MEMORIAL OF SAINT AUREA OF CÓRDOBA, MARTYR; SAINT EPAPHRAS OF COLOSSAE, MARTYR; SAINT SYMMACHUS, POPE AND SAINT MACRINA THE YOUNGER, RELIGIOUS ~ FEAST DAY: JULY 19TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Aurea of Córdoba, Martyr; Saint Epaphras of Colossae, Martyr; Saint Symmachus, Pope and St. Macrina the Younger, Religious. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the sick and dying, especially those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for those going through difficulties especially during these challenging times, for the poor and the needy, for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. And we continue to pray for the Church, the Clergy, for persecuted Christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world.🙏
SAINT AUREA OF CÓRDOBA, MARTYR: St. Aurea is one of the Córdoba Martyrs of Spain. She was a widow who was born in Cordova, Spain, in the ninth century into an Arab noble family; her father was a Muslim from Seville, and three members of her family were qadis, or Arab judges. She was also the sister of Sts. Aldolphus and John, who were martyred at Cordova. St. Aurea became a Christian after her husband died, and took the veil at a monastery in Cuteclara, Spain, where she remained for more than twenty years. She was ultimately denounced as a Christian by her parents, and received a martyr’s crown by beheading in 856.
According to history, the city of Córdoba had been Christian from apostolic times until the Islamic conquest came to southern Spain in the year 711. Soon Córdoba became the capital of this part of the original “Islamic State”, and would remain so until the 15th century. During this whole period the Church continued to exist, but she was subject to sharia (Islamic law) which forbade public witness and imposed jizya (a special tax). Things became more complicated as Córdoba grew into a prestigious economic and cultural center in the Islamic world. Catholic churches and monasteries remained, but the population — attracted by the many opportunities in the Muslim city — began converting to Islam. Even prominent churchmen cooperated with the political regime in ways that compromised their integrity. By 800, few remained professing Catholics. A significant portion of the population, however, conformed externally to Islamic laws and customs but tried in various ways to remain Christian privately or even secretly. Though sharia law permitted Christians to exist, it forbade Muslims to convert to Christianity. This was regarded as the crime of apostasy, punishable by death. The problem of “secret Christians” in Islamic Spain was especially complicated by the inevitable mixed marriages between Muslim men and Christian women. The latter were generally permitted to retain their faith, but the children of such marriages were considered Muslim by sharia law. It is impossible to gauge the influence of these Christian mothers on their children, but it was not negligible. Thus, by the 9th century Córdoba was institutionally and legally Muslim and what was left of the Church was largely compliant. But this period also documents the witness of forty-eight Córdoba Martyrs. Many were Christians executed for blasphemy because, in seeking to reinvigorate the Church, they openly proclaimed Christ and denounced Islam.
But there were also apostates among them. SAINT AUREA illustrates what may have been the hidden truth for many others born of mixed marriages. She was one of several children of a prominent Muslim father and a Christian mother. Her mother must have been an outstanding woman of faith who raised her children as believing Christians. When St. Aurea was young, two of her brothers were martyred. Sometime after this (and after her marriage and widowhood, about which nothing is known) St. Aurea joined her mother in seclusion in a convent outside the city. A significant portion of the population, however, conformed externally to Islamic laws and customs but tried in various ways to remain Christian privately or even secretly. Open Christian witness was met by further Muslim persecution in 850, and it became increasingly unsafe for Christians like Aurea, who were legally Muslim by birth in spite of growing up as Christians and personally embracing the Christian Faith. Relatives from her Muslim father’s family found St. Aurea after twenty years of undisturbed peace in the convent and brought her before the sharia court. To avoid being condemned for apostasy, St. Aurea did what many other secret Christians did to escape: she declared adherence to Islam and its prophet. She repented, however, almost immediately after being released, and returned to practicing her Christian faith. Her Muslim relatives including her parents denounced her again, and this time she was executed by beheading on July 19, 856. We have presented Aurea as a convert even though its possible that she was baptized a Christian at an early age. Nevertheless, she was martyred because Islamic law regarded her as a convert — an apostate — simply because of her free adherence to Jesus Christ
Saint Aurea of Córdoba, Martyr ~ Pray for us 🙏
SAINT EPAPHRAS OF COLOSSAE, MARTYR: St. Epaphras, Coworker of St. Paul, a first century missionary to Colossae, Laodicea And Hierapolis. Bishop of Colossae and a martyr. St. Paul makes reference to him. St. Epaphras was called by St. Paul his “dear fellow servant” and a “trusty minister in Christ” (Col 1:7). He is regarded as the founder of the Christian Church at Colossae and apparently also at the neighboring cities of Laodicea and Hierapolis. He embraced Christianity and promoted it in Colossae as well as the neighboring towns of Laodicea and Hierapolis, in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey). He also visited St. Paul in prison, giving the great missionary wonderful comfort, no doubt. When St. Paul wrote his “Letter to the Colossians,” (written while Paul was in prison) he mentioned that Epaphras was with him. “Epaphras sends you greetings; he is one of you, a slave of Christ [Jesus], always striving for you in his prayers so that you may be perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.” ~ Colossians 4:12
The Saint brought St. Paul a glowing report of the state of the Colossian Christian (Col 1:4,8) and sent back greeting to them from Rome (Col 4:12). St. Epaphras is commended by St. Paul for his ministry of intercession, for he showed true pastoral concern that extended to other Churches in the Lycus River Vallex (Col 4:13). He also seems to have shared to some extent St. Paul’s imprisonment in Rome for the Apostle calls him “my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus” (Philem 23). Saint Epaphras can remind us to cling to truth … even if it means being associated with a prisoner or outcast. There is a tradition that Epaphras was martyred in Colossae.
PRAYER: Lord God, You taught the Gentiles through St. Paul’s coworker in Christ, St. Epaphras. As we celebrate his feast, grant that, following his example, we may be witnesses to Your truth in this world. Amen 🙏
SAINT SYMMACHUS, POPE: St. Symmachus was Pope from 498 to 514. He was born on Sardinia and was baptized in Rome, where he became archdeacon under Pope Anastasius II. At the latter’s death, St. Symmachus was elected Pope in 498. St. Symmachus was active during the Acacian schism, a period of intense friction between the churches of Constantinople and Rome over the issue of Monophysitism. He thus faced a serious rival claimant to the throne of Saint Peter. A splinter group at Rome, in league with Emperor Anastasius of Constantinople, elected a rival Pope, Laurentius (Lawrence). The archpriest Laurentius, led a faction less opposed to Constantinople at the same time. Both claimants to the Holy See appealed to the Gothic King Theodoric at Ravenna. King Theodoric the Great eventually decided against Laurentius and in favor of St. Symmachus. King Theodoric chose St. Symmachus as the rightful Pontiff because he had been elected first and by the great number of votes. Most important of all, the King characterized St. Symmachus as one who was good, prudent, kindly, gracious, and a lover of the clergy and the poor. Nevertheless, the Saint had many troubles because of the Schismatics during the first half of his pontificate. When he learned that the Arian King Thrasimund had exiled many African Bishops to Sardinia, he was quick to send them a letter to comfort them as well as clothes, money, and relics of Martyrs for them and their flocks. Among other good works, St. Symmachus built three hospices for the poor, came to the aid of those who underwent raids by the Barbarians in northern Italy, and redeemed a multitude of captives. The Pope also restored several churches in Rome and built three new basilicas—to St. Andrew, St. Pancras, and St. Agnes. He died on July 19, 514, and was buried in St. Peter’s Basilica.
PRAYER: Almighty and eternal God, You willed to set St. Symmachus over Your entire people and to go before them in word and example. By his intercession keep the pastors of Your Church together with their flocks and guide them in the way of eternal salvation. Amen 🙏
SAINT MACRINA THE YOUNGER, RELIGIOUS: St. Macrina the Younger (d. 380 A.D.) was born in Cappadocia to a family of saints. Her mother was St. Emelia, and her father was St. Basil the Elder. Her grandmother was St. Macrina the Elder, after whom she was named. Her holy parents had ten children. St. Macrina was one of the oldest, and received an excellent religious education from her holy mother. Her parents betrothed her to a pious youth, but he died before the marriage took place. St. Macrina then consecrated her virginity to God and lived a life of great asceticism. She remained living with her parents, helping to raise her younger siblings, directing the household servants, and supporting the family with her domestic skills. Among her siblings were St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory of Nyssa (who both became Cappadocian Fathers and Doctors of the Church) St. Peter of Sebaste, and St. Theosevia. When their father died, St. Macrina became the main support for the family. It was St. Macrina who profoundly influenced the spiritual discipline of her younger brothers. When all her siblings were grown, St. Macrina convinced her mother to give up their family belongings, set their servants free, and convert their home into a monastery. Many of their servants joined them in this spiritual pursuit; they all lived together as a family, sharing all things in common. When her mother died, St. Macrina led the religious community. The biography of St. Macrina’s life was written by her brother, St. Gregory. Her feast day is July 19th.
Saint Macrina the Younger ~ Pray for us 🙏
Leave a Reply