In the spirit of S. Martinæ Virginis et Martyris ~ III. classis
On this day commemorating Saint Martina, Virgin and Martyr, a noble Roman maiden who laid down her life in fidelity to Christ under Alexander Severus, the Church gives us to meditate upon a duet of Scriptures which sing together of gratitude and vigilance. The pairing of Sirach 51:1–8,12 and Matthew 25:1–13 offers a rich soil for reflection, especially in the light of Saint Martina’s steadfast witness. These readings are like the two wings by which the soul ascends—thanksgiving for God’s past mercies and readiness for His coming judgment.
I. Gratitude Rising from the Depths — Sirach 51:1–8,12
“I will give thanks unto Thee, O Lord and King, and I will praise Thee, O God my Saviour: I do give praise unto Thy Name…” (Sirach 51:1)
In these verses from Ecclesiasticus, the inspired author—traditionally identified as Jesus ben Sirach—cries out in jubilant thanksgiving to God who has rescued him from danger, especially from the slanders of enemies and the pit of destruction. He recounts how, in his distress, he called upon the Lord and was not abandoned.
Saint Ambrose, in De Officiis Ministrorum, teaches that “gratitude is the guardian of virtue,” for in remembering what God has done for us, we are strengthened to endure what lies ahead. Saint Martina, in her own torments and unjust accusations, surely echoed this prayer. Like Sirach, she called out to God in her trial—and He delivered her not from death, but through death, into eternal glory.
Saint Augustine, commenting on the Psalms, often reminds us that the soul must not forget the benefits of the Lord, lest it grow sluggish and proud. “Ingratus est qui obliviscitur,” he writes—”ungrateful is he who forgets.” The grateful remembrance in Sirach is not mere sentiment; it is a guard against despair and pride alike.
II. Wisdom That Keeps the Lamp Burning — Matthew 25:1–13
“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened to ten virgins…” (Matthew 25:1)
The Gospel parable of the ten virgins—five wise and five foolish—places before us the virtue of vigilance, a fitting accompaniment to the martyrdom we commemorate today. All ten were virgins, signifying purity, but only five brought oil with their lamps, which the Fathers have interpreted variously as charity, good works, or the interior anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Saint Jerome, in his commentary on Matthew, writes:
“The foolish virgins are those who, while they appear outwardly chaste, are inwardly empty of good works and the grace of the Holy Ghost.”
Virginity of body without the oil of wisdom is not enough. Vigilance, then, is not a passive waiting but an active preparation.
Saint Martina, as one of the wise virgins, bore the oil of fervent charity and courageous faith. She did not sleep spiritually, even when surrounded by the darkness of persecution. Her lamp was trimmed by prayer, fueled by virtue, and set alight by divine love. When the Bridegroom came—in the form of a tyrant’s sword—she was ready.
Saint Cyprian exhorts the faithful in De Exhortatione Martyrii:
“Let us not be found with extinguished lamps, sleeping in the dark, lest when the Lord comes, we be shut out from the marriage feast.”
III. A Martyr’s Response: Vigilance Rooted in Gratitude
It is no accident that the Church places these two readings together on a martyr’s feast. Gratitude is not merely a response after deliverance—it is a preparation for martyrdom. And vigilance is not fear-driven anxiety but hope-filled readiness, sustained by the memory of God’s faithfulness.
The wise virgin is not merely one who waits, but one who remembers—who stores the oil of divine mercy within her soul. The martyr does not die in sudden zeal, but out of a life steeped in grateful praise and daily vigilance.
Let us, then, imitate Saint Martina by:
- Offering daily thanks, even in tribulation, as Sirach did;
- Keeping watch with trimmed lamps, practicing virtue and vigilance;
- Embracing both purity of body and soul, adorned with the oil of charity;
- Trusting in the Bridegroom’s coming, even when it is delayed or hidden in suffering.
Prayer
O God, who among other wonders of Thy power hast granted even to the weaker sex the triumph of martyrdom: graciously grant that we who keep the birthday of blessed Martina, Thy Virgin and Martyr, may, through her example, advance in the way of salvation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.