St. Eudocia, Penitent and Martyr (c. 110 A.D.)
Eudocia was a very beautiful and rich Samaritan woman, always decked in rich cloth and fine jewels. Some people even called her the most beautiful woman of her times. She led a care-free, sinful life in her wealthy mansion in Syria. She amassed a considerable fortune by being a woman of ill-repute.
FEAR OF HELL
One night she awoke to hear somebody singing nearby outside. She did not realize the holy psalter was being chanted. Then the same melodious voice began to read from a book on the Dread Judgment, explaining how sinners go to hell and saints to Heaven. The voice provided graphic details regarding the eternal and infinite pains of hell as well as the sublime joys and glories of Heaven. Eudocia was so frightened that she might go to hell that she could not sleep for the rest of the night. The following morning she learned that the voice had belonged to a desert monk, named Germanus, who had been her neighbor's guest. Eudocia begged the holy man to tell her more. When she began to cry and lament her terrible sins, he gently consoled her and told her not to be discouraged. Despair is only a further tool of the devil. Instead, she must convert, do penance, try to live a good life, and learn about the true Faith.
BAPTISM AND SANCTITY
Eudocia enrolled herself among the catechumens and learned all she could about the holy Catholic religion. Filled with zeal and piety, she was soon baptized by the local bishop. She then freed all the slaves in her household and encouraged them each to embrace the Catholic faith. Eudocia then gave all her money, jewels, beautiful home and rich clothes away. She gave the proceeds to the Catholic Church, to be distributed among the poor. Thereafter, she went to live alone with Jesus near Heliopolis in Egypt. There she prayed, practiced virtue, fasted, held night-long vigils, and did much penance for her many sins. She was so dedicated to the monastic life that after thirteen months, she was elected abbess. She lived in the monastery for fifty-six years and was a model of sanctity. God favored her so much, that St. Eudocia even raised someone from the dead.
Her life ended with the crown of martyrdom during Emperor Trajan's persecution.
REFLECTION
St. Eudocia is a wonderful example of how a vessel of impurity can be purified, transformed and filled by the grace of the Holy Ghost with the precious fragrance of Heaven.When we make the resolution to become better, the devil tries to break this resolve. Let us never listen to him. Instead, we must pray and go to Confession and Holy Communion often. Then we will be strong enough to overcome every temptation.
Story provided by Gianna Rodríguez. Source: Saints For Young People by the Daughters of St. Paul (St. Paul editions, Boston, 1963).