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Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 03-18-13, OM, St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop, Doctor/Church
USCCB.org/RNAB ^ | 03-18-13 | Revised New American Bible

Posted on 03/17/2013 10:02:27 PM PDT by Salvation

March 18, 2013

 

Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Reading 1 Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62

In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim,
who married a very beautiful and God-fearing woman, Susanna,
the daughter of Hilkiah;
her pious parents had trained their daughter
according to the law of Moses.
Joakim was very rich;
he had a garden near his house,
and the Jews had recourse to him often
because he was the most respected of them all.

That year, two elders of the people were appointed judges,
of whom the Lord said, “Wickedness has come out of Babylon:
from the elders who were to govern the people as judges.”
These men, to whom all brought their cases,
frequented the house of Joakim.
When the people left at noon,
Susanna used to enter her husband’s garden for a walk.
When the old men saw her enter every day for her walk,
they began to lust for her.
They suppressed their consciences;
they would not allow their eyes to look to heaven,
and did not keep in mind just judgments.

One day, while they were waiting for the right moment,
she entered the garden as usual, with two maids only.
She decided to bathe, for the weather was warm.
Nobody else was there except the two elders,
who had hidden themselves and were watching her.
“Bring me oil and soap,” she said to the maids,
“and shut the garden doors while I bathe.”

As soon as the maids had left,
the two old men got up and hurried to her.
“Look,” they said, “the garden doors are shut, and no one can see us;
give in to our desire, and lie with us.
If you refuse, we will testify against you
that you dismissed your maids because a young man was here with you.”

“I am completely trapped,” Susanna groaned.
“If I yield, it will be my death;
if I refuse, I cannot escape your power.
Yet it is better for me to fall into your power without guilt
than to sin before the Lord.”
Then Susanna shrieked, and the old men also shouted at her,
as one of them ran to open the garden doors.
When the people in the house heard the cries from the garden,
they rushed in by the side gate to see what had happened to her.
At the accusations by the old men,
the servants felt very much ashamed,
for never had any such thing been said about Susanna.

When the people came to her husband Joakim the next day,
the two wicked elders also came,
fully determined to put Susanna to death.
Before all the people they ordered:
“Send for Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah,
the wife of Joakim.”
When she was sent for,
she came with her parents, children and all her relatives.
All her relatives and the onlookers were weeping.

In the midst of the people the two elders rose up
and laid their hands on her head.
Through tears she looked up to heaven,
for she trusted in the Lord wholeheartedly.
The elders made this accusation:
“As we were walking in the garden alone,
this woman entered with two girls
and shut the doors of the garden, dismissing the girls.
A young man, who was hidden there, came and lay with her.
When we, in a corner of the garden, saw this crime,
we ran toward them.
We saw them lying together,
but the man we could not hold, because he was stronger than we;
he opened the doors and ran off.
Then we seized her and asked who the young man was,
but she refused to tell us.
We testify to this.”
The assembly believed them,
since they were elders and judges of the people,
and they condemned her to death.

But Susanna cried aloud:
“O eternal God, you know what is hidden
and are aware of all things before they come to be:
you know that they have testified falsely against me.
Here I am about to die,
though I have done none of the things
with which these wicked men have charged me.”

The Lord heard her prayer.
As she was being led to execution,
God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel,
and he cried aloud:
“I will have no part in the death of this woman.”
All the people turned and asked him, “What is this you are saying?”
He stood in their midst and continued,
“Are you such fools, O children of Israel!
To condemn a woman of Israel without examination
and without clear evidence?
Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her.”

Then all the people returned in haste.
To Daniel the elders said,
“Come, sit with us and inform us,
since God has given you the prestige of old age.”
But he replied,
“Separate these two far from each other that I may examine them.”

After they were separated one from the other,
he called one of them and said:
“How you have grown evil with age!
Now have your past sins come to term:
passing unjust sentences, condemning the innocent,
and freeing the guilty, although the Lord says,
‘The innocent and the just you shall not put to death.’
Now, then, if you were a witness,
tell me under what tree you saw them together.”
“Under a mastic tree,” he answered.
Daniel replied, “Your fine lie has cost you your head,
for the angel of God shall receive the sentence from him
and split you in two.”
Putting him to one side, he ordered the other one to be brought.
Daniel said to him,
“Offspring of Canaan, not of Judah, beauty has seduced you,
lust has subverted your conscience.
This is how you acted with the daughters of Israel,
and in their fear they yielded to you;
but a daughter of Judah did not tolerate your wickedness.
Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together.”
“Under an oak,” he said.
Daniel replied, “Your fine lie has cost you also your head,
for the angel of God waits with a sword to cut you in two
so as to make an end of you both.”

The whole assembly cried aloud,
blessing God who saves those who hope in him.
They rose up against the two elders,
for by their own words Daniel had convicted them of perjury.
According to the law of Moses,
they inflicted on them
the penalty they had plotted to impose on their neighbor:
they put them to death.
Thus was innocent blood spared that day.

or Dn 13:41c-62

The assembly condemned Susanna to death.

But Susanna cried aloud:
“O eternal God, you know what is hidden
and are aware of all things before they come to be:
you know that they have testified falsely against me.
Here I am about to die,
though I have done none of the things
with which these wicked men have charged me.”

The Lord heard her prayer.
As she was being led to execution,
God stirred up the holy spirit of a young boy named Daniel,
and he cried aloud:
“I will have no part in the death of this woman.”
All the people turned and asked him,
“What is this you are saying?”
He stood in their midst and continued,
“Are you such fools, O children of Israel!
To condemn a woman of Israel without examination
and without clear evidence?
Return to court, for they have testified falsely against her.”

Then all the people returned in haste.
To Daniel the elders said,
“Come, sit with us and inform us,
since God has given you the prestige of old age.”
But he replied,
“Separate these two far from each other that I may examine them.”

After they were separated one from the other,
he called one of them and said:
“How you have grown evil with age!
Now have your past sins come to term:
passing unjust sentences, condemning the innocent,
and freeing the guilty, although the Lord says,
‘The innocent and the just you shall not put to death.’
Now, then, if you were a witness,
tell me under what tree you saw them together.”
“Under a mastic tree,” he answered.
Daniel replied, “Your fine lie has cost you your head,
for the angel of God shall receive the sentence from him
and split you in two.”
Putting him to one side, he ordered the other one to be brought.
Daniel said to him, “Offspring of Canaan, not of Judah,
beauty has seduced you, lust has subverted your conscience.
This is how you acted with the daughters of Israel,
and in their fear they yielded to you;
but a daughter of Judah did not tolerate your wickedness.
Now, then, tell me under what tree you surprised them together.”
“Under an oak,” he said.
Daniel replied, “Your fine lie has cost you also your head,”
for the angel of God waits with a sword to cut you in two
so as to make an end of you both.”

The whole assembly cried aloud,
blessing God who saves those who hope in him.
They rose up against the two elders,
for by their own words Daniel had convicted them of perjury.
According to the law of Moses,
they inflicted on them
the penalty they had plotted to impose on their neighbor:
they put them to death.
Thus was innocent blood spared that day.

Responsorial Psalm ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

R. (4ab) Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.

Gospel Jn 8:12-20

Jesus spoke to them again, saying,
“I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.”
So the Pharisees said to him,
“You testify on your own behalf,
so your testimony cannot be verified.”
Jesus answered and said to them,
“Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my testimony can be verified,
because I know where I came from and where I am going.
But you do not know where I come from or where I am going.
You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone.
And even if I should judge, my judgment is valid,
because I am not alone,
but it is I and the Father who sent me.
Even in your law it is written
that the testimony of two men can be verified.
I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me.”
So they said to him, “Where is your father?”
Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father.
If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”
He spoke these words
while teaching in the treasury in the temple area.
But no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.


TOPICS: Catholic; General Discusssion; Prayer; Worship
KEYWORDS: catholic; lent; prayer
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Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop & Doctor of the Church

Saint Cyril of Jerusalem,
Bishop & Doctor of the Church
Optional Memorial
March 18th

Since Christ Himself has said, "This is My Body" who shall dare to doubt that It is His Body? -- Saint Cyril of Jerusalem

History:

St. Cyril of Jerusalem was Bishop of Jerusalem and Doctor of the Church. He was born about 315; died probably March 18, 386. In the East his feast is observed on the 18th of March, in the West on the 18th or 20th. Little is known of his life. We gather information concerning him from his younger contemporaries, Epiphanius, Jerome, and Rufinus, as well as from the fifth-century historians, Socrates, Sozomen and Theodoret. Cyril himself gives us the date of his "Catecheses" as fully seventy years after the Emperor Probus, that is about 347, if he is exact. Constans (d. 350) was then still alive. Mader thinks Cyril was already bishop, but it is usually held that he was at this date only as a priest. St. Jerome relates (Chron. ad ann. 352) that Cyril had been ordained priest by St. Maximus, his predecessor, after whose death the episcopate was promised to Cyril by the metropolitan, Acacius of Caesarea, and the other Arian bishops, on condition that he should repudiate the ordination he had received from Maximus. He consented to minister as deacon only, and was rewarded for this impiety with the see. Maximus had consecrated Heraclius to succeed himself, but Cyril, by various frauds, degraded Heraclius to the priesthood. So says St. Jerome; but Socrates relates that Acacius drove out St. Maximus and substituted St. Cyril. A quarrel soon broke out between Cyril and Acacius, apparently on a question of precedence or jurisdiction. At Nicaea the metropolitan rights of Caesarea had been guarded, while a special dignity had been granted to Jerusalem. Yet St. Maximus had held a synod and had ordained bishops. This may have been as much as the cause of Acacius' enmity to him as his attachment to the Nicene formula. On the other hand, Cyril's correct Christology may have been the real though veiled ground of the hostility of Acacius to him. At all events, in 357 Acacius caused Cyril to be exiled on the charge of selling church furniture during a famine. Cyril took refuge with Silvanus, Bishop of Taraus. He appeared at the Council of Seleucia in 359, in which the Semi-Arian party was triumphant. Acacius was deposed and St. Cyril seems to have returned to his see. But the emperor was displeased at the turn of events, and, in 360, Cyril and other moderates were again driven out, and only returned at the accession of Julian in 361. In 367 a decree of Valens banished all the bishops who had been restored by Julian, and Cyril remained in exile until the death of the persecutor in 378. In 380, St. Gregory of Nyssa came to Jerusalem on the recommendation of a council held at Antioch in the preceding year. He found the Faith in accord with the truth, but the city a prey to parties and corrupt in morals. St. Cyril attended the great Council of Constantinople in 381, at which Theodosius had ordered the Nicene faith, now a law of the empire, to be promulgated. St. Cyril then formally accepted the homoousion; Socrates and Sozomen call this an act of repentance. Socrates gives 385 for St. Cyril's death, but St. Jerome tells us that St. Cyril lived eight years under Theodosius, that is, from January 379.

The extant works of St. Cyril of Jerusalem include a sermon on the Pool of Bethesda, a letter to the Emperor Constantius, three small fragments, and the famous "Catecheses". The letter describes a wonderful cross of light, extending from Calvary to the Mount of Olives, which appeared in the air on the nones of May, after Pentecost, toward the beginning of the saint's episcopate. The catechetical lectures are among the most precious remains of Christian antiquity. The include an introductory address, eighteen instructions delivered in Lent to those who were preparing for baptism, and five "mystagogical" instructions given during Easter week to the same persons after their baptism. They contain interesting local references as to the finding of the Cross, the position of Calvary in relation to the walls, to the other holy places, and to the great basilica built by Constantine in which these conferences were delivered. They seem to have been spoken extempore, and written down afterwards. The style is admirably clear, dignified, and logical; the tone is serious and full of piety. The subject is thus divided: 1. Hortatory. 2. On sin, and confidence in God's pardon. 3. On baptism, how water receives the power of sanctifying: as it cleanses the body, so the Spirit seals the soul. 4. An abridged account of the Faith. 5. On the nature of faith. 6-18. On the Creed: 6. On the monarchy of God, and the various heresies which deny it. 7. On the Father. 8. His omnipotence. 9. The Creator. 10. On the Lord Jesus Christ. 11. His Eternal Sonship. 12. His virgin birth. 13. His Passion. 14. His Resurrection and Ascension. 15. His second coming. 16-17 On the Holy Ghost. 18. On the resurrection of the body and the Catholic Church. The first mystagogical catechesis explains the renunciations of Satan, etc. which preceded baptism; the second is on the effects of baptism, the third on confirmation, the fourth on Holy Communion, and the fifth on holy Mass for the living and the dead. The hearers are told to observe the disciplina arcani; Rom. they must repeat nothing to heathens and catechumens; the book also has a note to the same effect.

A few points may be noted. The mythical origin of the Septuagint is told, and the story of the phoenix, so popular from Clement onwards. The description of Mass speaks of the mystical washing of the priest's hands, the kiss of peace, the "Sursum Corda", etc., and the Preface with its mention of the angels, the Sanctus, the Epiclesis, the transmutation of the elements by the Holy Ghost, the prayer for the whole Church and for the spirits of the departed, followed by the Paternoster, which is briefly explained. Then come the "Sancta Sanctis" and the Communion. "Approaching do not come with thy palms stretched flat nor with fingers separated. But making thy left hand a seat for thy right, and hollowing thy palm, receive the Body of Christ, responding Amen. And having with care hallowed thine eyes by the touch of the Holy Body, take it, vigilant lest thou drop any of it. For shouldst thou lose any of it, it is as though thou wast deprived of a member of thy own body." "Then after Communion of the Body of Christ, approach the Chalice of His Blood, not extending thy hands, but bending low, and with adoration and reverence saying Amen, sanctify thyself by receiving also the Blood of Christ. And while thy lips are yet wet, touch them with thy hands, and sanctify thy eyes and thy forehead and thy other senses" (Cat. Myst., v, 22, 21-22). We are to make the sign of the cross when we eat and drink, sit, go to bed, get up, talk, walk, in short, in every action (Cat. iv, 14). Again: "if thou should be in foreign cities, do not simply ask where is the church (kyriakon), for the heresies of the impious try to call their caves kyriaka, nor simply where is the Church (ekklesia), but where is the Catholic Church, for this is the proper name of this holy Mother of all" (Cat. xviii, 26).

St. Cyril's doctrine is expressed in his creed, which seems to have run thus:

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten by the Father true God before all ages, God of God, Life of Life, Light of Light, by Whom all things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost and the Virgin Mary, and was made man. He was crucified . . . and buried. He rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures, and sat at the right hand of the Father. And He cometh in glory to judge the living and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end. And in one Holy Ghost, the Paraclete, Who spake by the prophets; and in one baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, and in one holy Catholic Church, and in the resurrection of the body, and in life everlasting.

The italicized words are uncertain. St. Cyril teaches the Divinity of the Son with perfect plainness, but avoids the word "consubstantial", which he probably thought liable to misunderstanding. He never mentions Arianism, though he denounces the Arian formula, "There was a time when the Son was not". He belonged to the Semi-Arian, or Homoean party, and is content to declare that the Son is "in all things like the Father". He communicated freely with bishops such a Basil of Ancyra and Eustathius of Sebaste. He not only does not explain that the Holy Trinity has one Godhead, but he does not even say the Three Persons are one God. The one God for him is always the Father. "There is one God, the Father of Christ, and one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of the only God, and one Holy Ghost, Who sanctifies and deifies all things" (Cat. iv, 16). But he rightly says: "We do not divide the Holy Trinity as some do, neither do we make a melting into one like Sabellius" (Cat. xvi, 4). Cyril never actually calls the Holy Ghost God, but He is to be honoured together with the Father and the Son (Cat. iv, 16). There is therefore nothing incorrect in his doctrine, only the explicit use of the Nicene formulae is wanting, and these, like St. Meletius and others of his party, he fully accepted at a later date.

St. Cyril's teaching about the Blessed Sacrament is of the first importance, for he was speaking freely, untrammelled by the "discipline of the secret". On the Real Presence he is unambiguous: "Since He Himself has declared and said of the bread: This is My Body, who shall dare to doubt any more? And when He asserts and says: This is My Blood, who shall ever hesitate and say it is not His Blood?" Of the Transformation, he argues, if Christ could change water into wine, can He not change wine into His own Blood? The bread and wine are symbols: "In the type of bread is given thee the Body, in the type of wine the Blood is given thee"; but they do not remain in their original condition, they have been changed, though the senses cannot tell us this: "Do not think it mere bread and wine, for it is the Body and Blood of Christ, according to the Lord's declaration". "Having learned this and being assured of it, that appears to be bread is not bread, though perceived by the taste, but the Body of Christ, and what appears to be wine is not wine, though the taste says so, but the Blood of Christ . . . strengthen thy heart, partaking of it as spiritual (food), and rejoice the face of thy soul". It is difficult not to see the whole doctrine of Transubstantiation in these explicit words.

Confirmation is with blessed chrism: "As the bread of the Eucharist after the invocation of the Holy Ghost is not bread, but the Body of Christ, so this holy myrrh is no longer simple, as one might say, after the invocation, but a gift of Christ and capable by the presence of the Holy Ghost of giving His divinity" (ii, 4). St. Peter and St. Paul went to Rome, the heads (prostatai) of the Church. Peter is ho koryphaiotatos kai protostates ton apostolon. The Faith is to be proved out of Holy Scripture. St. Cyril, as the Greek Fathers generally, gives the Hebrew canon of the Old Testament omitting the deutero-canonical books. But yet he often quotes them as Scripture. In the New Testament he does not acknowledge the Apocalypse.

There have been many editions of St. Cyril's works:--(Vienna, 1560); G. Morel (Paris, 1564); J. Prévot (Paris, 1608); T. Milles (London, 1703); the Benedictine edition of Dom Touttée (Paris, 1720; reprinted at Venice, 1763); a new edition from manuscripts, by G.C. Reischl, 8vo (Munich, 1848; 2nd vol. by J. Rupp, 1860); Migne gives the Bened. ed. in P.G., XXXIII; Photius Alexandrides (2 vols., Jerusalem, 1867-8); Eng. tr. in Library of the Fathers (Oxford).

(Principal source - Catholic Encyclopedia - 1913 edition) 

Collect:
O God, who through the Bishop Saint Cyril of Jerusalem
led your Church in a wonderful way
to a deeper sense of the mysteries of salvation,
grant us, through his intercession,
that we may so acknowledge your Son
as to have life ever more abundantly.
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. +Amen.

First Reading: 1 John 5:1-5
Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God, and every one who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Gospel Reading: John 15:1-8
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of Mine that bears no fruit, He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in Me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in Me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.


21 posted on 03/18/2013 8:51:47 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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A Few Texts From Saint Cyril of Jerusalem on the Eucharist
St. Cyril of Jerusalem: Catechetical Lectures - Lecture XXII on the Body and blood of Christ
Orthodox Feast of St. Cyril, Patriarch of Jerusalem, March
Saint Cyril of Jerusalem
Saint Cyril of Jerusalem: Bishop, Confessor, Doctor
22 posted on 03/18/2013 9:03:39 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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Information: St. Cyril of Jerusalem

Feast Day: March 18
Born:

315

Died: 386

23 posted on 03/18/2013 9:05:05 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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Interactive Saints for Kids

St. Cyril of Jerusalem

Feast Day: March 18
Born: 315 :: Died: 386

St. Cyril was raised in Jerusalem when a new kind of life was beginning for Christians. Before that time, the Church was tortured by the emperors. Thousands of Christians had been martyrs and died for their faith in Christ.

In 315, Emperor Constantine declared Christianity as a legal religion. That was a wonderful thing, but it didn't end all the problems. In fact, during the years that followed Christians faced a new problem.

There was confusion about what Christians believe and don't believe. There were many false teachings called "heresies." Some priests and bishops became brave defenders of Church teaching. One such bishop was Cyril of Jerusalem.

When St. Maximus, bishop of Jerusalem, died, Cyril was chosen to take his place. Cyril was the bishop of Jerusalem for thirty-five years. Sixteen long years of that time were spent in hiding and exile.

Three times he was run out of town by influential Arian people who wanted him removed. They were trying to force Cyril to accept false teachings about Jesus and the Church. But he would not give in.

In 361 when Julian became emperor, he decided to rebuild the famous Temple of Jerusalem. He wanted to prove that Jesus was wrong when he said that the Temple of Jerusalem would not be rebuilt.

So he spent much money and sent all the materials for a new Temple. Many people helped by giving jewels and precious metals. Yet St. Cyril faced the difficulty with calmness.

He was sure that the Temple could not be built, because Jesus, who is God, had said so. The bishop looked calmly at all the materials and said, "I know that this will fail." And sure enough, first a storm, then an earthquake, then a fire stopped the temple from being built. The emperor finally gave up the project.

St. Cyril died in 386 when he was around seventy. This gentle, kindly man had lived in times of confusion and sadness. But he never lost his courage because it came from Jesus. He was faithful to the Lord all his life. Cyril was heroic in teaching the truth about Jesus and his Church.

Reflection: "The Christian is a bearer of Christ."

24 posted on 03/18/2013 9:13:10 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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Catholic
Almanac:

Monday, March 18

Liturgical Color: Violet


Today is the optional memorial of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop and Doctor of the Church. His catechism was considered outstanding. St. Cyril was also a strong defender of the faith against the Arian heresy before he died in 386 A.D.


25 posted on 03/18/2013 4:44:24 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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Catholic Culture

Lent: March 18th

Optional Memorial of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop, confessor and doctor

Daily Readings for: March 18, 2013
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: O God, who through the Bishop Saint Cyril of Jerusalem led your Church in a wonderful way to a deeper sense of the mysteries of salvation, grant us, through his intercession, that we may so acknowledge your Son as to have life ever more abundantly. 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.

Old Calendar: St. Cyril of Jerusalem; Our Lady of Mercy (Hist)

Cyril, bishop of Jerusalem, was banished from his see on three occasions. With St. Athanasius and others, he belongs to the great champions of faith in the fight against Arianism. Famous as a teacher and preacher, he has left a series of catechetical instructions that constitute a priceless heirloom from Christian antiquity. Of the twenty-four extant discourses, nineteen were directed to catechumens during Lent as a preparation for baptism, while five so-called mystagogical instructions were given during Easter time to make the mysteries of Christianity better known to those already baptized.

Historically today is the feast of Our Lady of Mercy. Today is an Ember Day in the Tridentine Rite. There are two principal objects for the Ember Days of this period of the year: the first is to offer to God the season of Spring, and, by fasting and prayer, to draw down His blessing upon it; the second is to ask Him to enrich with His choicest graces the priests and sacred ministers who are to receive their Ordination on Saturday.

Stational Church


St. Cyril of Jerusalem
Cyril of Jerusalem was given to the study of the Holy Scriptures from childhood, and made such progress that he became an eminent champion of the orthodox faith. He embraced the monastic institute and bound himself to perpetual chastity and austerity of life. He was ordained priest by St. Maximus, Patriarch of Jerusalem, and undertook the work of preaching to the faithful and instructing the catechumens, in which he won the praise of all. He was the author of those truly wonderful Catechetical Instructions, which embrace clearly and fully all the teaching of the Church, and contain an excellent defense of each of the dogmas of religion against the enemies of the faith. His treatment of these subjects is so distinct and clear that he refuted not only the heresies of his own time, but also, by a kind of foreknowledge, as it were, those which were to arise later. Thus he maintains the Real Presence of the Body and Blood of Christ in the adorable sacrament of the Altar. On the death of Patriarch St. Maximus, the bishops of the province chose Cyril in his place.

As Bishop he endured, like blessed Athanasius, his contemporary, many wrongs and sufferings for the sake of the faith at the hands of the Arians. They could not bear his strenuous opposition to their heresy, and thus assailed him with calumnies, deposed him in a pseudo-council and drove him from his see. To escape their rage, he fled to Tarsus in Cilicia and, as long as Constantius lived, he bore the hardships of exile. On the death of Constantius and the accession of Julian the Apostate, Cyril was able to return to Jerusalem, where he set himself with burning zeal to deliver his flock from false doctrine and from sin. He was driven into exile a second time, under the Emperor Valens, but when peace was restored to the Church by Theodosius the Great, and the cruelty and insolence of the Arians were restrained, he was received with honor by the Emperor as a valiant soldier of Christ and restored to his see. With what earnestness and holiness he fulfilled the duties of his exalted office was proved by the flourishing state of the Church at Jerusalem, as described by St. Basil, who spent some time there on a pilgrimage to the holy places.

Tradition states that God rendered the holiness of this venerable Patriarch illustrious by signs from heaven, among which is numbered the apparition of a cross, brighter than the sun, which was seen at the beginning of his Patriarchate. Not only Cyril himself, but pagans and Christians alike were witnesses of this marvel, which Cyril, after having given thanks to God in church, announced by letter to Constantius. A thing no less wonderful came to pass when the Jews were commanded by the impious Emperor Julian to restore the Temple which had been destroyed by Titus. An earthquake arose and great balls of fire broke out of the earth and consumed the work, so that Julian and the Jews were struck with terror and gave up their plan. This had been clearly foretold by Cyril. A little while before his death, he was present at the Ecumenical Council at Constantinople, where the heresies of Macedonius and Arius were condemned. After his return to Jerusalem, he died a holy death at sixty-nine years of age in the thirty-fifth year of his bishopric. Pope Leo XIII ordered that his office and mass should be said throughout the Universal Church.

Things to Do:


Our Lady of Mercy
Devotion to the Virgin of Mercy dates back to the time of the founding of Lima. It is known that the Mercederian friars, who came to Peru with the conquerors, had already built their primitive convent chapel around 1535. This chapel served as Lima's first parish until the construction of the Main Church in 1540. The Mercederians not only evangelized the region, but they also participated in the city's development, building beautiful churches that have been preserved as a valuable cultural and religious patrimony.

With these friars came their celestial patroness, the Virgin of Mercy, a Marian title of the thirteenth century. Tradition has it that around 1218, St. Peter Nolasco and James I, King of Aragon and Catalonia, experienced separately a vision of the Most Holy Virgin who asked them to found a religious order dedicated to rescuing the many Christian captives held by the Moslems. This Order of Our Lady of Mercy, approved as a military order in 1235 by Pope Gregory IX, was able to liberate thousands of Christian prisoners, and later became dedicated to teaching and social work. The Mercederian friars' habit imitates the garments worn by the Virgin when she appeared to the founder of the order. [Our Lady of Our Lady of Mercy] The image of the Virgin of Mercy is dressed all in white: over her long tunic she wears a scapular with the shield of the order imprinted breast high. A cloak covers her shoulders and her long hair is veiled by a fine lace mantilla. Some images have her standing, with the child in her arms, and others with her arms extended showing a royal scepter in her right hand and in the left some open chains, a symbol of liberation. Such is the appearance of the beautiful image venerated in the Basilica of Mercy in the capital of Peru. It was enthroned at the beginning of the XVII century and has been considered the patroness of the capital. In 1730 she was proclaimed "Patroness of the Peruvian Lands" and in 1823 "Patroness of the Armies of the Republic." On the first centennial of the nation's independence, the image was solemnly crowned and received the title of "Grand Marshall of Peru," on September 24, 1921, Feast of Our Lady of Mercy, since then declared a national holiday, when every year the army renders homage to her high military rank.

The image carries numerous decorations granted by the Republic of Peru, its governors and national institutions. In 1970 the town council of Lima gave her the "Keys of the City," and in 1971 the president of the Republic conferred on her the Great Peruvian Cross of Naval Merit, gestures which evidence the affection and devotion of Peru to Our Lady of Mercy, that many consider their national patroness.

Excerpted from The Mary Page



The Station, at Rome, is in the church of St. Chrysogonus, one of the most celebrated martyrs of the Church of Rome. His name is inserted in the Canon of the Mass. The church was probably built in the 4th century under Pope Sylvester I.


26 posted on 03/18/2013 4:55:30 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
Doctors of the Catholic Church




St Cyril of Jerusalem is the Doctor of Faith and against Heresy. His life and writings exemplify a faith that is ever ancient and ever new. That means that while on earth when we use our faith it will provide for us a part of eternalness because faith is a gift from God who is eternal and who alone can bond us to our personal and infinite Being. Union with God is only possible with faith.

Cyril is an outstanding model for new candidates and converts to the catholic faith and also for traditional catholics who love their faith.

The church has stamped out old heresies but new errors and attitudes keep attempting to confuse and even bewilder the faithful. Cyril would advise us to live one's faith by praying to be faithful to the church because there are enormous challenges related to one's belief. Life is filled with ideas and actions from different cultures and within one's own culture to compound many issues that test one's beliefs.

Loving God who dwells within us is pure and caring for all. However, we complicate it if our faith does not have a solid foundation. Faith is above all a mystery. We need to unite our faith, belief and religion towards God and our neighbor so that the practice of holiness is lived and we show charity, to all even toward those who oppose, hate or ignore us or our religion. Cyril would tell us that our God is acting within us as along as we are keeping God's commandments, acting humbly and continually practicing prayer and good works.


Cyril of Jerusalem, 315-387. Doctor of Faith and Against Heresy, Feast March 18th.


27 posted on 03/18/2013 4:58:43 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
The Word Among Us

Meditation: Psalm 23

Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Only goodness and love will pursue me. (Psalm 23:6)

Do you believe that God’s goodness and love are pursuing you? They are! That one word “pursue” tells us much. It means to run after, to chase, to hunt down, even to hound. Think of it: God’s goodness and love are running after you! They are chasing you, hunting you down.

This is what your heavenly Father is like. It is not enough for his goodness and love simply to waft behind you. He doesn’t want to have to make you jump through all kinds of hoops for just a taste of his goodness. He is not trying to make it hard for you to experience his presence. No, he is pursuing you—every single day. He wants to catch you.

So look for him as you go through your day. Reflect on the events of your day, and try to find those times when God’s goodness and love were chasing after you. You will begin to notice things. You may find a space in a usually crowded parking lot or an uncommon item at the store the first time you look. That’s God’s kindness. Maybe your boss unexpectedly says kind words or praises you at work. Perhaps you find extra patience while dealing with a difficult person. It’s God’s goodness. Maybe you have a clearer sense of God’s presence at one point in your day, or a verse from Scripture pops unbidden into your head at just the right time. God’s kindness is chasing after you.

More than happy coincidences, these things are telling you that God is good and that he is being good to you!

Brothers and sisters, our Father is fantastically generous towards us. We don’t even know all the goodness and kindness and mercy that pursue us each day. But we can see some of it. Even in our struggles or times of disappointment, our God is pursuing us. His steadfast love is unwavering, even when we’re indifferent to it or unaware of it. “Only” goodness and love will follow us doesn’t mean that nothing else pursues us. But it does mean that these two unwavering attributes of God “surely” do. May we slow down long enough for them to catch us!

“Father, I want to be caught by your goodness and love! Help me open my eyes and heart so that I can experience your touch today.”

Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62; John 8:12-20


28 posted on 03/18/2013 5:02:39 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation
John
  English: Douay-Rheims Latin: Vulgata Clementina Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
  John 8
12 Again therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying: I am the light of the world: he that followeth me, walketh not in darkness, but shall have the light of life. Iterum ergo locutus est eis Jesus, dicens : Ego sum lux mundi : qui sequitur me, non ambulat in tenebris, sed habebit lumen vitæ. παλιν ουν αυτοις ο ιησους ελαλησεν λεγων εγω ειμι το φως του κοσμου ο ακολουθων εμοι ου μη περιπατηση εν τη σκοτια αλλ εξει το φως της ζωης
13 The Pharisees therefore said to him: Thou givest testimony of thyself: thy testimony is not true. Dixerunt ergo ei pharisæi : Tu de teipso testimonium perhibes ; testimonium tuum non est verum. ειπον ουν αυτω οι φαρισαιοι συ περι σεαυτου μαρτυρεις η μαρτυρια σου ουκ εστιν αληθης
14 Jesus answered, and said to them: Although I give testimony of myself, my testimony is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go: but you know not whence I come, or whither I go. Respondit Jesus, et dixit eis : Et si ego testimonium perhibeo de meipso, verum est testimonium meum : quia scio unde veni et quo vado ; vos autem nescitis unde venio aut quo vado. απεκριθη ιησους και ειπεν αυτοις καν εγω μαρτυρω περι εμαυτου αληθης εστιν η μαρτυρια μου οτι οιδα ποθεν ηλθον και που υπαγω υμεις δε ουκ οιδατε ποθεν ερχομαι και που υπαγω
15 You judge according to the flesh: I judge not any man. Vos secundum carnem judicatis : ego non judico quemquam ; υμεις κατα την σαρκα κρινετε εγω ου κρινω ουδενα
16 And if I do judge, my judgment is true: because I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. et si judico ego, judicium meum verum est, quia solus non sum : sed ego et qui misit me, Pater. και εαν κρινω δε εγω η κρισις η εμη αληθης εστιν οτι μονος ουκ ειμι αλλ εγω και ο πεμψας με πατηρ
17 And in your law it is written, that the testimony of two men is true. Et in lege vestra scriptum est, quia duorum hominum testimonium verum est. και εν τω νομω δε τω υμετερω γεγραπται οτι δυο ανθρωπων η μαρτυρια αληθης εστιν
18 I am one that give testimony of myself: and the Father that sent me giveth testimony of me. Ego sum qui testimonium perhibeo de meipso, et testimonium perhibet de me qui misit me, Pater. εγω ειμι ο μαρτυρων περι εμαυτου και μαρτυρει περι εμου ο πεμψας με πατηρ
19 They said therefore to him: Where is thy Father? Jesus answered: Neither me do you know, nor my Father: if you did know me, perhaps you would know my Father also. Dicebant ergo ei : Ubi est Pater tuus ? Respondit Jesus : Neque me scitis, neque Patrem meum : si me sciretis, forsitan et Patrem meum sciretis. ελεγον ουν αυτω που εστιν ο πατηρ σου απεκριθη ιησους ουτε εμε οιδατε ουτε τον πατερα μου ει εμε ηδειτε και τον πατερα μου ηδειτε αν
20 These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, teaching in the temple: and no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. Hæc verba locutus est Jesus in gazophylacio, docens in templo : et nemo apprehendit eum, quia necdum venerat hora ejus. ταυτα τα ρηματα ελαλησεν ο ιησους εν τω γαζοφυλακιω διδασκων εν τω ιερω και ουδεις επιασεν αυτον οτι ουπω εληλυθει η ωρα αυτου

29 posted on 03/18/2013 6:03:38 PM PDT by annalex (fear them not)
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To: annalex
12. Then spoke Jesus again to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

ALCUIN. Having absolved the woman from her Sill, lest some should doubt, seeing that He was really man, His power to forgive sins, He deigns to give further disclosure of His divine nature; Then spoke Jesus again to them, saying, I am. the Light of the world.

BEDE Where it is to be observed, He does not say, I am the light of Angels, or of heaven, but the Light of the world, i.e. of mankind who live in darkness, as we read, To give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death.

CHRYS. As they had brought Galilee as an objection against Him, and doubted His being one of the Prophets, as if that was all He claimed to be, Me wished to show that He w as not one of the Prophets, but the Lord of the whole earth: Then spoke Jesus again to them, saying, I am the Light of the world: not of Galilee, or of Palestine, or of Judea.

AUG. The Manichaeans suppose the sun of the natural world to be our Lord Christ; but the Catholic Church reprobates such a notion for our Lord Christ was not made the sun, but the sun was made by Him: inasmuch as all things were made by Him. And for our sake did He come to be under the sun being the light which made the sun: He hid Himself under the cloud of the flesh, not to obscure, but to temper His light. Speaking then through the cloud of the flesh, the Light unfailing, the Light of wisdom says to men, I am the Light of the world.

THEOPHYL. You may bring these words against Nestorius: for our Lord does not say, In Me is the light of the world, but, I am the Light of the world: He who appeared man, was both the Son of God, and the Light of the world; not, as Nestorius fondly holds, the Son of God dwelling in a mere man.

AUG. He withdraws you however from the eyes of the flesh, to those of the heart, in that He adds, He that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. He thinks it not enough to say shall have light, but adds, of life. These words of our Lord agree with those of the Psalm, In Your light shall we see light; for with you is the well of life. For bodily uses, light is one thing, and a well another; and a well ministers to the mouth, light to the eyes. With God the light and the well are the same. He who shines upon you, that you may see Him, the Same flows to you, that you may drink Him. What He promises is put in the future tense; what we ought to do in the present. He that follows Me, He says, shall have; i.e. by faith now, in sight hereafter. The visible sun accompanies you, only if you go westward, whither it go also; and even if you follow it, it will forsake you, at its setting. Your God is every where wholly; He will not fall from you, if you fall not from Him. Darkness is to be feared, not that of the eyes, but that of the mind; and if of the eyes, of the inner not the outer eyes; not those by which white and black, but those by which just and unjust, are discerned.

CHRYS. Walk not in darkness, i.e. spiritually abide not in error. Here He tacitly praises Nicodemus and the officers, and censures those who had plotted against Him; as being in darkness and error, and unable to come to the light.

13. The Pharisees therefore said to him, You bear record of yourself; your record is not true.
14. Jesus answered and said to them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but you cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.
15. You judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
16. And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
17. It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
18. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me bears witness of me.

CHRYS. Our Lord having said, I am the Light of the world; and, he that follows Me, walks not in darkness, the Jews wish to overthrow what He has said: The Pharisees therefore said to Him, you bear record of Yourself, Your record is not true.

ALCUIN. As if our Lord Himself were the only (one that bore) witness to Himself; whereas the truth was that He had, before His incarnation, sent many witnesses to prophesy of His Sacraments.

CHRYS. Our Lord however overthrew their argument: Jesus answered and said, Though I bear record of Myself, yet My record is true. This is an accommodation to those who thought Him no more than a mere man. He adds the reason, For I know whence I come and whither I go; i.e. I am God, from God, and the Son of God: though this He does not say expressly, from His habit of mingling lofty and lowly words together. Now God is surely a competent witness to Himself.

AUG. The witness of light is true, whether the light show itself, or other things. The Prophet spoke the truth, but whence had he it, but by drawing from the fount of truth? Jesus then is a competent witness to Himself: For I know whence I come, and whither I go: this has reference to the Father; for the Son gave glory to the Father who sent Him. How greatly then should man glorify the Creator, w ho made Him. He did not separate from His Father, however, when He came, or desert us when He returned: unlike that sun which in going to the west, leaves the east. And as that sun throws its light on the faces both of him who sees, and him who sees not; only the one sees with the light, the other sees not: so the Wisdom of God, the Word, is every where present, even to the minds of unbelievers; but they have not the eyes of the understanding, whereas with to see. To distinguish then between believers and enemies among the Jews, as between light and darkness, He adds, But you cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go. These Jews saw the man, and did not believe in the God, and therefore our Lord says, You judge after the flesh, i.e. in saying, You bear record of Yourself, Your record is not true.

THEOPHYL. As if to say: You judge untruly, according to the flesh, thinking, because I am in the flesh, that I am flesh only, and not God.

AUG. Understanding Me not as God, and seeing Me as man, you think Me arrogant in bearing witness of Myself. For any man who bears high testimony to himself, is thought proud and arrogant. But men are frail, and may either speak the truth, or lie: the Light cannot lie.

CHRYS. As to live according to the flesh is to live amiss, so to judge according to the flesh, is to judge unjustly. They might say, however, If we judge wrongly, why do you not convict us, why do you not condemn us? So He adds, I judge no man.

AUG. Which may be understood in two ways; judge no man, i.e. not now: as He says elsewhere, God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved: not that He abandons, but only defers, His justice. Or having said, You Judge according to the flesh, He says immediately, I judge no man, to let you know that Christ does not judge according to the flesh, as men judged Him. For that Christ is a judge appears from the next words, And yet if I Judge, My judgment is true.

CHRYS. As if to say: In saying, I judge no man, I meant that I did not anticipate judgment. If I judged justly, I should condemn you, but now is not the time for judging. He alludes however to the future judgment, in what follows; For I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent Me; which means that He will not condemn them alone, but He and the Father together. This is intended too to quiet suspicion, as men did not think the Son worthy to be believed, unless He had the testimony of the Father also.

AUG. But if the Father is with You, how did He send You? O Lord, Your mission is Your incarnation. Christ was here according to the flesh without withdrawing from the Father, because the Father and the Son are every where. Blush, you Sabellian; our Lord does not say, I am the Father, and I the self-same person am the Son; but, I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. Make a distinction then of persons, and distinction of intelligences: acknowledge that the Father is the Father, the Son the Son: but beware of saying, that the Father is greater, the Son less. Theirs is one substance, one co-eternity, perfect equality. Therefore, He says, My judgment is true, because I am the Son of God. But that you may understand how that the Father is with Me, it is not for the Son ever to leave the Father. I have taken up the form of a servant; but I have not lost the form of God. He had spoken of judgment: now he speaks of witness: It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.

AUG. Is this made a bad use of by the Manichaeans, that our Lord does not say, in the law of God, but, in your law? Who does not recognize here a manner of speaking customary in Scripture? In your law, i.e. the law given to you. The Apostle speaks of his Gospel in the same way, though he testifies to having received it not from men, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

AUG. There is much difficulty, and a great mystery seems to be contained, in God's words, In the mouth of two or three witnesses, let every word be established. It is possible that two may speak false. The chaste Susannah was arraigned by two false witnesses: the whole people spoke against Christ falsely. How then must we understand the word, By the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established: except as an intimation of the mystery of the Trinity, in which is perpetual stability of truth? Receive then our testimony, lest you feel our judgment. I delay My judgment: I delay not My testimony: I am one that bears witness of Myself, and the Father that sent Me bear witness of Me.

BEDE. In many places the Father bears witness of the Son; as, This day have I begotten You; also, This is My beloved Son.

CHRYS. It is written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. If this is to be taken literally, in what respect does our Lord differ from men? The rule has been laid down for men, on the ground that one man alone is not to be relied on: but how can this be applicable to God? These words are quoted then with another meaning. When two men bear witness, both to an indifferent matter, their witness is true: this constitutes the testimony of two men. But if one of them bear witness to himself, then they are no longer two witnesses. Thus our Lord means to show that He is consubstantial with the Father, and does not need another witness, i.e. besides the Father's. I and the Father that sent Me. Again, on human principles, when a man bears witness, his honesty is supposed, he is not home witness to; and a man is admitted as a fair and competent witness in an indifferent matter, but not in one relating to himself, unless he is supported by other testimony. But here it is quite otherwise. Our Lord, though giving testimony in His own case, and though saying that He is borne witness to by another, pronounces Himself worthy of belief; thus showing His all-sufficiency. He says He deserves to be believed.

ALCUIN. Or it is as if He said, If your law admits the testimony of two men who may be deceived, and testify to more than is true; on what grounds can you reject Mine and My Father's testimony, the highest and most sure of all?

19. Then said they to him, Where is your Father? Jesus answered, You neither know me, nor my Father: if you had known me, you should have known my Father also.
20. These words spoke Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.

AUG. Those who had heard out Lord say, You judge after the flesh, showed that they did so; for they understood what He said of His Father in a carnal sense: Then said they to Him; Where is Your Father? meaning, We have heard you say, I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent Me. We see you alone; prove to us then that Your Father is with You.

THEOPHYL. Some remark that this is said in contumely and contempt; to insinuate either that He is born of fornication, and knows not who His Father is; or as a slur on the low situation of His father, i.e. Joseph; as if to say, Your father is an obscure, ignoble person; why do you so often mention him? So because they asked the question, to tempt Him, not to get at the truth, Jesus answered, You neither know Me, nor My Father.

AUG. As if He said, You ask where is Your Father? As if you knew Me already, and I were nothing else but what you see. But you know Me not, and therefore I tell you nothing of My Father. You think Me indeed a mere man, and therefore among men look for My Father. But, forasmuch as I am different altogether, according to My seen and unseen natures, and speak of My Father in the hidden sense according to My hidden nature; it is plain that you must first know Me, and then you will know My Father; If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.

CHRYS. He tells them, it is of no avail for them to say they know the Father, if they do not know the Son.

ORIGEN. You neither know Me, nor My Father: this seems inconsistent with what was said above, You both know Me, and know whence I am. But the latter is spoken in reply to some from Jerusalem, who asked, Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ? You neither know Me, is addressed to the Pharisees. To the former persons from Jerusalem however He said, He that sent Me is true, Whom you know not. You will ask then, How is that true, If you know Me, you would know My Father also? when they of Jerusalem, to whom He said, You know Me, did Dot know the Father. To this we must reply, that our Savior sometimes speaks of Himself as man, and sometimes as God. You both know Me, He says as man: You neither know Me, as God

AUG. What does this mean: If you knew Me, you would know My Father also, but, I and My Father are one? It is a common expression, when you see one man very like another, If you have seen him, you have seen the other. You say this, because they are so like. And thus our Lord says, It you had known Me, you had known My Father also; not that the Father is the Son, but that the Son is like the Father.

THEOPHYL. Let the Arian blush: for if, as he says, the Son be a creature, how does it follow that he who knows the creature, knows God? For not even by knowing the substance of Angels, does one know the Divine Substance? Forasmuch therefore as he who knows the Son, knows the Father, it is certain that the Son is consubstantial with the Father.

AUG. This word perhaps is used only by way of rebuke, though it seems to express doubt. As used by men indeed it is the expression of doubt, but He who knew all things could only mean by that doubt to rebuke unbelief: Nay, even we sometimes say perhaps, when they are certain of a thing, e.g. when you are angry with your slave, and say, Do not you heed me? Consider, perhaps I am your master. So our Lord's doubt is a reproof to the unbelievers, when He says, You should have known perhaps My Father also.

ORIGEN. It is proper to observe, that the followers of other sects think this text proves clearly, that the God, whom the Jews worshipped, was not the Father of Christ. For if, say they, our Savior said this to the Pharisees, who worshipped God as the Governor of the world, it is evident that the Father of Jesus, whom the Pharisees knew not, was a different person from the Creator. But they do not observe that this is a usual manner of speaking in Scripture. Though a man may know the existence of God, and have learned from the Father that He only must be worshipped, yet if his life is not good, he is said not to have the knowledge of God. Thus the sons of Eli, on account of their wickedness, are said not to have known God. And thus again the Pharisees did not know the Father; because they did not live according to their Creator's command. And there is another thing meant too by knowing God, different from merely believing in Him. It is said, Be still then, and know that I am God. And this, it is certain, was written for a people that believed in the Creator. But to know by believing, and believe simply, are different things. To the Pharisees, to whom He says, You neither know Me, nor My Father, He could with right have said, you do not even believe in My Father; for he who denies the Son, has not the Father, either by faith or knowledge. But Scripture gives us another sense of knowing a thing, viz. being joined to that thing. Adam knew his wife, when he was joined to her. And if he who is joined to a woman knows that woman, he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit, and knows the Lord. And in this sense the Pharisees neither knew the Father, nor the Son. But may not a man know God, and yet not know the Father; Yes; these are two different conceptions. And therefore among an infinite number of prayers offered up in the Law, we do not find any one addressed to God the Father. They only pray to Him as God and Lord; in order not to anticipate the grace shed by Jesus over the-whole world, calling all men to the Sonship, according to the Psalm, I will declare Thy name to my brethren.

These words spoke Jesus in the treasury, as He taught in the temple.

ALCUIN. Treasury (Gazophylacium): Gaza is the Persian for wealth: phylattein is to keep. It was a place in the temple, where the money was kept.

CHRYS. He spoke in the temple magisterially, and now He was speaking to those who railed at and accused Him, for making Himself equal to the Father.

AUG. Great however is His confidence and fearlessness: it not being possible that He should undergo any suffering, but that which He voluntarily undertook. Wherefore it follows, And no man laid hands on Him, for His hour was not yet come. Some, when they hear this, think Christ to have been under the control of fate. But if fate comes from the verb fari, to speak, as some derive it, how can the Word of God be under the control of fate? Where are the fates? In the heavens, you say, in the courses and revolutions of the stars. How then can fate have power over Him, by Whom the heavens and stars were made; when even your will, if you exert it aright, transcends the stars? Do you think that because the flesh of Christ was placed beneath the heavens, that therefore His power was subjected to the heavens? His hour then had not yet come; i.e. the hour, not on which he should be obliged to die, but on which He should deign to be put to death.

ORIGEN. When ever it is added, Jesus spoke these words in such a place, you will, if you attend, discover a meaning in the addition. The treasury was a place for keeping the money, which was given for the honor of God, and the support of the poor The coins are the divine words, stamped with the likeness of the great King. In this sense then let every one contribute to the edification of the Church, carrying into that spiritual treasury all that he can collect, to the honor of God, and the common good. But while all were thus contributing to the treasury of the temple, it was especially the office of Jews to contribute his gifts, which were the words of eternal life. While Jesus therefore was speaking in the treasury, no one laid hands on Him; His discourse being stronger than those who wished to take Him; for there is no weakness in that which the Word of God utters.

BEDE. Or thus; Christ speaks in the treasury; i.e. He had spoken in parables to the Jews; but now that He unfolded heavenly things to His disciples, His treasury began to be opened, which was the meaning of the treasury being joined to the temple; all that the Law and the Prophets had foretold in figure, appertained to our Lord.

Catena Aurea John 8
30 posted on 03/18/2013 6:04:12 PM PDT by annalex (fear them not)
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To: annalex


New Testament Trinity (Shared Throne)

1st half of 17c.
Trinity-Sergius Monastery studio
Klimentovskaya sloboda, Moscow region

This is a rare iconographic type; depictions of God the Father remain controversial in the Orthodox Church. A few more follow, from Wiki (Russian).

31 posted on 03/18/2013 6:05:49 PM PDT by annalex (fear them not)
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To: annalex


New Testament Trinity (Fatherhood, with select saints)

14c.
Novgorod school

32 posted on 03/18/2013 6:06:37 PM PDT by annalex (fear them not)
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To: annalex


New Testament Trinity (Crucifixion in the Loin of the Father)

ca. 1600
Moscow school
Ikonen-Museum Recklinghausen

The allegorical composition "Crucifixion in the Loin of the Father" can become a part of a more complex compositions such as "God rested on the Seventh Day", and it can exist as an independent icon. A Crucifix is shown in such a way that below, that is, the Golgotha hill, the base of the Cross, and the feet of the Crucified, -- it repeats the scene of Crucifixion, while above the figure of Christ is transformed into a depiction of one of the angelic orders, a Seraph. The body of the Crucified is covered by the wings, the face is youthful (beardless). Variably a similar composition may be called "Christ the Crucified Seraph" or "The Soul of Christ" (according to the Old Testament prophecy, Is. 53:12, Christ gave up His soul to death and practically, the cricifixion of the soul is shown).

The Cross is resting on two cherubim, and behind the Cross is supported by God the Father (?) in a mitre and arch-priest vestment in the order of Melchizedek, the king of truth and the king of the world (Heb. 7:2; another name for this composition is "Thou Art Priest For All Ages"). The hand is holding a sword. The scabbard of the sword in in the hands of a youth in red armor. It is without doubt that the source of this iconography is West Euriopean mysticism, however, the interpretation of the artful set of symbols is extremely difficult. On one element of this picture, -- "Christ in Armor" we read in St. Maxim the Greek: "...it is quite superfluous to write such images that serve as a lure to both our Christians and the un-Orthodox. The pressure on the Christian to write and venerate such images from their holy fathers who in council established and decreed them, and established their form". It is possible that one of the first sources is the biography of st. Francis of Assisi. On 14 September A.D. 1224 a seraph appeared to St. Francis and after that, first in the history of Catholicity, stigmata opened on him.

Wiki.


33 posted on 03/18/2013 6:07:40 PM PDT by annalex (fear them not)
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To: annalex


New Testament Trinity (Sabaoth)

Observe the delicate use of reverse perspective in the depiction of the face. Each half of the face, thanks to the extended distance from the eye to the ear, appears somewhat in profile, and the overall impression is that Sabaoth is protruding forth into the viewer's space.

34 posted on 03/18/2013 6:12:25 PM PDT by annalex (fear them not)
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To: annalex


All-seeing Eye of God (Eye of Providence)
19c.

35 posted on 03/18/2013 6:13:39 PM PDT by annalex (fear them not)
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To: All
A Christian Pilgrim

 

PETER AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 

0431524-paus-francis-620X310

We, Catholic Christians, believe that Christ built His Church upon Peter by quoting the Gospel of Matthew to justify our stand: “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and what you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:18-19 RSV).

Those who do not believe, however, came with some biblical argumentations. (1) Saint Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1Cor 3:11). (2) Filled with the Holy Spirit, Saint Peter boldly said to the Jewish religious leaders: “This (Christ) is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the head of the corner. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is not other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:11-12). (3) Saint Peter also said, “To you therefore who believe, He is precious, but for those who do not believe, “The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner,” and “A stone that will make men stumble, a rock that will make them fall ……” (1Peter 2:7-8). Thus, it is very clear that Jesus Christ is the Rock, not Peter or his successors.

PETERS CONFESSION

Christ is both FOUNDER and FOUNDATION of the Church. Not only do those who accuse us, accuse us falsely, but they distort Scripture to suit their purpose. Catholics do not mean to say that salvation is “built” upon Peter nor the Christ’s Church is founded by Peter. Christ is both the FOUNDER and FOUNDATION of His Church. Without Christ, there is no Church. Christ is not only the Savior of Christians. He is also the Life of Christians.

Christ, however, did found a “visible” Church with the twelve Apostles as leaders and Saint Peter as their chief. In the lives of the Apostles as leaders and Saint Peter often took the lead. When Jesus asked His disciples at Caesarea Philipi, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15), who took the lead to express the belief of the disciples? It was Peter.  Let us now read the whole text: “And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven ……’” (Matthew 16:17-19).

The context before and after the phrase “on this rock,” is Christ’s address to Peter. Grammatically, it is untenable that Christ suddenly in a small phrase without any justification applies this rock to Himself. If it were not a reference to Peter, why should it say, “You are Peter, and on this rock …” Let us now replace “this rock” with “Christ” and see if it makes sense grammatically. “And I tell, you are Peter, and on Christ I will build My Church.” Does this sentence make sense? If Christ were referred to as “this rock”, the first part would have been left out without any loss of meaning. Besides, to whom did Jesus give the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven? To Peter, of course! It would be absurd of Christ, who held the keys, to say that He would give the Keys to Himself.

The interpretation of this text to prove that Christ did not make Peter the rock upon which He would build His Church not only twists the text in such a way that it makes no sense but it also makes Our Lord Jesus Christ appear foolish. Peter in Greek language is Petros and rock is Petra. It is, in grammar, what we call a pun, a play of words. In the original Aramaic language spoken by Jesus, there is only one word, kepha, for Peter and the rock. It should read like this, “You are the kepha and upon this kepha I will build My Church.” In translating this into Greek, which has genders, it would sound silly to give Peter the word Petra which is feminine. It would be making fun of Peter. So the translator had no choice except to change the gender of the word to the masculine Petros. 

PETRUS DISURUH UNTUK MENGGEMBALAKAN UMAT

Peter’s leadership. Peter’s leadership of the twelve can be easily seen in the New Testament by any unprejudiced reader. His name heads the list of Apostle’s names (Mt 10:2; Mk 3:16; Lk 6:14; Acts 1:13). Of the inner circle of three – Peter, James and John – again Peter comes first (Mk 9:2; Mt 17:1; 26:37). When all the disciples of Christ left Him except the twelve Apostles because Jesus claimed that they must eat His Body and drink His Blood, Jesus asked the twelve, “Will you also go away?” Who answered for all the Apostles? Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that You are the Holy One of God.” (Jn 6: 67-68). After Jesus’ resurrection, the angel at the tomb told the women to go tell His disciples and Peter (Mk 16:7). Mary Magdalene ran up to Peter and told him of the Lord’s resurrection (Jn 20;2). When two of Jesus’ disciples on the road to Emmaus, after recognizing Jesus, returned to report to the eleven Apostles and “those who were with them, who said, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” (Lk 24:34). Why did the Gospel of Luke mention only the name of Simon Peter if it were not that he had a special standing among the disciples? In one of his letters, Saint Paul mentioned that the risen Lord appeared first to Cephas (Peter) and secondly to the other disciples (1Cor 15:5). Why should Paul make this specific reference to Peter if Peter had not a special role?


PETRUS APAKAH ENGKAU MENGASIHI AKU YOH

Peter’s role as rock or leader becomes clearer after Christ’s resurrection. At the lakeside, Jesus asked Peter three times, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” And thrice, when Peter confessed his love, Jesus said to him, “Feed My lambs”, “Tend My sheep”, “Feed My sheep” (Jn 21:15-17). This was predicted earlier by Christ, i.e. at the Last Supper, that Peter would deny Him three times before the cock crew, but Jesus prayed for him so that Peter’s faith may not fail: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren.”  … “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you three times deny that you know Me” (Lk 22:31-32,34). Peter’s leadership was one of “feeding and strengthening” the faith of Christ’s disciples.

Peter did this after the descent of the Holy Spirit. He took the lead in choosing another Apostle in place of Judas (Acts 1:17), in addressing the crowd of people on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14), in defending Christ before the Jews and their priests and in condemning Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:3-10). He was in held in great reverence by all so that his shadow might fall on them and heal them (Acts 5:15). This was not said of other Apostles. Three years after his conversion Paul went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter and stayed with him for 15 days (Gal 1:18). Again, why Peter and not the others, if it were not that he was the undisputed leader?


saint-peter -100

Another objection and the response. There were (and still are) people who argue that Peter could not have been the leader of the Church because Paul did rebuke Peter for his inconsistency over the questions of circumcision and because James finally decided the issue.

This objection presupposes that leadership is a kind of tyranny. Why cannot a leader be rebuked for what he has done wrong, especially since Christian leadership is one of service, not of tyranny. Jesus said, “… the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve” (Mt 20:28). Peter’s leadership was one of humble service and that was why he accepted Paul’s rebuke. Christian leadership is always humble obedience to the Truth in service of others: to admit one’s mistakes and correct them for others. No human being is exempted from mistakes. The fact that Peter accepted Paul’s rebuke proved that he was a true leader following Christ’s command.

When the dispute over circumcision grew hot, the Apostles and the elders gathered in Jerusalem to discuss the matter (the first council – Acts 15). …… And after there had been much debate, Peter rose and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the Gospel and believe. And God who knows the heart bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, but cleansed their hearts by faith. Now therefore why do you make trial of God by putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will” (Acts 15:7-11). After Peter’s speech “all the assembly kept silence” (Acts 15:12). Only then did the assembly listen willingly to Barnabas and Paul as they related the “signs and wonders” that God worked through them “among the Gentiles” (Acts 15:12). At the end of which, James, drawing the attention of all to what Peter said (Acts 15:14), gave his opinion (see verse 19). He agreed with Peter. It was only after all these that the final judgment was made by “the apostles and the elders” with the whole Church, for it “seemed good” to them (Acts 15:22). They choose men and sent them to Christian Gentiles with a written letter. The letter is important because it tells us who finally decided. It was not James but the “apostles and the elders” in whose name the letter was written, …… “The brethren, both the apostles and the elders, to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting” (Acts 15:23), who finally passed judgment. If any one person’s importance is emphasized, it is that of Peter, because the disciples “kept silence” after Peter’s speech. James only agreed with Peter and drew the attention of the others to Peter’s reasoning.

PETRUS - 1 PEGANG DUA KUNCI

Peter’s successors. After the death of Saint Peter, his successors took the role of leadership. When conflict disturbed the Church of Corinth in the first century (90 A.D.), the appeal was made to Peter’s successor in Rome, Pope Saint Clement [pontificate: 88-97]. Saint Clement sent a letter of admonition and his correction was accepted by the Christians at Corinth. Why was not Saint John the Apostle called to settle the dispute? He was still alive at Ephesus by that time. In the second century [190 A.D.], the Eastern Churches again requested Pope Saint Victor I [pontificate: 189-199]. Bishop of Rome, to decide on the date of Easter. His decision was final. In the late second century, Saint Irenaeus [130-202], bishop of Lyons, wrote against false teachers saying, “the tradition which that very great, oldest, and well-known Church, founded and established at Rome by those two most glorious apostles Peter and Paul, received from the apostles …… every church must be in harmony with this Church (the Church in Rome) because of its outstanding pre-eminence.” Cyprian of the third century [200-258] referred the question on baptism to Pope Saint Cornelius [pontificate: 251-253] and later to Pope Saint Stephen I [pontificate:  254-257] in Rome. Again their decision was adopted by all. Pope Saint Dionysius [+ 268] demanded from the Patriarch of Alexandria an explanation of certain articles of faith to which Alexandria complied. Cyprian, the martyr-bishop of Carthage wrote in the year 250,

“It is on him (Peter) that He (Jesus) builds the Church, and to him that He entrusts the sheep to feed. And although He assigned power to all the apostles, yet He founded a single chair, thus establishing by His own authority the source and hallmark of the churches’ oneness. No doubt the others were all that Peter was, but a primacy is given to Peter and it is thus made clear that there is but one Church and one chair …… If a man does not hold fast to this oneness of Peter, does he imagine that he still holds the faith? If he deserts the chair of Peter upon which the Church was built, has he still confidence that he is in the Church?”

PETRUS - 2

In the fourth century, Saint Athanasius [296-373] appealed to Pope Julius I [pontificate:  337-353] against the unjust decision of some Oriental bishops. Pope Julius reversed the decision. All in the same century, Saint Jerome [347-420], the first great biblical scholar, wrote to Pope Saint Damasus I [pontificate: 366-384], “I follow no one as leader except Christ alone, and therefore I want to remain in union in the Church with you, that is, with the chair of Peter. I know that on this rock the Church is founded.” Archbishop of Caesarea, Saint Basil [330-379], asked Pope Damasus for protection against his enemies. In the fifth century, saint Chrysostom [344-407], Patriarch of Constantinople appealed to Pope Innocent I [pontificate: 401-417] to resolve grievances caused by Empress Eudoxia and some Eastern Bishops. In the controversy over the so called “Nestorian heresy”, both Saint Cyril [+ 444; bishop of Alexandria from 412] and Nestorius himself appealed to Pope Saint Celestine [pontificate: 422-432]. The following pope, Saint Pope Leo I the Great condemned Nestorius and his doctrine. The Patriarchs, Archbishops and bishops accepted Pope Leo’s decision saying, “Peter has spoken through Leo.” From the time of the Apostles till at least the 9th century, Saint Peter and his successors were recognized as leaders of the Christians. We quoted only a few example of the recognition of primacy of the church in Rome in the early Church after the Apostles.

The bishop of Rome was and is a symbol and agent of unity in faith and love of all Christians. To deny the existence of a leader is not only to be blind to the leading role of Peter in the New Testament and to history but also to deny the necessary fact of human groupings.

References:

(1) Raymond E. Brown, Karl P. Donfried, John Reumann (Editors), PETER IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, New York, N.Y.: Paulist Press, 1973;

(2) Matthew Bunson, OUR SUNDAY VISITOR’S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CATHOLIC HISTORY, Hungtington, Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division, 1995.

(3) Stanley L. Jaki, THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM, Chicago, Illinois: THE FRANCISCAN HERALD PRESS, 1986;

(4) Fr. Valentine Long OFM, UPON THIS ROCK, Chicago, Illinois: THE FRANCISCAN HERALD PRESS, 1982;

(5) Fr. Paul Tan Chee Ing SJ, STRAIGHT TO CATHOLICS, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Catholic Research Centre, 1984. 


36 posted on 03/18/2013 6:32:34 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
 
Marriage = One Man and One Woman
Til' Death Do Us Part

Daily Marriage Tip for March 18, 2013:

“Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.” (John 8:7) One can’t be married without finding fault. It’s inevitable. Knowing our own faults, however, can help us be more tolerant of the sins of our spouse. Stop before you criticize.


37 posted on 03/18/2013 6:37:32 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
Regnum Christi

In Your Light We See Light
| SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY
Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent



Father Shawn Aaron, LC

John 8: 12-20

Jesus spoke to the scribes and Pharisees saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." So the Pharisees said to him, "You testify on your own behalf, so your testimony cannot be verified." Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my testimony can be verified, because I know where I came from and where I am going. But you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone. And even if I should judge, my judgment is valid, because I am not alone, but it is I and the Father who sent me. Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two men can be verified. I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me." So they said to him, "Where is your father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also." He spoke these words while teaching in the treasury in the Temple area. But no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

Introductory Prayer: Father, you call your children to walk in the light of Christ. Free us from darkness and keep us in the radiance of your truth.

Petition: Lord, grant me the light of faith.

1. I am the Light of the World: The world needs light. I need light. Christ came to teach us about his Father. His life is a beacon amidst the gloom and haze of a life without purpose. His testimony of life enlightens our minds, our hearts and our consciences. Jesus will one day say, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” I am the Way to the Father. All creation came to be through the one Word of the Father. But creation itself was marred by man’s sin. So the Word became flesh to make all things new. Therefore all creation must pass through Me if it is to reach its point of rest in My Father’s house. I am the Truth about God and about man. Look to Me, meditate on My life and you will discover the meaning, the purpose and the infinite value of your own life. From Me you will learn how to properly conduct yourself in relation to the Father and your neighbor. My truth gives light to your conscience especially in those moments of morally difficult decisions. I am Life itself, the source of your natural and supernatural life. “And this life became the light of men” (John 1:4).

2. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life: There are moments when this statement seems altogether untrue; moments in life when the soul seeking to follow Christ and to dedicate itself to extending God’s Kingdom ends up persecuted, alone and confused. Consider how Our Lady faced situations when she did not clearly comprehend God’s ways: Joseph’s decision to divorce her, the birth in a stable, the martyrdom of the Holy Innocents, the flight to Egypt, the child Jesus lost in the Temple, the trial, scourging, crucifixion and death of her son. It was precisely in this ‘darkness’ that the light of faith guided her “more surely than the noon-day sun” (St. John of the Cross). It is the light of this faith in the God that we do not see that enables us to love our brothers and sisters that we do see. It is the light of this faith that permits us to grasp the divine and human presence of Our Lord in the consecrated host. It is the light of this faith that allows us to find God’s image in each person from the moment of conception up until the last drawn breath, regardless of race, creed, physical or mental capacities. Faith, real and true faith, transforms our entire lives. Even when faced with the deepest solitude, the cruelest sickness, the bitterest moral pain, a soul that believes and lives in accord with faith feels intimately happy. It knows that with its suffering it shows its love for God, becomes more like Jesus Christ, and collaborates a little in the salvation of souls by joining its suffering with those of Jesus”.

3. I know where I came from and where I am going: John’s Gospel insists on the total identity between the Father and the Son. Jesus does not “stumble upon” his identity nor does he just “happen to be” captured and crucified. ‘Though he was in the form of God he humbled himself and took the form of a slave” (Philippians 2) that we might “have life and have it fully” (John 10:10). He came to lay down his life so that he might put to death our sinful nature and take us up again in the newness of his life. As St. Irenaeus stated, “he recapitulates” all things in his person. The full self-knowledge of who he is reveals to us the boundless freedom of his love, a love that animates his every action, especially his death on the cross. Dying was his reason for living.

Dialogue with Christ: Dear Lord, in your light I see light. In your life I find the explanation of my own life. You are my meaning, my purpose and my lasting hope. You also know that the demands of daily living deeply affect my life. The tug and pull of the world constantly invite me down a path that, if followed, may one day separate me from you, my true joy. Grant me the light of faith and give me the grace to seek you generously and sincerely so that, united to you, I too may be light, salt and leaven for those I meet today. Mother of Purity, make my heart only for Jesus.

Resolution:At least three times today I will stop what I am doing to lift my heart, my thoughts and my will to Jesus, reorienting my actions towards him.


38 posted on 03/18/2013 6:55:42 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All

Love More

 

by Food For Thought on March 18, 2013 ·

When fathers post pictures of their children, the resemblance to their parents is quite uncanny. If we are very familiar or really know very well our friends, once we meet their parents, we can easily recognize if they look more like their dad or their mom. But, this physical recognition only comes easily because we have spent quality time with our good friends.

This is the dilemma of Our Lord. Again, he has to prove himself to his critics. The unconditional love expressed by God the Father can also be seen in Jesus. It’s just sad that those who don’t appreciate this remain far from Our Savior. They’d rather stay behind the comforting shield of their questioning rather than really see for themselves how deeply they are loved by Our Creator. Once they recognize this, they also will be in awe by Jesus Christ himself.

But, we all know that this wasn’t meant to be. It’s sometimes easier to formulate a critical opinion than to undergo a life-changing experience. It’s a bit easier to criticize what we don’t know than to actually invest the time and effort to really understand and comprehend, to see for ourselves, what we don’t know. We’re already comfortable with our state in life. To be challenged to love more would “rock the boat” as they say.

Let us pray for more open-mindedness to how God’s love really affects us and our surroundings. May our hearts be more ready to see Jesus even in unthinkable locales like the slums or some abhorrent milieu. When we really get to know Christ, we will be able to recognize him even in the most unlikely of circumstances.


39 posted on 03/18/2013 7:04:56 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

 


<< Monday, March 18, 2013 >> St. Cyril of Jerusalem
 
Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62
View Readings
Psalm 23:1-6 John 8:12-20
 

BATH AND BODY

 
"She decided to bathe." —Daniel 13:15
 

Today's first reading is more than a story of good triumphing over evil. It's an Old Testament preview of Baptism. When Susanna enters her bath (Dn 13:17-18), she is surrounded by the powers of evil, as represented by the two corrupt elders. Susanna is immersed in a dilemma of whether to save her life by yielding to evil or to cling to holiness and purity at the cost of her life (Dn 13:22). Susanna rises from her bath determined to trust in God, saying to the evil judges, "It is better for me to fall into your power without guilt than to sin before the Lord" (Dn 13:23).

Susanna rose from the waters of her bath free, pure, and victorious over the kingdom of darkness. As we are baptized, we emerge from the waters redeemed and uncondemned (see Rm 8:1). Most of us were baptized as infants. We can't remember emerging from the waters free and victorious. In her wisdom, the Church therefore calls us to regularly renew our Baptisms. This makes our Baptism new and alive for us. Just as important, it challenges us to live our Baptism in a new, holy, and faith-filled lifestyle.

In a few weeks, you will renew your Baptism at Easter Vigil and/or Easter Sunday Mass. As Susanna did, make the decision to entrust your life completely to the Lord. Prepare now to renew your Baptism. Reject sin and Satan. Hunger and thirst for holiness (Mt 5:6). Refuse to compromise with the kingdom of darkness in any way, even if you must endure persecution for holiness' sake (see Mt 5:10). Choose to be pure as Jesus is pure (1 Jn 3:3).

 
Prayer: Jesus, you gave up Your body for me (Lk 22:19). I give up my body for You. Be glorified in my body (1 Cor 6:20).
Promise: "The Lord is my Shepherd...Beside restful waters He leads me; He refreshes my soul." —Ps 23:1-3
Praise: St. Cyril encouraged catechumens: "Remove all obstacles and stumbling blocks so that you will be able to go straight along the road to eternal life."

40 posted on 03/18/2013 7:10:42 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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