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Saint Helena. "It was the pious boast of the city of Colchester, England, for many ages, that St. Helena was born within its walls; and though this honour has been disputed, it is certain that she was …More
Saint Helena.
"It was the pious boast of the city of Colchester, England, for many ages, that St. Helena was born within its walls; and though this honour has been disputed, it is certain that she was a British princess. She embraced Christianity late in life; but her incomparable faith and piety greatly influenced her son Constantine, the first Christian emperor, and served to kindle a holy zeal in the hearts of the Roman people. Forgetful of her high dignity, she delighted to assist at the Divine Office amid the poor; and by her alms-deeds showed herself a mother to the indigent and distressed. In her eightieth year she made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, with the ardent desire of discovering the cross on which our blessed Redeemer suffered. After many labours, three crosses were found on Mount Calvary, together with the nails and the inscription recorded by the Evangelists. It still remained to identify the true cross of Our Lord. By the advice of the bishop, Macarius, the three were …More