S. Prisca| Daily Meditation| Daily Quote by S. Padre Pio| Divine Mercy Reflection
Today in the Latin Calendar we celebrate the Feast Day of S. Prisca, Virgin and Martyr. A story about this Feast Day can be found below:
Priscilla was one of a number of women who played a prominent role in the early church—not simply as “helpers” to the male apostles, but as evangelists and church administrators in their own right.
Priscilla and her husband, Aquila, were Jewish tent makers living in Corinth. Although they were originally from Rome they had been expelled from the imperial capital, along with all the Jews, by order of emperor Claudius. Paul met them soon after his arrival in Corinth, fresh from his preaching mission in Athens (Acts 18). Their common trade—Paul too was a tent maker—provided the basis of their acquaintance. But soon, through Paul’s influence, they also shared a common zeal for the gospel. The house of Priscilla and Aquila became Paul’s base of operations in Corinth. Before long they were also serving as evangelists, preaching the gospel to their fellow Jews.
Priscilla and Aquila followed Paul to Ephesus, where they established a church in their home that included Gentile as well as Jewish Christians. It seems they later returned to Rome. They were probably encouraged by news of the installation of a new emperor, Nero, who had no prior record of anti-Christian animus. Once again, their house became the meeting place of the local church. There Paul addressed them in his letter to the Romans: “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I am grateful but also all the churches of the Gentiles; greet also the church at their house” (Rom. 16:3-5).
In the end their hope of finding tolerance in Nero’s Rome was mistaken. According to tradition Priscilla and Aquila perished in the general persecution that occurred around the year 64 AD.
The saint’s relics were moved from her tomb in the Catacomb of St. Priscilla to the Church of St. Prisca in Rome. A portion of her house survives adjacent to the catacomb.
Another Story
The saint of the day for January 18 is St. Prisca, who is also known as Priscilla. She was a child martyr of the early Roman Church. Born to Christian parents of a noble family, Prisca was raised during the reign of the Roman emperor Claudius. While Claudius did not persecute Christians with the same fervor as other Roman emperors, Christians still did not practice their faith openly. In fact, Prisca's parents went to great lengths to conceal their faith, and thus they were not suspected of being Christians.
Prisca, however, did not feel the need to take precaution. The young girl openly professed her dedication to Christ, and eventually, she was reported to the emperor. Claudius had her arrested, and commanded her to make a sacrifice to Apollo, the pagan god of the sun.
According to the legend, Prisca refused, and was tortured for disobeying. Then, suddenly, a bright, yellow light shone about her, and she appeared to be a little star.
Claudius ordered that Prisca be taken away to prison, in the hopes that she would abandon Christ. When all efforts to change her mind were unsuccessful, she was taken to an amphitheatre and thrown in with a lion.
As the crowd watched, Prisca stood fearless. According to legend, the lion walked toward the barefoot girl, and then gently licked her feet. Disgusted by his thwarted efforts to dissuade Prisca, Claudius had her beheaded.
Seventh-century accounts of the grave sites of Roman martyrs refer to the discovery of an epitaph of a Roman Christian named Priscilla in a large catacomb and identifies her place of interment on the Via Salaria as the Catacomb of Priscilla.
Daily Meditation
Be Spontaneous:
Personal, spontaneous prayer helps you develop honesty with God. It enables you to let off steam as well as praise God. The secret is to be yourself. God knows you, and you cannot shock Him.
Quote by S. Padre Pio:
In prayer and meditation, it is we ourselves who speak to the Lord, while in the Holy Readings (the Scriptures or by the Holy Fathers of the Church), it is God who speaks to us.
Divine Mercy Reflection
Reflections on Notebook One: 11-111
The first notebook of Saint Faustina begins her private revelations given from the Heart of Jesus to her. She writes in a beautiful and simple way. Though, as mentioned in the introduction, her actual words are not quoted in these reflections that follow, the messages that she received and articulated are presented.
In truth, her messages are those contained in Sacred Scripture and in the Tradition of our Church. And if you were to read through the lives and teachings of the saints, you would find the same revelations. God has always spoken to us throughout the ages. He speaks the one Message of Truth, and He reveals that Message in love. The revelations to Saint Faustina are one new way that God continues to speak and reveal Himself to us, His sons and daughters.
The reflections based on her first notebook, are intentionally short and focused. They are a way for you, the reader, to slowly and carefully listen to the Heart of God spoken to this great saint. Read these reflections slowly and prayerfully. Ponder them throughout the day and allow the Lord to speak to You the message He wants to give.
Reflection 17: Turn to Our Blessed Mother in Prayer
Turn to our Blessed Mother in confident prayer. She holds you close to her Immaculate Heart and will direct you to her Son, Jesus. She is the perfect Mother, the Mother of All Grace. Trust in Her maternal care and intercession. She knows how to unlock the graces of the Mercy of her Son. And she longs to do so for you, her precious child (See Diary #11).
Sincerely reflect, today, upon your relationship with Mother Mary, the Mother of Mercy. Do you trust in her maternal care and intercession? If you are not wholeheartedly in love with our Blessed Mother and if you do not completely trust in her motherly care, spend time today opening your heart more fully to all that God wants to bless you with through her care. Don’t be afraid to turn to her. She will point you to her Son.
Dearest Mother, my Queen. The Lord has entrusted to you the storehouse of His Mercy. The King of Kings has set you on a throne and given you charge of His Mercy. May I come to you, this day and always, seeking that which you wish to bestow upon me. Thank you for bringing me the Divine Mercy of your Son. Dearest Mother, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.
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