June 9: Saint Pelagia, Virgin
Pelagia was fifteen and beautiful. She sent away all the men who wished to date her, because she had resolved to remain a virgin. A judge who was seized with violent passion for her, using the current persecution, attempted to have her abducted. Saint John Chrysostom tells us: Behold this tender virgin; she knew only her own maiden bedroom; suddenly soldiers break in and take her away to court. No father, no mother was with her, no servant, no nurse, no neighbor, no friend; she was alone among these bullies ... it was a miracle that she could have answered them, found strength to look at them .... He goes on to relate that she decided to fool the soldiers. She calmly asked to put on her bridal outfit. They didn't object, thinking that she would now consent to marry the judge. And then she simply walked up to the roof and jumped off. And so it was that Saint Pelagia removed her body from impure attack; thus she delivered her soul for its ascent to heaven. We should so hate lust that we would rather die than sin!
PRAYER: Saint Pelagia, help all virgins to protect their virginity and to keep it throughout life or surrender it only in holy matrimony. Amen
