Post on 24-Feb-2016
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St. Thecla First Female Martyr
• 1st Christian woman to suffer for our Lord Jesus Christ
• Parents were pagans (idol worshippers)
• Believed in Jesus Christ after hearing St. Paul preach
• Offered her life to Christ living in virginity (not married)
• Angry parents handed her over to city’s ruler
St. Thecla – First Female Martyr
• Thrown into fire• Big flames did not
touch her!• Our Lord Jesus sent
rain to put out fire• Her first martyrdom
St. Thecla – First Female Martyr
• St. Thecla followed St. Paul to Antioch
• Refused to marry a rich man
• Ruler of the city threw her in with wild beasts, 3 times!
• Nothing happened … the beasts licked her feet!
St. TheclaFirst Female Martyr
• The ruler tied her to 2 ox (cows)
• The Lord made the rope break
• St. Thecla was unharmed!
• Ruler asked the source of St. Thecla’s power
• “I am the servant of God”
• Powerless, the ruler set her free
St. Thecla – First Female Martyr
• Continued to preach in Maa’aloola – lived in cave
• Brought new believers to Christ, helped the poor …
• Performed many miracles - healed the sick
St. Thecla – First Female Martyr
St. Thecla – First Female Martyr
• Doctors upset when they lost all their patients!
• Tried to have St. Thecla killed
• God split rock open in mountain for escape
• Lived in the cleft until she departed
• A monastery was built
St. Thecla – First Female Martyr
1) How did St. Thecla offer herself to God?- Gave up all : rich & comfortable life, family (ungodly parents)- Suffered persecutions- Life dedicated to God: preached, help the poor, healed the
sick …
2) Why do we need to offer ourselves to God?- Because He offered Himself for us by dying on Cross
3) How can we offer ourselves to God?- By imitating Him & obey His commandments: to love, to
forgive, to give, to serve, to help the poor/sick/needy
WHY do we PRAY?
1. To Imitate the Lord Jesus (He taught us to pray)
2. Prayer is the secret to Success & Happiness
3. To expressLove & Thankfulness
4. Prayer is a True Help to us all
We PRAY because ...Our Lord Jesus taught us to Pray!
Please remember your A-B-C-D-E ...
+ Pray AFTER (school, wake-up, getting a blessing, …)
+ Pray BEFORE (starting the day, meals, any activity, bed)
+ Pray CONTINUOUSLY (all the time)
+ Pray DURING (the day – Jesus prayer)
+ Pray for EVERYONE (family, friends, those who hurt us)
Verse“And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” Ephesians 5:2
This Week …• Pray before dinner using all verses• Ask for the intercession of St. TheclaMemorizing
“which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelations to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” Luke 2: 31-32
St. Thecla – First Female Martyr