St. Peter Damian

SAINT PETER DAMIAN
Cardinal/ Bishop
(988-1072)

St. Peter Damian, born in 988, lost both his parents at an early age. His eldest brother, to whose hands he was left, treated him so cruelly that another brother, a priest, moved by his piteous state, sent him to the University of Parma, where he acquired great distinction. His studies were sanctified by vigils, fasts, and prayers, until at last, thinking that all this was only serving God halfway, he resolved to leave the world. He joined the monks of Fonte Avellano, then in the greatest repute, and by his wisdom and sanctity rose to be Superior.



St. Peter was called upon for the most delicate and difficult missions, among others the reform of ecclesiastical communities, which his zeal accomplished. Seven Popes in succession made him their constant adviser, and he was finally created Cardinal Bishop of Ostia. He withstood Henry IV of Germany, and labored in defense of Pope Alexander II against an antipope, whom he forced to yield and seek pardon. He was charged, as papal legate, with the repression of simony and correction of scandals; again, was commissioned to settle discords amongst various bishops; and finally, in 1072, to adjust the affairs of the Church at Ravenna. He had never paid attention to his health, which was at best fragile, and after enduring violent onslaughts of fever during the night, would rise to hear confessions, preach, or sing solemn Masses, always ready to sacrifice his well-being and life for the salvation of the souls entrusted to him.

Peter was instrumental in propagating many devout practices; among these may be mentioned, fasting on Fridays in honor of the Holy Cross; the reciting of the Little Office of our Lady; and the keeping the Saturday as a day especially devoted to Mary.

After succeeding in this final mission as he ordinarily did, on his journey back to Ostia he was laid low by fever; he died at Faenza, on February 23, in a monastery of his Order, on the eighth day of his sickness, while the monks chanted Matins around him. His relics are kept in the Cisterian Church in Faenza, and is the Patron Saint of it too.

Not only is he called a 'Confessor' and Bishop, but Pope Leo XII added to his name the title of Doctor of the Church. A quote from this Saint: "It is not sinners, but the wicked who should despair; it is not the magnitude of one's crime, but contempt of God that dashes ones hopes."



Following is what was happening in the Church during his time (Homosexuality?):

In an open letter to Pope Leo IX, St. Peter Damian tells bishops if they’re complacent about correcting their sodomite clerics under their authority then they’ll be complicit in their sins of impurity.

In his zealous letter penned in 1049, famously titled The Book of Gomorrah, St. Peter Damian admonishes bishops to stamp out the “epidemic of sodomy among the priests of Italy,” which was part of a “plague of sexual perversion” and a “larger crisis of moral laxity in the priesthood” of his time.

In his letter, St. Peter decried the silent bishops who failed to take action against clerics immersed in the grievous moral perversion of sodomy:

Listen, you do-nothing superiors of clerics and priests. Listen, and even though you feel sure of yourselves, tremble at the thought that you are partners in the guilt of others; those, I mean, who wink at the sins of their subjects that need correction and who by ill-considered silence allow them license to sin. Listen, I say, and be shrewd enough to understand that all of you alike are deserving of death, that is, not only those who do such things, but also they who approve those who practice them.

For his part, Pope Leo IX received St. Peter’s letter well and reinforced it by urging bishops to take action. The Holy Father responded:

'So, let it be certain and evident to all that we are in agreement with everything your book contains, opposed as it is like water to the fire of the devil. … Therefore, lest the wantonness of this foul impurity be allowed to spread unpunished, it must be repelled by proper repressive action of apostolic severity.'

The Roman Pontiff affirmed that silent shepherds do indeed share in the guilt of those in their charge, whom they fail to correct. “For he who does not attack vice, but deals with it lightly, is rightly judged to be guilty of his death, along with the one who dies in sin,” said Leo IX.

St. Peter's Chair at Rome

Today we honor the fact that the first Pope, Peter, actually was in Rome and set the city up as the center of the new Religion; the one set up by Christ Himself.  Some say that he was never there, or that Paul should have been the first pope (even though he came years later);  I call them IDIOTS!

St. Peter's Chair at Rome

 from The Liturgical Year, 1904

We are in that season of the ecclesiastical year, which is devoted to honouring the Incarnation and Birth of the Son of God, and the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin: it behoves us to remember, especially on this present Feast, that it is to the See of Peter that we owe the preservation of these dogmas, which are the very basis of our holy religion. Rome not only taught them to us when she sent us the saintly missioners who evangelised our country; but, moreover, when heresy attempted to throw its mists and clouds over these high Mysteries, it was Rome that secured the triumph to truth, by her sovereign decision. At Ephesus--when Nestorius was condemned, and the dogma, which he assailed, was solemnly proclaimed, that is, that the Divine Nature and the Human Nature, which are in Christ, make but one Person, and that Mary is consequently, the true Mother of God--the two hundred Fathers of that General Council thus spoke:--"Compelled by the Letters of our Most Holy Father Celestine, Bishop of the Roman Church, we have proceeded, in spite of our tears, to the condemnation of Nestorius." At Chalcedon--where the Church had to proclaim, against Eutyches, the distinction of the two Natures in the Incarnate Word, God and Man--the six hundred and thirty Fathers, after hearing the Letter of the Roman Pontiff, gave their decision, and said: "Peter has spoken by the mouth of Leo."

Here, then, is the privilege of Rome: to watch by Faith, over the eternal interests of mankind, as she watched previously, for long ages, and by the sword, over the temporal interests of the then known world. Let us love and reverence this City, our Mother and our Guide. Today we are called upon to celebrate her praise; let us do so with filial affection.

Sermon from St. Leo on the Feast Day of St. Peters Chair in Rome:

When the twelve holy Apostles had received from the Holy Ghost the power to speak all languages, they divided the regions of the earth among themselves as fields for their Gospel labors. Then was Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, sent to the capital city of the Roman Empire, that he might make the light to shine from the head to the whole body of the civilized nations. At that time what nation was there that had no representative in Rome? What nations would be ignorant of what Rome had learned?

Here were to be refuted the theories of philosophers, here dissolved the vanities of earthly wisdom, here overthrown the worship of devils, here destroyed the impiety of every sacrilege; here, where superstitious zeal had collected all the error and vanity of the world. Therefore to this city, O most blessed Peter thou dost not fear to come, and while thy companion in glory, the Apostle Paul, is still occupied with the government of other churches, thou dost enter this forest of savage beasts, this deep and turbulent ocean, with more boldness than when thou didst walk upon the water.

Thou hadst already taught those of the circumcision who had been converted; thou hadst founded the Church of Antioch, the first that bore the noble name of Christian; thou hadst published the law of the Gospel throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia; and thou didst not fear for the difficulty of thy work, nor turn back because of thine old age, but didst boldly set up the trophy of the cross of Christ upon those Roman walls, where the Providence of God had appointed the throne of thine honor, and the glorious scene of thy passion.


(Roman Breviary)





St. Peter's Chair at Antioch by Fr. Prosper Louis P. Gueranger

We are called upon, a second time, to honour St. Peter's Chair: first, it was his Pontificate in Rome; today, it is his Episcopate at Antioch. The seven years spent by the Prince of the Apostles in the second of these cities, were the grandest glory she ever had; and they are too important a portion of the life of St. Peter to be passed by without being noticed in the Christian Cycle.

Three years had elapsed since our Lord's Ascension. The Church had already been made fruitful by martyrdom, and from Jerusalem she had spread into distant countries. Antioch, the first of the cities of Asia, had received the Gospel; and it was there, that they who professed the faith of Jesus were first called "Christians." Jerusalem was doomed to destruction for her having not only refused to acknowledge, but also for her having crucified, the Messias: it was time for Peter, in whom resided the supreme power, to deprive the faithless City of the honour she had heretofore enjoyed, of possessing within her walls the Chair of the Apostolate. It was towards the Gentiles that the Holy Spirit drove those Clouds, which were shown to Isaias as the symbol of the holy Apostles.(Is. lx. 8.) Accordingly, it was in Antioch, the third Capital of the Roman Empire, that Peter first places the august Throne, on which, as Vice-gerent of Christ, he presides over the Church,--that new family, of which all nations are invited to become members.

But the progress of the Apostles was so rapid; the conquests they made, in spite of every opposition, were so extensive,--that the Vicar of Christ was inspired to leave Antioch, after he had honoured it with the Chair during the space of seven years. Alexandria, the second City of the Empire, is also to be made a See of Peter; and Rome, the Capital of the world, awaits the grand privilege, for which God had long been preparing her. Onwards, then, does the Prince advance, bearing with him the destinies of the Church; where he fixes his last abode, and where he dies, there will he have his Successor in his sublime dignity of Vicar of Christ. He leaves Antioch, making one of his disciples, Evodius, its Bishop. Evodius succeeds Peter as Bishop of Antioch; but that See is not to inherit the Headship of the Church, which goes whithersoever Peter goes. He sends Mark, another of his disciples, to take possession, in his name, of Alexandria; and this Church he would have he the second in the world, and though he has not ruled it in person, he raises it above that of Antioch. This done, he goes to Rome, where he permanently establishes that Chair, on which he will live, and teach, and rule, in his Successors, to the end of time.

And here we have the origin of the three great Patriarchal Sees, which were the object of so much veneration in the early ages:--the first, is Rome, which is invested with all the prerogatives of the Prince of the Apostles, which, when dying, he transmitted to her; the second, is Alexandria, which owes her pre-eminence to Peter's adopting her as his second See; the third, is Antioch, whither he repaired in person, when he left Jerusalem to bring to the Gentiles the grace of adoption. If, therefore, Antioch is below Alexandria in rank, Alexandria never enjoyed the honour granted to Antioch,--of having been governed, in person, by him whom Christ appointed to be the supreme Pastor of His Church. Nothing, then, could be more just, than that Antioch should be honoured, in that she has had the privilege of having been, for seven years, the centre of Christendom; and this is the object of today's Feast.

The Children of the Church have a right to feel a special interest in every solemnity that is kept in memory of St. Peter. The Father's Feast is a Feast for the whole family; for to him it owes its very life. If there be but one fold, it is because there is but one Shepherd. Let us, then, honour Peter's divine prerogative, to which Christianity owes its preservation; and let us often reflect upon the obligations we are under to the Apostolic See. On the Feast of the Chair at Rome, we saw how Faith is taught, and maintained, and propagated by the Mother-Church, which has inherited the promises made to Peter. Today, let us consider the Apostolic See as the sole source of the legitimate Power, whereby mankind is ruled and governed in all that concerns eternal salvation.

Our Saviour said to Peter: "To thee will I give the Keys of the Kingdom of heaven" that is to say, of the Church. He said to him, on another occasion: "Feed my lambs, feed my sheep." So that, Peter is Prince; for, in the language of the sacred Scriptures, Keys denote princely power: he is also Pastor, and universal Pastor; for the whole flock is comprised under the two terms, Lambs and Sheep.






Hymn to the Prince of the Apostles by St. Peter Damian

O Prince of the Apostolic Senate! Herald of our Lord! First Pastor of the Faithful! watch over the Flock intrusted to thee.

Lead us through verdant pastures, feeding us with the nourishment of the Word; and lead us, thus fed, into the heavenly fold, whither thou hast already gone.

To thee, Peter, have been delivered the Keys of heaven's gate; and all things, both in heaven and on earth, acknowledge thy authority.

Tis thou that choosest the city where is to be established the rock of the true faith, the foundation of the building, on which the Catholic Church stands immoveable.

Thy shadow, as thou passest by, heals the sick; and Tabitha, that made garments for the poor, was raised to life at thy bidding.

Bound with two chains, thou wast set free by an Angel's power; he bids thee put on thy garments and thy sandals, and lo! the prison door is opened.

To the Father unbegotten, and to the Only-Begotten Son, and to the co-equal Spirit of them both, be praise and kingly highest power. Amen.

 

 

LENT, a time for discipline

Seeing how that the penitential season is upon us again (according to the Traditional calendar), it's time for really contemplating our life.  Following is something I found years ago, concerning our disposition during the season of Lent. Kind of makes you think:

LENT…a time for discipline

By Fr. Raymond Zweber
(Taken from the St. Augustine bulletin)

A Christian is a follower of Christ. Christ left
no doubt as to the one absolute condition required
of His followers: “If anyone wants to be a follower
of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his
cross every day and follow me.”

During Lent, we renew our commitment to Christ:
to follow Him more closely. We renounce ourselves
and take up our cross and walk in His footsteps.

What makes up that cross? Immediately we
think of sickness, misfortunes of all kinds, the
burdens of work, bearing with one anothers'
faults, the heat of summer, the cold of winter, etc.

But seldom do we think of the most obvious crosses
which arise from our human nature weakened by
original sin:

There is the weakness of covetousness which is
greed. “I want more and I want it now.”

There is the weakness of lust, which is difficultly
in ordering my sexuality as God intended and to
practice the virtue of chastity.

There is the weakness of pride, that seeks to
dominate; that fails to be considerate of others;
that exalts self above all others.

There is the weakness of envy, which brings
sadness at the good fortune of others and
jealousy that sees a threat to my own excellence
in the blessings that come to others.

There is the weakness of gluttony, which finds
difficulty in disciplining appetites for food and
drink and creature comforts.

There is the weakness of sloth which is a dis-
taste for spiritual things(prayer, Mass, confess-
ion, etc) or an aversion for work, even essential
work.

There is the weakness of anger which is a
rebellion against God and others because of
circumstances or persons.

All these weaknesses need discipline and
so involve the cross. All our penances of Lent,
whether fasting, prayer or alms-giving have this
discipline as an end. Unless they are directed
to this end, we are just going through the motions
of Lent and we are no more a “Christian” at
Easter than we are now.

Examine yourself honestly. See where
discipline is needed in your life. Then enter
into the true spirit of Lent---denying yourself
and taking up your cross daily to follow
Christ.

HOMO summit?

Op-Ed: "So, Uncle Ted has been defrocked: Will the Big Tent Abuse Summit Turn Out to be a Circus?"

Will the Big Tent Summit turn out to be a Circus?

Father Richard G. Cipolla

Georges Seurat, The Circus (1891), Musée d'Orsay
(The tabernacle must be in the other room)

So Uncle Ted has been defrocked.  One wonders how many times he wore the clerical frock as a symbol of his priesthood.  Pray for him.   The question that must be asked about this declaration /move:  is McCarrick to be the sacrificial lamb of the upcoming meeting in Rome called by the Pope to discuss the crisis in sexual abuse by clergy, including bishops, which meeting will be led by mostly bishops?  Will burning McCarrick at an imaginary stake be enough to slake the thirst of the liberal press? Will it be enough to placate the minority of bishops who take the sexual abuse seriously? Will it be enough to stifle discussion about the factual data that the majority of this abuse was with young boys and young men?  Will it be enough for those  who have suffered at the hands of these men for so many years, not in that terrible physical way, but in being suppressed and kept down because of refusing to deny that one of the greatest problems in the Catholic Church since the end of the Second Vatican Council has been not only the terrible predatory behavior of priests and bishops with respect to boys and seminarians and prostitutes, but also the silent complicity of those in the hierarchy who have deliberately turned a blind eye to the egregious destruction of Catholic faith, worship and morality of the past fifty years.

That these people have no shame and are tone-deaf to reality is recently proven by the naming of Cardinal Kevin Farrell as the Camerlengo of the Papal Household, a most important position indeed.  That this man, who lived with McCarrick while the latter was Archbishop of Washington, D.C. and Farrell was an Auxiliary Bishop, and who claims that he did not know anything about the then Cardinal’s history on the Jersey Shore and beyond, would be named by the Pope to this sensitive and central office shows either the total insensitivity of this Pontiff to reality, or a terrible blindness, possibly deliberate,  to the cause of the deep corruption in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, beginning with its center in Rome.  The sexual corruption of the Curial clergy is a major cause of the parlous situation of the Church today.  But this does not get at the heart of the matter.  The heart of the matter is the deliberate attack on the doctrinal and liturgical Tradition (the two go hand in hand) of the Catholic Church.  There is no end to the silly statements of the German bishops who want to out-Zwingli Zwingli but without his moral fiber.  The fact is that without the church tax in Germany these poseurs would be figuring out how to pay for their next meal.  One wishes that the Lutherans in Germany would chastise the Catholic bishops for their deep misunderstanding of the Christian faith and their deep silliness in their statements about the faith. But classical Protestantism is moribund, and how could it not be, for it is the source of the grey secularism that has destroyed the Christian heart of Europe.

The irony of ironies is that Pope Francis just approved the canonization of John Henry Newman. (I call this a 'blind squirrel' moment, since even a blind squirrel can find a nut)  We should take care that Pope Francis does not read any of Newman’s important writings, especially those on the Development of Doctrine.  Newman would not be a support of the footnotes in Amoris Laetitianor of the Pope’s attempt to change the Church’s clear teaching on the authority of the State to inflict capital punishment.  But one must keep the Pope above all from reading Newman’s Biglietto Speech that he gave upon the receiving of his Cardinal’s biretta in Rome.  For it is there, in clear terms, that Newman predicts the terrible debacle of the post-Vatican II Church.  I have quoted this before and will continue to do so, because its prescience is clear and relates directly to what has happened in the Catholic Church this past half century.

And, I rejoice to say, to one great mischief I have from the first opposed myself. For thirty, forty, fifty years I have resisted to the best of my powers the spirit of liberalism in religion. Never did Holy Church need champions against it more sorely than now, when, alas! it is an error overspreading, as a snare, the whole earth; and on this great occasion, when it is natural for one who is in my place to look out upon the world, and upon Holy Church as in it, and upon her future, it will not, I hope, be considered out of place, if I renew the protest against it which I have made so often…. Liberalism in religion is the doctrine that there is no positive truth in religion, but that one creed is as good as another, and this is the teaching which is gaining substance and force daily. It is inconsistent with any recognition of any religion, as true. It teaches that all are to be tolerated, for all are matters of opinion. Revealed religion is not a truth, but a sentiment and a taste; not an objective fact, not miraculous; and it is the right of each individual to make it say just what strikes his fancy…

The deep worm that eats away at the Tradition of the Church and that has brought us to this situation is the destruction of the Liturgy, the way one worships God.  The quagmire in which we find ourselves is the product of the imposition on the Church of a liturgy that is deeply anti-Traditional and therefore Faith dissolving.  This has nothing to do with being conservative, nothing to do with where one stands on secular issues. It has everything to do with understanding what it means to be in the realm, the being, the essence of Catholic Tradition, a Tradition that has little to do with traditionalism and everything to do with what has been handed down for two thousand years from the Apostles.  Most bishops, who are positivists, cannot admit this apostasy, for if they did they would dissolve like the Wicked Witch of the West.   They are mostly a combination of positivism and super-Ultra-Montanism. They live in the absurd world of Alice in Wonderland and in the world of the Church as the Big Tent, which from the outside can look like a circus.

For at least half a century, astronomers have been sending out into outer space the number pi, for the assumption is that any civilization would recognize this deeply fundamental number/relation, the mutual recognition of shared objective reality. Much of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church today does not care about deep objectivity in any sense, and instead wallows in an odiferous swamp of subjectivity, anti-Traditional worship of God, and morality that has its basis in their adulation of a secularism that allows them to do their own thing while still using the cover of their priesthood, and  that allows them to deny the very essence of the Christian faith in the person of Jesus Christ—all the while claiming that they are organs of Catholic orthodoxy.

Enough already! Basta!  There seems to be not enough Traditional (which has nothing to do with being conservative in a political sense) Catholics right now who will challenge the ridiculous, illogical and un-Traditional  state of those entrusted by God with leading the Church. Is it an exaggeration to compare our situation to that of Athanasius in his battle against the lie of Arianism?  Perhaps.  But who will rise to be the champion, or more likely, the champions, against the shallow and secular distortion of Christianity that is the plague that afflicts us all today?

St. Bernadette

Usually this saint is in April, on the 16th when she died.  However, she seems to be in February this year, since the date in April is during Holy Week.  Maybe that's why.  Anyway:

 

 

This is the day when St. Bernadette saw the Blessed Virgin,

I thought that we should remember her also.

 

"I am the Immaculate Conception". These are the words with which our Blessed Mother addressed herself to Bernadette in Lourdes, France. Today is that day Pius IX proclaimed in 1854 to be held in honor of this title of our Lady.  This day isn't always celebrated for her, but, in some places, today is the day.  Following concerns OUR LADY OF LOURDES and the apparitions of Our Lady to Bernadette.

 

As a young 14-year-old girl, Bernadette Soubirous had multiple visions of the Blessed Lady in a grotto in the outskirts of Lourdes. Although her visions were widely doubted at the time, her humility, truthfulness and modesty encouraged many to believe. A few years after her reported visions, she became a nun and took the name Sister Marie Bernarde. She was later canonized by the Catholic Church. Lourdes has become one of the most popular locations of religious pilgrimage.

Short biography of Bernadette Soubirous

Bernadette was born on January 7th, 1844, into a loving and devoted family. At the time of her birth, her family were relatively prosperous; however, due to a series of misfortunes, her family were plunged into dire poverty. At one point, Bernadette’s father was arrested on suspicion of stealing firewood (a single wood plank); he was later released without charge, but the event was indicative of their poverty. Because of the family’s poverty, they were forced to live in a single room that used to be a prison cell. The cell was so dank that it was actually deemed to be too “unsanitary” even for prisoners. However, despite their material privations, the family were said to be loving and devoted to each other. The young children were brought up to accept their lot without complaint. Bernadette herself was generally very well liked and displayed great courtesy and kindliness to others. She suffered from ill health (asthma aggravated by damp living quarters) and because of the family’s poverty she missed the opportunity to get a proper schooling. When she was 14, she was still studying the basic Catechism with 7-year-old children. Thus she was intellectually ignorant of concepts such as the Immaculate Conception, which was soon to have a great impact on her life. (And, hope for us)

Life after the Apparitions

Bernadette never sought publicity or name and fame, in many ways she wished to live a quiet life; after the apparitions, she became increasingly attracted towards living a religious cloistered life. The miracles of Lourdes had become a significant national event, attracting the attention of many people from all over the country. For a couple of years, she had to patiently meet many well-wishers, sceptics, disbelievers and the curious who wished to hear directly from the ‘Visionary of Lourdes’ herself. Many reported how Bernadette was always very patient, kind and tolerant of the many uninvited visitors. Even sceptics were impressed with her evident sincerity, humility and simplicity; it is said that as she recounted her memories of seeing the Virgin Mary, her eyes would
 light up giving a powerful credence to her reminiscences.
Although she patiently met visitors, Bernadette was increasingly attracted to the idea of entering a Carmel Convent, but her weak health made the demanding routines of the Carmelite convent unsuitable. In the end, she settled on entering the Convent at Nevers.

Sister Marie Bernard

For the next 13 years, Bernadette (now called Sister Marie Bernarde) lived the simple life of a nun, eschewing the fame and attention that would have accompanied any worldly life. During her time as a nun, she frequently suffered from ill health. On one occasion she wryly remarked her only function was to “suffer”. However, her humility, obedience and cheerful attitude adhered her to the other sisters. In particular, young novices often gained much inspiration from spending time with Marie Bernard (the monastic name of Bernadette) Throughout her life, many noted how Bernadette made the sign of the cross with great devotion and sincerity. In prayer, her face often stood out, shining with an inner fervour. Although, Bernadette would refer to herself as the ‘stupid one’ and felt unworthy of the many graces she had received, to others her
 spirituality and saintliness were more than self-evident.
Despite suffering tremendously, she never complained, but continued to offer,
 in her own words, her “feeble prayers.”

On arriving at the convent, all the sister were invited into the chapel where Bernadette was asked to recount her visions for the benefit of the sisters. After this time, the Mother Superior requested that the matter should never be referred to again. Bernadette was quite happy to accept this injunction as she herself wished to move on from merely repeating her stories. However, many senior clergy and other dignitaries came to the convent with the hope of speaking to the young visionary. On most occasions, the Convent gave permission for the senior priests to have an interview with Bernadette. Bernadette, with failing health, found these repeated interviews quite exhausting and on occasions tried to escape. However, although she felt drained from giving so many interviews, Bernadette would always answer the questions with good grace and humility. In these interviews, she displayed remarkable patience and modesty, even though she had to frequently repeat the same answers. She was also frequently asked to reveal the “secrets of the lady” – this, of course, she never did.

Death of Bernadette Soubirous

Prior to her death, Bernadette seemed to suffer from various ailments and afflictions. For several months she had been unable to take an active part in the convent lifestyle. For long periods she was confined to her bed. When asked why she didn’t go to Lourdes for healing, she replied, “It is not for me.”

Sister Nathalie Portat was present during the final day of Bernadette’s life. She remarked how in the afternoon the patient seemed to be tortured by an inexpressible interior agony and asked for those nearby to pray for her soul.

“At the words of the Angelic Salutation: “Holy Mary, Mother of God”, the dying woman revived, and, in a voice full of conviction, a voice that in her final moments expressed her profound humility and her daughterly confidence in the Immaculate Virgin, she twice repeated: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me, a poor sinner.” – Sister Nathalie Portat

A few moments later Bernadette made a large sign of the cross,
 drank a few drops of water and left her mortal body. (April 16, 1879)

Saint Bernadette Soubirous

Following the events of the apparitions, a papal investigation was founded. After long deliberation and careful examination of the evidence, it was declared that the visions of the
 Virgin Mary really did occur at the Grotto of Lourdes.
She received Beatification in 1925 and Canonization in 1933 under Pope Pius XI, not so much for the content of her visions, but rather for her simplicity and holiness of her life. St Bernadette is
 the patron saint of sick persons and also of the family and poverty.
30 years after her death, Bernadette’s body was exhumed and found to be intact. Since 1925, the body of Bernadette is preserved in a shrine in the chapel of the Convent of St.Gildard of Nevers. Espace St. Gildard Convent in Nevers, France.

OUR LADY of LOURDES  (1858)

The first of the eighteen apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the humble Bernadette Soubirous took place at Lourdes on February 11, 1858. On March 25th, when Bernadette asked the beautiful Lady Her name, She replied: "I am the Immaculate Conception." The Church for long centuries had believed in Her Immaculate Conception, Her exemption from every trace of the original sin which through Adam, our first and common father, separated man from his God. It was never proclaimed a dogma, however, until 1854. Mary Herself, in 1830, had asked of a Vincentian Sister at the Rue du Bac in Paris, that a medal be struck bearing Her likeness and the inscription: "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee." Our Lady by Her apparitions at Lourdes in 1858 seems to convey Her appreciation for the formal proclamation of Her great privilege, by Pius IX, in 1854. Countless and magnificent miracles of healing have occurred at Lourdes, confirmed by physicians and recorded in the Lourdes shrine "Book of Life." To name but one: a doctor wrote a book describing the great miracle he had witnessed for a dying girl, whom he had observed on the train that was carrying handicapped persons from Paris to Lourdes. He had not expected her to survive and return home from the sanctuary.

Through the Lourdes Apparitions, the devotion of persons in all parts of the world to the Immaculate Mother of God has been wonderfully spread, and countless miracles have been wrought everywhere through Her intercession. The Virgin Mother of God is truly the chosen Messenger of God to these latter times, which are entrusted to Her, the chosen vessel of the unique privilege of exemption from original sin. Only with Her assistance will the dangers of the present world situation be averted. As She has done since 1858 in many places, at Lourdes, too, She gave us Her peace plan for the world, through Saint Bernadette: Prayer and Penance, to save souls.


I remember when working that a certain believer (not Catholic), would talk about Jesus' immaculate conception. I told him that this miracle pertained to His Mother, not Him, since Jesus was perfect, and not in need of any kind of special graces. I asked my friend that if he could have formed his own mother, wouldn't he want her to be as perfect as possible? He answered in the affirmative. I then told that Jesus did too, and that He did it for her at her conception, freeing her from the sin of Adam and Eve, because nothing is impossible to God. I left him to ponder this, which I'm sure he did, because he was a very contemplative type of person. Although, he didn't bring it up again. It must have been one of those crossroads for him, since he was a minister in the United Brethren church. We still got along great anyway, with many discussions on all sorts of topics. May God rest his soul, since he passed away a few years ago. He did, however, look just like Santa Claus, as we have seen in many portrayals.

Anyway, Bernadette's appeal for us was, and is: "Penance, penance, and penance." May this upcoming Lent keep us whole, and keep reminding us of this appeal.  Through the Lourdes Apparitions, the devotion of persons in all parts of the world to the Immaculate Mother of God has been wonderfully spread, and countless miracles have been wrought everywhere through Her intercession. The Virgin Mother of God is truly the chosen Messenger of God to these latter times, which are entrusted to Her, the chosen vessel of the unique privilege of exemption from original sin. Only with Her assistance will the dangers of the present world situation be averted. As She has done since 1858 in many places, at Lourdes, too, She gave us Her peace plan for the world, through Saint Bernadette: Prayer and Penance, to save souls.

Also, please remember in your prayers for my best friend, Jim. He had a bout with the big "C" a few years ago and lost. Just when he thought he was clear of this disease, it came back with a vengeance. He had been told that it is now inoperable and incurable. I know he believed in Jesus, but he was not Catholic. I read the prayers for the dying from the "Pieta" book, which are very beautiful. I told him that the prayers were Catholic, but that the word 'catholic' means universal, so every one can use the effects. He wasn't offended. I hope they console him wherever he is now. Also, I would like to ask for prayers for his wife, Judy. I don't know if she is a believer, but she can use the prayers. Maybe we can help her in her grief and sorrow, hopefully to bring her around so that she doesn't despair and reject God entirely.  She has lost her mother, one daughter, and her husband in the span of a couple of years.

Lord, have mercy on us. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us and obtain for us that mercy.



Indulgenced Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes: 

O Holy Mary, Mother of God, who to reanimate the faith of the world and draw men to thy divine Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, didst deign to appear at Lourdes; thou who, in order to render more manifest thy maternal tenderness, and to inspire our hearts with greater confidence, didst choose a simple little child as the confidant of thy mercy; thou who didst say: "I am the Immaculate Conception" to make us understand the priceless value of that innocence which is the pledge of the friendship of God; thou who by eighteen successive apparitions didst not cease by thy actions and words to urge men to prayer and penance, which alone can appease Heaven and ward off the blows of divine justice; thou who, by a moving appeal to the world, hast reunited before the miraculous grotto an innumerable multitude of thy children; behold us, Our Lady of Lourdes, prostrate at thy feet, and confident of obtaining blessings and graces from God by thy most powerful intercession. Those who love thee, O Mother of Jesus Christ, Mother of men, desire above everything to serve God faithfully in this world, so as to have the happiness of loving Him eternally in Heaven. Listen to the prayers which we this day address to thee; defend us against the enemies of our salvation, and against our own infirmities; together with the pardon of our sins, obtain for us perseverance in the determination never to fall away again. We implore thee also to take under thy protection our friends and benefactors, and of these in a very special manner those who have abandoned the practice of their Christian duties. May they be converted and become thy faithful servants. Amen.


(Indulgence 300 day, Pope Leo XIII)

 

St. Simeon, Bishop/Martyr

 

St. Simeon, Bishop and Martyr
by Fr. Francis Xavier Weninger, 1876
St. Simeon, whom the Catholic Church commemorates today in Holy Mass and the prayers of the day, was a son of Cleophas. His mother was named Mary, like the Blessed Virgin, and she was, according to the Gospel, also present at the Saviour's death.


There is no doubt that St. Simeon was one of Christ's followers; that he heard His teachings, and saw the many miracles which He wrought. (He was one of the Disciples of Jesus, so he actually saw and heard Him) When the apostles dispersed themselves over the whole world, Simeon remained in Jerusalem, zealously endeavoring, with the Apostle James, the first Bishop of the city, to convert the people. After St. James had suffered martyrdom at the hands of the Jews on account of his confessing Christ, St. Simeon was appointed his successor. He administered this sacred office with truly apostolic fervor, strengthening the Christians in their faith, and leading them in the path of virtue, while he unweariedly preached the crucified Christ to the heathen. On the arrival of the Romans, who besieged, conquered and devastated the city, he, obeying Christ, fled with all the Christians to a small town called Pella, on the other side of the river Jordan.

As soon as the Roman legions, after demolishing the city, retired, Simeon returned with his flock. Under these circumstances, the holy Bishop's labor and anxiety for the temporal as well as spiritual welfare of those under his care, was very great. He, however, worked unceasingly, and had the satisfaction to see that the number of the faithful daily increased; and with it their devotion and virtue. To disturb all this, Satan sent several heretics, who, like wolves, forced their way into the fold of Christ, and attempted to seduce the faithful with their false, godless teachings. But St. Simeon, who watched over his flock day and night, refuted so energetically their false doctrines, and exposed the promulgaters of them to so much ignominy, that they were forced to flee away.

In the reign of the Emperor Trajan arose a terrible persecution of the Christians. Those who were of the race of King David were especially sought after, as it was feared that from among them a new Messiah might arise and cause another insurrection. Hence Jews, as well as Christians, who descended from Judah, and whose ancestor was David, were taken captive and beheaded. Amongst those first seized was St. Simeon. It was well known that he was not only a Christian, but even a Bishop, and that he was descended from the suspected race. Consequently, the Jews accused him before the Roman Governor, Atticus. At that period Simeon had already reached his 120th year. Atticus asked him if it was true that he was of the race of Judah, and a follower of Christ of Nazareth. Both questions the Saint answered fearlessly in the affirmative. The Governor assured him that in consideration of his advanced age, no harm should be done him, but that he should be loaded with presents if he would only renounce Christ and sacrifice to the gods of the Empire. The venerable man manifested the greatest horror that any one should dare to make such a request and said: "No, never, in all eternity, will I renounce Christ, nor sacrifice to idols. Your gods have been wicked people, who now burn in hell! Jesus Christ alone is the true God."

This, and much more, Simeon said with so much true dignity that most of those present seemed to be deeply, touched. To keep down this emotion, Atticus ordered that the holy man should be most severely scourged. The order was immediately executed, and the blood of the Saint soon streamed upon the ground. But he stood immovable, giving no sign of despondency but of deep inward joy. The following day they tortured him again in various most barbarous ways, but he evinced the same fortitude, and even joy. Atticus, as well as all others who witnessed it, could not comprehend how a man of his years had strength to endure torments, under which the most powerful hero would have succumbed. But God, who had already given the heathen many examples of Christian heroism, in tender boys and maidens, now showed what, with His grace, an feeble old man could endure, for the glory of the Christian faith. The Governor, desirous to make an end of the scene, sentenced Simeon to be crucified, saying, that as he ceased not to preach Christ, he should die the same ignominious death as Christ. But no kind of death could have been more welcome to this valiant confessor of Christ. Having prayed, he put off his garment, laid himself upon the cross which was in readiness for him, and offered his hands and feet to be nailed. They fastened him upon the cross, and then raised it. No possible suffering could have been greater, yet was it excelled by his patience. He proclaimed, once more, from the cross, with a loud voice, that Christ is the true God and the Saviour of the world. Imitating Him, he prayed for his executioners, commended his soul into the hands of the Almighty, and ended his holy life by a death so glorious, and so much resembling that of Christ, that the contemplation of it strengthened the Christians in their faith, and was the means of converting many of the heathens to the knowledge of the true God.



St. Simeon reached the age of 120 years, and then ends his long, holy life by a glorious and holy death. Will you become as old? Will you end your life with a happy death? This second question St. Augustine answers, with the assurance that your death will not be unhappy if your life is spent piously. He says: "He who has lived piously cannot die miserably or unhappily." These same words the holy teacher repeats more than once in the same sermon. "It is quite sure," says he, "that he who has lived in piety cannot die in misery." Returning to the first question, I hardly believe that you promise yourself to become as old as St. Simeon: and yet you hope to live long. Upon what do you build this hope? Upon your youth, your strength, or your health? Oh! how weak a foundation! Hundreds and hundreds have existed who were as young, as strong and as healthy as you, and yet they died early. The rich man in the Gospel hoped yet to live many years, but the same night his soul was required of him. Hope deceived him. Take heed that you do not thus deceive yourself. The surest way is this: never defer, in the hope of a long life, that which you need to enable you to die happily and to attain everlasting happiness, as otherwise, you are in danger of everlasting destruction. Meditate often upon the words of the pious Thomas a Kempis: "O fool! How can you believe that you will live long, when you are not sure of one single day? How many who thought that they would live long, have been deceived, and have died suddenly! Do now what is needful to be done, for you know not how soon the hour of your death may come."

Septuagesima Sunday

 

This Sunday is Septuagesima Sunday, or 70 days before Easter, and we begin to get ready for the penitential season of Lent. During this period from this Sunday to Ash Wednesday, the Liturgy speaks no more of our greatness, but contemplates the misery of fallen man, the fatal consequences of original sin and actual sin, and the sacrifice that God asked of the faithful Melchisedech (priest of Salem, which will be called Jerusalem later), the symbol of the sacrifice that Jesus brings for the whole human race. We no longer will say or sing the Alleluia or the Gloria, until the great Feast of Easter Sunday. During this time, we prepare for the fasting and penance of the Season of Lent. The preface for Lent states: 'Who by this bodily fast dost curb our vices, lift our minds and bestow strength and rewards.' Our souls are slaves of the devil, the flesh, and the world. Jesus came into the world, not to be crowned king of the Jews, but to deliver us from this threefold bondage and to restore to us the divine life which we had lost.

The upcoming season is one of most serious thought. The words from Ivo of Chartres in the 11th century pretty much sum it up: "We know that every creature groans, and travails in pain even til now; and not only it, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption of the sons of God, the redemption of our body."
Today we hear a multiple of things to keep in mind as we begin the Lenten season of 2017.

First, we hear about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden; their fall; then their expulsion from the garden to work the earth forever. Also, we hear about what God Himself will do about it. He will eventually send His only-begotten Son to earth in the form of a baby, Who will grow up as we all do, then offer His divine Body to His Eternal Father as the 'sacrificial Lamb' on the Cross at Calvary. All this because of our first parents, Adam and Eve. We have ALL inherited this sin onto our souls, which needs to be cleansed by Baptism and self sacrifices which we can offer to the Eternal Father for our sins.

Then, in the Gospel of Matthew, we hear about the vineyard, where many are chosen to work at various times of the day, with the same pay at the end. According to St. Augustine and St. Gregory the Great, they offer the following, which I am taking from our beloved Abbot Gueranger:

 '...The vineyard is the Church in its several periods, from the beginning of the world to the time when God Himself dwelt among men, and formed all true believers into one visible and permanent society. The morning is the time from Adam to Noah; the third hour begins with Noah and ends with Abraham; the sixth hour includes the period which elapsed between Abraham and Moses; and lastly, the ninth hour opens with the age of the prophets, and closes with the birth of the Saviour. The Messias came at the eleventh hour, when the world seemed to be at the decline of its day. Mercies unprecedented were reserved for this last period, during which salvation was to be given to the Gentiles by the preaching of the Apostles. It is by this mystery of mercy that our Saviour rebukes the Jewish pride. By the selfish murmuring made against the master of the house by the early labourers, our Lord signifies the indignation which the scribes and pharisees would show at the Gentiles being adopted as God's children. Then He shows them how their jealousy would be chastised: Israel, that had laboured before us, shall be rejected for their obduracy of heart, and we Gentiles, the last comers, shall be made first, for we shall be made members of that Catholic Church, which is the bride of the Son of God.'

These two holy doctors of the Church offer a second meaning of these passages:
The Gospel reading from Matthew 'signifies the calling given by God to each of us individually, pressing us to labor, during this life, for the kingdom prepared for us. The morning is our childhood. the third hour, accord to the division used by the ancients in counting their day, is sunrise; it is our youth. The sixth hour, by which name they called our midday, is manhood. The eleventh hour, which immediately preceded sunset, is old age. The Master of the house calls His laborers at all these various hours. They must go that very hour. They that are called in the morning may not put their starting for the vineyard, under pretext of going afterwards, when the Master shall call them later on. Who has told them that they shall live to the eleventh hour? They that are called at the third hour may be dead at the sixth. God will call to the laborers of the last hour such as shall be living when that hour comes; but, if we should die at midday, that last call will not avail us. Besides, God has not promised us a second call, if we excuse ourselves from the first.'




Purple during the 'Penitential' season: The purple hue is a royal robe, purple being the traditional colour of kings and emperors; but it's also the colour of blood and of mourning, and so a reminder that Christ is born to die.

I'd like to end with the following Anthem to Our Blessed Lady, the Virgin. This is the same one the Church uses on the feast of the Purification.

Hail Queen of heaven! Hail Lady of the angels! Hail blessed root and gate, from which came light upon the world! Rejoice, O glorious Virgin, that surpasses all in beauty! Hail, most lovely Queen! and pray to Christ for us. Vouchsafe, O holy Virgin, that I may praise thee. Give me power against thine enemies.

Let us pray.
Grant, O merciful God, thy protection to us in our weakness; that we who celebrate the memory of the holy Mother of God, may, through the aid of her intercession, rise again from our sins. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Let's pray for a holy and fruitful 'penitential' season. We need all the help we can get.


I like the Sundays preceding the season of Lent. It gets you prepared to try to get closer to Christ and His teachings. I can't read Latin, but I can follow along at the Traditional Mass. I prefer to call it Traditional instead of Tridentine, because Tridentine means from Trent (the Council in the 16th century), and this Mass has been around for almost 2000 years! Kind of a misnomer in a way. Especially when it is referred to as the "Extraordinary" Mass! It should be the only Mass!!!!!

Anyway, we have been going to the Traditional Mass since 1988. I like it because it takes us into the area that all of the saints, Doctors, martyrs, etc. have enjoyed and died for throughout the life of the Church. I even started serving this Mass about 29 years ago, and going on to teach young men, and some older ones, how to serve it in a correct way. Not bad for a dumb little convert boy to have come so far in such a short period of time. And, if you are going to get a GOOD Mass, sometimes you have to travel to get to one. The wife and have been traveling all of this time, since spirituality in our city is pretty much dead.

Sexagesima Sunday

 

 

 

 

 

This Sunday is the second Sunday into our penitential season, Sexagesima, meaning approx. 60 days til Easter. St. Paul tells us that we should be ready, willing, and able to suffer for Christ and His Church, as he did. After his conversion, he was taken up into heaven just as John was. He saw things we can only read about. Jesus, in the Gospel from St. Luke, gives us the meaning of the seeds of faith spread onto different types of soil. We need to be firmly grounded in the Faith that comes to us from the Apostles and hold on for dear life for it. As Jesus Himself will tell us tomorrow, "Let him who has ears hear."










I, once again, am going to copy from our beloved Abbot Gueranger. This is a hymn taken from the ancient breviaries of the Churches of France:


The days of ease are about to close; the days of holy observance are returning; the time of temperance is at hand; let us seek our Lord in purity of heart.

Our sovereign Judge will be appeased by our hymns and praise. He who would have us sue for grace, will not refuse us pardon.

The slavish yoke of Pharaoh, and the fetters of cruel Babylon, have been borne too long: let man now claim his freedom, and seek his heavenly country, Jerusalem.

Let us quit this place of exile: let us dwell with the Son of God. Is it not the servant's glory, to be made co-heir with his Lord?

O Jesus! be thou our guide through life. Remember that we are thy sheep, for whom thou, the Shepherd, didst lay down thine own life.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son; honor too be to the Holy Paraclete: as it was in the beginning, now is, and shall ever be. Amen.
---------------------------------------------------------

Because of the importance and necessity of the doctrine which was contained in the parable. For to hear the word of God is absolutely necessary for salvation, as the Apostle indicates: How shall they believe him (Jesus) of whom they have not heard? (Rom. X. 14.) Jesus calls those happy who hear the word of God and keep it. (Luke XI. 28.) And on this subject St. Augustine says: "Be assured, my brethren, that as the body becomes weakened by want and hunger, and wastes to a mere shadow, so the soul that is not nourished by the word of God, becomes shrunken, worthless and unfit for any good work."

We should endeavor to purify our conscience, for, as St. John Chrysostom demands; "Who would pour precious juice into a vessel that is not clean, without first washing it?" We should, therefore, at least cleanse the vessels of our hearts by an ardent sorrow for our sins, because the spirit of truth enters not into the sinful soul (Wisdom I. 4.). We should ask the Holy Ghost for the necessary enlightenment, for little or no fruit can be obtained from a sermon if it is not united with prayer; we should listen to the sermon with a good motive; that is, with a view of hearing something edifying and instructive; if we attend only through curiosity, the desire to hear something new, to criticize the preacher, or to see and to be seen, we are like the Pharisees who for such and similar motives went to hear Christ and derived no benefit therefrom. “As a straight sword goes not into a crooked sheath, so the word of God enters not into a heart that is filled with improper motives." We should strive to direct, our minds rightly, that is, to dispel all temporal thoughts, all needless distraction, otherwise the wholesome words would fall but upon the ears, would not penetrate the heart, and the words of Christ be fulfilled: "They have ears, and hear not."

Grant me, O God, thy grace that in these evil days of false doctrines I may remain steadfast to Thy holy Gospel which in the Holy Catholic Church remains pure and unchanged; never let me be deterred from obeying its precepts, neither by the charms of the world nor by the mockery and reproaches of the wicked.

St. Juliana, Virgin/Martyr

 

 

In these days of broken marriages, broken hearts, broken genders and a broken society, we see awful role-models all around us. Now, perhaps more so than ever before in history, we need steady, stable, and saintly examples to anchor us amidst the torrents of lunacy that has engulfed society.

For the godly-minded, we need look no further than the shining examples of the Saints. Today we celebrate the memory of Juliana, the glorious maiden from Nicomedia. She was a radiant star and her memory still shines brightly in the heavens, offering a guide for wayward souls.

 

In St. Juliana, the Lord has provided a crucial example for our youth and the importance of confessing their faith, even to the point of renouncing a potential spouse. How few of us have the courage to stand firm as did this righteous pillar of confession. Truly, what benefit can there be in a relationship when the betrothed hold-back? When there lacks one-ness of faith to a couple looking to wed, there is already division. When one has compromised on an important issue, it will be all the more convenient to compromise on lesser matters until we find ourselves collapsing on trivialities. Relationships built on the foundations of selflessness stand greater chance at success; relationships built on selfishness are destined for ruin.

Lord, vouchsafe our youth to learn from Thy radiant beacon, St. Juliana, to remain steadfast in their faith!


The Holy Virgin Martyr Juliana, daughter of an illustrious pagan named Africanus, was born in the city of Nicomedia. As a child, she was betrothed to Elusius, one of the emperor’s advisors. St. Juliana was endowed with a profound intellect and goodness of soul. She saw through the delusion and deception of the pagan faith, and secretly accepted holy Baptism.

When the time of her wedding approached, Juliana refused to be married. Her father urged her not to break her engagement, but when she refused to obey him, he began to beat her viciously. Africanus then handed his daughter over to the Governor, who happened to be Elusius, Juliana’s former fiancé. Elusius fervently asked Juliana to marry him, promising not to require her to abandon her faith. St. Juliana refused and said that she’d rather be put to death.

They beat Juliana harshly, but after each beating she received healing and new strength from God. Her punishment took place before a large number of people. Of these, 500 men and 150 women came to confess Christ after witnessing the steadfastness and courage of the holy virgin miraculously healed from her wounds. They were all beheaded, and were baptized in their own blood.

Convinced of the futility of attempting to separate the holy virgin from her heavenly Bridegroom, Eleusius sentenced Juliana to death. She accepted the sentence with joy and glorified the Lord for permitting her to receive a martyr’s crown. The holy Martyr Juliana was executed in the year 304.
St. Juliana is the subject of an Anglo-Saxon poem, believed to have been written by Cynewulf in the eighth century.


Troparion (Tone 4) –

All-blameless bride and venerable trophy-bearer,
You are wedded to the Word of the immortal Father,
O glorious Juliana.
For having wisely disdained your mortal bridegroom,
You strove beyond nature to destroy the serpent,
And now you delight in the joys of your Bridegroom!

Kontakion (Tone 1) –

You were a beautiful virgin, wise Juliana,
and as your soul was wounded with divine love,
your body was also pierced with the wounds of martyrdom adorning you as a bride of Christ and His martyr.
Now as you dwell in the heavenly bridal chamber,
you pray for us all.


 

Sts. Faustinus/Jovita, Martyrs

SAINTS FAUSTINUS and JOVITA
Martyrs  (†122)

Faustinus and Jovita were brothers, nobly born, and were zealous professors of the Christian religion, which they preached without fear in their city of Brescia in Lombardy, during the persecution of Adrian. Their remarkable zeal excited the fury of the heathens against them, and procured them a glorious death for their faith.

Faustinus, a priest, and Jovita, a deacon, were preaching the Gospel fearlessly in the region when Julian, a pagan officer, apprehended them. They were commanded to adore the sun, but replied that they adored the living God who created the sun to give light to the world. The statue before which they were standing was brilliant and surrounded with golden rays. Saint Jovita, looking at it, cried out: "Yes, we adore the God reigning in heaven, who created the sun. And you, vain statue, turn black, to the shame of those who adore you!" At his word, it turned black. The Emperor commanded that it be cleaned, but the pagan priests had hardly begun to touch it when it fell into ashes.

The two brothers were sent to the amphitheater to be devoured by lions, but four of those came out and lay down at their feet. They were left without food in a dark jail cell, but Angels brought them strength and joy for new combats. The flames of a huge fire respected them, and a large number of spectators were converted at the sight. Finally sentenced to decapitation, they knelt down and received the death blow. The city of Brescia honors them as its chief patrons and possesses their relics, and a very ancient church in that city bears their names.

Reflection. The spirit of Christ is ever a spirit of martyrdom. It is always the spirit of the cross. The more we share in the suffering life of Christ, the greater share we inherit of His Spirit, and of the fruits of His death. To souls mortified in their senses and disengaged from earthly things, God gives frequent foretastes of the sweetness of eternal life, and ardent desires of possessing Him in His glory. This is the spirit of martyrdom, which entitles a Christian to a happy resurrection and to the bliss of the life to come. (Remember, the word 'martyr' means 'witness')

Prayer:

When we compare our trials with yours, noble Martyrs of Christ, and our combats with those that you had to fight,--how grateful ought we not to be to our Lord for his having so mercifully taken our weakness into account! Should we have been able to endure the tortures, wherewith you had to purchase heaven, we that are so easily led to break the law of God, so tardy in our conversion, so weak in faith and charity? And yet, we are made for that same heaven, which you now possess. God holds out a crown to us also, and we are not at liberty to refuse it. Rouse up our courage, brave Martyrs! Get us a spirit of resistance against the world and our evil inclinations; that thus, we may confess our Lord Jesus Christ, not only with our lips, but with our works too, and testify, by our conduct, that we are Christians.

St. Valentine

 

Today we honor and bring to mind St. Valentine. He was a priest and martyr for the Faith, and we are called upon to honor him for this, instead of with sicky-sweet cards and candy. Apparently, from one site I found; St. Valentine, on the eve before his beheading, sent a note to the daughter of his executioner; a note (probably defending his belief in Christ), and signed the note: "From your Valentine." Whether or not this is true, it would make more sense than the nonsense of today's thinking. Below is the story of St. Valentine, who was a martyr (witness) for the Faith.


St. Valentine, pray for our Faith, that it be as strong as yours was.



Golden Legend – Saint Valentine Life of Saint Valentine, and first the interpretation of his name.

Valentine is as much to say as containing valour that is persevering in great holiness. Valentine is said also as a valiant knight, for he was a right noble knight of God, and the knight is said valiant that flees not, and smites and defends valiantly and overcomes much powerfully. And so Saint Valentine withdrew him not from his martyrdom in fleeing, he smote in destroying the idols, he defended the faith, he overcame in suffering.


On Saint Valentine the Martyr:

Saint Valentine, friend of our Lord and priest of great authority, was at Rome. It happened that Claudius the emperor made him to come before him and said to him in demanding: What thing is that which I have heard of thee, Valentine? Why wilt thou not abide in our amity, and worship the idols and renounce the vain opinion of thy faith? Saint Valentine answered him: "If thou hadst very knowledge of the grace of Jesu Christ thou should not say this that thou says, but should deny the idols and worship God." Then said to Saint Valentine a prince which was of the council of the emperor: What wilt thou say of our gods and of their holy life? And Saint Valentine answered: "I say none other thing of them but that they were men mortal and full of all human waste and evil."

Then said Claudius the emperor: 'If Jesu Christ be God verily, wherefore say thou not the truth?'  Saint Valentine said: "Certainly Jesu Christ is only the very God, and if thou believe in him, verily thy soul shall be saved, thy realm shall multiply, and he shall give to thee always victory of thine enemies." Then Claudius turned him unto all them that were there, and said to them: Lords, Romans, hear ye how wisely and reasonably this man speaks? Anon the provost of the city said: The emperor is deceived and betrayed, how may we leave that which we have been beholden to and been accustomed to hold since our infancy? With these words the emperor turned and changed his courage, and Saint Valentine was delivered in the keeping of the provost.

When Saint Valentine was brought in an house in prison, then he prayed to God, saying: "Lord Jesu Christ very God, which art very light, illumine this house in such wise that they that dwell therein may know thee to be very God." And the provost said: "I marvel me that thou says that thy God is very light, and nevertheless, if he may make my daughter to hear and see, which long time hath been blind, I shall do all that thou commands me, and shall believe in thy God." Saint Valentine anon put him in prayers, and by his prayers the daughter of the provost received again her sight, and anon all they of the house were converted. After, the emperor did smite off the head of Saint Valentine, the year of our Lord two hundred and eighty. Then let us pray to Saint Valentine that he obtain for us pardon of our sins. Amen.



So, today: love, teach, and protect the family. They're all we really have, thanks be to God.

Exorcism--Fr. Amorth

I found this review of a book by Fr. Gabriel Amorth, who was an exorcist til his death in 2016.  He is fascinating, to say the least.  We should all find a copy of this, contemplate on it, and pass the word on to others who don't seem to care one way or another.

 

This interview with an exorcist is fascinating

Laura Hensley  

Father Gabriele Amorth has lived a fascinating life. He died in 2016, but is known as world’s the most famous exorcist. He didn’t set out to be a demon slayer, but fought in WWII and went to law school before going into the seminary. As in all things, God had greater plans and a firm calling for Father Amorth.

In the new book written in the style of question and answer, Father Amorth: My Battle Against Satan, by Fr. Gabriele Amorth with Elisabetta Fezzi (Sophia Press), we learn about the life of this humble man and what he sees as the devil’s greatest successes and how we can join in this battle against evil.

1. He was “Good-for-nothing”

Fr. Amorth uses this phase to refer to himself quite often. It doesn’t mean that he did nothing good, but that he was an “instrument for good in the hands of God.” An exorcist must humble himself completely, and understand that it is not him that expels the demons, but the Lord, the Holy Spirit who is acting and Mary that intercedes.

2. The Immaculate Heart of Mary

In his words, his greatest accomplishment of his life was on September 13, 1959, when he was able to have the country of Italy consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He always had a special devotion to Mary, and throughout his life, she covered him in her mantle, protecting him from the demons he exorcised.

3. Speaking of Mary

He wasn’t confident in his being asked to be an exorcist, so he constantly prayed, “Protect me under your mantle, and I shall be secure!” The Devil would say to Fr. Amorth, “We can do nothing to you; you are too protected!” Remember, our Mother loves and will always protect us from evil.

4. Hidden and abandoned

In Father Amorth’s opinion, the Roman Catholic Church has abandoned and hidden exorcisms from the public. In light of looking like witchcraft and exorcising mental illnesses instead of treating the patient, many bishops rejected the idea of exorcism. If there was an exorcism to be done, it would have to be approved and behind closed doors. This is probably the devil’s greatest success: to be hidden and denied his existence.

5. Two most important moments

We pray these every time we pray the Hail Mary, and don’t even realize it. The most important moments are the present, and the moment of our death. “They truly require Our Lady’s help!” according to Fr. Amorth.

6. Who created Hell

Fr. Amorth tells of a story when Fr. Canidido, a fellow exorcist, was trying to coax a demon out, saying: “Come on, go; the Lord has prepared a nice heated box for you where you shall not feel the cold, where you shall remain very warm.” He goes on to say:

The Devil imperiously responded: “You do not know anything; you do not understand anything,” meaning that the Lord was commanding him to teach the exorcist a lesson: “It is not he that created Hell! We created Hell. He did not even think of it; the existence of Hell was not in his plans!” The Devil was saying that God created only good things.

He goes on to explain that in no theological work states that God created Hell, nor is it stated that he did not create Hell.

7. The gift given through witnessing suffering

Fr. Amorth said in viewing all of the suffering of those possessed, he grew in charity for everyone. He wanted to do everything he could to elevate that pain and suffering of the afflicted. He also said the fundamental gift of being an exorcist is bringing souls closer to God. This made his faith all the stronger, that he was doing good, freeing these souls and repairing their relationship with God.
Father Amorth: My Battle Against Satan, by Fr. Gabriele Amorth with Elisabetta Fezzi (Sophia Press) is a fascinating look into the hidden life of priestly exorcists. We need to believe in the existence of the devil and we must be strong in our faith to face evil, knowing we are under the protection of Jesus and our Lady. We need to learn from the experts what the tricks of the devil are and how to avoid them. We must not fear evil, but know that Jesus defeated the devil and our place is with him in Heaven, not here on earth.