December 17--St. Olympias, Widow

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Today’s saint, St. Olympias, is primarily known for her charity as well as her friendship with a saint who caused no end of trouble to the rulers of Constantinople.  St. Olympias lived from about 365 to 408 A.D. in either Constantinople or Antioch.  She was a relative of the emperors and after the death of her husband was even courted by Emperor Theodosius.  However, she dedicated her life to the Church and gave away her wealth to the needy and to the Church.  She also built a hospital and orphanage.  She became a friend and supporter of St. John Chrysostom, a patriarch of Constantinople who offended the empress, to the point of being exiled.  Her support was so strong that she, too, was exiled, ending her religious community and charitable works.  She died in exile in 408.

St. John Chrysostom wrote these words to Olympias:  “I cannot cease to call you blessed.  You have borne your sorrows with patience and dignity.  You have managed delicate affairs with prudence and wisdom.  You have thrown a veil over the malice of your persecutors with charity.  Thus you have won a glory and reward that in the future will make all your sufferings seem light and passing in the presence of eternal joy.”

Friendship is a great gift and also a responsibility.  When we have a friend, we are called to support and care for that friend to bring the friend to Jesus, our ultimate friend.  We encourage our friends in Christ so that they may develop in holiness and love.  Many saints had friends with other saints, such as Sts. Olympias and John Chrysostom.  We need to look for and develop saintly friendships so we, too, may be brought to Jesus in Heaven with our friend.  St. Olympias, pray for us.

*https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saint_Olympia.JPG

July 29--St. Martha, Friend of Jesus

   
Many times we think of St. Martha as a "busybody" saint, trying to get Jesus to tell her sister Mary to help her with the responsibilities of hospitality.  But we must not forget that she is also the woman who expressed complete faith in Jesus:  "I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world" (Jn. 11:27).  It was after this confession of faith that Jesus raised her brother Lazarus from the the dead.  She and her sister and brother were friends of Jesus.  When he came to Jerusalem, he stayed with them.  That can be taken as a sign of trust.

Maybe we have a "Martha" in our families.  Perhaps she is the grandmother or the aunt or mother or sister who goes around the house with an apron on and a washcloth in her hand, constantly finding things to clean and chores to do.  Maybe she is always making sure that guests, both invited and pop-ins, are welcomed and cared for.  Maybe she is also the person who strongly influences our faith by her constant prayer with the Morning Offering glued to the medicine cabinet mirror.  Maybe she has her rosary with her, praying at moments of rest.  Maybe she has a print of the crucifixion of Jesus above her bed a or a picture of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane in the living room or a picture of the Last Supper in the dining room.

Martha is the patron saint of housewives, waiters, and waitresses.  These are the people who serve us and make sure that the necessities and niceties of hospitality are observed.  She is also very much the patron saint of those who love us and care for our everyday physical and spiritual needs.  They may not have the name of Martha, but they embrace her legacy.  May we be "Marthas" to others.