To what lengths would you go to follow in Christ’s footsteps?

1. St. Helena—August 19She is thought to have died in c. 330. (That is the last year her name appears on Roman currency.) To what lengths would you go to follow in Christ’s footsteps? Her story: Helena was the mother of the emperor Constantine, the ex-wife of a Roman general. Constantine remained loyal to his mother, despite the divorce. After his famous victory at the Milvian Bridge, he named Helena “most noble woman” of Rome. Constantine was not a Christian, but he granted toleration of Christianity. Helena used her resources as an emporer’s mother to build churches and fund local shrines. She was an avid pilgrim, tracing the footsteps of Christ's life. Her legend: In a cistern near Calvary, she discovered three crosses, one of which was believed to be the True Cross. {Evelyn Waugh, writer/journalist—a Catholic, claimed that all the relics from that cross would have “been enough to build a battleship.” Interesting Quote: “She worshipped not the wood, but the King, Him who hung on the wood." –St. Ambrose on St. Helena Vocabulary Word for St. Helena: avid(adjective) – use this descriptiveword as a synonym for enthusiastic, ardent, keen. Of what could you be said to be an avid fan/follower?

2. Blessed Victoria Rasoamanarivo—August 22(1848-1894) Is suffering ever a good thing? Her story: We have another royal connection! Victoria was the granddaughter of the powerful prime minister of Antananarivo, Madagascar, and her brother was a prime minster for almost 30 years. She was raised with the pagan religion of her tribe. She began attending a Catholic school, fell in love with the Catholic faith, and was baptized at the age of 15. A marriage was arranged for Victoria without her consent to a husband that was addicted to alcohol and lived a scandalous lifestyle. Victoria’s family tried to persuade Victoria to divorce him. But Victoria did not want to give a bad example to her fellow Christians. As a princess, she could teach by her life how to observe the laws of God, especially when it came to the sacrament of Marriage. She remained a faithful wife, praying for her husband and offering her sufferings for his conversion. Before he died in 1887, she was able to convince him to receive the sacrament of Baptism. Victoria lived seven more years as an exemplary Christian widow. By her holiness of life, she was a convincing promoter of the Catholic faith in Madagascar. She devoted herself to hours of prayer each day, as well as to helping the poor, the imprisoned, and lepers. Interesting Quote: “Blessed Victoria Rasoamanarivo is a “true missionary” and a “model for today’s laity.’" –Pope John Paul II, in declaring her beatification Vocabulary Word for St. Helena: indissolubility (noun) – use this word to note the characteristic of the incapacity to be undone. Blessed Victoria believed in the indissolubility of a sacramental marriage.