Page:A Dictionary of Saintly Women Volume 2.djvu/247

235 ST. SUSANNA 235 St. Susanna (13), Sept. 20, V. M. c. 362. Patron of Cadiz with St. Martha (9). Susanna was daughter of Artemins, a heathen priest of Elenthe- ropolis in Palestine ; her mother was Martha, a Jewess, who was bringing her np in her own religion, but died while Susanna was quite a child. Artemius died soon afterwards, leaving two guar- dians with orders to make her, when she grew up and was married, absolute mis- tress of his property. Her parent^ some- times used to associate with a Christian priest named Silvanus. Susanna became a Christian, and at fifteen she demanded her property of her guardians. She liberated her slaves and gave aU her money to the poor. Then she took men's clothes, shaved her head and went to the monastery of St. Philip, where she told the abbot that her name was John and that she was born at CaBsarea in Palestine. He taught her the Bible and gave her much religious instruction, and she lived there unsuspected for about twenty years. A certain woman of Eleutheropolis, who was an ascetria — that is a woman living a solitary ascetic life — used to come to the monastery for religious purposes, and once she talked with Susanna and received her blessing as if she was a man. She fell in love with Susanna, and behaved to her as Potiphar's wife did to Joseph, and told every one that Brother John, on pretence of accompanying her from the monastery, had insulted her. One day she met St. Clcopas, bishop of Eleutheropolis, who said, " Why are you weeping and howl- ing?" She told him her wicked story and he bade her come back with him to the monastery. He informed the abbot of the accusation. They brought in the woman, who repeated her story. Philip, the abbot, did not believe it, for he said he had known Brother John for twenty years as a holy man. The bishop, how- ever, insisted on an investigation of the case, so Susanna was called, and the woman repeated the charge she had made. Susanna, when asked if she was guilty, threw herself at the feet of the bishop and said, '* I do not think I ever did any harm to this woman ; but if I did, I ask for pardon." The indignant bishop said, " "What arc you rolling at my feet for? Don't you know that your crime is very common and vulgar, and a disgrace not only to yourself but to the whole monastery?" Philip, much disgusted, demanded that the monk's habit should be stripped off the sinner. But she said, <* Wait a little, father, and you shall see the glory of God." Then she begged the bishop to bring two deaconesses and two virgins, for she had something to say to them that was important to all the brethren : she told the women who she was, and satisfied them that she si>oke the truth. All the monks, fearing that a great scan- dal had fallen upon their community, were impatient for the explanation. When they heard it, they wanted to stone the pretended ascetic, but Susanna persuaded them to spare her. Cleopas, however, took care to make known her real character, and as Susanna could no longer stay in the monastery, he took her and set her over some nuns in Eleu- theropolis. Here she set an example of wonderful sanctity and cured diseases by her prayers. After a long time, a wicked and cruel prefect, named Alex- ander, came to Eleutheropolis; he or- ganized a great sacrifice and ordered all to attend. When the blessed Susanna knew of it, she was troubled and prayed that all the idols might fall down that the people might see that they were the helpless work of men's hands. Her prayer was answered by a great storm of thunder and lightning, in which all the idols were shattered. The prefect sent for her, and begged to know what she meant by it. When he knew she was a Christian, he ordered her breasts to be cut off and thrown for the birds of prey to eat. His servants took her outside the house, and did as they had been ordered, but an angel restored them. They went and told Alexander and he ordered the executioners to be beheaded. On the way to execution, they prayed, '* God of Susanna, receive us also into the number of those who believe in Thee." Then Alexander had melted lead poured down her throat, but it was just like cold water to her. Ho then ordered her to give an account of her