Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 01-21-13, M, St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr

USCCb.org/RNAB ^ | 01-21-13 | Revised New American Bible

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Information: St. Agnes

Feast Day:	January 21
Born:	291
Died:	304
Major Shrine::	Church of Sant'Agnese fuori le mura and the Church of Sant'Agnese in Agone, both in Rome
Patron of:	Betrothed couples; chastity; Children of Mary; Colegio Capranica of Rome; crops; gardeners; Girl Scouts; girls; rape victims; virgins

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Interactive Saints for Kids

St. Agnes

Feast Day: January 21
Born:292 :: Died: 304

St. Agnes was a Roman girl who loved Jesus so much that she chose only him for her husband. She was very beautiful and when she was just twelve years old, many young men wished to marry her. But as Agnes had given her heart to Jesus, she would always say, "Jesus is my only husband."

She even turned down the governor's son, who became very angry. He tried to win her affection with gifts and promises but Agnes said to him, "I am already promised to the Lord." Agnes was accused of being a Christian and brought to the governor.

Then she was taken to a Roman temple in Minerva (Athena), and asked to sacrifice to pagan gods. When Agnes was led to the altar, she made the Sign of the Cross.

The governor tried to scare her by putting her in chains, but even then she refused to turn against God. Agnes suffered other tortures. Finally, she was condemned and killed for her faith at the young age of twelve in 304.

St. Ambrose and other well-known early Church saints have written about this brave girl. Agnes is buried in a cemetery named after her. In 354, Emperor Constantine's daughter built a large church there and had Agnes' body placed under the altar.

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Catholic

Almanac:

Monday, January 21
Liturgical Color: Red
Today is the Memorial of St. Agnes, virgin and martyr. St. Agnes was martyred at a young age around 304 A.D. On her feast day 2 lambs are blessed and the wool they produce is used to make palliums given to archbishops by the pope.

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Catholic Culture

Daily Readings for: January 21, 2013
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: Almighty ever-living God, who choose what is weak in the world to confound the strong, mercifully grant, that we, who celebrate the heavenly birthday of your Martyr Saint Agnes, may follow her constancy in the faith. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

RECIPES

• Lamb Cake

ACTIVITIES

• Celebration for the Feast of St. Agnes
• Customs on the Feast of St. Agnes
• Namedays
• What is a Nameday?

PRAYERS

• Prayer to St. Agnes
• Hymn to St. Agnes
• Novena for Church Unity
• Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity

LIBRARY

• Divini Amoris Scientia (Apostolic Letter Proclaiming St. Therese of Lisieux a Doctor of the Church) | Pope John Paul II
• The Role of the Woman in the Life of the Church | Fides Dossier

Ordinary Time: January 21st

Memorial of St. Agnes, virgin and martyr

Old Calendar: St. Agnes

St. Agnes (c. 304) like St. Cecilia, is to be numbered among the most famous martyrs of Rome. When the Diocletian persecution was at its height, and when priests as well as laymen were apostatizing from the faith, Agnes, a girl of twelve, freely chose to die for Christ. When she was commanded to offer incense to false gods, she raised her hand to Christ and made the Sign of the Cross. When the heathens threatened to bind her hand and foot, she herself hastened to the place of torture as a bride to her wedding feast. Pain had no terror for her—although the fetters slipped from her small hands while even the pagan bystanders were moved to tears.

When the son of the Roman prefect offered to marry her, she replied: "The one to whom I am betrothed is Christ Whom the angels serve." When the executioner, who was to behead her, hesitated, she encouraged him with the words: "Strike, without fear, for the bride does her Spouse an injury if she makes Him wait". The name of "Agnes" means "lamb-life," and hence the lamb is the symbol of the modesty and innocence of the virgin-martyr.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

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St. Agnes
Agnes is one of the most glorious saints in the calendar of the Roman Church. The greatest Church Fathers vie with one another in sounding her praise and glory. St. Jerome writes: "All nations, especially their Christian communities, praise in word and writing the life of St. Agnes. She triumphed over her tender age as well as over the merciless tyrant. To the crown of spotless innocence she added the glory of martyrdom."

Our saint's name should be traced to the Greek hagne - the pure, rather than to the Latin agna - lamb. But the Latin derivation prevailed in the early Church. The reason may have been that eight days after her death Agnes appeared to her parents with a train of virgins, and a lamb at her side. St. Augustine knew both derivations. "Agnes", he writes, "means 'lamb' in Latin, but in Greek it denotes 'the pure one'". The Latin interpretation occasioned the yearly blessing of the St. Agnes lambs; it takes place on this day in the Church of which she is patron, and the wool is used in weaving the palliums worn by archbishops and, through privilege, by some bishops. In the church built by the Emperor Constantine over the saint's grave, Pope Gregory the Great preached a number of homilies. Reliable details concerning the life of St. Agnes are very few. The oldest material occurs in St. Ambrose's De Virginibus, parts of which are read today at Matins. The value of the later (definitely unauthentic) "Passion" of the saint is enhanced by the fact that various antiphons and responsories in the Office are derived from it.

From such liturgical sources we may construct the following "life of St. Agnes". One day when Agnes, then thirteen years old, was returning home from school, she happened to meet Symphronius, a son of the city prefect. At once he became passionately attracted to her and tried to win her by precious gifts. Agnes repelled him, saying: "Away from me, food of death, for I have already found another lover" (r. Ant.). "With His ring my Lord Jesus Christ has betrothed me, and He has adorned me with the bridal crown" (3. Ant., Lauds). "My right hand and my neck He has encircled with precious stones, and has given me earrings with priceless pearls; He has decked me with lovely, glittering gems" (2. Ant.). "The Lord has clothed me with a robe of gold, He has adorned me with priceless jewels" (4. Ant.). "Honey and milk have I received from His mouth, and His blood has reddened my cheeks" (5. Ant.). "I love Christ, into whose chamber I shall enter, whose Mother is a virgin, whose Father knows not woman, whose music and melody are sweet to my ears. When I love Him, I remain chaste; when I touch Him, I remain pure; when I possess Him, I remain a virgin" (2. Resp.). "I am betrothed to Him whom the angels serve, whose beauty the sun and moon admire" (9. Ant.). "For Him alone I keep my troth, to Him I surrender with all my heart" (6. Ant.).

Incensed by her rebuff, Symphronius denounced Agnes to his father, the city prefect. When he threatened her with commitment to a house of ill fame, Agnes replied: "At my side I have a protector of my body, an angel of the Lord" (2. Ant., Lauds). "When Agnes entered the house of shame, she found an angel of the Lord ready to protect her" (1. Ant., Lauds). A light enveloped her and blinded all who tried to approach. Then another judge condemned her to the stake because the pagan priests accused her of sorcery.

Surrounded by flames she prayed with outstretched arms: "I beseech You, Father almighty, most worthy of awe and adoration. Through Your most holy Son I escaped the threats of the impious tyrant and passed through Satan's filth with feet unsullied. Behold, I now come to You, whom I have loved, whom I have sought, whom I have always desired." She gave thanks as follows: "O You, the almighty One, who must be adored, worshipped, feared - I praise You because through Your only begotten Son I have escaped the threats of wicked men and have walked through the filth of sin with feet unsullied. I extol You with my lips, and I desire You with all my heart and strength."

After the flames died out, she continued: "I praise You, Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, because by Your Son the fire around me was extinguished" (4. Ant., Lauds). And now she longed for union with Christ: "Behold, what I yearned for, I already see; what I hoped for, I already hold in embrace; with Him I am united in heaven whom on earth I loved with all my heart" (Ben. Ant.). Her wish was granted; the judge ordered her beheaded. —The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

Patron: Affianced couples; betrothed couples; bodily purity; chastity; Children of Mary; Colegio Capranica of Rome; crops; engaged couples; gardeners; Girl Scouts; girls; rape victims; diocese of Rockville Centre, New York; virgins.

Symbols: Lamb; woman with long hair and a lamb, sometimes with a sword at her throat; woman with a dove which holds a ring in its beak; woman with a lamb at her side.

Things to Do:

• Read St. Ambrose's De Virginibus about the martyrdom of St. Agnes. "It is the birthday of a martyr, let us offer the victim. It is the birthday of St. Agnes, let men admire, let children take courage, let the married be astounded, let the unmarried take an example."

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The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Day Four: Walking as Children of the Earth

Awareness of our place in God’s creation draws us together, as we realize our interdependence upon one another and the earth. Contemplating the urgent calls to environmental care, and to proper sharing and justice with regard to the fruits of the earth, Christians are called into lives of active witness, in the spirit of the year of Jubilee.

Vatican Resources

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The Word Among Us

Meditation: Mark 2:18-22

 

Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr

New wine is poured into fresh wineskins. (Mark 2:22)

At first, cars were a luxury for the wealthy. But that changed in 1908 when Henry Ford found a way to build a car that almost anyone could afford. An unconventional thinker, he invented the moving assembly line, which made the process so efficient he could double workers’ wages and still lower prices. Through his unorthodox approach, Henry Ford literally changed the transportation landscape.

In Jesus’ day, Judaism was often linked with scrupulous traditions and elite groups like the Pharisees and Sadducees. But Jesus wanted to share the good news in a way that anyone could hear, understand, and embrace. Like Henry Ford, he was considered unconventional, a revolutionary even, and many of his contemporaries didn’t know what to make of him. He welcomed the sinful with assurances that they were precious to God. He healed people on the Sabbath. Through his miracles, he made God’s mercy tangible, leaving crowds astounded.

Part of what made Jesus so effective was his gentle approach in calling as many people as possible. Rather than fasting with the righteous, he dined with sinners—not because he loved food but because he loved redeeming the lost souls who gathered around the table. He favored hearts that were pliable, like new wineskins that could accept the ever-expanding power of his message.

During this Year of Faith, God is asking us to take up a new evangelization, something that is “new in ardor, new in methods, and new in expression” (Pope John Paul II). He asks each of us to try to discover what strategy works best for us. For some, it may be direct one-to-one conversations. For others, it may be making sure our lives witness to our faith more clearly. Still others may choose to evangelize through acts of service to the poor and needy. For most of us, it may be a combination of many different approaches. There is no end to the possibilities—we just need to ask the Spirit to help us!

Pray today for opportunities to evangelize. Pray, also, that those who hear or see you will have hearts open to receiving God’s good news. Together, we can change the world more than Henry Ford ever did!

“Jesus, give me wisdom in witnessing to your love. Please send forth your Spirit to renew the face of the earth!”

Hebrews 5:1-10; Psalm 110:1-4

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A Christian Pilgrim

SAINT AGNES OF ROME, VIRGIN AND MARTYR

MEMORIAL: 21 JANUARY 

Being one of the most venerated of all Roman martyrs, Saint Agnes was executed perhaps in 304, almost certainly in the early fourth century. This famous martyr is referred to by many of the early Church writers, such as St. Ambrose [c. 340-397], St. (Pope) Damasus [pontificate: 366-384], and Prudentius [c.348-c.410] – a Christian poet know for his hymns and apologies. Her name is mentioned in the canon of the Mass. Agnes lived during the reign of Emperor Diocletian [Rule: 284-305] in third-century Rome as the daughter of a rich nobleman.

Her parents were Christian at a time when most of the upper classes were still pagan. They worshiped in secret because of the emperors wanted the people to worship the pagan gods and even worship the emperors as if divine. It is still possible to visit the catacombs in Rome, dug out by night, with their hollowed out chapels where the dead were buried. Such must have been the places of worship of Agnes and her family.

Agnes was very beautiful, and being affluent, was considered to be highly marriageable at the age of twelve. She had many suitors, but she had made a promise to belong only to Christ.

At this time Emperor Diocletian was bent on the complete destruction of Christianity. Confiscating all Christian property and sacred books, he also destroyed all the churches, priests, and bishops he could find.  The prisons were filled with Christians. His was to be the last of great persecutions that had taken place for two centuries.

One suitor insisted on winning Agnes for himself. He could not understand that she was pledged to another. In his history of the period, Pope Damasus alleges that Agnes was finally forced to acknowledge her Christianity publicly. At this point her resentful suitor arranged to have her cast into prison, hoping that she would chose him over torture. But Agnes longed to die for her true love and witness with her blood. When dragged to do homage to the pagan gods, she made the sign of the cross.

Then she was forced into a house of prostitution to be tormented by lustful young men. They stripped her while she prayed but were frustrated when her long hair covered her body. The others left, but her suitor tried once more to approach her and was struck blind. She forgave him and ask Christ to restore his sight. For these sensational deeds, she was considered a Christian witch and set in a fire to die, but the fire reached for the onlookers, not for her. Finally they killed her with a sword. She is a patroness of young girls.

For your life. In our times when rapes and threats of violence are so frequent, stories of girls and women of early Christian times who were forced to choose  between purity and violent attack do not seem so legendary. It is important to seek healing if one has been sexually violated. Christian women should also avoid the company of those who do not share gospel values of chastity.

Short Prayer: Heavenly Father, may Saint Agnes intercede for us, Lord, as we celebrate with joy her yearly feast: her purity and strength of souls are precious gifts which light us on our way. We pray this in the most precious name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Note: The text is taken (with little additions) from Ronda De Sola Chervin, Treasury of Women Saints, Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines: St. Pauls, 1994, pages 136-137. 

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Marriage = One Man and One Woman

Til' Death Do Us Part

Daily Marriage Tip for January 21, 2013:

(Martin Luther King Day) Martin Luther King is an American icon. His marriage, however, wasn’t perfect. Nobody’s is. Do you and your beloved have an ongoing tiff? Dream up a win-win solution.

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Regnum Christi

The New Joy of the Bridegroom

| SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

Memorial of Saint Agnes, virgin and martyr

Father Walter Schu, LC

 

Mark 2:18-22

The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast. People came to him and objected, "Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" Jesus answered them, "Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day. No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak. If he does, its fullness pulls away, the new from the old, and the tear gets worse. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins."

Introductory Prayer: Jesus, what a joy and what a gift to have this time to be alone with you! I want to know you more deeply. I want to hope in you more firmly. I want to love you with greater constancy in my daily life. Only you can give me these gifts. Only you can make me a bold and joyful apostle of your Kingdom.

Petition: Lord, help me to experience the new joy that comes from carrying the cross alongside you.

1. The Joy of the Bridegroom:The Old Testament prophets, especially Hosea and Isaiah, describe the relationship between Israel and Yahweh as a marriage covenant. Israel is the bride, often an unfaithful one, and Yahweh is the bridegroom. When Christ refers to himself as the bridegroom, he is appropriating a title that had been reserved to God alone. Clearly, Jesus is much more than an ordinary rabbi. What experience do we most associate with a bridegroom and the wedding feast? Joy! “Although it is true that the cross is never absent from an authentically Christian life, it is equally true that the God who meets us on that cross is the same God who created the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the mountains, laughter, sunlight, and every earthly delight” (John Bartunek, LC, The Better Part, p. 365). Christ came to bring us joy, a joy that would last into eternity.

2. Should Christians Fast? Christ says that when the bridegroom is taken away, then his disciples will fast. This is his first reference in the Gospel of Mark to his coming passion. Fasting is a way of sharing in Christ’s sufferings. Fasting, sacrifices, and acts of self-denial are also means to detach ourselves from earthly goods in order to cling more firmly to Christ himself. They make us aware of how much we need God. But these ways of sharing Christ’s cross should not make us glum followers. “Some Christians give the impression that following Christ is a somber affair, or that the Christian life consists above all of dour sacrifices and boring obligations. Joyless, dreary, dull. No wonder their friends want to stay as far away from Christianity as possible!... If our friendship with Christ does not fill us with contagious enthusiasm, we’re probably being a half-hearted friend” (John Bartunek, LC, The Better Part, p. 365).


3. “Behold, I Make All Things New.” The movie The Passion of the Christ puts this phrase from Revelation on Christ’s lips when he meets his mother Mary as he carries the cross to Calvary. Christ’s “narrow gate” of the cross leads to a radically new way of life. It brings an abundance of joy, a new vigor, interior peace. The new wine of the life of grace that Christ pours out on his followers must change not only their way of life, but even their internal attitudes and consciousness.  As St. Teresa of Avila once put it,  “A sad saint is a bad saint.” What obstacles in my life do I need to overcome in order to follow Christ with greater joy and to radiate that joy to others?

Conversation with Christ: Thank you, Lord, for the new life you came to bring — your own divine life of grace inside me and each of your followers who is faithful to you. Help me to share that joy with others. I long to be a true apostle of your joy.

Resolution: Today I will forget about myself and seek only to help make those around me joyful.

[annalex]

Mark
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Mark 2
18.	And the disiples of John and the Pharisees used to fast; and they come and say to him: Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast; but thy disciples do not fast?	Et erant discipuli Joannis et pharisæi jejunantes : et veniunt, et dicunt illi : Quare discipuli Joannis et pharisæorum jejunant, tui autem discipuli non jejunant ?	και ησαν οι μαθηται ιωαννου και οι των φαρισαιων νηστευοντες και ερχονται και λεγουσιν αυτω δια τι οι μαθηται ιωαννου και οι των φαρισαιων νηστευουσιν οι δε σοι μαθηται ου νηστευουσιν
19.	And Jesus saith to them: Can the children of the marriage fast, as long as the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.	Et ait illis Jesus : Numquid possunt filii nuptiarum, quamdiu sponsus cum illis est, jejunare ? Quanto tempore habent secum sponsum, non possunt jejunare.	και ειπεν αυτοις ο ιησους μη δυνανται οι υιοι του νυμφωνος εν ω ο νυμφιος μετ αυτων εστιν νηστευειν οσον χρονον μεθ εαυτων εχουσιν τον νυμφιον ου δυνανται νηστευειν
20.	But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them; and then they shall fast in those days.	Venient autem dies cum auferetur ab eis sponsus : et tunc jejunabunt in illis diebus.	ελευσονται δε ημεραι οταν απαρθη απ αυτων ο νυμφιος και τοτε νηστευσουσιν εν εκειναις ταις ημεραις
21.	No man seweth a piece of raw cloth to an old garment: otherwise the new piecing taketh away from the old, and there is made a greater rent.	Nemo assumentum panni rudis assuit vestimento veteri : alioquin aufert supplementum novum a veteri, et major scissura fit.	και ουδεις επιβλημα ρακους αγναφου επιρραπτει επι ιματιω παλαιω ει δε μη αιρει το πληρωμα αυτου το καινον του παλαιου και χειρον σχισμα γινεται
22.	And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: otherwise the wine will burst the bottles, and both the wine will be spilled, and the bottles will be lost. But new wine must be put into new bottles.	Et nemo mittit vinum novum in utres veteres : alioquin dirumpet vinum utres, et vinum effundetur, et utres peribunt : sed vinum novum in utres novos mitti debet.	και ουδεις βαλλει οινον νεον εις ασκους παλαιους ει δε μη ρησσει ο οινος ο νεος τους ασκους και ο οινος εκχειται και οι ασκοι απολουνται αλλα οινον νεον εις ασκους καινους βλητεον

[annalex]

18. And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say to him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples fast not?
19. And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bride-chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
20. But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
21. No man also sews a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up takes away from the old, and the rent is made worse.
22. And no man puts new wine into old bottles: else the new wine does burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.

GLOSS. As above, the Master was accused to the disciples for keeping company with sinners in their feasts, so now, on the other hand, the disciples are complained of to the Master for their omission of fasts, that so matter for dissension might arise amongst them. Wherefore it is said, And the disciples of John and the Pharisees used to fast.

THEOPHYL. For the disciples of John being in an imperfect state, continued in Jewish customs.

AUG. But it may be thought that he added Pharisees, because they joined with the disciples of John in saying this to the Lord, whilst in Matthew relates that the disciples of John alone said it: but the words which follow rather show that those who said it spoke not of themselves, but of others. For it goes on, And they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples, &c. For these words show, that the guests who were there came to Jesus, and had said this same thing to the disciples, so that in the words which he uses, they came, he speaks not of those same persons, of whom he had said, And the disciples of John and the Pharisees were fasting. But as they were fasting, those persons who remembered it, come to him. Matthew then says this, And there came to him the disciples of John, saying, because the Apostles also were there, and all eagerly, as each could, objected these things.

CHRYS. The disciples of John, therefore, and of the Pharisees, being jealous of Christ, ask Him, whether He alone of all men with His disciples could, without abstinence and toil, conquer in the fight of the passions.

BEDE; But John did not drink wine and strong drink, because he who has no power by nature, obtains more merit by abstinence. But why should the Lord, to whom it naturally belonged to forgive sins, shun those whom he could make more pure, than those who fast? But Christ also fasted, lest He should break the precept, He ate with sinners, that you might see His grace, and acknowledge His power. It goes on; And Jesus said to them, Can the children, &c.

AUG. Mark here calls them children of the nuptials, whom Matthew calls children of the bridegroom; for we understand the children of the nuptials to be not only those of the bride-groom, but also of the bride.

PSEUD-CHRYS. He then calls Himself a bridegroom, as if about to be betrothed to the Church. For the betrothal is giving an earnest, namely, that of the grace of the Holy Ghost, by which the world believed.

THEOPHYL. He also calls Himself a bridegroom, not only as betrothing to Himself virgin minds, but because the time of His first coming is not a time of sorrow, nor of sadness to believers, neither does it bring with it toil, but rest. For it is without any works of the law, giving rest by baptism, by which we easily obtain salvation without toil. But the sons of the nuptials or of the Bridegroom are the Apostles; because they, by the grace of God, are made worthy of every heavenly blessing, by the grace of God, and partakers of every joy.

PSEUD-CHRYS. But intercourse with Him, He says, is far removed from all sorrow, when He adds, As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. He is sad, from whom some good is far removed; but be who has it present with him rejoices, and is not sad.

But that He might destroy their elation of heart, and show that He intended not His own disciples to be licentious, He adds, But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken, &c. as if He said, The time will come, when they will show their firmness; for when the Bridegroom shall be taken from them, they will fast as longing for His coming, and in order to unite to Him their spirits, cleansed by bodily suffering. He shows also that there is no necessity for His disciples to fast, as having present with them the Bridegroom of human nature, Who every where executes the words of God, and Who gives the seed of life. The sons of the Bridegroom also cannot, because they are infants, be entirely conformed to their Father, the Bridegroom, Who, considering their infancy, deigns to allow them not to fast: but when the Bridegroom is gone, they will fast, through desire of Him; when they have been made perfect, they will be united to the Bridegroom in marriage, and will always feast at the king's banquet.

THEOPHYL. We must also understand, that every man whose works are good is the son of the Bridegroom; he has the Bridegroom with him, even Christ, and fasts not, that is, does no works of repentance, because he does not sin: but when the Bridegroom is taken away by the man's falling into sin, then lie fasts and is penitent, that he may cure his sin.

BEDE; But in a mystical sense, it may thus be expressed; that the disciples of John and the Pharisees fast, because every man who boasts of the works of the law without faith, who follows the traditions of men, and receives the preaching of Christ with his bodily ear, and not by the faith of the heart, keeps aloof from spiritual goods, and wastes away with a fasting soul. But he who is incorporated into the members of Christ by a faithful love cannot fast, because he feasts upon His Body and Blood. It goes on, No one sews a piece of rough that is new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that fills it up takes away from the old, and the rent is made worse.

PSEUD-CHRYS. As if He said, because these are preachers of the New Testament, it is not possible that they should serve old laws; but you who follow old customs, fitly observe the fasts of Moses. But for these, who are about to hand down to men new and wonderful observances, it is not necessary to observe the old traditions, but to be virtuous in mind; some time or other however they will observe fasting with other Virtues. But this fasting is different from time fasting of the law, for that was one of restraint, this of goodwill; on account of the fervor of the Spirit, Whom they cannot yet receive, Wherefore it goes on, And no one puts new wine into old bottles: else the new wine does burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new Wine must be put in new bottles.

BEDE; For He compares His disciples to old bottles, who would burst at spiritual precepts, rather than be held in restraint by them. But they will be new bottles, when after the ascension of the Lord, they are renewed by desiring His consolation, and then new wine will come to the new bottles, that is, the fervor of the Holy Ghost will fill the hearts of spiritual men. A teacher must also take heed not to commit the hidden things of new mysteries to a soul, hardened in old wickedness.

THEOPHYL. Or else the disciples are likened to old garments on account of the infirmity of their minds, on which it was not fitting to impose the heavy command of fasting.

BEDE; Neither was it fitting to sew on a new piece; that is, a portion of doctrine which teaches a general fast from all the joy of temporal delights; for if this be done, the teaching is rent, and agrees not with the old part. But by a new garment is intended good works, which are done externally, and by the new wine, is expressed the fervor of faith, hope, and charity, by which we are reformed in our minds.

Catena Aurea Mark 2

[annalex]

The Wedding Feast at Cana

Coptic icon

[campaignPete R-CT]

glad to read about St Agnes .... I was always confused about this saint because many I run into do not know of St Agnes of Assisi (Nov 16, the other St Agnes), younger sister of St Clare.

[Salvation]

Very different from St. Agnes of Asissi.

[Salvation]

Delight in the Lord

 

by Food For Thought on January 21, 2013 · 

There is a great deal of bridal or wedding spirituality in the Old Testament: that is, relating to God as to one’s spouse. To take just one example, in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, God says: “You shall be called `My delight is in her. For the Lord delights in you. As a bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.”

There are very good reasons why a Christian disciple might fast. But they are just reasons. They are not a gloomy and miserly attitude that can appear very religious while being nothing of the sort. A reason may be valid for a particular occasion or a particular time. But the same reason may be unreasonable for another occasion and time. Joy is the chief characteristic of a Christian, joy even in tribulation. Joy is one of the first fruits of the Spirit.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is referring to such passages when he replied, “How can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?” While the spirit of joy is around, be filled with it. Then it will stay around us a little longer. And when we have to move into sadness there will still be some effect, some coloring of that joy in us. Our sadness will not be miserable but quiet and deep. But if our joy is measured and miserable, our sadness will be an even greater misery. Our joy and our sorrow compensate each other.

[Salvation]

One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

 

<< Monday, January 21, 2013 >>

St. Agnes

Hebrews 5:1-10
View Readings

Psalm 110:1-4

Mark 2:18-22

THE SCHOOL OF SUFFERING

"He learned obedience from what He suffered." —Hebrews 5:8

 

What a gift suffering can be! You may be unable to perform physical or mental feats, but you are always able to suffer. Everyone can suffer. Contrary to the "wisdom" of the culture of death, suffering has great value. When everything goes perfectly for you, it's not hard to obey. "What merit is there in that?" (Mt 5:46) Even Satan commented on this when Job was blessed with prosperity, saying "Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing? Have You not surrounded him and his family and all that he has with Your protection? You have blessed the work of his hands" (Jb 1:9-10).

When we can obey God as we suffer, that is a grace in us (see 1 Pt 4:13-14). This is a tremendous witness to others of our belief in the absolute lordship of Jesus. We actually learn obedience from suffering (Heb 5:8). Suffering has such great power that Jesus chose to redeem us through His suffering.

God Himself didn't create suffering, but He allows it for greater purposes. Jesus removes much unnecessary suffering through healings and miracles, but those sufferings He allows we can offer redemptively on behalf of His body (see Col 1:24). It is our joy and privilege to suffer redemptively (Phil 1:29). Through your redemptive suffering, teach a hurting world to obey God.

 

Prayer: Father, "I consider the sufferings of the present to be as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed in us" (Rm 8:18).

Promise: Jesus "became the Source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him." —Heb 5:9

Praise: St. Agnes accepted the sword of death so that she could maintain her virginity for Christ.

[Salvation]

"What you do to the unborn child,

you do to Jesus."

- Mother Teresa of Calcutta