April 10 --- St. Bademus
Bademus, a rich nobleman from Persia, sold his possessions to follow Christ. He only kept a sum of money to found a monastery where he could practice virtue and train others to follow in Christ's footsteps.
One day, Bademus and seven of his fellow monks were apprehended by the soldiers of King Sapor, who had been persecuting Christians for more than 36 years.
For four months, Bademus lay in a dungeon , chained and flagellated. Having a devious plan, King Sapor employed another prisoner, Nersan, who weakened in his resolve to suffer martyrdom, to kill St. Bademus.
However, upon seeing the saint, the apostate was seized with a sudden terror and became incapable of lifting his sword to strike. Frozen, he had neither courage nor repentance nor heart to carry out the dastard deed.
Fear, shame, remorse and respect combined to render any attempts to accomplish the crime unsuccessful.
Finally, St. Bademus reproached the man, saying, " What will you do on the day you will have to render an account of your actions, and hear the sentence of your condemnation?"
Even with these words, Nersan did not convert but managed to inflict numerous wounds on saint. After much suffering, St. Bademus died on April 10, 376.
And Nersan, the apostate? He fell into public disgrace, perished by the sword and, gave up the martyr's crown. Oh, perfidy!
How often does the devil tempt us to stray from the path of salvation with promises that are never fulfilled and punishments that are stealthily hidden? Poor Nersan! He exchanged the short tortures of the pagan king for the eternal tortures of the damned.
God has ordained that we all have temptations in this life. But He gives us His Heavenly Mother to assist us and bring us to victory.
Let us pray to Mary Most Holy asking for every possible grace to overcome the world , the flesh and the devil. She is our clement and merciful Mother, ready to give us the victory at every moment.
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