Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 08-04-14, M, St. John Vianney, Priest

St. John Vianney

Feast Day: August 4
Born: 1768 :: Died: 1859

John Mary Vianney was born in Lyons, in France. As a child he took care of his father's sheep. He loved to pray but he also loved to play horseshoes. When John was eighteen, he asked his father if he could become a priest. His father was worried because John had become a big help on the family farm but two years later his father agreed.

When he was twenty years old, John studied under Father Balley. The priest was very patient but John became sad when he found it difficult to learn Latin. He then decided to walk sixty miles, which was a very long walk, to the shrine of St. John Francis Regis whose feast we celebrate on June 16. John prayed to St. John Francis for help. After the pilgrimage, he still found his lessons difficult but now he was not sad. He just decided to study harder.

John was finally able to enter the seminary to become a priest. No matter how much he tried, he found his studies quite hard. In the final exams, which were spoken, not written, John had to face a group of teachers and answer their questions. He was very worried and could not complete the test.

Yet, because John was a holy man, he was full of common sense and understood what the Church taught about the subjects. He knew the right answers when asked what should be done in this case or that. He just couldn't say those answers in the difficult way they were taught in the Latin text books. John was ordained and became a priest anyway. He understood what his job was as a priest and everyone knew he was a good man.

After he became a priest, he was sent to a little parish called Ars. Father Vianney fasted, prayed and did hard penance so that God would save the people of his parish from sin. The people of his parish were not all good. They drank too much liquor, used bad language, worked even on Sundays and never went to Church.

Then God heard Fr. Vianney's prayer and one by one the liquor shops closed down. People slowly started going to Church for Mass and began worshipping God.

God gave John the power to see into people's minds and to know the future. Because of this gift, he converted many sinners and helped people make the right choices in life.

Hundreds of pilgrims began to come to Ars and St. John Vianney spent twelve to sixteen hours everyday hearing confessions. He really wanted to spend the rest of his life in a monastery as a monk; instead, he stayed forty-two years at Ars and died there in 1859 at the age of seventy-three.

Matthew
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Matthew 14
22.	And forthwith Jesus obliged his disciples to go up into the boat, and to go before him over the water, till he dismissed the people.	Et statim compulit Jesus discipulos ascendere in naviculam, et præcedere eum trans fretum, donec dimitteret turbas.	και ευθεως ηναγκασεν ο ιησους τους μαθητας εμβηναι εις το πλοιον και προαγειν αυτον εις το περαν εως ου απολυση τους οχλους
23.	And having dismissed the multitude, he went into a mountain alone to pray. And when it was evening, he was there alone.	Et dimissa turba, ascendit in montem solus orare. Vespere autem facto solus erat ibi :	και απολυσας τους οχλους ανεβη εις το ορος κατ ιδιαν προσευξασθαι οψιας δε γενομενης μονος ην εκει
24.	But the boat in the midst of the sea was tossed with the waves: for the wind was contrary.	navicula autem in medio mari jactabatur fluctibus : erat enim contrarius ventus.	το δε πλοιον ηδη μεσον της θαλασσης ην βασανιζομενον υπο των κυματων ην γαρ εναντιος ο ανεμος
25.	And in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them walking upon the sea.	Quarta enim vigilia noctis, venit ad eos ambulans super mare.	τεταρτη δε φυλακη της νυκτος απηλθεν προς αυτους ο ιησους περιπατων επι της θαλασσης
26.	And they seeing him walk upon the sea, were troubled, saying: It is an apparition. And they cried out for fear.	Et videntes eum super mare ambulantem, turbati sunt, dicentes : Quia phantasma est. Et præ timore clamaverunt.	και ιδοντες αυτον οι μαθηται επι την θαλασσαν περιπατουντα εταραχθησαν λεγοντες οτι φαντασμα εστιν και απο του φοβου εκραξαν
27.	And immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying: Be of good heart: it is I, fear ye not.	Statimque Jesus locutus est eis, dicens : Habete fiduciam : ego sum, nolite timere.	ευθεως δε ελαλησεν αυτοις ο ιησους λεγων θαρσειτε εγω ειμι μη φοβεισθε
28.	And Peter making answer, said: Lord, if it be thou, bid me come to thee upon the waters.	Respondens autem Petrus, dixit : Domine, si tu es, jube me ad te venire super aquas.	αποκριθεις δε αυτω ο πετρος ειπεν κυριε ει συ ει κελευσον με προς σε ελθειν επι τα υδατα
29.	And he said: Come. And Peter going down out of the boat, walked upon the water to come to Jesus.	At ipse ait : Veni. Et descendens Petrus de navicula, ambulabat super aquam ut veniret ad Jesum.	ο δε ειπεν ελθε και καταβας απο του πλοιου ο πετρος περιεπατησεν επι τα υδατα ελθειν προς τον ιησουν
30.	But seeing the wind strong, he was afraid: and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying: Lord, save me.	Videns vero ventum validum, timuit : et cum cœpisset mergi, clamavit dicens : Domine, salvum me fac.	βλεπων δε τον ανεμον ισχυρον εφοβηθη και αρξαμενος καταποντιζεσθαι εκραξεν λεγων κυριε σωσον με
31.	And immediately Jesus stretching forth his hand took hold of him, and said to him: O thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt?	Et continuo Jesus extendens manum, apprehendit eum : et ait illi : Modicæ fidei, quare dubitasti ?	ευθεως δε ο ιησους εκτεινας την χειρα επελαβετο αυτου και λεγει αυτω ολιγοπιστε εις τι εδιστασας
32.	And when they were come up into the boat, the wind ceased.	Et cum ascendissent in naviculam, cessavit ventus.	και εμβαντων αυτων εις το πλοιον εκοπασεν ο ανεμος
33.	And they that were in the boat came and adored him, saying: Indeed thou art the Son of God.	Qui autem in navicula erant, venerunt, et adoraverunt eum, dicentes : Vere Filius Dei es.	οι δε εν τω πλοιω ελθοντες προσεκυνησαν αυτω λεγοντες αληθως θεου υιος ει
34.	And having passed the water, they came into the country of Genesar.	Et cum transfretassent, venerunt in terram Genesar.	και διαπερασαντες ηλθον εις την γην γεννησαρετ
35.	And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent into all that country, and brought to him all that were diseased.	Et cum cognovissent eum viri loci illius, miserunt in universam regionem illam, et obtulerunt ei omnes male habentes :	και επιγνοντες αυτον οι ανδρες του τοπου εκεινου απεστειλαν εις ολην την περιχωρον εκεινην και προσηνεγκαν αυτω παντας τους κακως εχοντας
36.	And they besought him that they might touch but the hem of his garment. And as many as touched, were made whole.	et rogabant eum ut vel fimbriam vestimenti ejus tangerent. Et quicumque tetigerunt, salvi facti sunt.	και παρεκαλουν αυτον ινα μονον αψωνται του κρασπεδου του ιματιου αυτου και οσοι ηψαντο διεσωθησαν

22. And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
23. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
24. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
26. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27. But straightway Jesus spoke to them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be you, bid me come to you on the water.
29. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?
32. And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
33. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth you are the Son of God.

CHRYS; Desiring to occasion a diligent examination of the things that had been done, He commanded those who had beheld the foregoing sign to be separated from Him; for even if He had continued present it would have been said that He had wrought the miracle fantastically, and not in verity; but it would never be urged against Him that He had done it in His absence; and therefore it is said, And straightway Jesus compelled his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

JEROME; These words show that they left the Lord unwillingly, not desiring through their love for their teacher to be separated from Him even for a moment.

CHRYS; It should be observed, that when the Lord works a great miracle, He sends the multitudes away, teaching us thereby never to pursue the praise of the multitude, nor to attract them to us. Further, He teaches us that we should not be ever mixed with crowds, nor yet always shunning them; but that both may be done with profit; whence it follows, And when he had sent the multitude away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray; showing us that solitude is good, when we have need to pray to God. For this also He goes into the desert, and there spends the night in prayer, to teach us that for prayer we should seek stillness both in time and place.

JEROME; That He withdraws to pray alone, you should refer not to Him who fed five thousand on five loaves, but to Him who on hearing of the death of John withdrew into the desert; not that we would separate the Lord's person into two parts, but that His actions are divided between the God and the mall.

AUG; This may, seem contrary to that Matthew says, that having sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain that He might pray alone; and John again says, that it was on a mountain that He fed this same multitude. But since John himself says further, that after that miracle He retired to a mountain that He might not be held by the multitude, who sought to make Him a king, it is clear that He had come down from the mountain when He fed them. Nor do Matthew's words, He went up into a mountain alone to pray, disagree with this, though John says, When he knew that they would come to make him a king, he withdrew into a mountain himself alone.

For the cause of His praying is not contrary to the cause of His retiring, for herein the Lord teaches us that we have great cause for prayer when we have cause for flight. Nor, again, is it contrary to this that Matthew says first, that He bade His disciples go into the boat, and then that He sent the multitudes away, and went into a mountain alone to pray; while John relates that He first withdrew to the mountain, and then, when it was late, his disciples went down to the sea, and when they had entered into a boat, &c. for who does not see that John is relating as afterwards done by His disciples what Jesus had commanded before He retired into the mountain?

JEROME; Rightly had the Apostles departed from the Lord as unwilling, and slow to leave Him lest they should suffer shipwreck while He was not with them. For it follows, when it was evening he was there alone; that is, in the mountain; but the boat was in the middle of the sea tossed with the waves; for the wind was contrary.

CHRYS; Again, the disciples suffer shipwreck, as they had done before; but then they had Him in the boat, but now they are alone. Thus gradually He leads them to higher things, and instructs them to endure all manfully.

JEROME; While the Lord tarries in the top of the mountain, straightway a wind arises contrary to them, and stirs up the sea, and the disciples are in imminent peril of shipwreck, which continues till Jesus comes.

CHRYS; But He suffers them to be tossed the whole night, exciting their hearts by fear, and inspiring them with greater desire and more lasting recollection of Him; for this reason He did not stand by them immediately, but as it follows, in the fourth watch of the night he came to them walking upon the sea.

JEROME; The military guards and watches are divided into portions of three hours each. When then he says that the Lord came to them in the fourth watch, this shows that they had been in danger the whole night.

CHRYS; Teaching them not to seek a speedy riddance of coming evil, but to bear manfully such things as befall them. But when they thought that they were delivered, then was their fear increased, whence it follows, And seeing him walking upon the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a vision, and through fear they cried out. For this the Lord ever does; when He is to rescue from any evil, He brings in things terrible and difficult. For since it is impossible that our temptation should continue a long time, when the warfare of the righteous is to be finished, then He increases their conflicts, desiring to make greater gain of them; which He did also in Abraham, making his hot conflict his trial of the loss of his son.

JEROME; A confused noise and uncertain sound is the mark of great fear. But if, according to Marcion and Manichaeus, our Lord was not born of a virgin, but was seen in a phantasm, how is it that the Apostles now fear that they have seen a phantasm (or vision)?

CHRYS; Christ then did not reveal Himself to His disciples until they cried out; for the more intense their fear, the more did they rejoice in His presence; whence it follows, And immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid. This speech took away their fear, and prepared their confidence.

JEROME; Whereas He says, It is I, without saying who, either they might be able to understand Him speaking through the darkness of night; or they might know that it was He who had spoken to Moses, Say to the children of Israel, He that is has sent me to you. On every occasion Peter is found to be the one of the most ardent faith. And with the same zeal as ever, so now, while the others are silent, he believes that by the will of his Master he will be able to do that which by nature he cannot do; whence it follows, Peter answered and said to him, Lord, if it be you, bid me come to you upon the water. As much as to say, Do you command, and straightway it will become solid; and that body which is in itself heavy will become light.

AUG; This I am not able by myself, but in you I am able. Peter confessed what he was in himself, and what he should receive from Him by whose will he believed he should be enabled to do that which no human infirmity was equal to.

CHRYS; See how great his warmth, how great his faith. He said not, Pray and entreat for me; but Bid me; he believes not only that Christ can Himself walk on the sea, but that He can lead others also thereon ; also he wishes to come to Him speedily, and this, so great a thing, he asks not from ostentation, but from love. For he said not, Bid me walk upon the waters, but, Bid me come to you. And it seems that having shown in he first miracle that He has power over the sea, He now leads them to a more powerful sign; He said to him, Come. And Peter, going forth of the boat, walked on the sea, that he might go to Jesus.

JEROME; Let those who think that the Lord's body was not real, because He walked upon the yielding waters as a light ethereal substance, answer here how Peter walked, whom they by no means deny to be man.

RABAN; Lastly, Theodorus wrote that the Lord had not bodily weight in respect of His flesh, but without weight walked on the sea. But the catholic faith preaches the contrary; for Dionysius says that He walked on the wave, without the feet being immersed, having bodily weight, and the burden of matter

CHRYS; Peter overcame that which was greater, the waves, namely, of the sea, but is troubled by the lesser, the blowing wind, for it follows, But seeing the wind boisterous, he was afraid. Such is human nature, in great trials oft times holding itself aright, and in lesser falling into fault. This fear of Peter showed the difference between Master and disciple, and thereby appeased the other disciples. For if they had indignation when the two brothers prayed to sit on the right and left hand, much more had they now. For they were not yet made spiritual; afterwards when they had been made spiritual, they every where yield the first place to Peter, and appoint him to lead in harangues to the people.

JEROME; Moreover he is left to temptation for a short season, that his faith may be increased, and that he may understand that he is saved not by his ability to ask, but by the power of the Lord. For faith burned at his heart, but human frailty drew him into the deep.

AUG. Peter then presumed on the Lord, he tottered as man, but returned to the Lord, as it follows, And when he began to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me. Does the Lord then desert him in his peril of failure whom he had hearkened to when he first called on Him? Immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him.

CHRYS; He bade not the winds to cease, but stretched forth His hand and caught him, because his faith was required. For when our own means fail, then those which are of God stand. Then to show that not the strength of the tempest, but the smallness of his faith worked the danger, He said to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt? which shows that not even the wind would have been able to hurt him, if his faith had been firm. But as the mother bears on her wings and brings back to the nest her chick which has left the nest before its time and has fallen, so did Christ.

And when they were come into the boat, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the boat came and worshipped him, saying, Truly you are the Son of God.

RABAN; This may be understood either of the sailors, or of the Apostles.

CHRYS; Observe how He leads all gradually to that which is above them; He had before rebuked the sea, now He shows forth His power yet more by walking upon the sea, by bidding another to do the same, and by saving him in his peril, therefore they said to Him, Truly you are the Son of God, which they had not said above.

JEROME; If then upon this single miracle of stilling the sea, a thing which often happens by accident after even great tempests, the sailors and pilots confessed them to be truly the Son of God, how does Arrius preach in the Church itself that He is a creature?

PSEUDO-AUG; Mystically; The mountain is loftiness. But what is higher than the heavens in the world? And Who it was that ascended into heaven, that our faith knows. Why did He ascend alone into heaven? Because no man has ascended into heaven, but He that came down from heaven. For even when He shall come in the end, and shall have exalted us into heaven, He will yet ascend alone, inasmuch as the head with its body is One Christ, and now the head only is ascended. He went up to pray, because He is ascended to make intercession to His Father for us.

HILARY; Or, that He is alone in the evening, signifies His sorrow at the time of His passion, when the rest were scattered from Him in fear.

JEROME; Also He ascends into the mountain alone because the multitude cannot follow Him aloft, until He has instructed it by the shore of the sea.

AUG; But while Christ prays on high, the boat is tossed with great waves in the deep; and forasmuch as the waves rise, that boat can be tossed; but because Christ prays, it cannot be sum;. Think of that boat as the Church, and the stormy sea as this world.

HILARY; That He commands His disciples to enter the ship and to go across the sea, while He sends the multitudes away, and after that He goes up into the mountain to pray; He therein bids us to be within the Church, and to be in peril until such time as returning in His splendor He shall give salvation to all the people that shall be remaining of Israel, and shall forgive their sins; and having dismissed them into His Father's Kingdom, returning thanks to His Father, He shall sit down in His glory and majesty. Meanwhile the disciples are tossed by the wind and the waves; struggling against all the storms of this world, raised by the opposition of the unclean spirit.

AUG; For when any of a wicked will and of great power, proclaims a persecution of the Church, then it is that a mighty wave rises against the boat of Christ.

RABAN; Whence it is well said here, that the ship was in the middle of the sea, and He alone on the land, because the Church is sometimes oppressed with such persecution that her Lord may seem to have forsaken her for a season.

AUG; The Lord came to visit His disciples who are tossed on the sea in the fourth watch of the night - that is, at its close; for each watch consisting of three hours, the night has thus four watches.

HILARY; The first watch was therefore of the Law, the second of the Prophets, the third His coming in the flesh, the fourth His return in glory.

AUG; Therefore in the fourth watch of the night, that is when the night is nearly ended, He shall come, in the end of the world, when the night of iniquity is past, to judge the quick and the dead. But His coming was with a wonder. The waves swelled, but they were trodden upon. Thus howsoever the powers of this world shall swell themselves, our Head shall crush their head.

HILARY; But Christ coming in the end shall find His Church wearied, and tossed by the Spirit of Anti-Christ, and by the troubles of the world. And because by their long experience of Anti-Christ they will be troubled at every novelty of trial, they shall have fear even at the approach of the Lord, suspecting deceitful appearances. But the good Lord banishes their fear, saying, It is I; and by proof of His presence takes away their dread of impending shipwreck.

AUG. Or; That the disciples here say, It is a phantasm, figures those who yielding to the Devil shall doubt of the coming of Christ. That Peter cries to the Lord for help that he should not be drowned, signifies that He shall purge His Church with certain trials even after the last persecution; as Paul also notes, saying, He shall be saved, yet so as by fire.

HILARY; Or; That Peter alone out of all the number of those that were in the vessel has courage to answer, and to pray that the Lord would bid him come to Him upon the waters, figures the forwardness of his will in the Lord's passion, when following after the Lord's steps he endeavored to attain to despise death. But his fearfulness shows his weakness in his after trial, when through fear of death, he was driven to the necessity of denial. His crying out here is the groaning of his repentance there.

RABAN; The Lord looked back upon him, and brought him to repentance; He stretched forth His hand, and forgave him, and thus the disciple found salvation, which is not of him that wills or of him that runs but of God that shows mercy.

HILARY; That when Peter was seized with fear, the Lord gave him not power of coming to Him, but held him by the hand and sustained him, this is the signification thereof; that He who alone was to suffer for all alone forgave the sins of all; and no partner is admitted into that which was bestowed upon mankind by one.

AUG; For in one Apostle, namely Peter, first and chief in the order of Apostles in whom was figured the Church, both kinds were to be signified; that is, the strong, in his walking upon the waters; the weak, in that he doubted; for to each of us our lusts are as a tempest. Do you love God? you walks on the sea; the fear of this world is under your feet. Do you love the world? It swallows you up. But when your heart is tossed with desire, then that you may overcome your lust, call upon the divine person of Christ.

REMIG; And the Lord will be with you to help you, when lulling to rest the perils of your trials, He restores the confidence of His protection, and this towards the break of day; for when human frailty beset with difficulties considers the weakness of its own powers, it looks upon itself as in darkness; when it raises its view to the protection of heaven, it straightway beholds the rise of the morning star, which gives its light through the whole of the morning watch.

RABAN; Nor should we wonder that the wind ceased when the Lord had entered into the boat; for in whatsoever heart the Lord is present by grace, there all wars cease.

HILARY; Also by this entrance of Christ into the boat, and the calm of the wind and sea thereupon, is pointed out the eternal peace of the Church, and that rest which shall be after His return in glory. And forasmuch as He shall then appear manifestly, rightly do they all cry out now in wonder, Truly you are the Son of God. For there shall then be a free and public confession of all men that the Son of God is come no longer in lowliness of body, but that He has given peace to the Church in heavenly glory.

AUG; For it is here conveyed, to us that His glory will then be made manifest, seeing that now they who walk by faith see it in a figure.

34. And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennezareth.
35. And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought to him all that were diseased;
36. And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

REMIG; The Evangelist had related above that the Lord had commanded His disciples to enter the boat, and to go before Him across the strait; he now proceeds with the same intention to relate whither they arrived by their passage, And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennezareth.

RABAN; The land of Gennezar, by the lake of Gennezareth, takes its name from a natural power which it is said to has e of spontaneously modulating its waters so as to excite a breeze; the Greek words importing, creating for itself the breeze.

CHRYS; But the Evangelist shows that it was now long time since Christ had come into these parts; for it follows, And when the men of that place knew him, they sent into all that region.

JEROME; They knew Him by fame, not by sight; although indeed by reason of the greatness of the signs which He did among the people, He was known by face to great numbers. And note how great the faith of the men of the land of Gennezareth, that they were not content with the healing of the men of that country only, but sent to all the towns round about.

CHRYS; Nor do they now as before drag Him to their houses, and seek the touch of His hand, but they draw Him by their greater faith, for they brought to him all them that were sick, and besought him that they might touch but the hem of his garment. For the women who suffered under the issue of blood had taught them all this wisdom, namely, that by touching the hem only of Christ's garment they might be saved, therefore it follows, And as many as touched, were made whole.

JEROME; If we knew what the word Gennezareth would convey in our tongue, we might understand how under the type of the Apostles and the boat, Jesus guides to shore the Church when hen He has delivered it from the wreck of persecution, and makes it to rest in a most tranquil harbor.

RABAN; Genezar is interpreted, 'rise', 'beginning'. For then will complete rest be given to us, when Christ shall have restored to us our inheritance of Paradise, and the joy of our first robe.

HILARY; Otherwise; When the times of the Law were ended, and five thousand out of Israel were entered within the Church, it was then that the people of believers met Him, then those that were saved out of the Law by faith set before the Lord the rest of their sick and weak; and they that were thus brought sought to touch the hem of His garment, because through their faith they would be healed. And as the virtue of the hem proceeded from the whole garment, so the virtue of the grace of the Holy Spirit went forth from our Lord Jesus Christ, and imparted to the Apostles, who proceeded as it were from the same body, administers salvation to such as desire to touch.

JEROME; Or, by the hem of the garment understand His least commandment, which whosoever transgresses, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; or, again, His assumption of the body, by which we come to the Word of God.

CHRYS; But we have not a hem or a garment only of Christ, but have even His body, that we may eat thereof. If then they who touched the hem of his garment derived so much virtue therefrom, much more they that shall receive Himself whole.

Catena Aurea Matthew 14

St Peter is Walking on the Water

Lluis Borrassa

1411-13
Tempera on wood, 102 x 65 cm
Sant Pere, Terrasa

CATHOLIC ALMANAC

Monday, August 4

Liturgical Color: White

Today is the Memorial of St. John
Vianney, the patron saint of priests.
Assigned to a poorly attended parish, he
quickly became known for his preaching
and confessional skills. Thousands
returned to the faith because of him. He
died in 1859.

Day 234 - What duties do citizens have toward the State? // When must we refuse to obey the State?

What duties do citizens have toward the State?

Every citizen has the duty to cooperate loyally with the civil authorities and to contribute to the common good in truth, justice, freedom, and solidarity. A Christian, too, should love his homeland, defend it in various ways in times of need, and gladly offer to serve civil institutions. He should exercise the right to vote and even run for office and not shirk the duty to pay just taxes. Nevertheless, within the State the individual citizen remains a free man with fundamental rights; he has the right to offer constructive criticism of the State and its organs. The State is there for the people, not the individual for the State.

When must we refuse to obey the State?

No one may follow orders from the State that violate God's laws. It was Peter who called us to practice only a relative obedience toward the State when he said, "We must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). If a State should establish laws and procedures that are racist, sexist, or destructive of human life, a Christian is obliged in conscience to refuse to obey, to refrain from participation, and to offer resistance. (YOUCAT questions 376-377)

Dig Deeper: CCC section (2238-2246) and other references here.

Part 3: Life in Christ (1691 - 2557)

Section 2: The Ten Commandments (2052 - 2557)

Chapter 2: You Shall Love Your Neighbor as Yourself (2196 - 2557)

Article 4: The Fourth Commandment (2197 - 2257)

Jesus said to his disciples: "Love one another even as I have loved you."¹ ⇡

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the Lord your God gives you.⁴

He was obedient to them.⁵

The Lord Jesus himself recalled the force of this "commandment of God."⁶ The Apostle teaches: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother,' (This is the first commandment with a promise.) 'that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth."'⁷ ⇡

V. THE AUTHORITIES IN CIVIL SOCIETY ⇡

The duties of citizens ⇡

1900
(all)

2238

Those subject to authority should regard those in authority as representatives of God, who has made them stewards of his gifts:⁴³ "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution. ... Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God."⁴⁴ Their loyal collaboration includes the right, and at times the duty, to voice their just criticisms of that which seems harmful to the dignity of persons and to the good of the community.

1.

Jn 13:34.

4.

Ex 20:12; Deut 5:16.

5.

Lk 2:51.

6.

Mk 7:8-13.

7.

Eph 6:1-3; cf. Deut 5:16.

43.

Cf. Rom 13:1-2.

44.

1 Pet 2:13,16.

1915
2310
(all)

2239

It is the duty of citizens to contribute along with the civil authorities to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom. The love and service of one's country follow from the duty of gratitude and belong to the order of charity. Submission to legitimate authorities and service of the common good require citizens to fulfill their roles in the life of the political community.

1900
2265
(all)

2240

Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one's country: Pay to all of them their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.⁴⁵

[Christians] reside in their own nations, but as resident aliens. They participate in all things as citizens and endure all things as foreigners. ... They obey the established laws and their way of life surpasses the laws. ... So noble is the position to which God has assigned them that they are not allowed to desert it.⁴⁶

The Apostle exhorts us to offer prayers and thanksgiving for kings and all who exercise authority, "that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way."⁴⁷

45.

Rom 13:7.

46.

Ad Diognetum 5,5 and 10; 6,10:PG 2,1173 and 1176.

47.

1 Tim 2:2.

2241

The more prosperous nations are obliged, to the extent they are able, to welcome the foreigner in search of the security and the means of livelihood which he cannot find in his country of origin. Public authorities should see to it that the natural right is respected that places a guest under the protection of those who receive him. Political authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants' duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens.

1901
1903
2313
450
(all)

2242

The citizen is obliged in conscience not to follow the directives of civil authorities when they are contrary to the demands of the moral order, to the fundamental rights of persons or the teachings of the Gospel. Refusing obedience to civil authorities, when their demands are contrary to those of an upright conscience, finds its justification in the distinction between serving God and serving the political community. "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."⁴⁸ "We must obey God rather than men":⁴⁹ When citizens are under the oppression of a public authority which oversteps its competence, they should still not refuse to give or to do what is objectively demanded of them by the common good; but it is legitimate for them to defend their own rights and those of their fellow citizens against the abuse of this authority within the limits of the natural law and the Law of the Gospel.⁵⁰

48.

Mt 22:21.

49.

Acts 5:29.

50.

GS 74 § 5.

2309
(all)

2243

Armed resistance to oppression by political authority is not legitimate, unless all the following conditions are met: 1) there is certain, grave, and prolonged violation of fundamental rights; 2) all other means of redress have been exhausted; 3) such resistance will not provoke worse disorders; 4) there is well-founded hope of success; and 5) it is impossible reasonably to foresee any better solution.

The political community and the Church ⇡

1881
1910
2109
(all)

2244

Every institution is inspired, at least implicitly, by a vision of man and his destiny, from which it derives the point of reference for its judgment, its hierarchy of values, its line of conduct. Most societies have formed their institutions in the recognition of a certain preeminence of man over things. Only the divinely revealed religion has clearly recognized man's origin and destiny in God, the Creator and Redeemer. The Church invites political authorities to measure their judgments and decisions against this inspired truth about God and man: Societies not recognizing this vision or rejecting it in the name of their independence from God are brought to seek their criteria and goal in themselves or to borrow them from some ideology. Since they do not admit that one can defend an objective criterion of good and evil, they arrogate to themselves an explicit or implicit totalitarian power over man and his destiny, as history shows.⁵¹

51.

Cf. CA 45; 46.

912
(all)

2245

The Church, because of her commission and competence, is not to be confused in any way with the political community. She is both the sign and the safeguard of the transcendent character of the human person. "The Church respects and encourages the political freedom and responsibility of the citizen."⁵²

52.

GS 76 § 3.

2032
2420
(all)

2246

It is a part of the Church's mission "to pass moral judgments even in matters related to politics, whenever the fundamental rights of man or the salvation of souls requires it. The means, the only means, she may use are those which are in accord with the Gospel and the welfare of all men according to the diversity of times and circumstances."⁵³

53.

GS 76 § 5.

Catholic Culture

Daily Readings for:August 04, 2014
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: Almighty and merciful God, who made the Priest Saint John Vianney wonderful in his pastoral zeal, grant, we pray, that through his intercession and example we may in charity win brothers and sisters for Christ and attain with them eternal glory. 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 French Pea Soup

ACTIVITIES

o Attitudes toward Miracles

o Religion in the Home for Elementary School: August

o Religion in the Home for Preschool: August

PRAYERS

o The Immaculate Heart

o Novena In Honor of Saint John Marie Vianney

o Litany in Honor of St. John Vianney

LIBRARY

o 'Ars Is No Longer Ars!' | Paolo Risso

o Sacerdotii Nostri Primordia (On St. John Vianney) | Pope John XXIII

o The Cure of Ars | Pope John Paul II

o Trials of a Shepherd | Msgr. Paul E. Campbell M.A., Litt.D., Ed.D.

· Ordinary Time: August 4th

· Memorial of St. John Vianney, priest

Old Calendar: St. Dominic, confessor ; Other Titles: Cure de Ars

St. John Baptist Mary Vianney (1786-1859) was born in Dardilly and died in Ars, France. Although his talents were limited and his education meager, he was ordained a priest in 1815. After three years at Ecully, he was appointed parish priest of Ars. Here he spent almost forty-two years of his life, devoting himself to prayer, mortification, and pastoral works. His success in directing souls made him known throughout the Christian world. Men of all ranks and conditions of life sought his guidance and advice. He was beatified by Pope St. Pius X, himself once a parish priest, and canonized by Pope Pius XI.

According to the 1962 Missal of St. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, today is the feast of St. Dominic. St. John Vianney's feast is on August 8. St. Dominic's feast in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite is celebrated on August 8.

St. John Vianney

During the French Revolution a small band of Ursuline nuns was imprisoned in the Bastille. To cheer her disconsolate companions, one of the group passed wheaten discs of bread, cut from the loaf of the daily rations, to memorialize the happy days when they were free and could receive Our Lord in Holy Communion. At that time all religious schools and churches were closed, and those who harbored priests were imprisoned.

At the Vianney farmhouse near Dardilly, France, fugitive priests were offered a refuge. Here their son was prepared in his tenth year for the reception of Holy Communion by a hunted priest.

While tending his father's sheep, John Vianney fashioned a small statue of Our Lady out of clay. He hid it in the hollow of an old tree with this petition: "Dear Lady Mary, I love you very much; you must bring Jesus back to His tabernacles very soon!"

On a visit to his aunt at Ecully, John listened to her praises of Father Balley, the parish priest, and he sought the Father's advice regarding his vocation to the priesthood. The pastor appraised the overgrown, awkward youth of faltering speech and devoid of general education. Though John was unable to answer the questions pertaining to earthly science which Father asked him, yet, when the priest put to him the questions of the catechism, his face became luminous with lively interest. He answered every question correctly, and in a manner beyond his years. The amazed pastor took this evidence as a sign from heaven, prophesying, "You will become a priest!"

The ensuing years brought many trials to John. He was conscripted; his mother died; he failed often in his studies. Ordained as a Mass priest, August 12, 1815, he remarked to Our Lady, Queen of the Clergy: "Here is your priest, O Blessed Mother! Stay close to me. Help me to be a good priest!"

As a curate and as a pastor, St. John Vianney's daily instruction on the catechism found an inspired audience, among whom were noted orators such as Père Lacordaire, O.P., the famed preacher of Notre Dame. The saintly pastor performed many miracles, but the greatest was his own manner of Eucharistic living. It was his Lord, living in Father Vianney, who made him "spend and be spent" in ceaseless service for both sinner and saint in the sacred tribunal of penance.

— Rev. Vincent F. Kienberger, O.P.

Patron: priests; confessors; Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa; diocese of Kansas City, Kansas.

Things to Do:

The Collect praises St. John Vianney's zeal for souls and his spirit of prayer and penance. Say a special prayer today that by his example and intercession we too may win the souls of our brothers for Christ.
Say a prayer for priests that they may persevere in their vocation. If you haven't been to confession for a while resolve to do so right away and be sure that you remember to say an extra prayer for your confessor.
From the Catholic Culture library: Pope John XXIII holds St. John Vianney as a model for the priesthood in this Encyclical.
Read this longer life of the Curé of Ars and also these excerpts from his sermons.

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Jeremiah 28:1-17

Saint John Vianney, Priest

Hananiah! The Lord has not sent you, and you have raised false confidence in this people. (Jeremiah 28:15)

I hope; therefore I am. This little twist on a famous quotation gets to the heart of what hope is. While it stands alongside two other core virtues of the Christian life—faith and love—hope rarely enjoys the limelight. But hope is just as essential to a full life as the other two!

So what is hope? Put simply, hope is confidence that a brighter day is coming, because God said so. Hope is the grace to lift our eyes and our hearts to heaven, where we find the energy and motivation to keep moving forward.

Like faith and love, hope can start small in our hearts. Think of a whisper or a mustard seed of hope. But even in small doses, it’s potent. Just a bit of hope can galvanize us through a difficult season. It can remind us that God is working all things together for our good. It can help us see the great potential in small beginnings.

It’s no wonder, then, that false hope is so distasteful. And in today’s reading from Jeremiah, the Israelites had gulped a mouthful of it. A man named Hananiah gave them empty promises concerning an early resolution in their struggle against Babylon. Ultimately, this could have caused a lot more damage if God hadn’t intervened. He wanted to give his people real hope that was anchored in the substance of his promises and his plan for them. So he did! For the next four chapters, Jeremiah recorded page after page of prophecies that spoke of exile and return, of hardship followed by triumph.

What about you? Maybe you find yourself losing hope. Maybe the odds seem stacked against your dreams for your life or your family. You have your reasons. But whatever they are, God wants to intervene. He wants to give you a hope that’s different, that’s anchored in eternal truth. A hope that doesn’t waver with circumstances or dwindle with time. So take the time today to read Jeremiah 29–32. God didn’t give up on the Israelites—and he certainly won’t give up on you! Let his gift of hope sink deeply into your heart.

“Father, I place my hope in you.”

Psalm 119:29, 43, 79-80, 95, 102; Matthew 14:22-36

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

Daily Marriage Tip for August 4, 2014:

(Reader’s Tip) Approach everything—work, school, obstacle or victory—as a team. Support each other in times of difficulty and share with each other times of success.

Regnum Christi

Feed Them Yourselves!

U. S. A. | SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY

August 4, 2014. Memorial of Saint John Vianney, priest

Matthew 14: 22-36

Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. "It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter said to him in reply, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God." After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret. When the men of that place recognized him, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought to him all those who were sick and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak, and as many as touched it were healed.

Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, I believe you want me to have faith in you, faith that hearkens to your words without any second guessing. I hope in your words, not relying solely on my own strength or reasoning. I love you. You continue to astonish me by showing me that your ways are not my ways.

Petition: Lord, may my prayer lead me to step out from my comfort zone today.

1. Loneliness and Prayer: Jesus dismissed the crowds and went up on the mountain by himself to pray. He was willing to leave the comfort of others’ company to be alone with God. Being in silence without others may lead briefly to a certain loneliness and interior emptiness. We may feel the impulse to seek out others – anything – to anesthetize us from the pain of being alone. If this is the case, we need to persevere in prayer. This suffering from silence can turn into joy and peace. But we must remain with God and learn to enjoy his presence in quiet prayer.

2. The Price of Prayer: "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter said to him in reply, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." At times our fear of silent prayer can be stronger than Peter’s fear of Jesus on the water. We are so used to the company of others, of keeping busy, of being needed, of “zoning out”, that we fear relinquishing these comforts even for a short time of prayer. We must be willing to give up these common comforts, at least temporarily, if we will learn to pray. We must empty ourselves to be filled by Christ, to trust and rely on his strength.

3. A Firm Resolve: “After they got into the boat, the wind died down.” Once we “get into the boat,” that is, once we resolve to embrace silent, focused prayer, our fears die down like the wind. We have to make a firm decision to dive full force into our prayer, overcoming inertia of every stripe, if we wish to experience the freedom, peace and joy of true prayer. Ask the Lord for that grace and be generous as you begin.

Conversation with Christ: Lord, you know the sluggishness I experience as I set out to pray. You know how I am tempted to put it off and just do something else. Give me the faith and courage to launch into the deep – to begin to pray with all my heart.

Resolution: I will make a firm resolve to pray intensely today.

Homily of the Day

August 4, 2014

“And having sent the people away, he went up to the mountain to pray. At nightfall, he was there alone.” Jesus, although he is God, draws his strength by communicating to his Father in silence and solitude. In this way, he listens to the will of the Father for him.

The mountain is the place where we find stillness and peace. Most of us have learned to turn aside from our busy life from time to time to come in contact with God’s presence in nature. Gazing at the beauty of nature – the vast lands, lush trees, green plants, naturally formed rocks and even the insects that crawl on the ground – fills us with awe and wonder at God’s creation. Seeing a tree full of fireflies shining with their sparkling bright light on a dark night makes us feel God’s grandeur. If these creatures are so beautiful, how much more the God who created them. We join the psalmist in saying “Yahweh, what variety you have created, arranging everything so wisely! Earth is completely full of things You have made.”

To quote Fr. Maloney, S.J.: “Modern man needs to turn into his “heart” and in silence, he must enter deeply into himself and hear his true self, the Absolute Ground of all being tell him through experiential knowledge, through enlightenment, that the world of senses is not the totality of reality, but through an experience man understands that he is one with all being.”
Our indigenous people have more contemplative hearts than we who live in urban areas because they are less distracted with our noisy world. “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

One Bread, One Body

Language: English | Español

All Issues > Volume 30, Issue 5

<< Monday, August 4, 2014 >>

St. John Mary Vianney

Jeremiah 28:1-17
View Readings

Psalm 119:29, 43, 79-80, 95, 102

Matthew 14:22-36
Similar Reflections

FALSE CONFIDENCE

"You have raised false confidence in this people." —Jeremiah 28:15

History is filled with examples of false confidence resulting in disaster. For example, George Washington led his troops in crossing the Delaware River on Christmas to defeat the drunken Hessian troops during the Revolutionary War. Once the battle had begun, the Hessian troops surely wished they had spent their Christmas doing less drinking and celebrating and more time being vigilant and prepared (see Lk 21:34).

"The time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but, following their own desires, will surround themselves with teachers who tickle their ears. They will stop listening to the truth and will wander off to fables" (2 Tm 4:3-4). "Just when people are saying, 'Peace and security,' ruin will fall on them with the suddenness of pains overtaking a woman in labor, and there will be no escape" (1 Thes 5:3).

God has always sent prophets to afflict the comfortable by speaking challenging words to those who place their confidence anywhere but in Him. Is the Lord calling you to go and speak in this way? He wants you to have much more confidence in Him than your hearers have in their false beliefs (see 2 Cor 5:6). The Lord says: "Have no fear before them...But speak My words to them, whether they heed or resist" (Jer 1:8; Ez 2:7).

Prayer: Lord, "let those turn to me who fear You and acknowledge Your decrees" (Ps 119:79). Let me tell them Your truth.

Promise: "Jesus hastened to reassure them: 'Get hold of yourselves! It is I. Do not be afraid!' " —Mt 14:27

Praise: St. John Vianney convicted those comfortable in their sins and reconciled them to God.