November 24: Saints Flora and Mary of Cordoba

Today, November 24, we celebrate the feast day of Saints Flora and Mary of Cordoba (died 851),Virgin Martyrs of the Church. Both Flora and Mary lived at a time when Christians were actively persecuted in Muslim lands. Despite this danger, both young women held firm to their Christianity, led courageous lives, and ultimately were beheaded for their faith.


Saint Flora was the product of a religiously mixed marriage, which was rather uncommon at that time. Her mother, a Christian from the village of Ausianos (west of Cordoba), married a Muslim from Seville. Her father died while Flora was quite young, and therefore, her mother raised her in pious Christianity. The laws at that time, however, prohibited children of mixed marriages to be raised anything but Muslim, and Flora and her mother prayed and maintained their faith in secret. Such were the times that they even were forced to keep Flora’s Christian faith a secret from her older brother!

The strain and tension in the family home of maintaining such a secret grew too great for Flora. More and more she was called to live her faith visibly, and in service to the Lord, both preach and minister to the poor. She eventually decided to run away from home to protect herself from her brother, accompanied by her sister. Her brother, however, by then an influential member of the Cordoba Muslim community, sought her return home, and began putting pressure (via persecution) on the fledgling Christian community. Obediently, Flora returned home, but refused to recant her faith. His pleading and threats fell on deaf ears, and she maintained her ardent love for Christ. Unsuccessful, her brother turned her over to the authorities.

Flora was charged with apostasy—that is, recanting the Muslim faith and converting o Christianity. Despite her defense that she had been a Christian from birth and was therefore innocent of the charges, Flora was sentenced to a severe whipping, beaten on the head till in some parts her scull was bare, and placed on probation in her brother's custody. As soon as she regained her strength, however, she fled again, this time taking refuge at the Christian household of Saint Mary, before leaving town together.

Saint Mary was born into a mixed marriage as well. Her father was a Christian landowner, and her mother, a Muslim woman who had converted to the Christian faith. Because of her mother’s apostasy, the family had been forced to flee their home, and came to live in a village near Cordoba. The strain of the move led to her mother’s death, and her father decided to live a life of solitude and penitence. Saint Mary’s brother, named Walabonsus, was sent to study at the local monastery of Saint Felix, and she was sent to the convent in Cuteclara. Upon ordination, Mary’s brother was appointed one of the convent’s priests, and the pair was reunited in the joy of Christ. However, not long afterwards, Walabonsus was martyred for refusing to practice Islam and recant his Christian beliefs.

Mary was deeply moved by her brother’s faith and subsequent martyrdom, and yearned to follow in his footsteps. She began actively preaching and practicing her faith, traveling to the church of Saint Acisclus each day to pray for guidance. It was in that church that she met Saint Flora.

After the events of Flora’s life forced her to flee, the two lived in exile for a brief period. However, the witness of Mary’s brother was a constant reminder to them, and the two returned to Cordoba to state their faith and suffer whatever consequences might follow. They were immediately imprisoned by the Muslim magistrate. While in prison, they had communion with Saint Eulogius, already imprisoned, who later wrote a remarkable record of the Christian martyrs of those times (before his own martyrdom). Shortly before the two were removed from prison, Saint Eulogius wrote:

“Flora seemed to me an angel. A heavenly light surrounded her; her face lightened with happiness; she seemed already to be tasting the joys of the heavenly home… strengthened by her speech, I returned less sad to my somber cell.”

Saints Flora and Mary were placed in a brothel, but refused to participate in the licentious activities that took place, maintaining their purity in the eyes of the Lord, praying, and witnessing to those present. Eventually, they were sentenced to execution by beheading, but a few days later, through their intercession, the other Christians who were still in prison in Cordova were released.

Like yesterday's martyr, Blessed Miguel Augustin Pro, Saints Flora and Mary of Cordoba demonstrated unwavering faith, courage, and sacrifice for our Lord. We are reminded that throughout the history of the Church, the faith has been spread and strengthened through the blood and pain of our holy Catholic martyrs. We pray today for the strength and courage to live our lives in faith—visible for all.

Prayer for Courage

Dear God, give me courage,
for perhaps I lack it more than anything else.


I need courage before men against their threats
and against their seductions.


I need courage to bear unkindness,
mockery, contradiction.


I need courage to fight against the devil,
against terrors and troubles, temptations,
attractions, darkness and false lights,
against tears, depression, and above all fear.

I need Your help, dear God.


Strengthen me with Your love and Your grace.


Console me with Your blessed Presence
and grant me the courage to persevere
until I am with You forever in heaven.
Amen.


Year 2: Day 327 of 365
Prayer Intentions: Courage of our convictions; Lives built on strong faith.
Requested Intentions: Blessings on overseas employment (M); Healing of mother (L); Successful employment for husband (G); Successful employment, personal fulfillment (C); Health and recovery of ill sister (A);  Resolution of legal issues; Grace and protection (E); Successful and meaningful employment (S); Restoration of a marriage (A); Peace and tolerance in a family, support for those with Parkinson’s Disease (M); For the restoration of a daughter’s marriage, end to debt (S); Employment and continued strength (K); Successful examinations for a son (J); Employment and blessings of a child (S); Employment and financial security (F); Successful work placement, continued health (A); Grace and healing for a family (P); Healing of a father (M); Academic success for son, employment for husband and brother (B); Freedom from anxiety and panic attacks (R); Health and healing in preparation for surgery (C); Healing of a chronic illness (P); Safety of a family during storms (A); Successful home ownership (P); Healing of a marriage (M); Employment for a husband, blessings for a marriage (E); Successful examinations for a daughter, healing of a relationships (V).