MARCH 29, 2025 – LENT DAY 25 – SS. JONAS, BARACHISIUS, AND THEIR COMPANIONS, MARTYRS.
- St. Gundleus (Woolo) (472). (Historical)
KING SAPOR, of Persia, in the eighteenth year of his reign, raised a bloody persecution against the Christians, and laid waste their churches and monasteries. Jonas and Barachisius, two brothers of the city Beth-Asa, hearing that several Christians lay under sentence of death at Hubaham, went thither to encourage and serve them. Nine of that number received the crown of martyrdom. After their execution, Jonas and Barachisius were apprehended for having exhorted them to die. The president entreated the two brothers to obey the King of Persia, and to worship the sun, moon, fire, and water. Their answer was, that it was more reasonable to obey the immortal King of heaven and earth than a mortal prince. Jonas was beaten with knotty clubs and with rods, and next set in a frozen pond, with a cord tied to his foot. Barachisius had two red-hot iron plates and two red-hot hammers applied under each arm, and melted lead dropped into his nostrils and eyes; after which, he was carried to prison, and there hung up by one foot. Despite these cruel tortures, the two brothers remained steadfast in the faith. New and more horrible torments were then devised, under which, at last, they yielded up their lives, while their pure souls winged their flight to heaven, there to gain the martyr’s crown which they had so faithfully won.
REFLECTION: Those powerful motives which supported the martyrs under the sharpest torments ought to inspire us with patience, resignation, and holy joy under sickness and all crosses or trials. Nothing is more heroic in the practice of Christian virtue, nothing more precious in the sight of God, than the sacrifice of patience, submission, constant fidelity, and charity in a state of suffering.
WORD OF THE DAY
PREACHING. Public discourse on a religious subject by one having authority to do so. Preaching, therefore, can be properly applied only to bishops, priests, and deacons in the exercise of their office of proclaiming the word of God. Speaking of priests, the Second Vatican Council places this office first among the duties of priests, who are "consecrated to preach the Gospel, shepherd the faithful, and celebrate divine worship" (Constitution on the Church, III, 28).
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!)
LENT MEDITATION DAY 25
Enjoy daily meditations this lent from Fr. Richard Clarke, SJ. Short and powerful, written in 1880 for busy lay people to reap rewards through lent. (includes audio): Lent Day 25: Saturday after the Third Sunday in Lent — Judas’s Repentance.
March is the Month of St. Joseph
Daily devotional meditations on Saint Joseph: March 29th — St. Joseph’s Happy Death.
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