JANUARY 9 - ST. JULIAN AND ST. BASILISSA
St. Julian and St. Basilissa lived in the latter part of the third century. They were husband and wife who took vows of chastity when they got married.
Their love for their Catholic faith led them to do something heroic: they turned their home into a hospital that could house up to 1000 sick people. This way, they could take care of the sick and the poor who had no one to help them.
St. Julian took care of the men, and St. Basilissa cared for the women. The couple found Jesus in the people they served. And they did what they did because of love, not for money or any kind of reward.
St. Basilissa died after suffering great persecutions for the faith. Julian lived much longer. He continued his generous service to sick people even after Basilissa had died. In the year 302, Julian too died a martyr in the persecutions of Emperor Diocletian.
Basilissa and Julian spent their whole lives helping others and serving God. They planted the seed of faith by living in a holy way. They watered that faith and made it grow with the blood they finally shed by giving their lives for Jesus crucified.