Nehase 15 — August 21

Saint Christina, Whom God Taught

Long ago there lived a girl named Christina (say it: kris-TEE-na). Her family did not yet know the true God. They prayed to idols, which are statues people made and treated as if they were gods. But idols cannot see or hear or help anyone at all.

One day, deep in her heart, Christina began to wonder about the real God in heaven. She turned toward the sunrise and asked God to show her the way to Him. And God did! The Holy Spirit gently taught her about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Now Christina knew the truth, and she loved God with all her heart.

When her father asked what had changed, she said bravely that she belonged to Jesus now. An angel came to make her strong and to bring her the holy gifts of Communion. Some people were unkind to Christina because she would not give up her faith, but she was never alone. Once, when they set her adrift on the sea, Jesus Himself came with His angels and the archangel Michael to take care of her and keep her close.

Christina stayed faithful to God her whole life, even when it was very hard, and at last she went home to heaven as a martyr, holding on to God to the very end. Many, many people saw how brave she was, and they came to love Jesus too. Even where she was laid to rest, good things kept happening, and people thanked God.

I am going to live the life of Christ.— Saint Christina

Saint Marina, the Quiet and Faithful

Saint Marina (say it: ma-REE-na) was the daughter of a kind, rich Christian man. Her mother died when Marina was small, so her father raised her with love and good teaching. When she grew up, her father wished to go and pray in a monastery, which is a quiet home where people pray to God together.

Marina did not want to be left behind. She asked to come along and give her life to God too. So she dressed in simple clothes and went with her father, and everyone in the monastery thought she was a young monk. Her father gave his riches to people who were poor, and the two of them lived a quiet life of prayer for many years until her father grew old and went home to God.

Then something sad happened. Some people wrongly blamed Marina for a bad thing she had not done. Even though it was not true, Marina did not get angry or shout. She stayed gentle and patient, kept praying, and even lovingly cared for a little child who needed her, sharing her own food. For years she worked hard and never stopped trusting God.

When Marina died in peace, everyone finally learned the truth: she had been innocent all along. They saw how patient and good she had been through all of it. The people who had blamed her were sorry, and they told the truth at last. Everyone praised God, and good things kept happening where she rested.

I am young, I have sinned, forgive me.— Saint Marina, staying gentle even when wrongly blamed

Saint Laurentius and the Man Who Could Not See

Saint Laurentius (say it: law-REN-tee-us) was a man everyone trusted. He was an archdeacon, which is a helper in the church, and he took good care of the church's money and gave it to people in need.

One day Laurentius was put in prison because he loved Jesus. In that prison was a man who was blind and could not see at all. Laurentius asked him kindly, 'Would you like to believe in the Son of the Living God, so your eyes may be opened?' The man said yes! So Laurentius prayed over some water in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and washed the man's eyes. And right away the man could see! He shouted for joy and thanked Jesus.

Even when others tried to make him stop loving God, Laurentius would not. He kept praying right to the end, and then he went home to God as a martyr. The angels came to meet him, singing 'Hallelujah,' and carried him up into the heavenly city. He was not afraid, because he knew God was waiting for him with open arms.

Blessed be our Lord Jesus Christ Who hath given light to mine eyes.— the man who was healed