ST. MARGARET OF ANTIOCH, VIRGIN AND MARTYR
Nothing certain is known of her, but according to her untrustworthy legend, she was the daughter of a pagan priest at Antioch in Pisidia. Also known as Marina, she was converted to Christianity, whereupon she was driven from home by her father. She became a shepherdess and when she spurned the advances of Olybrius, the prefect, who was infatuated with her beauty, he charged her with being a Christian. He had her tortured and then imprisoned, and while she was in prison she had an encounter with the devil in the form of a dragon. According to the legend, he swallowed her, but the cross she carried in her hand so irritated his throat that he was forced to disgorge her (she is patroness of childbirth). The next day, attempts were made to execute her by fire and then by drowning, but she was miraculously saved and converted thousands of spectators witnessing her ordeal-all of whom were promptly executed. Finally, she was beheaded. That she existed and was martyred are probably true; all else is probably fictitious embroidery and added to her story, which was immensely popular in the Middle Ages, spreading from the East all over Western Europe. She is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, and hers was one of the voices heard by Joan of Arc. Her feast day is July 20th.
***http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=199***
I have been reading a book lately entitled “The Younger Evangelicals: Facing the Challenges of the New World.” The author is Robert E. Webber. In the book there is a description of the modernist situation we have been enveloped by in recent centuries. Mr. Webber also describes the profound transformation society is experience as we see the emergence of a post-modern mindset. There are a number of things about the post-modern mindset that are troublesome, which I will touch on in later posts. Today, though, I would like to ask you to think about what it means to be radically orthodox? Indeed, to be orthodox is to be radical, especially in a culture that is profoundly confused as to what exactly truth is, and and embraced a view of many things in the world that strives to be radically syncretistic and pluralistic. Are we Christians; are YOU, dear Christian, more interested in being orthodox in word only? Are you more interested in being orthodox by intellectually simply holding to a set of theological beliefs/standards that are detached from real life? Or, are you orthodox in deed also? Do you live out your Christian faith, holding to the faith once delivered, striving to hold to the maximum level of orthodoxy, rather than whatever is the vogue minimum of the day? Think on these things today, and pray about them. Ask the Lord to open up your heart and mind so that you may truly see the reality of your heart and where the Lord may be calling you to be challenged in your discipleship to Him. Indeed, this is what all Christians must strive to do daily.
Fr. Gregory
Fr. Gregory Mashburn, OFM
