
And our merciful God receives their prayers.
THE MOURNFUL ONE
From Abba Isaac
There are tears that burn and tears that bedew; the former are caused by fear, but the latter by love. Now, the first, namely, those which flow on account of our sins, dry up and burn the body and give rise to pain in the soul—for oftentimes, when these tears come forth, a man cannot restrain himself; whereas the second, which come to someone after he has shed enough of the former kind and thereby washed away his sins, by God’s mercy flow naturally and with spiritual pleasure.
When one’s soul has tasted Divine Grace, he then sheds tears without feeling pain, and such tears as these strengthen, benefit, and enrich the body and alter the countenance, as Scripture says: “When the heart rejoiceth, the countenance is cheerful; but when it is in sorrow, the countenance is sad” (Proverbs 15:13). If we desire to enjoy the latter, let us cultivate the former (tears of repentance), as far as possible; for, if we do, we shall soon, by God’s Grace, receive the latter.
Question:
Is it possible to be always in a state of contrition?
Is it possible to be always in a state of contrition?
Answer:
It is possible, because the entire pursuit of a monk in his cell consists of nothing other than lamentation, and his activity is contrition. Contrition is his very name; it reminds him of this and spurs him on to it. He is called “the mournful one,” that is, bitter in heart.
All of the Saints departed this life with contrition in their souls. Now, if the Saints were always in mourning, how will one who is full of wounds be able to cease lamenting?
Your soul, which is of greater worth to you than the whole world, has been deadened by sins and lies dying before you, and yet you do not feel that you need to weep? Consolation for a monk is born from weeping. Indeed, it is not possible for one who mourns constantly to be bothered by the passions. He who has ceased to think of the passions is cleansed and, by virtue of this cleansing, is made worthy of consolation from God, which He promised to grant to those who mourn without ceasing (St. Matthew 5:4).
It is possible, because the entire pursuit of a monk in his cell consists of nothing other than lamentation, and his activity is contrition. Contrition is his very name; it reminds him of this and spurs him on to it. He is called “the mournful one,” that is, bitter in heart.
All of the Saints departed this life with contrition in their souls. Now, if the Saints were always in mourning, how will one who is full of wounds be able to cease lamenting?
Your soul, which is of greater worth to you than the whole world, has been deadened by sins and lies dying before you, and yet you do not feel that you need to weep? Consolation for a monk is born from weeping. Indeed, it is not possible for one who mourns constantly to be bothered by the passions. He who has ceased to think of the passions is cleansed and, by virtue of this cleansing, is made worthy of consolation from God, which He promised to grant to those who mourn without ceasing (St. Matthew 5:4).
THE GREAT GIVER
When prayer is actually prayer there is a connection. And when you pray to Christ you pray to and for all mankind in heaven and on earth. And when prayer is actually prayer you will love it more than all things because you are with Christ Who is love. And greater than gift.....Christ confirms Himself as the Giver.
(Anon)
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