DECEMBER 17, 2024 – ST. OLYMPIAS, WIDOW.

• St. Lazarus. (Historical)
• St. Olympias (410). Widow. (Historical)

ST. OLYMPIAS, the glory of the widows in the Eastern Church, was of a noble and wealthy family. Left an orphan at a tender age, she was brought up by Theodosia, sister of St. Amphilochius, a virtuous and prudent woman. Olympias insensibly reflected the virtues of this estimable woman. She married quite young, but her husband dying within twenty days of their wedding, she modestly declined any further offer for her hand, and resolved to consecrate her life to prayer and other good works, and to devote her fortune to the poor. Nectarius, Arch. bishop of Constantinople, had a high esteem for the saintly widow, and made her a deaconess of his church, the duties of which were to prepare the altar linen and to attend to other matters of that sort. St. Chrysostom, who succeeded Nectarius, had no less respect than his predecessor for Olympias, but refused to attend to the distribution of her alms. Our Saint was one of the last to leave St. Chrysostom when he went into banishment on the 20th of June, 404. After his departure, she suffered great persecution, and crowned a virtuous life by a saintly death, about the year 410.

REFLECTION: “Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth, but in heaven, where neither rust nor moth doth consume.

WORD OF THE DAY

DARK AGES. The term sometimes applied to the Middle Ages, mainly by writers who erroneously believed that during the Ages of Faith (A.D. 500-1500) there was little or no progress in the arts and sciences, in government and social organization, or even in religion. Gradually the expression is being abandoned as scholars are proving that, in spite of periods of war and conflict, some of these centuries were outstanding for their enlightenment and achievement.

Modern Catholic Dictionary, Fr. John Hardon SJ (Get the real one at Eternal Life — don’t accept an abridged or edited version of this masterpiece!)

Advent & The Great Truths

Advent: Short Meditations and The Great Truths Day 21 (Dec 17) O Sapientia & The Particular Judgment (Advent Meditation)

ST. ANDREW NOVENA

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, o my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.

(It is piously believed that whoever recites the above prayer fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew (Nov. 30th) until Christmas, will obtain what is asked). This formula of the prayer bears an Imprimatur from † Michael Augustine, Archbishop of New York. New York, February 6, 1897.

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