St. Theodore was born a heathen. When grown up, he went into the army, and though still young in years, gave many signal proofs of his valor. By associating with Christian soldiers, he came to the knowledge of the true faith, and no sooner was he convinced of its life-giving truth, than he embraced it, but without making his conversion known, following in this the example of many others at that period. When his heathen comrades used to sacrifice to their gods, he stole away to the Christian assemblies and assisted at them with great devotion, but had not the courage to confess Christ openly. When, however, the cruel command came from the Imperial Court, that all Christians should either leave Christ, or prepare themselves for the most terrible martyrdom, Theodore neither could nor would any longer hide his Christianity, but cried publicly and fearlessly: "I am a Christian, and ready to shed the last drop of my blood in defence of the Christian faith." Some heathens, hearing this confession, seized him and brought him before the judge, who had pity on him as he was young and of fine appearance. He gave him a few days to consider whether he would renounce Christianity and thus make himself a partaker of the imperial grace, or end his life in the most horrid torments.

Theodore desired no time for considering, but said: "It is not necessary that I consider long. I have long since determined rather to bear all possible pain, than to forsake the true faith." But he received the time offered him, to prepare himself better for the approaching trial. At the expiration of the appointed time, he desired to show by works what his determination was; hence he went during the night to a celebrated idolatrous temple and setting fire to it, burned it to the ground. At break of day, the people, filled with rage, sought everywhere for the perpetrator of the deed. Theodore voluntarily surrendered himself, saying: "What need is there for this seeking? I am he, who set fire to that temple of abominations, in which sacrifice was offered to Satan, and not to the true God." The heathens, wild with rage, dragged the fearless youth before the judge, who asked him whether it was true that he had burned the temple, and whether he repented of this sacrilege and would forsake the Christian faith. "As far as the first part of your question is concerned," said Theodore firmly, "I confess freely that I did, but I cannot add that I repent of it; on the contrary, I am ready to do the same at any moment. In regard to the Christian faith, I am so far from forsaking it, that I would rather die a thousand deaths." The judge foaming with wrath, commanded him to be cruelly beaten, and then cast into a dungeon, the air of which was damp and foul, with the threat that he should there die of hunger, if he changed not his mind. The Christian hero, however, was not terrified, but, turning to his God, called on Him for aid. In the middle of the night, Christ appeared to him in his sleep, and said: "Be of good courage; for I am with thee: fear not!" Theodore awoke, and began cheerfully to sing psalms, and to give thanks to the Lord for so gracious a promise.

After the expiration of some days, he was again brought before the judge, who, seeing him as firm as before, ordered him to be tied to a column, and torn with iron combs and burnt with torches. This torture was more than cruel; for the executioners did not cease until the ribs were almost bare. But the greater the cruelty of these barbarians, the more Theodore rejoiced, repeating the words of the Psalmist: "I will praise and exalt the Lord at all times. His praise shall be ever on my lips." As the tyrant saw that he effected nothing by this inhuman torment, he ordered Theodore to be burnt at the stake, as an enemy of the gods. On the way to the place of execution, Theodore saw one of his friends, who, pitying him most sincerely, shed bitter tears. "Cleonicus," cried Theodore; "follow me soon, I shall wait for thee!" As soon as the Christian hero had arrived at the stake, he crossed himself, approached it cheerfully, and with a beaming countenance began to sing the praises of God, which he continued to do until he expired in the flames and smoke. This glorious martyrdom happened in 304. St Gregory preached a magnificent sermon in honor of this holy martyr, in which he extolled his heroic constancy, and asked for his intercession as a glorious Saint reigning with Christ in heaven.

To this short sketch of the life of a soldier and knight of Christ, we will add the life of a holy bishop, who not only had a valiant warrior for his father, but who himself also fought as a brave Christian hero, for the honor of God and the liberties of the Church of Christ. This is St. Hugh, bishop of Lincoln, born in Burgundy, and descended from a noble family. When in his eighth year, he lost his mother; but, that nothing might be neglected in his education, his father gave him in charge of the regular Canons in a monastery not far distant, which he himself not long afterwards entered, in order to pass the remainder of his life in the service of God. Hugh remained in this monastery until he had reached his nineteenth year, and was instructed as well in virtue as in the arts and sciences. The Abbot of the monastery, having about that time occasion to visit the Carthusian monks near Grenoble, took Hugh along as his companion. The peace and happiness which reigned in that solitude so charmed the heart of the youth, that he conceived an intense desire to spend his life with those holy men, and, after much solicitation, he received from his Abbot the permission to do so. The evil spirit tormented the young novice for some time most violently with horrible temptations. Hugh took refuge in prayer, fasting, and other penances, to obtain divine aid. The thought of the presence of God, and confidence in the intercession of the divine Mother, made him at length victorious over the devil; for as often as he remembered the presence of the Almighty, and called on the Blessed Virgin, he felt such strength, that he was able to withstand the temptations, and at last entirely overcame them.

Eighteen years he had passed in the Chartreuse, when the fame of his virtues induced the King of England to choose him as prior for the cloister at Witham. He administered his new functions with so much talent and modesty, that the clergy, after the death of the bishop of Lincoln, elected him to that See. The humble servant of God would not consent to occupy so high a place, and represented his incapacity in strong language, begging them with tears to choose another. When, however, on the second election, every voice was for him, his objections were no more regarded, and he was obliged to accept the dignity. As bishop, his virtues shone still more brightly, and he endeavored, with truly apostolic zeal, to labor for the honor of God and the salvation of souls. Soon after he had entered upon his administration, he surrounded himself with holy and learned men, in order to make use of their counsel. He gave no one a parish of whose virtue and knowledge he possessed not sufficient proofs. No recommendation, no protection of the nobility, not even of the king himself, could move him to admit, among the number of his clergy, any one whose conduct had not been exemplary. His own life was so blameless, that he was considered not only the model of prelates, but a living mirror of holiness. The lives of the holy bishops, which he read daily, assisted him greatly in his striving after perfection, as he was desirous to imitate them.

He was extremely compassionate to all who were needy, sick or forsaken. He often knelt down before lepers and kissed their ulcers. He used frequently to wash the feet of thirteen beggars, after which he dismissed them with rich alms. The dead he accompanied to the grave, so as not to omit any work of Christian charity. A scoffer, one day, saw the Saint kiss the feet of a leper, and said: "St. Martin kissed the feet of a leper only once, and cured him immediately; while this bishop continually kisses them, and yet no one is cured!" St. Hugh answered: "St. Martin healed with his kisses the body of the leper; but these lepers cure my soul by my kisses." In abolishing abuses and protecting the rights of the Church, he manifested great strength of mind, and opposed even the royal commands when they were against the divine laws or the rights of the Church or Clergy. This procured him at one time the displeasure of King Henry II., to such a degree, that orders were issued for his banishment from the country and for the confiscation of all his possessions. But when the unjust sentence was to be executed, the Almighty showed how greatly He is displeased when His anointed are wronged. One of the king's officers became immediately possessed by the Evil One; and after being tormented for some time, was strangled. Others were overtaken by terrible diseases, and so tormented, that they expired miserably. This deterred others from executing the royal command; and the king durst not proceed further against the Saint whom God defended.

What merited for St. Hugh this wonderful protection of heaven, was his fervor in prayer, and his zeal in all other devout exercises. He had his appointed hours for prayer as well as for work; and at his hours of devotion would not attend to anything else, nor put off his prayers to another time. For this fidelity he was one day visibly rewarded; for, having made an appointment to set out for a certain place, on that day, he was waited upon by the priests, who were to accompany him, earlier than had been agreed upon. As he had not finished his usual devotions, he delayed his departure. The priests who would not wait, went their way and fell into the hands of robbers, who plundered them and dragged them miserably away. The holy man set out after he had said his prayers, and arrived safely at the place of his destination. The sacrifice of Holy Mass he performed with such devotion, that he had several times the grace to see the Lord, in the form of a lovely child, in the Host. His faith in the presence of Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament was so strong, that when, one day, blood was seen miraculously streaming from a sacred Host on the altar, the Saint having been called to see the miracle, said: "To confirm my faith, I need not see this miracle; for I have never doubted that Christ was substantially present in the Holy Eucharist." It is also related that he retired at least once every year, into his beloved monastery at Witham, and remained there a few days, in order to renew his spiritual life. During this time he conformed in everything to the regulations of the cloister.

At last, in the year 1200, on the 17th of November, God called His faithful servant, by a happy death, to receive the reward prepared for him in heaven. A severe sickness informed the holy man of his approaching end, and he joyfully hailed the message. After receiving the Holy Sacrament, he foretold the many calamities which would befall the country. The priests who were present recited aloud the office of Compline, and when they came to the words of St. Simeon: "O Lord, now let thy servant depart in peace," the holy bishop, who was lying upon sackcloth strewn with ashes, gave his soul to the Almighty, in the 60th year of his age.

St.Theodore was offered time to consider if he would renounce the true faith or suffer the most cruel torments. But he desired no time for consideration as he had long before determined rather to endure anything than abandon his faith. Oh, how valuable a lesson this is for those who are tempted to sin either by Satan or by men. Many vacillate for some time as if not knowing what to do. They would like to consent on account of temporal gain; but are restrained on the other hand by the fear of hell. Sometimes they seem unwilling to consent, and at other moments they laugh and jest with those who entice them to do evil; they calculate the chances of the temptations and play with them. How horrible a way of acting! Does it then require time to consider whether we ought to obey God or the devil? whether we shall prefer a momentary pleasure to the eternal joys of Heaven? Oh shame! A true Christian will not long vacillate, or require time to consider. This itself is wrong and leads to greater evil. Armed with strength and heroism, we ought to determine immediately, like St. Theodore not to offend the Almighty. We should say without any hesitation to the evil spirit or to any one sent by him to tempt us : "Depart Satan; I will not offend the Lord!" If we negotiate with Satan, and lend him our ear, we are near falling. If Eve, our unhappy mother, had repulsed the serpent and not held with him a long conversation, she would not have fallen. St. Theodore acted wisely and followed Eleazar, of whom Holy Writ relates that, menaced with death if he would not eat what was forbidden by the divine law, he did not consider long, but immediately replied, that he would rather die, (II Macc. vi.) Therefore we must, without any hesitation, rather die than sin and offend God.

The thought of the presence of God was one of the most efficacious means which St. Hugh employed to conquer the temptations of Satan. Use the same and you will experience its strength. "Thinking of God, we forget vice," says St. Chrysostom. "He who thinks of God, is far from all sin," writes St. Jerome. It is an article of faith, that God is omniscient, that He sees, hears and knows everything. The Evil Spirit seeks to rob us of this important truth to entice us to sin. If he has once brought us so far that we believe that God sees us not, or knows nothing of us, he has gained everything. St. Augustine says: "Man falls easily into the most abominable vices, when he imagines that God does not see him or does not care for what is done on earth." God Himself tells the cause of many crimes of the Israelites in the following words: "The Lord seeth us not: the Lord hath forsaken the earth."(Ezechiel, viii.) In the book of the Wise Man it is written that the wicked says to himself: "Who seeth me? Darkness compasseth me about, and no man seeth me: whom do I fear? The Most High will not remember my sin." (Eccl. xxiii.) If then forgetfulness of the presence of God leads to vice, the thought of the ever watchful eyes of the Almighty must have great power in restraining us from sin. Hence I recommend to you, especially when you are tempted, or are in danger of sin, to think: "God sees me, though no man sees me. How dare I sin in His presence? God hears what I say; God sees what I do; God knows what I think; how dare I therefore speak, think, or do anything displeasing to Him?" Think of the words of the Wise Man: "The eyes of the Lord are far brighter then the sun, beholding round about all the ways of men, and the bottom of the deep, and looking into the hearts of men, into the most secret parts. (Eccl. xxiii.)

The Painting of the Martyrdom of St. Theodore was provided without endorsement courtesy of Giovanni Dall'Orto via Wiki Commons





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