Sarona, WI
We came across this little country church on our trip to Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary with the grandsons last month. So who was St. Catherine of Alexandria?
Catherine was born in 287 AD and (according to Wikipedia,) "according to tradition, a Christian saint and virgin, who was martyred in the early 4th century at the hands of the pagan emperor Maxentius. According to her hagiography, she was both a princess and a noted scholar who became a Christian around the age of 14, converted hundreds of people to Christianity, and was martyred around the age of 18." St. Catherine is venerated in the Coptic Orthodox Church, Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodoxy, Eastern Catholic Churches, Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, and Lutheranism.
About five years ago I found a .pdf of Early Christian Prayers for my Kindle, edited by A. Hamman and translated by Walter Mitchell. Although it's a digital copy of poorly printed pages, it is a treasure,(and readable, for your brain will fill in the letters that are missing), with prayers recorded in Scripture, such as The Lord's Prayer, the prayer of St. Stephen, prayers in the Epistles, the book of Revelation, from early Christians such as Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Irenaeus of Lyon, etc. Prayers of the martyrs, such as Polycarp of Smyrna, Simeon and the Persian martyrs, etc. It's about 300 pages, very informative, inspiring,... and humbling.
I think it's the same book that is now on Amazon:
If you're interested, you can follow this link: EARLY CHRISTIAN PRAYERS
Thinking of these early Christians and all who remained faithful to Christ and have gone before us, reminds me of the verses in Hebrews 12:1-3:
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,
and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking
to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart."
Lord have mercy.
Have a blessed Lord's Day,
