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Trudie
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Love Reaches Out
Moreover, this is the rule of love: the good that we desire for ourselves
we desire for our neighbor also; and the evil that we are unwilling to
undergo we wish to
prevent from happening to our neighbor.
All who love God will have such a desire toward everybody.
Prayer. O Lord, my God, let my soul praise you that it may love you. Let it
recount to you your
mercies that it may praise you for them all.
-Confessions 5, 1 Augustine
<<>><<>><<>>
February 24th - St. Montanus, St. Lucius and companions
Emperor Valerian persecuted Christians with vengeance during the days of the
early Church. He had permitted St. Cyprian's execution in September 258. The
Roman official who had actually sentenced Cyprian died himself soon after.
The new official, Solon, was nearly the victim of an uprising which included
a plot on his life. It seems he suspected the plot to be in revenge for the
death of St. Cyprian. He arrested eight innocent people. All were
Christians; most were clergy. Each had been a devoted follower of St.
Cyprian.
The Christians were taken down into dark dungeons. They found others there
whom they knew. The filth and dampness circled the group. They realized that
they would soon be facing death and eternity. The Christians were kept many
months in the prison. They worked during the day and often were denied food
and water without any reason. Somehow in such inhuman conditions, the little
Christian community bonded and helped one another. The lay people protected
the bishops, priests and deacons who were especially targets of the
emperor's cruelty.
When the Christians were finally called to the place of execution, each was
permitted to speak. Montanus, who was tall and strong, spoke bravely to all
the Christian crowd. He told them to be true to Jesus and to die rather than
give up the faith. Lucius, who was small and frail, walked quietly to the
place of execution. He was weak from the harsh months in prison. In fact, he
had to lean on two friends who helped him arrive at the spot where the
executioner waited. The people who watched called to him to remember them
from paradise.
As each of the Christians were beheaded one after another, the crowd became
more and more courageous. They wept for those who suffered such injustice.
But they were joyful, too. They realized that these martyrs would bless them
from heaven. Montanus, Lucius and their companions were martyred in 259.
Kindness and love for one another marked these saints' lives. Today, we
might consider thinking of doing something good for someone with whom we do
not particularly find it easy to get along.
Also see Longer version at:
http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0224.htm
<><><><>
Whoever humbleth himself shall be exalted. -Lk. 14:11
"To bear abasement and reproach is the touchstone of humility, and, at the
same time, of true virtue. For in this, one becomes conformed to Jesus
Christ, who is the true model of all solid virtues" -St. Francis de Sales
The blessed Seraphino, a Capuchin lay-brother, being gate keeper, was
accustomed to pass much time in prayer in a little chapel in the garden,
opposite to the gate. One day the Father Guardian, passing that way with a
visiting Father, said to his companion, "Would you like to see a saint?"
Then approaching the chapel, he reproved Seraphino severely, saying: "What
are you doing here, hypocrite? The Lord teaches us to pray in a room with
closed doors, and do you pray in public to be seen? Get up, rascal, and be
ashamed of deceiving poor strangers in such away!" Delighted with these
reproofs, Brother Seraphino kissed the ground, and then went away with a
countenance as full of satisfaction as if he had just heard some news which
was much to his pleasure or advantage. Another day, he was asked by a
companion for a needle and a little thread. He replied that he had a needle
but no thread; when the other said angrily: "It is plain that you are a
fool, and were never good for anything! What can the Order do with such an
incapable man as you are? Go away, for I cannot bear to look at you!" Then,
without any anger or discomposure, he turned away from the monk who had
reproached him, and after a little while came back with his usual serenity
of countenance, to the great edification of his fellow religious.
(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". February - Humility)
Bible Quote
1. If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of
charity, if any society of the spirit, if any bowels of commiseration: 2.
Fulfil ye my joy, that you may be of one mind, having the same charity,
being of one accord, agreeing in sentiment. 3. Let nothing be done through
contention, neither by vain glory: but in humility, let each esteem others
better than themselves: 4. Each one not considering the things that are his
own, but those that are other men's. 5. For let this mind be in you, which
was also in Christ Jesus: (Philippians 2:1-5)
<><><><>
A prayer to the Triune God:
Most Holy Trinity, Godhead indivisible, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, our
first beginning and our last end, since Thou hast made us after Thine own
image and likeness, grant that all the thoughts of our minds, all the words
of our tongues, all the affections of our hearts and all our actions may be
always conformed to Thy most holy will, to the end that after having seen
Thee here below in appearances and in a dark manner by the means of faith,
we may come at last to contemplate Thee face-to-face in the perfect
possession of Thee for ever in paradise. Amen.
Moreover, this is the rule of love: the good that we desire for ourselves
we desire for our neighbor also; and the evil that we are unwilling to
undergo we wish to
prevent from happening to our neighbor.
All who love God will have such a desire toward everybody.
Prayer. O Lord, my God, let my soul praise you that it may love you. Let it
recount to you your
mercies that it may praise you for them all.
-Confessions 5, 1 Augustine
<<>><<>><<>>
February 24th - St. Montanus, St. Lucius and companions
Emperor Valerian persecuted Christians with vengeance during the days of the
early Church. He had permitted St. Cyprian's execution in September 258. The
Roman official who had actually sentenced Cyprian died himself soon after.
The new official, Solon, was nearly the victim of an uprising which included
a plot on his life. It seems he suspected the plot to be in revenge for the
death of St. Cyprian. He arrested eight innocent people. All were
Christians; most were clergy. Each had been a devoted follower of St.
Cyprian.
The Christians were taken down into dark dungeons. They found others there
whom they knew. The filth and dampness circled the group. They realized that
they would soon be facing death and eternity. The Christians were kept many
months in the prison. They worked during the day and often were denied food
and water without any reason. Somehow in such inhuman conditions, the little
Christian community bonded and helped one another. The lay people protected
the bishops, priests and deacons who were especially targets of the
emperor's cruelty.
When the Christians were finally called to the place of execution, each was
permitted to speak. Montanus, who was tall and strong, spoke bravely to all
the Christian crowd. He told them to be true to Jesus and to die rather than
give up the faith. Lucius, who was small and frail, walked quietly to the
place of execution. He was weak from the harsh months in prison. In fact, he
had to lean on two friends who helped him arrive at the spot where the
executioner waited. The people who watched called to him to remember them
from paradise.
As each of the Christians were beheaded one after another, the crowd became
more and more courageous. They wept for those who suffered such injustice.
But they were joyful, too. They realized that these martyrs would bless them
from heaven. Montanus, Lucius and their companions were martyred in 259.
Kindness and love for one another marked these saints' lives. Today, we
might consider thinking of doing something good for someone with whom we do
not particularly find it easy to get along.
Also see Longer version at:
http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0224.htm
<><><><>
Whoever humbleth himself shall be exalted. -Lk. 14:11
"To bear abasement and reproach is the touchstone of humility, and, at the
same time, of true virtue. For in this, one becomes conformed to Jesus
Christ, who is the true model of all solid virtues" -St. Francis de Sales
The blessed Seraphino, a Capuchin lay-brother, being gate keeper, was
accustomed to pass much time in prayer in a little chapel in the garden,
opposite to the gate. One day the Father Guardian, passing that way with a
visiting Father, said to his companion, "Would you like to see a saint?"
Then approaching the chapel, he reproved Seraphino severely, saying: "What
are you doing here, hypocrite? The Lord teaches us to pray in a room with
closed doors, and do you pray in public to be seen? Get up, rascal, and be
ashamed of deceiving poor strangers in such away!" Delighted with these
reproofs, Brother Seraphino kissed the ground, and then went away with a
countenance as full of satisfaction as if he had just heard some news which
was much to his pleasure or advantage. Another day, he was asked by a
companion for a needle and a little thread. He replied that he had a needle
but no thread; when the other said angrily: "It is plain that you are a
fool, and were never good for anything! What can the Order do with such an
incapable man as you are? Go away, for I cannot bear to look at you!" Then,
without any anger or discomposure, he turned away from the monk who had
reproached him, and after a little while came back with his usual serenity
of countenance, to the great edification of his fellow religious.
(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". February - Humility)
Bible Quote
1. If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of
charity, if any society of the spirit, if any bowels of commiseration: 2.
Fulfil ye my joy, that you may be of one mind, having the same charity,
being of one accord, agreeing in sentiment. 3. Let nothing be done through
contention, neither by vain glory: but in humility, let each esteem others
better than themselves: 4. Each one not considering the things that are his
own, but those that are other men's. 5. For let this mind be in you, which
was also in Christ Jesus: (Philippians 2:1-5)
<><><><>
A prayer to the Triune God:
Most Holy Trinity, Godhead indivisible, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, our
first beginning and our last end, since Thou hast made us after Thine own
image and likeness, grant that all the thoughts of our minds, all the words
of our tongues, all the affections of our hearts and all our actions may be
always conformed to Thy most holy will, to the end that after having seen
Thee here below in appearances and in a dark manner by the means of faith,
we may come at last to contemplate Thee face-to-face in the perfect
possession of Thee for ever in paradise. Amen.