The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-03-17

food. But the fame of his sanctity soon
gathered disciples round him, while many
1arents coufided their children to his care.
Amongst others trained oy him were O. O..
Maurice, then twelve years old, and st.
Placid, also child. After he had built
twelve monasteries at Subisco, he removed
to Monte Casino, where be founded an
abbey, in which he. wrote his rule, and
lived until death. BY prayer he did all
things wrought miracles, saw Visions
and prophesied. By prayer he mended the
broken sieve, brought water from the rock,
replenished the empty barrel of oil, gave
aims, cast out evil spirits, and beheld the
whole world collected together in one ray
of the sun. Six days before his death ne
ordered his grave to be opened, and 1e!i
i'll of a fever. On the sixth day ne re-
having received the Body and Blood OF
Christ, with hauds uplifted, and leaning on
one of his disciples, he calmly expired in
prayer on the 2Ist of March, SAB.
A peasant, whose boy had just died, ran
in anguish to st. Benedict, crying out:
Joined the poor man in his entreaties, but
the Saint replied "Such miracles are not
for us to work, but for the blessed Apostles
Why will you lay upon me burden Whlch
my weakness cannot Dear T. Mcved ~
length by compassion he knelt down, and
prostratlDg nlinseH upoh tuo oouy Va
child, prayed earnestly. Then rising, he
! cried out, "Behold not, o Lord, my SINS,
but the faith of this man, who desireth the
| life of his son, and restore to the body that
soul which Thou hast taken away"
Hardly had he spoken when the chld's
body began to tremble, aud taking it by the
| hand he restored it alive to its father.
March %.
ST. APoLLoNIA AND THE MARTYRS OF ALEX
| ANDRIA.
| At Alexandria in 249 the mob rose in
savage fury against the Christians. Metras,
| an old man, perished first. His eyes were
pierced with reeds and he was stoned to
| death. A woman named Qulnta was tue
temple and hidden worahip. She replied
by cursing the false god again and again,
and she, too, was stoned to death. After
this the houses of the Christians were
sacked and plundered. They took the
spelling of their goods with all joy.
st. Apollonia, an aged virgin, was Gne
most famous among the martyrs. Hel
teeth were beaten out she was led outside
the city a huge fire was kindled, and she
was told that she must deny Christ, or else
, be burnt alive. She was silent for while
, and then, moved by special inspiration o
the Holy Ghost, she lept into the fire ane
died in it's flames. The same courage
3I J
) became Emperor, and the persecution gre,
! till it seemed as if the very elect must fal
, away. There were, indeed, many Chris
> tians who came pale and trembling to ofte
the heather sacrifices. But the judge
themselves were struck with horror at tn
o multitudes who rushed to martyrdom
a Women triumphed over torture, till at las
r the judges were glad to execute them
4 once, and put an end to the ignominy O
q their own defeat. :,
The story of Dioscorus illustrates tn
@ courage of the Alexandrian Christians, an
!, the esteem they had for martyrdom. ID
' was boy of fifteen. To the arguments @ Q
: the Judge he retnrned wise answers; h
d was proof against torture. His older com
q panions were executed, but Dioscorus wa
;. spared on account of his tender years ye
r the Christians could not bear to think tha
r he had been deprived of the martyrs crow
9 except to receive it afterwards more glor
= ously Dioecorus," writes Dionysin
q Bishop of Alexandria at this time, ''remalr
:, with us, reserved for some longer an
q greater combat"