SAINT ANYSIA (?-304), virgin and martyr
Today, the Church honors Saint Anysia. Not much is written about her, who is also known as Anysia of Salonika.
She was born to a wealthy and pious Christian family in Thessaloniki. She dedicated herself to vows of chastity and poverty, praying and helping the poor.
The legend of her martyrdom states that in the year 304, a Roman soldier apprehended her as she was on her way to Mass. Discovering she was a Christian, he beat her and intended to drag her to a pagan temple to sacrifice to Roman gods. When he tore off her veil (a reminder of her vow of chastity), she struggled against him and he killed her with a sword.
We commemorate her feastday on December 30.
(From catholicnewsagency.com, catholic.org/saints)
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PRAYER
(The following prayer is from the Roman Breviary from the Commons for a Virgin Martyr)
“God our Father, You give us joy each year in honoring the memory of Saint Anysia. May her prayers be a source of help for us, and may her example of courage and chastity be our inspiration.
“Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
