When he was about to die under the blows, Eleazar groaned and said: “The Lord in his holy knowledge knows full well that,
although I could have escaped death, I am not only enduring terrible pain in my body from this scourging,
but also suffering it with joy in my soul because of my devotion to him.”
This is how he died, leaving in his death a model of courage and an unforgettable example of virtue
not only for the young but for the whole nation. (2 Mc 6:18-31)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111621.cfm
The story of Eleazar gives us an example of faithfulness even to the point of death. The saints for today are like a mini-All Saints Day: Saint Gertrude (d. 1302) was a medieval Benedictine abbess, Saint Margaret (d. 1093) was queen of Scotland, and Saint Giuseppe Moscati (d. 1927), an Italian medical doctor. All three give us example of courage and virtue. Please enjoy the short film, St. Gertrude.
These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Saint Gertrude, the Great, Saint Margaret of Scotland, Saint Giuseppe Moscati, November 16
