St. Martina, V.M.
According to the story which for centuries hath been told of her, her martyrdom occured about the year 225... the Emperor Alexander commanded her to sacrifice to imaginary gods, and on her refusal, subjected her to unspeakable brutalities, such as scourgings, putting her at the mercy of savage beasts, torturing her with fire, and other such like terrible sufferings; and at last caused her to be beheaded. Scholars in general reject the account of her passion as untrustworthy; but the story is nevertheless known to contain the memory of what early Christian maidens underwent for God: and hence on this feast of Saint Martina, as on those of other virgin Saints whose life-story is not certainly known, there is honoured the might of Christ who perfecteth into strength invincible the weakness of them that trust in him.
-- Anglican Breviary, for the Legend, Feast of St. Martina (Jan. 30)
-- Anglican Breviary, for the Legend, Feast of St. Martina (Jan. 30)
posted by johnk at
6:08 PM
2 Comments:
This is especially noteworthy in light of the discussion we're going to have this Sunday about Christian participation in/condoning of violence. The early church stands in stark contrast to all forms violence until Constantine, instead choosing to die rather than "get their way"
By
Christopher, At
9:25 AM
Indeed. I love last bit "Christ who perfecteth into strength invincible the weakness of them that trust in him". It reminds me of something I once heard attributed to Gregory of Nyssa; namely, how God takes the "thorn in our flesh" (whatever particular sin an individual spends a lifetime wrestling with) and turns it into the ladder we climb to heaven.
By
johnk, At
3:37 PM
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