Saint Pelagia |
History
Pelagia (also called Margaret) was
an actress who lived in Antioch. She was beautiful, rich and careless about the
way she lived. But one day, she was traveling through town and passed Saint Nonnus, a bishop. He commented on how pretty she was, and maybe that’s why she
decided to go hear him preach the next day, even though she never went to
church. Everything he said went straight to her heart, and she asked him to
baptize her immediately. Then Pelagia gave Nonnus all her money to help the
poor. Not only did she give up her wealth, she gave up her beauty. She left
Antioch dressed as a man and went to live in a cave in Jerusalem, where she
prayerfully did penance for all the sins she had committed in her life. People
called her “the beardless monk” and nobody knew she was a woman until she died.
Activity
Saint Nonnus taught Pelagia how
serious her sins were – and how precious the gift of salvation from Jesus is.
She responded with sincere contrition – she was sad about her sins and she gave
up everything for Jesus to thank Him for dying for her sin. Today, take a few
moments to think about your own sins and pray an Act of Contrition to the Lord.
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