St Thecla First Female Martyr St Thecla First
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St. Thecla First Female Martyr
St. Thecla – First Female Martyr • 1 st 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. Thecla – First 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 • 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 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 express Love & Thankfulness 4. Prayer is a True Help to us all
We PRAY because. . . Our Lord Jesus taught us to Pray! 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)
St. Thecla – First Female Martyr 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 sweetsmelling aroma. ” Ephesians 5: 2 This Week … • Pray before dinner using all verses • Ask for the intercession of St. Thecla Memorizing “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