Ordinary Time: August 18th
Thursday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
Other Commemorations: St. Agapitus, martyr (RM); St. Helena, widow (RM)
» Enjoy our Liturgical Seasons series of e-books!
Gospel Verse, Ps 95:8:
If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Today in the Roman Martyrology is the commemoration of St. Agapitus (d. 259), a martyr of Palestrina, not far from Rome. His cult, which is very ancient, was particularly popular in the eternal city where Felix III (492) caused a church to be built in his honor. Ancient inscriptions show clearly the great confidence placed in the intercession of this martyr.
It is also the commemoration of St. Helena (248-328), empress, and mother of Constantine the Great. She discovered the True Cross in a rock-cistern near Mount Calvary.St. AgapitusThe Office offers these legendary details: "Agapitus was only fifteen years old but already his heart was all aglow with the desire to die as a martyr. Upon orders from the Emperor Aurelian (ca. 257), he was mercilessly whipped with leaded scourges, then thrown into a vile basement to remain there four days without food. After further punishment under the lash, he was suspended head downwards over a smoldering fire so that he should die from the smoke; boiling water was dashed against him, and his jaws were battered. When wild beasts hesitated to harm him, he was beheaded with the sword."
- A boy of fifteen years a full-fledged hero! Has he any lesson for modern youth? Of you Christ is not demanding such suffering, neither blood nor death. But He is demanding a will that can say NO to the allurements of sin, a will that can bend itself humbly in obedience. In this you have opportunity to be a youthful hero.
- Reliquary in the Pfarrkirche St. Nikolaus in Tirol, Austria, contains relics believed to be of St. Agapitus.
- See an image of the statue of Martyrdom of St. Agapitus by Marco Antonio Prestinari.
- See other images of Agapitus.
St. Helena of the CrossIt was the pious boast of the city of Colchester, England, for many ages, that St. Helena was born within its walls; and though this honor has been disputed, it is certain that she was a British princess. She embraced Christianity late in life; but her incomparable faith and piety greatly influenced her son Constantine, the first Christian emperor, and served to kindle a holy zeal in the hearts of the Roman people. Forgetful of her high dignity, she delighted to assist at the Divine Office amid the poor; and by her alms-deeds showed herself a mother to the indigent and distressed.
- St. Helena brought the Holy Land to other faithful. See St. Helena, the Legend of the True Cross, and the Holy Sepulcher. The Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America in Washington, DC is a wonderful place to experience the replicas of some of the holiest places where Jesus lived and died.
- For further reading, we recommend:
- For children: Queen and the Cross by Cornelia Bilinsky
- For children: Noble Lady: The Life of St. Helen by the Daughters of St. Paul
- For children: Helena and the True Cross by Louis de Wohl (Vision Book)
- Helena by Evelyn Waugh
- The Living Wood: A Novel about Saint Helena and the Emperor Constantine by Louis de Wohl
- For children: Queen and the Cross by Cornelia Bilinsky
- The Roman Station Church Santa Croce in Gerusalemme was built up around the relics of Jesus' Passion that St. Helena found in Jerusalem, including the True Cross. See the official church website for more information.
- See images and information of the statue in St. Peter's Basilica by Andrea Bolgi here, here and . The chapel above contains relics of the True Cross brought back by St. Helena.
- St. Helena is mostly known for finding the relics of Christ and being the mother of the famous Emperor Constantine. But she personally suffered rejection, with her husband divorcing her and remarrying. We can turn to her intercession with our family troubles.