Saint of the Day – 13 March – Saint Euphrasia (c382-c412) Virgin, Nun, Ascetic, Penitent, Miracle-worker. Born in c382 in Constantinople and died on 13 March in c412 (aged 30) of natural causes in the Thebaid region, Egypt. Also known as – Euphrax.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “AtThebaid St Euphrasia, virgin.”
Euphrasia, was the daughter of noble and pious parents, honoured by the devout Emperor Theodosius and the Empress of that country. After the early death of Antigonus, her father, her mother consecrated her widowhood to God and retired with their only child into Egypt, where she possessed a very large estate.
In those days, there were many Monasteries of Nuns, as well as of holy Hermits and, in one single City there were twenty thousand such holy women, Consecrated to Jesus Christ. Euphrasia’s mother chose to reside near a Monastery of one hundred and thirty Nuns which she often visited, accompanied by Euphrasia. When the little girl, seven years of age, begged that she might be permitted to serve God in this Monastery, the pious mother wept for joy.
Then the mother led her before an image of our Redeemer and lifting up her hands to Heaven said, Lord Jesus Christ, receive this child under Thy special protection. It is Thou alone Whom she loves and seeks; to Thee she recommends herself. Then leaving her in the hands of the Abbess, she left the Monastery weeping. She continued her life to prayer and mortification and, a few years later, when this good mother fell ill, she slept in peace.
On receiving the news of her death, Theodosius sent for the noble virgin to come to Court, as he considered himself her protector and already, during her childhood, had arranged for her to be married to a young Senator of Constantinople, when she would reach a suitable age. But the virgin wrote him, refusing the alliance, repeating her vow of virginity and requesting that her estates be sold and divided among the poor and all her slaves set at liberty. The Emperor punctually executed all her wishes, shortly before his own death in 395.
From an 1878 Book, Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints
Saint Euphrasia was a perfect pattern of humility, meekness and charity. If she found herself assaulted by any temptation, she immediately sought the advice of the Abbess, who often, on such occasions, assigned her some humbling and painful penitential labour which, she would execute to perfection. Once she moved a pile of great rocks from one place to another, continuing for thirty days with wonderful simplicity, until the devil, vanquished by her humble obedience, left her in peace.
She became powerful over the demons and delivered many possessed persons. She cured a child who was paralysed, deaf and dumb, making the Sign of the Cross over him and saying, May He Who created you, heal you! She was favoured with other miracles, both before and after her death which occurred in the year 412, the thirtieth of her age.
AnaStpaul 