Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Memorial of Saint Apollonia, Deaconess, and patron saint of dentists, and of those who suffer toothaches

The cycle of saints’ feast days invites us today to honor a woman of the Third Century who was an elderly deaconess.  She was attacked by a mob in Alexandria, Eqypt, because she was known to be a Christian, and they beat her and knocked out all her teeth – hence she is the patron of both dentists and of those with toothaches (a bit of humor on the Church’s part, perhaps?)  Apollonia then died a martyr by being burned to death.  She was extolled by Saint Augustine for her great courage and love of God.  We can profit by remembering both that Apollonia was an extraordinarily courageous woman, and one selected by the Church for Ordered (ordained) service as a deaconess.  It is a good day today to pray for your dentist.