Holy and Great Martyr Menas

Today, 11/11, is the feast day of the Holy Martyr Menas. St. Menas has been a great help to our family many times, especially when we have been in great need, and he holds a very special place in our hearts. Among many other wonders he is known as a finder of lost things. So I will tell you a little story of how he was a helper to Evelyn.

Evelyn had lost a public library book and we only discovered this loss very near the time that the book was due. She thought she had lost it at school but it was going to be school break for a week's vacation in only two days! She had looked for the lost book for the whole week herself and couldn't find it anywhere where it should be. Finally she told me about her missing book. I called the school office to let them know we were missing a book, which was about all I could do. On the final day before the break Evelyn was really distraught over the lost book so I told her to say a little prayer at school to St. Menas since he has been a great help to us in the past.

When she got off the school bus after school that day she was really happy. She had the missing book! She told me she prayed to St. Menas to ask him for his help and not 10 minutes later, in walked the school librarian with her book! The librarian had found the public library book shelved away on the school library shelves and immediately brought the book to Evelyn in her classroom! So Evelyn got the book back, we escaped having a fine for a lost book, and Evelyn saw first hand the swift help of our divine intercessor!

{On a side note I have found more than once now that in teaching our children about the saints we should not forget that the saints themselves will help in our children's education. }

With great valor of soul, you did strive in martyrdom, and having fought the good fight, O divine Great Martyr Menas, from Heaven you have recieved the gifts of miracles; for God has shown You to the world as a worker of great signs, and He made you our protector and a swift help in afflictions and ever-vigilant defense from all harm.

Holy Martyr Menas, pray to God for us!