February 9

A holy virgin, Apollonia, lived in Alexandria, Egypt, in the third

century. Christians were being persecuted there during the reign of

Emperor Philip. Apollonia had spent her whole life serving God. Now that

she was growing old, she was not about to take time to rest. She bravely

risked her life to comfort suffering Christians in prison. "Remember that

your trials will not last long," she would say. "But the joys of heaven

will last forever."

It was just a matter of time until Apollonia, too, was captured. When

the judge asked her name, she courageously said, "I am a Christian and I

love to serve the true God."

Angry people tortured Apollonia, trying to force her to give up her

faith. First, all her teeth were smashed and then knocked out. Strangely

enough, that is why people frequently pray to St. Apollonia when they have

a toothache. But even this painful ordeal did not shake the woman's

faith. Apollonia was then told that if she did not deny Jesus, she would

be thrown into a raging fire. The woman would not let her fear overcome

her. She chose to die by fire rather than abandon her faith in Jesus.

When the pagans saw how heroic she was, many were converted. Apollonia

died around 249.

The martyrs greatly desired to shed their blood for Jesus. And what are

we willing to do for him? Are we strong enough to stand a little

inconvenience without pouting or complaining?