SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ FEBRUARY 12TH

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF ARGENTEUIL | MEMORIAL OF SAINTS SATURNINUS AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS OF ABITINA IN AFRICA; SAINT JULIAN THE HOSPITALLER AND SAINT EULALIA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR: FEAST DAY ~ FEBRUARY 12TH: Today, we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Argenteuil and the Memorial of Saints Saturninus and Companions, Martyrs of Abitina in Africa; Saint Julian the Hospitaller and Eulalia, Virgin and Martyr (refer to the Memorial celebration December 10th)

OUR LADY OF ARGENTEUIL: Our Lady of Argenteuil, Paris, built by Clovis I (101) containing a portion of the Seamless Garment. The Abbot Orsini wrote: “This priory preserves a portion of the seamless garment of Our Lord.” In about the year 500, Clovis was the King of the Franks, but he was not yet a Catholic. Years passed as his wife Clotilda prayed for her husband to convert, yet always King Clovis demurred. Then one fateful day Clovis was engaged in a desperate battle, finding himself sorely bested. At the point of ruin, he cried aloud to the Christian God to assist him, promising to forsake his pagan gods if he were granted a miraculous victory. Looking up to heaven, Clovis cried: “Jesus Christ, whom Clotilda declares to be the Son of the Living God, who it is said givest aid to the oppressed and victory to those who put their hope in Thee, I beseech the glory of Thy aid! If Thou shalt grant me victory over these enemies and I test that power which people consecrated to Thy name say they have proved concerning Thee, I will believe in Thee and be baptized in Thy name. For I have called upon my gods, but, as I have proved, they are far removed from my aid. So I believe that they have no power, for they do not succor those who serve them. Now I call upon Thee, and I long to believe in Thee – all the more that I may escape my enemies!”

God was pleased to answer Clovis’ petition immediately, for no sooner had he prayed than his enemies fled the field. Clovis won the battle, and he was a man of his word. Hating his former error, Clovis converted to the True Faith. It is related in the Gospels that Christ’s executioners played dice over this tunic. According to legend, that tunic was found in the fourth century by Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine. It was then kept in Constantinople until the eighth century. In the year 800, the Empress Irene of Byzantium offered Charlemagne the Holy Tunic at his coronation as Emperor of the West. The emperor then gave the relic to the priory of Argenteuil when his daughter, Theodrade, became abbess. In the year 850, the Normans plundered the village of Argenteuil, including the Basilica of Saint Dennis, but the tunic was hidden in a wall before their arrival. When the abbey was rebuilt in 1003, the relic was restored. It is venerated until the 16th century when it was partially burned by Huguenots in 1567. During the French Revolution the Benedictine priory was destroyed, and the relic then given to a parish church for safekeeping. In 1793, a priest found it necessary to cut it into pieces and bury them in his garden to protect them from profanation. In 1795, after the priest’s imprisonment had ended, the Holy Tunic appeared again and the different fragments were sewn back together. The Holy Tunic was displayed again in the nineteenth century, and pilgrimages resumed. On the 13 of December in 1983, the parish priest of Saint Dennis discovered the tunic had been stolen. On February 2,1984, Father Guyard received a phone call from a stranger promising to return the treasure on the condition that their names would be kept secret. That same evening the tunic, with its case, was found in the Basilica of Saint Dennis.

The last solemn exposition of the tunic took place during the Easter holiday in 1984. In six days, approximately 80,000 people came to see the tunic. The Holy Tunic measures nearly 5’ by 3’ in size. The fibers are wool and of a very regular size. It is a soft, lightweight fabric, and the weaving is uniform and regular with a twisted “Z,” made on a primitive loom. The tunic is remarkable for a tunic woven manually, as it is made without any seam, including the sleeves. The dark brown fabric is typical of the clothing in the early centuries of the Christian era. The fabric was dyed brown, using a method widely in practice at the time by people of modest means. The construction and dyeing show the tunic to date from the time of Christ. It is the garment worn by Christ after the Flagellation and along the road to Calvary as He carried His cross. Christ’s blood and sweat thus impregnate the fabric. In 1985 a test was done showing the blood was type AB. Pollen common to Palestine has also been found in the fabric.

HAIL MARY: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen🙏

SAINTS SATURNINUS AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS OF ABITINA IN AFRICA: The persecutions of Christians in the 4th century were brutal under the Emperor Diocletian. One of the worst scenes was in Abitina, a town in North Africa. Diocletian issued an order that all Christians, under penalty of death, had to deliver up Holy Scriptures to be burned. The bishop of Abitina complied with the magistrates and brought them the sacred Scriptures to be consumed by fire. This act of sacrilege was followed by a hailstorm, which ravaged the whole country, and a violent rainstorm that extinguished the fire.

About the year 304, during a Sunday service in the home of Octavius Felix, Roman soldiers seized 49 people including their priest from Abitina in Africa, Saturninus and his four children and 44 other Christian men, women and children from the same city were arrested during Sunday assemble for refusing to hand over the Sacred Scriptures. Two eldest of the four children of Saturninus, were lectors, Mary was a virgin consecrated to God, and Hilary was a young boy. When they were brought before their judges, they so zealously professed Jesus that even their tormentors were impressed with their faith, however, it did little to spare them. After some of them were tortured, these dedicated Christians were sent to Carthage for trial and brought before the proconsul Anulinus. Upon their arrival, some were put on the rack, their bodies torn with iron hooks. Other forms of torture were inflicted on the rest. All appeared before Anulinus on February 11, 304, and strongly defended their Faith before being sent back to prison.

The proconsul focused on the youngest child of Saturninus and tried to get him to reject his faith. Young Hilarianus, however, filled with the Holy Spirit, was not afraid and announced, “I am a Christian; I have been at the collect (gathering to worship), and it was of my own voluntary choice, without any compulsion.” The proconsul then threatened him by telling him that he would cut off his nose and ears. The child replied, “You may do it; but I am a Christian.” With this, the proconsul ordered the child and all the others to prison. They all ended their lives under the hardships of their imprisonment except for two, who on Feb. 11 died from their wounds.

PRAYER: Lord, we devoutly recall the sufferings of Sts. Saturnius and his Companions. Give success to our joyful prayers and grant us also constancy in our Faith. Amen🙏

SAINT JULIAN THE HOSPITALLER: Also known as “the Poor Man,” came from a wealthy, noble family in the early 4th century and he married a noble widow. Heis a popular saint in Western Europe. According to a legend, while Julian was a baby, he was cursed to one-day kill his own parents. His father wanted him killed, but his mother kept him alive. When he was old enough to learn of the curse, he left his family to preserve their safety. Julian and his wife moved far away from them. Julian’s parents later found their whereabouts and made an unexpected visit to his castle while Julian was away hunting. His wife gave them one of the best rooms. He received a vision from the devil that his wife was in his bed with another man, and he returned home to kill whoever was in his bed. When Julian returned from his hunt and saw the two figures in bed, he assumed it was his wife with a lover. In a jealous rage, Julian killed his mother and father. Julian was so horrified upon learning the truth that he swore to devote the remainder of his life to good works and penance. He and his wife then undertook a pilgrimage to Rome, and on their return established a hospital to continue their penance, dedicating their lives to caring for the poor and sick. Sometime later, Julian was awakened in the middle of a cold night by a voice crying out for help. Finding a man with leprosy nearly frozen to death, he disregarded the danger to himself and carried him into his house and placed the stranger in his own bed. In the morning, Julian woke to find the man—now shining in heavenly light—ascending to heaven. As he vanished from sight, he told Julian that God had accepted his penance and granted him absolution for his sins, that God would reward Julian and his wife for the care they showed to those in need.

The hospital was built near a river that was frequently crossed by people prompted to travel by the Holy Crusades. People frequently drowned crossing this river so Julian took responsibility of ferrying travelers across and tending to the sick. One night, the devil vandalized his house, and blaming it on those he helped, Julian said that he would never house anyone else ever again. God showed up at his door, asking for help, and he denied Him. After recognizing him, he retracted his statement and decided to help all those who needed it once again. One night, thieves came into their hospital and killed Julian and his wife in the same way Julian had killed his mother and father. “There were great miracles without end in that place and land,” recounts the legend. “So many that, as it pleased God, their bodies were brought to Brioude (France).” St. Julian is considered the Patron Saint of ferrymen, innkeepers, hospitality, travelers, boatmen, pilgrims, knights and circus performers.

For prayer and reflection: “Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained Angels.” ~ Hebrews 13:1-2

PRAYER: O God, who alone are holy and without whom no one is good, command, we pray, through the intercession of blessed Julian, that we be numbered among those who do not deserve to be deprived of your glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen🙏

SAINT EULALIA OF BARCELONA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR: Saint Eulalia of Barcelona was a young Spanish virgin who courageously suffered martyrdom in the early fourth century during the persecution of Emperor Diocletian. Though only thirteen years old, she boldly professed her faith before Roman authorities and refused to deny Christ. She endured severe sufferings with remarkable serenity and steadfast love for the Lord until her death. According to tradition, a white dove rose from her body at the moment of her martyrdom, and snow fell to cover her remains — signs of her purity and heavenly victory.

She is honored as the patroness of Barcelona, of sailors, and invoked against drought. Though venerated locally under the title “of Barcelona,” she is widely considered by historians to be the same martyr as Saint Eulalia of Mérida, whose ancient cult dates to the fourth century.

Saint Eulalia reminds us that holiness is not measured by age but by the depth of one’s love and fidelity to Christ. Her fearless witness continues to inspire young people and all believers to stand firm in faith.

PRAYER: Almighty God, You gave Saint Eulalia of Barcelona the courage to remain faithful to Christ even in suffering. Through her intercession, strengthen our hearts to stand firm in truth, remain pure in love, and trust in You in every trial. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.🙏