June 8--St. Melania the Elder, Holy Woman

St. Melania the Elder

Many people ask what role women had in the early Church since they couldn’t be ordained. Luke tells us that Jesus was supported financially by women: “Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources” (Lk. 8:1-3).

This is also true of today’s saint, St. Melania the Elder (born about 325, died about 410-417). She was from a high Roman family and became “one of the wealthiest citizens of the empire.” She was a convert and became known for her generosity and holiness. “She was one of the first Roman women to visit the Holy Land.” After her husband died she visited North Africa and presented a desert monastery with chests of silver. From there she went to Jerusalem and founded a convent and a monastery. She spent thirty-five years in the Holy Land. Her kinsman, St. Paulinus of Nola, wrote of her: “What a woman she is, if it is permissible to call such a manly Christian a woman! . . . she loftily cast herself down to a humble way of life, so that as a strong member of the weak sex she might censure indolent men.”

This may sound sexist. However, it is not a matter of sexism to insist that holiness can be attained by everyone, including women! The holiest person, after Jesus himself, is Mary, our beloved Mother. St. Melania expressed her holiness through humility and generosity, gifts God gave to her.

St. Melania the Elder, pray for us!

January 14--St. Felix of Nola, Priest and Confessor

 

St. Felix of Nola @ Catholic Online.

What happens when a person is persecuted for the faith, but does not die? That person is called a “confessor”. That is our saint today, St. Felix of Nola. Nola is near Naples. He was ordained a priest by the bishop, St. Maximus of Nola, and became his right-hand man. During the persecution of the Emperor Decius in A.D. 250 the bishop went into hiding so he could better administer the diocese. However, upon not finding him, the Roman troops turned upon St. Felix, torturing and imprisoning him. According to legend, St. Felix was released from prison by an angel. He was then guided to St. Maximus, who was sick and near death, and returned him to Nola. St. Maximus died soon after the persecution ceased in 251 and the people acclaimed St. Felix as bishop. He declined, retiring to a farm where he raised crops for himself and the poor. He died around 260.

Much of what we know about St. Felix comes from St. Paulinus of Nola, who took him as his patron. St. Paulinus wrote a poem each year to celebrate Felix’s feast day: “This festive day celebrates Felix’s birthday, the day on which he died physically on earth and was born for Christ in heaven, winning his heavenly crown as a martyr who did not shed his blood. For he died as a confessor, though he did not avoid execution by choice, since God accepted his inner faith in place of blood.” 

We can learn two things from St. Felix: one, doing God’s will does not always require martyrdom, although it can involve suffering; two, we need to lean on our patron saints, men and women who intercede for us and can help us do God’s will throughout our lives. St. Felix, pray for us!

June 22--St. Paulinus of Nola, Bishop

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What is a friend? A companion; someone to be with and share time with. Aristotle said a friend is “a single soul in two bodies.” Holy friendship is beyond that. It is a companionship in Christ. Our saint today was a holy friend to many saints, Augustine, Ambrose, Martin of Tours, Jerome, and more.

St. Paulinus of Nola was a political man, becoming Governor of Campania in Italy in the fourth century at a young age, serving the people. However, he lost favor with the political authorities and learned the limits of earthly ambition. He went to learn from St. Ambrose and then went to his native land of Bordeaux and was baptized. He found a new friend in his wife Therasia of Barcelona, with whom he had a son. But after their son died a week after birth they saw that God had another path for them. They gave up all their possessions and moved back to Nola in Campania, where they lived as brother and sister in a community. He had been ordained in Barcelona and took up priestly duties in Nola, eventually being chosen as bishop.

He writes about holy friendship: “It is not surprising if, despite being far apart, we are present to each other and, without being acquainted, know each other, because we are members of one body, we have one head, we are steeped in one grace, we live on one loaf, we walk on one road and we dwell in the same house” (Ep. VI, 2). Jesus said to his disciples: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you” (Jn. 15:13-14). Paulinus invites us to remember what true friendship is, life in Jesus Christ!

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