MEMORIAL OF SAINT OLYMPIAS, WIDOW AND DEACONESS OF CONSTANTINOPLE; SAINT JOHN OF MATHA, RELIGIOUS AND SAINT JOSE MANYANET Y VIVES, PRIEST – FEAST DAY: DECEMBER 17TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Olympia of Constantinople, Widow and Deaconess; Saint John of Matha, Religious and Saint Jose Manyanet y Vives, Priest.
SAINT OLYMPIAS, WIDOW AND DEACONESS OF CONSTANTINOPLE: St. Olympias was a pious, charitable, and wealthy disciple of St. John Chrysostom, born between 360-365 into a wealthy noble family in Constantinople. Her father (Secundus or Selencus) was a “Count” of the empire. One of her ancestors, Ablabius, filled the consulor office in 331, and was also praetorian prefect of the East. Her parents died when she was quite young, orphaned as a child but left her an immense fortune. She was given over to the care of Theodosia by her uncle. In either 384 or 385 she married Nebridius, Prefect of Constantinople but was left a childless widow soon after. She refused several offers of marriage, was consecrated a deaconess by Nectarius, Bishop of Constantinople (381-97) and with several other ladies founded a community. She built beside the principal church of Constantinople a convent, into which three relatives and a large number of maidens withdrew with her to consecrate themselves to the service of God.
She was so generous in her almsgiving, that her good friend and spiritual guide/mentor, St. John Chrysostom took her under his direction when he became the Bishop of Constantinople in 398. She established a hospital and an orphanage and gave shelter to monks. When Chrysostom was exiled, Olympias supported him in every possible way, and remained a faithful disciple, refusing to enter into communion with his unlawfully appointed successor. St. Chrysostom encouraged and guided her through his letters. St. Olympias was also exiled, she spent the last years of her life beset by illness and persecution but comforted by St. Chrysostom from his place of exile. She died in exile in Nicomedia on July 25, 408 less than a year after the death of St. Chrysostom. After her death she was venerated as a saint.
Saint Olympia, Widow and Deaconess of Constantinople ~ Pray for us 🙏
SAINT JOHN OF MATHA, RELIGIOUS: St. John was born at Faucon, in the year 1160. After theological studies at Paris, he earned his Doctorate and was ordained a priest. During his first Mass he resolved, through an inspiration, to rescue Christian slaves from the Muslims. Before starting such a venture, John wanted to spend time in prayer, and he thus joined the hermit Felix of Valois. St. John told Felix of his plan to rescue Christian slaves, and Felix offered to join him. Around 1197, they went to Rome to seek papal approval. Innocent III approved their plans to found the Order of the Most Holy Trinity and declared John the first superior general.
In the year 1201, one hundred and eighty-six slaves were redeemed in Marocco. The following year, St. John went to Tunis where one hundred and ten more slaves were redeemed. On one occasion the Muslims damaged John’s ship so badly that it seemed all on board would perish, but John used monk’s habit to form sails and all landed safely. John eventually died at Rome in 1213, and his cult was approved in 1655.
PRAYER: God, You showered heavenly gifts on St. John. Help us to imitate his virtues during our earthly life and enjoy eternal happiness with him in heaven. Amen🙏
SAINT JOSE MANYANET Y VIVES, PRIEST: St. Jose Manyanet y Vives was born on January 7, 1883 in Catalonia, Spain. At the age of five, José’s mother dedicated him to the Virgin Mary, and later entered the seminary while still a youth. He was ordained in 1859 and served as the secretary of the bishop of Urgell, the seminary librarian, and the chancery administrator before responding to the call to found two religious congregations. He founded the Congregation of the Sons of the Holy Family in 1864, and the Missionary Daughters of the Holy Family of Nazareth 10 years later, both dedicated to the education and protection of the Christian family, as well as education and parish ministry.
He also founded several schools and centers, encouraged devotion to the Holy Family, and wrote many books on issues surrounding the family and spiritual guidance. Also, in the cultural ambit he worked for the construction of the Servant of God Antonio Gaudí’s masterpiece, the Temple of the Holy Family in Barcelona, Spain. He suffered from physical illnesses all his life, particularly due to two open wounds in his sides for the last 16 years of his life. He died on December 17, 1901 in Spain. He was Beatified on November 25, 1984 by Pope John Paul II and Canonized on May 16, 2004 by Pope John Paul II.
Saint Jose Manyanet y Vives ~ Pray for us 🙏🏽