December 22: Saint Flavian
All we know is that he is father of Saint Bibiana, who suffered under the same persecution his daughter did. He was sent into slavery, where he died of the privations. Notice that a father who died a martyr had the blessing of being joined in heaven by his daughter who suffered the same blessed fate. Sainthood is hereditary in many circumstances. Saintly parents often raise saintly children. Likewise it is rare for a sinful parent to raise a saintly child, although the fact that our parents are terrible sinners gives us no excuse for not becoming a saint in spite of their bad example. PRAYER: Saint Flavian, help all fathers to have the same inheritance you did, which can only be done by becoming saints themselves. Amen.
