Saint Thecla
Virgin and first woman martyr – 1st century – Feast day: 24 September
The first woman martyr, in the first century of our era, she was born in Isauria, in present-day Turkey. At Iconium (today the city of Konya), she was converted and instructed by Saint Paul during his first missionary journey.
Denounced to the magistrates as a Christian, she was condemned to die by fire, but she came out of the flames miraculously unharmed. She was then thrown to the wild beasts in the amphitheatre, but they lay down at her feet.
She was also thrown into a pit filled with all kinds of snakes, but a ball of fire consumed all the reptiles.
Finally, as a last torment, each of her feet was tied to a bull so that she would be torn apart, but the ropes broke.
The most illustrious Fathers of the Church – Saint Ambrose, Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Gregory of Nazianzus – who spoke of these wonderful events, give Saint Thecla the title of martyr because of the persecutions she suffered for her faith. She died at Seleucia, the chief city of Isauria.
The Month of Saint Thecla
Prayers for the month of September
Opening prayer, to be said every day
I honour you, Saint Thecla, first woman martyr of the Christian faith, who by the goodness of God overcame both the torments and the attractions of the world. Saint Thecla, defend us against the devil and his snares, and obtain for us mercy and eternal life. Amen. (10 times)
First day – Saint Thecla, open to grace
God allowed Saint Thecla to hear, through a window, Saint Paul praising virginity, and her heart was filled with the desire to consecrate herself to God. The greatest graces often depend on a passing moment. Woe to the one who lets that precious moment slip away!
The moment of conversion is the moment of grace, and the moment of grace does not depend on us. Often in our youth, even in the midst of the greatest distraction, Jesus Christ calls out to us: “Follow me!” To put off answering is not to wait for a better time; it may be to lose the time of grace and never find it again. O wonderful servant of Jesus Christ, true heroine of the Truth, listen kindly to those who pray to you, and help us with your powerful prayers before the throne of the divine Majesty.
Let us pray
O God, who so wonderfully set the heart of Saint Thecla on fire with love for your holy name, grant us, we pray, the grace to overcome the temptations of this world, so that we may possess you for ever. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Second day – Saint Thecla despises worldly honours
Grace touched Saint Thecla, and she obeyed Jesus Christ sincerely and in deed. Born into a distinguished family, she was about to make a brilliant marriage. She left great wealth and great prospects, whose enjoyment would soon have passed, for the goods of heaven, which she still enjoys and will enjoy for ever.
She would have been lost among the great figures of the world; instead, by despising honours, she has the outstanding honour of being the first woman martyr of the Christian faith, and her name will be blessed in this world for ever and glorious for all ages. Many people would have become great figures and great saints if they had known how to despise the spirit of the world and consecrate themselves to God. O most kind Saint Thecla, our gentle patron, look down on us from the height of heaven.
Let us pray
Lord Jesus Christ, model and reward of true humility, we beg you: as you glorified your blessed servant Saint Thecla by letting her imitate your contempt for earthly honours, help us to imitate her virtues and share in her glory. You who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.
Third day – Saint Thecla gives up her jewels
Saint Thecla sold her gold jewellery to win over the jailer so that she could see Saint Paul in his prison. For her God and for the salvation of her soul she gave up what girls of her age sought most eagerly; and because she detached her heart from the most precious earthly thing, God in return would grant her great splendour in the life of heaven.
Because the apostles left everything to follow the Saviour of the world, they became in reward the judges of the twelve tribes of Israel. O Saint Thecla, glorious martyr, vessel of purity, teacher of truth and model of holiness, obtain for us by your prayers the forgiveness of our sins and life in eternal glory with the blessed.
Let us pray
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that with a zeal worthy of you we may imitate the faith of blessed Saint Thecla, your first woman martyr, who for the spread of that same faith won the palm of martyrdom. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Fourth day – Saint Thecla listens to Saint Paul with love and faithfulness
Saint Thecla listened attentively as Saint Paul taught her the first truths of the faith. Freeing her mind and her heart from the noise of creatures, she repeated to him what the great Apostle had said on the road to Damascus:
“Lord, what do you want me to do?”
Let us remember that those who teach us do not speak on their own account: they receive it from the Church; the Church receives it from the Apostles and from the Holy Spirit, who taught the saints wonderful things and then led them to practise the most heroic virtues. Outside this way there is no salvation. O blessed Saint Thecla, bride of the spotless Lamb, by following him you received the palm of heaven.
Let us pray
Lord, grant that we may be helped by the merits of your martyr Saint Thecla, so that, proclaiming you wonderful in your servant, we may glory in your mercy in blessed eternity. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Fifth day – Saint Thecla prays devoutly
Back in her room, Saint Thecla would steep herself in the presence of God; stirred to the depths of her soul by the burning words of Saint Paul, she addressed such fervent prayers to God that, from the pagan she had been, she became a believer.
Because she prayed on her knees with devotion, modesty, attention and humility, she rose again full of courage and boldness. Should we not do the same if we want to save our souls? And so Saint Thecla, ready for the coming of the Bridegroom, went in with him to the wedding feast.
Let us pray
O God, who have deigned to give glory to the Church through the merits of the fervent prayers of blessed Saint Thecla, your martyr, grant your servants the grace to be taught by her example and delivered from all adversity by her protection. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Sixth day – Saint Thecla seeks Jesus in Saint Paul
The Pope alone is the Vicar of Jesus Christ, as supreme head of the Church and as the one placed in charge of the whole flock: the whole world is his diocese, and all the faithful, whatever their rank and dignity, are subject to him. The bishops, in the exercise of their sacred ministry and in governing their dioceses, take the place of Jesus Christ as priest, pontiff, teacher and lawgiver.
They act, Saint Paul tells us, as ambassadors for Christ, and it is God himself who appeals to the faithful through them. In the words of the same Apostle, they are God’s fellow workers. Jesus is the flower of virgins, the beloved Bridegroom of Saint Thecla, who by his burning love made her heart new.
Let us pray
Hear us, O God our Saviour, and grant that through the intercession of blessed Saint Thecla we may be fed with the bread of heavenly teaching and formed in sentiments of fervent devotion. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Seventh day – Saint Thecla keeps silence
Saint Thecla thought constantly of God’s blessings. She gave up all worldly reading; she no longer paid useless visits. News and rumours no longer occupied her, and she stayed hidden at home as much as she could, always afraid of displeasing God. Day by day she detached herself from this world, to be concerned with eternity alone. With the glorious choir of virgins and the great army of martyrs, the Church throughout the world honours you, O Saint Thecla: look kindly on us who venerate you.
Let us pray
O God, who gave Saint Thecla the grace to come to know your great Apostle, grant that, advancing in virtue by her example, we may celebrate her glory, and that in celebrating it we may grow ever more in devotion. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Eighth day – Saint Thecla submits to God’s will
Saint Paul had taught Saint Thecla that the greatest glory is to follow the Lord. And so she gave herself entirely to God, for him to do with her body and soul, in time and in eternity, as he pleased. She accepted every bodily and spiritual hardship with complete resignation and thanksgiving. She often offered to die for the glory of his holy name. Whoever passes by his merits into the joy of the angels is worthy to be remembered by all.
Let us pray
O God, who adorned blessed Saint Thecla with so ardent a love for your commandments, we ask you, through her intercession, to pour out the treasures of your mercy on all of us who call upon you. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Ninth day – Saint Thecla despises riches and loves poverty
Saint Thecla, deeply moved by the words of our holy Scriptures – that gold does not satisfy the greedy, and that whoever loves riches does not enjoy their fruit – gave up the fine position she was about to have in the world in order to consecrate herself to God. Riches are a burden to those who own them, wound those who love them and grieve those who lose them. Poverty makes us like our Lord. Saint Thecla, honour and glory of the martyrs, help us to rise to the heaven you now possess.
Let us pray
O God, who taught blessed Saint Thecla to leave the splendours of the world to follow your cross with humility and love, grant that through her intercession and example we may trample on the passing goods of this world and, clinging to your cross, overcome every obstacle to our salvation. You who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.
Tenth day – Saint Thecla, always united with Jesus
Saint Thecla knew that it is a great art to know how to converse with Jesus Christ, and great wisdom to know how to keep him in one’s heart. She was humble and peaceful, and Jesus was with her; she was so devout and peaceful that Jesus made his home in the heart of his faithful servant. And so, with Jesus, everything was good for her and seemed easy, and she lived happily even without friends. We have a great patron in heaven: let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, for she will obtain mercy for us.
Let us pray
O God, who surround and protect us through the glorious witness that Saint Thecla gave you, grant that we may walk in her footsteps and rejoice in her intercession. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
