St George - Feast Day April 23

04-23-2023Weekly Reflection© LPi

According to ancient traditions, George was a soldier under the Roman Emperor Diocletian. He was sent on expeditions to Persia and possibly Britain. In 298, when the emperor required all soldiers to worship Roman gods, George left the army. Later, Diocletian outlawed Christianity, and George confronted the emperor to plead for his fellow Christians.

It is likely that George is indeed the unidentified hero who publicly tore up the emperor’s edict against Christians. His intercession was implored especially in battles, as he is said to have been a soldier. For his defiance, George was brutally tortured and finally beheaded around the year 303.

Centuries after George’s death, the legend of George and the Dragon became quite popular. Although it is fictional, the story characterizes the real George, who valiantly fought evil.

According to the legend, a dragon was tormenting a kingdom. The dragon could only be appeased with the flesh of two lambs each day. When the kingdom had no more lambs, the king was forced to sacrifice humans. The king chose each day’s victim by lottery, and one day, the lot fell to his daughter. But George attacked the dragon and tamed it, leading the dragon around with the princess’s belt. He told the people that if they would believe in Jesus and be baptized, he would rid them of the dragon for good. Everyone agreed. George killed the dragon and 15,000 people were baptized. As a reward, George asked only that the king maintain the kingdom’s churches, honor its priests and show compassion to the poor.

At the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, King Henry V declared George the patron of England.

Faithfull servant of God and invincible martyr, St. George; favored by God with the gift of faith, and inflamed with an ardent love of Christ, thou didst fight valiantly against the dragon of pride, falsehood, and deceit. Neither pain nor torture, sword nor death could part thee from the love of Christ. Amen