September 13, 2013

Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our savior
and of Christ Jesus our hope,
to Timothy, my true child in faith:
grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father
and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord,
because he considered me trustworthy
in appointing me to the ministry.
I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man,
but I have been mercifully treated
because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief.
Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant,
along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Responsorial Psalm PS 16:1b-2a and 5, 7-8, 11

R. (see 5) You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Gospel Lk 6:39-42

Jesus told his disciples a parable:
“Can a blind person guide a blind person?
Will not both fall into a pit?
No disciple is superior to the teacher;
but when fully trained,
every disciple will be like his teacher.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?
How can you say to your brother,
‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’
when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?
You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly
to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”

Interactive Saints for Kids

St. John Chrysostom

Feast Day: September 13
Born: 344 / Died: 407

St. John Chrysostom was born in Antioch in Greece. His father died when he was a baby and his mother decided not to marry again. She gave all her attention to bringing up her son and daughter.

She made many sacrifices so that John could have the best teachers. He was very intelligent and could have become a great man in the world. When he gave speeches everyone loved to listen to him. In fact, his name, Chrysostom, means, "Golden-mouthed."

Yet John wanted to give himself to God. He became a priest and lived for about 12 years preaching in Syria. Later he was made bishop and then Archbishop of the great city of Constantinople.

St. John was a wonderful bishop. Although he was always sick, he did a great amount of good. He preached once or twice every day, fed the poor and took care of orphans.

He corrected sinful customs and stopped bad plays from being performed. He loved everyone, but was not afraid to tell even the empress when she did wrong.

Because he fought sin, St. John had many enemies - even the empress herself. She had him sent away from Constantinople. On the trip he suffered greatly from fever, without food and sleep. Yet, he was happy to suffer for Jesus. Just before he died, he cried out, "Glory be to God!"

Luke
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Luke 6
39.	And he spoke also to them a similitude: Can the blind lead the blind? do they not both fall into the ditch?	Dicebat autem illis et similitudinem : Numquid potest cæcus cæcum ducere ? nonne ambo in foveam cadunt ?	ειπεν δε παραβολην αυτοις μητι δυναται τυφλος τυφλον οδηγειν ουχι αμφοτεροι εις βοθυνον πεσουνται
40.	The disciple is not above his master: but every one shall be perfect, if he be as his master.	Non est discipulus super magistrum : perfectus autem omnis erit, si sit sicut magister ejus.	ουκ εστιν μαθητης υπερ τον διδασκαλον αυτου κατηρτισμενος δε πας εσται ως ο διδασκαλος αυτου
41.	And why seest thou the mote in thy brother's eye: but the beam that is in thy own eye thou considerest not?	Quid autem vides festucam in oculo fratris tui, trabem autem, quæ in oculo tuo est, non consideras ?	τι δε βλεπεις το καρφος το εν τω οφθαλμω του αδελφου σου την δε δοκον την εν τω ιδιω οφθαλμω ου κατανοεις
42.	Or how canst thou say to thy brother: Brother, let me pull the mote out of thy eye, when thou thyself seest not the beam in thy own eye? Hypocrite, cast first the beam out of thy own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to take out the mote from thy brother's eye.	aut quomodo potes dicere fratri tuo : Frater, sine ejiciam festucam de oculo tuo : ipse in oculo tuo trabem non videns ? Hypocrita, ejice primum trabem de oculo tuo : et tunc perspicies ut educas festucam de oculo fratris tui.	η πως δυνασαι λεγειν τω αδελφω σου αδελφε αφες εκβαλω το καρφος το εν τω οφθαλμω σου αυτος την εν τω οφθαλμω σου δοκον ου βλεπων υποκριτα εκβαλε πρωτον την δοκον εκ του οφθαλμου σου και τοτε διαβλεψεις εκβαλειν το καρφος το εν τω οφθαλμω του αδελφου σου

39. And he spoke a parable to them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
40. The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
41. And why behold you the mote that is in your brother's eye, but perceives not the beam that is in your own eye?
42. Either how can you say to your brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in your eye, when you yourself behold not the beam that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of your own eye, and then shall you see clearly to pull out the mote that is in your brother's eye.

CYRIL; The Lord added to what had gone before a very necessary parable, as it is said, And he spoke a parable to them, for His disciples were the future teachers of the world, and it therefore became them to know the way of a virtuous life, having their minds illuminated as it were by a divine brightness, that they should not be blind leaders of the blind. And then he adds, Can the blind lead the blind? But if any should chance to attain to an equal degree of virtue with their teachers, let them stand in the measure of their teachers, and follow their footsteps.

Hence it follows, The disciple is not above his master. Hence also Paul says, Be you also followers of me, as I am of Christ. Since Christ therefore judged not, why judge you? for He came not to judge the world, but to show mercy.

THEOPHYL. Or else, If you judge another, and in the very same way sin yourself, are not you like to the blind leading the blind? For how can you lead him to good when you also yourself commit sin? For the disciple is not above his master. If therefore you sin, who think yourself a master and guide, where will he be who is taught and led by you? For he will be the perfect disciple who is as his master.

THEOPHYL; Or the sense of this sentence depends upon the former, in which we are enjoined to give alms, and forgive injuries. If, says He, anger has blinded you against the violent, and avarice against the grasping, how can you with your corrupt heart cure his corruption? If even your Master Christ, who as God might revenge His injuries, chose rather by patience to render His persecutors more merciful, it is surely binding on His disciples, who are but men, to follow the same rule of perfection.

AUG. Or, He has added the words, Can the blind, lead the blind, in order that they , might not expect to receive from the Levites that measure of which He says, They shall give into your bosom, because they gave tithes to them. And these He calls blind, because they received not the Gospel, that the people might the rather now begin to hope for that reward through the disciples of the Lord, whom wishing to point out as His imitators, He added, The disciple is not above his master.

THEOPHYL. But the Lord introduces another parable taken from the same figure, as follows, but why see you the mote (that is, the slight fault) which is in your brother's eye, but the beam which is in your own eye (that is, your great sin) you regard not?

THEOPHYL; Now this has reference to the previous parable, in which He forewarned them that the blind cannot be led by the blind, that is, the sinner corrected by the sinner. Hence it is said, Or, how can you say to your brother, Brother let me cast out the mote that is in your eye, if you see not the beam that is in your own eye?

CYRIL; As if He said, How can he who is guilty of grievous sins, (which He calls the beam,) condemn him who has sinned only slightly, or even in some cases not at all? For this the mote signifies.

THEOPHYL. But these words are applicable to all, and especially to teachers, who while they punish the least sins of those who are put under them, leave their own unpunished. Wherefore the Lord calls them hypocrites, because to this end judge they the sins of others, that they themselves might seem just. Hence it follows, You hypocrite, first cast the beam out of your own eye, &c.

CYRIL; That is to say, first show yourself clean from great sins, and then afterwards shall you give counsel to your neighbor, who is guilty only of slight sins.

BASIL; In truth, self knowledge seems the most important of all. For not only the eye, looking at outward things, fails to exercise its sight upon itself, but our understanding also, though very quick in apprehending the sin of another, is slow to perceive its own defects.

Catena Aurea Luke 6

Catholic Culture

Daily Readings for: September 13, 2013
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: O God, strength of those who hope in you, who willed that the Bishop Saint John Chrysostom should be illustrious by his wonderful eloquence and his experience of suffering, grant us, we pray, that, instructed by his teachings, we may be strengthened through the example of his invincible patience. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

RECIPES

o Greek Salad

ACTIVITIES

o Elementary Parent Pedagogy: Difficulties in Reading

o Preschool Parent Pedagogy: Christian Use of Pictures

PRAYERS

o Prayer of St. John Chrysostom

LIBRARY

o Ex Quo (On The Euchologion) | Pope Benedict XIV

o Saint John Chrysostom | Pope Benedict XVI

o St John Chrysostom - 2 | Pope Benedict XVI

o St. John Chrysostom: The Prophet of Charity | Archpriest Georges Florovsky

o The Age of Patrology | Sal Ciresi

Ordinary Time: September 13th

Memorial of St. John Chrysostom, bishop and doctor

St. John Chrysostom, born in Antioch about 347 A.D., was a great genius. His powerful eloquence earned him the surname of Chrysostom, or golden mouthed. With St. Athanasius, St. Gregory Nazianzen and St. Basil, he forms the group of the four great doctors of the Eastern Church. As Archbishop of Constantinople, his courageous stance against the vices of even the wealthy caused him to be exiled several times. As a result he died in 407, still in exile. In 1204 his body was brought to St. Peter's in Rome but was returned to the Orthodox on November 27, 2004 by Pope John Paul II. His silver and jewel-encrusted skull is now kept in the Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos in northern Greece, and is credited by Christians with miraculous healings. His right hand is also preserved on Mount Athos, and numerous smaller relics are scattered throughout the world. His feast in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite is celebrated on January 27.

St. John Chrysostom
John Chrysostom was the son of a Latin father and a Greek mother; his mother, Anthusa, was widowed at the age of twenty, soon after his birth. Putting aside all thought of remarriage, Anthusa gave all of her attention to her son: she gave him the best classical education of the day, and enrolled him as a catechumen when he was eighteen. He came under the influence of Meletius, patriarch of Antioch, who sent him to the monastic school of Diodore, then baptized him and ordained him lector.

At this time, St. John Chrysostom decided to take his future into his own hands and became a monk-hermit, living in a cave, studying the Scriptures, and putting himself under the discipline of an old hermit named Hesychius. However, his health broke under this austere regimen and he returned to Antioch, was ordained a priest, and began his remarkable career as a preacher.

During the next twelve years, he electrified Antioch with his fiery sermons, filled with a knowledge and an eloquence that were astonishing. It was during this period that he received the nickname Chrysostom, or golden mouth, for his words seemed to be pure gold. In 397, when the see of Constantinople became vacant, the Emperor Arcadius appointed John patriarch, and since it was feared that he would refuse the honor, he was lured to Constantinople and consecrated bishop of the city in 398.

John found himself in a nest of political intrigue, fraud, extravagance, and naked ambition. He curbed expenses, gave lavishly to the poor, built hospitals, reformed the clergy, and restored monastic discipline. But his program of reform made him enemies, in particular the Empress Eudoxia and the Patriarch Theophilus of Alexandria. The city in turmoil, his life threatened, John was exiled by the emperor in the year 404.

The papal envoys were imprisoned, and John — defended by the pope and ordered restored to his see — was sent further into exile, six hundred miles from Constantinople, across the Black Sea. Worn out and sick, he died of his hardships at Comana in Pontus. His last words were, "Glory to God for all things."

—Excerpted from The One Year Book of Saints by Rev. Clifford Stevens

Patron: Constantinople; epilepsy; orators; preachers.

Symbols: Beehive; chalice on Bible; white dove; scroll or book; pen and inkhorn; bishop's mitre.

Things to Do:

Discuss and implement some ideas on how to follow this idea: "Family life becomes sanctified when parents carry out St. John Chrysostom's plea to make each home a family church."
Cook special foods for this feast--Greek foods or foods with a "golden" color, such as honey.
Imitate the patron of orators, learn how to give speeches, perhaps have a speech contest.
St. John was a great Scripture scholar, and we should follow his encouragement of daily Bible reading and study.
Read excerpts from St. John Chrysostom's writing to see why he was called "golden-mouthed."
Learn more about the Eastern Rite churches.
View some of the world's most famous icons

Doctors of the Catholic Church

Saint John Chrysostom spoke bravely, boldly, and was perhaps the most outspoken preacher the church ever had. He comforted the disturbed and disturbed the comfortable. John would not be caught up in the politics of his day. He advocated peace and justice. For this he was banished from his place of authority.

The Doctor of Preachers message to us today is to love those who hate you and pray for those who persecute you. He showed no bitterness or malice toward those who hated and exiled him from his church. John asked to share one's wealth with the poor.

Father Rengers tells us in his book on The 33 Doctors of the Church (see doctoral resources) that John was so good at preaching that pickpockets came to his sermons and stoled as John's audience was rapt attentively by his words. He can easily lay claim to the title of the greatest preacher of Christianity.

He is also the Doctor of the Eucharist from which, we can be sure, he honed his speaking skills and found therein what to say as he listened to the Savior's sentiments while being sated with the Flesh of the Son of God.

St John Chrysostom, 345-407. Doctor of Preachers, Feast, Sept 13th.

The Word Among Us

Meditation: 1 Timothy 1:1-2, 12-14

Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

He considered me trustworthy in appointing me to the ministry. (1 Timothy 1:12)

Do you consider yourself trustworthy when it comes to the call to preach the gospel? Jesus does! He didn’t give this job just to St. Paul and the other apostles. He has given it to all of us! Exciting, isn’t it? Jesus, your Savior, Redeemer, Healer, and Friend, has deemed you worthy to carry the responsibility of telling the world about who he is.

In today’s first reading, St. Paul recalls a time when he was “a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man” (1 Timothy 1:13)—that is, until the Lord revealed himself to Paul and brought him to conversion. Then, filled with gratitude for what he had received, Paul joyfully took up the call to spread the good news far and wide.

Now, if God could use someone with a past as violent as Paul’s, why couldn’t he use you? Remember, Paul didn’t become the great “apostle to the nations” overnight. He had to deal with his old habits, assumptions, sins, and prejudices, but he didn’t wait until he was perfect to begin sharing the gospel. On the contrary, he couldn’t keep his mouth shut about the Lord!

Let Paul’s story be a source of comfort and inspiration to you today. God has entrusted the gospel to you. You don’t have to be a pastor standing in the pulpit each week, a noted theologian, or a religious brother or sister to preach the gospel. He chose you for who you are, for the gifts and talents that only you have. He chose you because of the unique way that you show people what the Christian life is like. Most important, he chose you because he knows you can do it!

So come to Jesus with a grateful heart. He has taken the scales off your eyes and commissioned you to show forth his glory and his love. Let the joy of your salvation rise up in your heart so that it can propel you into the world with the best news possible. Then look for every opportunity he gives you to share the reason for your joy.

“Lord, I am amazed that you have called me to share your good news. By your Spirit, fill me with confidence and courage to be your ambassador.”

Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 11; Luke 6:39-42

Regnum Christi

God So Loves Me

| SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, bishop and doctor of the Church

Father Patrick Butler, LC

Luke 6: 39-42

He also told them a parable: "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor´s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ´Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,´ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor´s eye.

Introductory Prayer: God the Father, thank you for the gift of creation, including my own life. God the Son, thank you for redeeming me at the price of your own Body and Blood. God the Holy Spirit, thank you for being the sweet guest of my soul, enlightening my mind, strengthening my spirit and kindling the fire of your love in my heart.

Petition: Lord, help me to grow in humility.

1. Blind Guides: Jesus poses a rhetorical question to the crowd: “Can a blind person guide a blind person?” It is obvious that a guide needs to see. If we are talking about guiding people to the kingdom of God, then Jesus is the way. He is the one who has come from his Father; he knows the way. First, we can reflect on his importance and centrality to our journey to heaven. Second, we can also think about ourselves as guides for others. There should be a certain hesitancy, which is not reluctance, when we consider the task of leading others to God. We should be humble and remain very close to the Church that Christ founded to continue his mission on earth.

2. Disciples: Christ’s next statement emphasizes that while the disciple is not above his teacher, he can learn as much as the teacher. The disciple of Jesus can learn from him the steps which lead to salvation and eternal life. Christ not only founded the Church to continue his teaching, but he also endowed her with the gift of his Spirit to preserve her from error. Our confidence in teaching others should derive from the knowledge that we are in union with the Church and seek to follow her teachings. Learning is a lifelong process, but religious instruction often ceases with First Communion or Confirmation, and many adults have only the religious formation of a child. What are we doing to become fully qualified in our knowledge of the faith?

3. Hypocrites: Evangelization begins with us. It does seem that we are much quicker to detect faults in others than to notice them in ourselves. We can even be really irritated by another person’s faults, even though we ourselves possess them in greater measure than does the person about whom we are complaining. The proud person complains loudly of the conceit and arrogance he sees in his neighbor, but he is blind to his own vice. We need to consider our own condition first – humbly –, and then we need to work on truly becoming more Christ-like. The more we allow God’s grace to transform our lives, the more we can help others.

Conversation with Christ: Lord, I am very proud. I so easily get wrapped up in myself, my perspective, my needs and my wants. I put myself before others. Help me to see the faults in myself that you want me to start working on. Give me the courage to address them before I start looking at others.

Resolution: I will identify two or three practical things I can do this week to grow in the virtue of humility.

Unworthy

by Food For Thought on September 13, 2013 · 0 Comments

The first verse of Psalm 1 asks “O Lord, who will dwell in your tent and reside on your holy mount?” In other words, it is asking God “Who deserves to be in your presence?” In the first reading, Paul writes that he certainly did not deserve to be in the presence of the Lord nor be in His service because he was “a blasphemer, a persecutor and a rabid enemy”; but, Jesus had mercy on him and changed his heart on the road to Damascus. Jesus gifted him with faith and love, making him trustworthy to be in his service. The same theme can be seen in today’s gospel. A disciple of Jesus is one “who is not above the master, but when fully trained, he will be like his master.” As true disciples, we are to behave like our Master. We are to conform our hearts to the heart of Jesus who is not critical of us and accepts us as sinners. Jesus encourages us to look into ourselves instead of judging those around us. So that we may follow his teachings more closely, we need his grace and his strength, as Paul says. We cannot do this on our own but only through God’s gracious permission. We pray that one day, our character may mirror that of Jesus.

When was the last time I judged someone? What changes can I make in my behavior today through the help of Jesus? Can I entrust myself to Jesus to shape my character according to his wishes?

One Bread, One Body

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All Issues > Volume 29, Issue 5

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St. John Chrysostom

1 Timothy 1:1-2, 12-14
View Readings

Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 11

Luke 6:39-42
Similar Reflections

STAYING POWER

"Keep me, O God." —Psalm 16:1

Paul repeated to Timothy the following directions: "Stay on in Ephesus in order to warn certain people there against teaching false doctrines" (1 Tm 1:3). We likewise need to "stay on." We should pray daily for the grace of final perseverance so that we will never "fall away" from our "sincere and complete devotion to Christ" (2 Cor 11:3).

Through Christian community, the Lord often gives us the grace of final perseverance. Paul pointed out to Timothy that he was Paul's "child in faith" (1 Tm 1:2). Surrounded by the cloud of Christian witnesses, each of us, like Timothy, will have the strength to persevere in running the race of the Christian life (Heb 12:1).

Paul also thanked the Lord for His saving mercy (see 1 Tm 1:2, 12-13). When we think of how much the Lord has done for us — when we think of His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection for love of us — we will keep thanking the Lord and continue to receive the grace to keep our hands on the "Gospel plow," never looking back (see Lk 9:62).

In thanksgiving, fix your eyes on Jesus, our crucified and risen Savior (see Heb 12:2). Live in practical Christian community, and you will never lose your first love for Jesus (Rv 2:4). You will love Him forever.

Prayer: Father, I ask for the grace of final perseverance. May I never leave you.

Promise: "Remove the plank from your own eye first; then you will see clearly enough to remove the speck from your brother's eye." —Lk 6:42

Praise: St. John persevered in the truth by preaching it even when it was resisted by prominent members of the community.

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Meditation: 1 Timothy 1:1-2, 12-14

Marriage = One Man and One Woman Til' Death Do Us Part

Unworthy

One Bread, One Body

STAYING POWER