Topic for February: Children
Saint to contemplate: St Philomena (291 AD- 304 AD)
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.” 1 Cor 6:19-20
Little is known about the life of St. Philomena. However, it is believed she was a Greek princess who became a virgin martyr and died at the age of 13. She was the daughter of a Greek king who converted to Christianity. When Philomena was 13-years-old, she took a vow of consecrated virginity. After her father took his family to Rome to make peace, Emperor Diocletian fell in love with Philomena. When she refused to marry him, she was subjected to torture.
St. Philomena was scourged, drowned with an anchor attached to her, and shot with arrows. Each time she was attacked angels took to her side and healed her through prayer. Finally, the Emperor had Philomena decapitated. According to the story, her death came on a Friday at three in the afternoon, the same as Jesus. Two anchors, three arrows, a palm symbol of martyrdom, and a flower were found on the tiles in her tomb, interpreted as symbols of her martyrdom. She is the patron of infants, babies, and youth.
Points to emulate:
» Safeguard the purity of children
» Fight against Abuses
» Support the Victims of sexually abused
» Help the children to offer their body to Christ
PRAYER TO SAINT PHILOMENA FOR PURITY
O most pure Virgin, glorious Martyr, St. Philomena, whom God in His eternal power has revealed to the world in these unhappy days in order to revive the faith, sustain the hope and enkindle the charity of Christian souls, behold me prostate at thy feet. Deign, O Virgin, full of goodness and kindness, to receive my humble prayers and to obtain for me that purity for which thou didst sacrifice the most alluring pleasures of the world, that strength of soul which made thee resist the most terrible attacks and that ardent love for our Lord Jesus Christ, which the most frightful torments could not extinguish in thee. So, that wearing thy holy cord and imitating thee in this life, I may one day be crowned with thee in Heaven.
Amen.
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(The Siswati version of this post can be found after the video)
This video has been prepared by the Extraordinary Missionary Year (EMY) team inviting us to pray for our children in this month of February
Sihloko sa February: Bantfwana
Saint to contemplate: Filomena Locwebile (291 AD- 304 AD)
“Anati yini kutsi umtimba wenu ulithempeli laMoya Longcwele lohlala kini, lenamemukela kuNkulunkulu, nekutsi futsi anisibo benu? Nine nibaNkulunkulu, 20natsengwa ngelinani lelikhulu. Ngako-ke mdvumiseni Nkulunkulu emitimbeni yenu.” 1 Cor 6:19-20
Kuncane lokwatiwako ngemphilo ya Filomena Locwebile. Kodvwa kukholelwa kutsi abeyinkhosatana lengum Griki lowaba yintfombi lengumfelukholo wafa aneminyaka lelishumi nakutsatfu. Abeyindvodzakati yenkhosi yemaGriki leyaphundvuka yaba ngumKhristu. Nakaneminyakale-13 wenta sifungo sebuntfombi bekutinikela. Ngemva kwekutsi uyise ahambe nemndeni wakhe eRoma kuyokwakha kuthula, umbusi Diyokletiyeni wase utsandza Filomena. Nakala kumshada wacala kulinyatwa.
Filomena Locwebile washaywa, wacwaliswa akhungelwe nensimbi, wadutjulwa ngebutjoki. Njalo nakahlaselwa tingelosi betisondzela kuye timphilise ngemthandazo. Ekugcineni, umbusi watsi Filomena akancunywe. Ngekusho kwendzaba kufa kwakhe kwaba ngalesihlanu ngensimbi yesitsatfu ntsambama, njengekwaJesu. Tinsimbi letimbili, butjoki lobutsatfu, nelisundvu leliluphawu lwebufelukholo kanye nembali kwatfolakala esiyilweni sililiba lakhe, lokwahunyushwa njengetimphawu tebufelukholo bakhe. Usibondza setinswane, bantfwana nalabasha.
Emaphuzu ekulingisela:
→ Kuvikela bumsulwa bebantfwana noma labasha.
→ Kulwa nekuhlukubetwa.
→ Kweseka labo labahlukubetwe ngetelicansi.
→ kusita bantfwana kutsi banikele imitimba yabo kuKhristu.
Umthadazo ku Filomena Locwebile
E Ntfombi lemsulwa kakhulu, mfelukholo lodvumisekako, Filomena Locwebile, lokutsite Nkulunkulu ngemandla akhe langapheli wakuveta emhlabeni kuletinsuku letinga nanjabulo kute kuvuseleleke lukholo, simamisa kwetsemba uvutsele lutsandvo lemiphefumulo yemaKhristu, ngibuke mine ngitendlale etinyaweni takho.
Vuma, wena Ntfombi, legcwele buhle nekulunga, kwemukela imithandazo yami letfobile ungitfolele lobo bumsulwa lowadzela ngenca yabo bonkhe bumnandzi lobukhangako baseveni, lawomandla emphefumulo lenta wena wamelela kuhlaselwa lokumatima kakhulu nalolotsandvo loluvutsako lweNkhosi yetfu Jesu Khristu, lokwatsi ngisho nekulinywatwa lokwesabekako kwangalucimi kuwe. Kuto kutsi nangembetse intsambo yakho. Lengcwele ngikulingisa kulenamphilo, ngite ngalelinye lilanga ngicheliswe kanye nawe eZulwini. Amen.