August 18th - St. Helen By: John Mannikoikal

St. Helen was the mother of Emperor Constantine the Great and an Empress of the Roman Empire. She is believed to have come from Drepanum in Asia Minor and was born into a poor/lower-class family in Roman culture. Despite this Constantius Chlorus married Helen and she gave birth to Constantine, around the year, 274. When Constantine became emperor, he gave Helen free reign over the imperial treasury and was tasked with locating the relics of the Christian tradition. Helen found the three crosses, the nails of the crucifixion, Jesus’s tunic, and more. She died in 330 and was buried in the Mausoleum of Helen outside of Rome. St. Helen was renowned for helping communities through her works of charity.

INTERCESSORY PRAYER
Holy and blessed Saint Helen, with the anguish and devotion with which you sought the Cross of Christ, I plead that you give me God's grace to suffer in patience the labors of this life so that through them and through Your intercession and protection, I will be able to seek and carry the Cross, which God has placed upon me so that I can serve Him in this life and enjoy His Glory ever after. Amen.