St. Helen (St Helena)

Feast Day: August 18 

Born in mid-3rd century in the Middle East, St. Helen lived to a ripe old age as Empress Helena, mother of Constantine the Great.  A daughter of humble inn-keepers, Helena married Roman general, Constantius, who later divorced her upon becoming junior emperor to marry--for political expediency--the stepdaughter of his patron, co-emperor Maximianus.  Remaining loyal, her only child, Constantine,  succeeded his father’s throne upon his death.  When he defeated his rivals becoming sole ruler, Constantine summoned Helena to the imperial court, bestowing on her the title “Empress.” Furthermore, he honored his mother by ordering coins made with her name and portrait.    

Influenced by Constantine, Empress Helena converted to Christianity becoming even more devout than those born and raised as Christians.  Known for her charitable acts, she gave generously to whole towns, not just individuals, especially the needy. Her generosity and zeal in building churches and visiting shrines encouraged the wider spread of Christianity.   In her late 70’s, Empress Helena made a pilgrimage to Palestine. In a dream, she saw the Cross of Christ buried under a pagan temple.  She had it demolished, the ground dug out.  Helena found fragments of the Cross, recognizable for its inscription between 2 plain ones.  She sent the nails to Constantine who put one in his crown, another in his horse’s bridle, making the prophecy of Zechariah come true (14.20).  In that day there shall be upon the bells of the horses, “Holy Unto The Lord.”

St. Helen lived so long ago, legend and fact have intertwined. Legend credits her for building churches in Rome and other places and decorating them lavishly. The fact remains, as Palestine’s Bishop Eusebius asserted, she did build a church near the Grotto of Nativity in Bethlehem, another on the Mount of the Ascension near Jerusalem and embellished the Grotto.

Already past 80, Helen returned to her native land which Constantine, then residing in the East, had improved renaming it, Helenapolis.  Constantine was at her deathbed in 330, the last year known to have coins with her image.  Her body was transported to Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey) to the imperial vault of the church of the Church of the Apostles. Today, the sarcophagus of St. Helen lies in the Vatican Museum.

St. Helen was venerated as a saint as early as the 9th century, devotees reaching even western countries.  Her religious pictures show her holding a cross.  She left a lasting impact on Christian history and is revered as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Roman Catholic churches.

Patronage:

Saint Helena is the patron saint of new discoveries, converts, difficult marriages, and archaeologists.

Prayer to Saint Helena:

"O Saint Helena, who, with faith unwavering, journeyed to the Holy Land to seek the True Cross, guide us on our own journeys of faith. Teach us to search tirelessly for the Lord and embrace the crosses we find along the way. May your example inspire us to convert our hearts fully to God’s will. Amen."

Reflection:

* Let us reflect on St. Helen’s journey to sainthood.  Isn’t it impressive that she used the massive wealth at her disposal in church-building and uplifting the lives of the needy?  She could have wallowed in a luxurious lifestyle befitting a Roman empress had she been self-indulgent. Hadn’t she the pick of the finest jewelry to bedeck herself?  Couldn’t she have caroused in endless banquets and merry-making with the high and mighty? Instead, she used the resources of the empire to decorate the churches she built and devoted her time to visiting shrines and holy places.

* Reflecting on the life of Saint Helena encourages us to consider the importance of faith and perseverance. Her dedication to finding the True Cross symbolizes the Christian pursuit of truth and the embracing of one's cross in life. Her influence on her son, Constantine, reminds us of the profound impact that our faith can have on those around us, often leading to transformative changes in their lives and in the wider world. Saint Helena's story is a testament to the power of faith to inspire great deeds and lasting change.

Saint Emerentiana also known as St. Emerentia

Feast Day: January 23


Saint Emerentiana was the milk sister of Saint Agnes for Emerentiana's mother was the nanny and wet nurse of Saint Agnes. One of the obscure saints and a Roman virgin- martyr, who lived in the 3rd century,

Emerentiana was much of the same age as St. Agnes when she suffered martyrdom. This little girl was a catechumen and was still learning about Christianity before she was even officially baptized. Martyrs, as catholic believe, are "baptized by blood".

A few days after St Agnes' death, Emerentiana she was found weeping and praying by her tomb.  The pagans who were as furious as ever, attacked the little girl but Emerentiana refused to leave the place, claiming she was a Christian. Emerentiana was stoned to death by the crowd of pagans and her
body was buried alongside Agnes.

Emerentiana's relics were recovered near the Church of Saint Agnes on the Via Nomentana when it was being restored during the reign of Pope Paul V. The relics were later transferred to the Basilica of Saint Agnes. The body of Saint Agnes lies under the altar, together with that of her milk sister Saint Emerentiana.

Emerentiana is represented as a young girl who either carries stones in her lap, also with a palm/lilies in her hand, or a girl being stoned to death by a mob.

Patronage:

She is the patron saint of stomach problems, including colic and stomach aches, likely due to her representation with stones, which might symbolize these ailments.

In remembrance of St. Emerentiana, here's a reflective prayer:

"O Holy St. Emerentiana, brave defender of faith and follower of St. Agnes, inspire us with your courage to stand firm in our beliefs. Guide those who suffer from stomach ailments towards healing and comfort. May your story remind us of the strength found in faith and the power of standing up for what is right, even in the face of adversity. Amen."

Reflections:  

* St Agnes lived her faith by example and Emerentiana is the first fruit of her labor.  Emerentiana stood up to the pagans out of love and fidelity to what Agnes believed in. These two saints bore witness to
their faith and it is through the witness of lives such as these that others will come to believe and find salvation as well.

As Christians, it is through our works that others will come to see the faith that we have in God.  May others see our good works and give glory to our God.

*The life and martyrdom of St. Emerentiana teach us about the power of conviction and the strength to stand up for our beliefs. Her story is a testament to the enduring power of faith and a reminder that even in the face of great trials, our beliefs can give us the courage to face any challenge.