St. Pelagia
Pelagia, more often called Margaret, on account of the magnificence of the pearls for which she had so often sold herself, was an actress of Antioch, equally celebrated for her beauty, her wealth and the disorder ofher life. During a synod at Antioch, she passed Bishop St. Nonnus of Edessa, who was struck with her beauty; the next day she went to hear him preach and was so moved by his sermon that she asked him to baptize her which he did. She gave her wealth to Nonnus to aid the poor and left Antioch dressed in men's clothing. She became a hermitess in a cave on Mount of Olivette in Jerusalem, where she lived in great austerity, performing penances and known as "the beardless monk" until her sex was discovered at her death. Though a young girl of fifteen did exist and suffer martyrdom at Antioch in the fourth century, the story heretold is a pious fiction, which gave rise to a whole set of similar stories under different names. Her feast day is October 8th.
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St. Pelagia, please pray for me to give first preference to God, above everything else in my life.
St Pelagia pray 4 us n hlp us 2 surrender all 2 jesus despite any situation.
St. Pelagia, pray for all who aspire to be actresses. Pray too for all sick children to be healed.In today's Gospel reading we hear the parable story of the Good Samaritan, and what I was told made me think. That we are sanctified by the person we have helped, the poor, the sick and the dying whom we have supported. Help us not to ignore the opportunities You give to us, dear Jesus. Amen
This is my first time of knowing about her. I really like her courage.
what an incredible saint who underwent male-type penances 4 love of God. St. Pelagia help us to surrender all to God and serve him forever after.
St. Pelagia, there are two things about your life that made me stop and think. One is that you must have been a strikingly beautiful woman, whose beauty was admired. The other is that you were an actress and that is interesting, meaning that people would have noticed you and admired you. But you decided after your baptism by the Bishop of Antioch that you preferred a life of an anchorite or hermit. So you disguised yourself as a man and lived a life of austerity,penance and isolation. Your choice is lesson to all that living a life for Christ is the best choice we can ever make, whatever gifts we are endowed with. Pray for all beautiful women that they too can make choices for Christ. Amen.
i agree with you that st. pelagia's life sounds like a pious fiction, but if the story is a pious fiction, why is she still a saint with a feast day? i thought the questionable saints were taken off the calendar. even so, i appreciate your wonderful emails, which i read every day for inspiration.
Niccolina, why are you no longer a Catholic? Ask St. Pelagia's intercession to help you find the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE. God bless!
This is a wonderful saint for performers, and one I chose for my Confirmation back in 1995. She helped me through many times during my High School performances. Despite no longer being Catholic, she is still a saint I think about often.
i might choose st. pelagia for my confirmation saint
Very nice site!
Oh St. Pelagia,
Give us the grace to respond to grace with such courage as you did. Amen.