Posted on 07/16/2015 9:21:48 PM PDT by Salvation
Feast Day: July 17
Died: 17 July 1794 at the Place du Trône Renversé (modern Place de la Nation) in Paris, France
Beatified: 27 May 1906 by Pope Pius X
St. Leo IV
Feast Day: July 17
Died: 855
St. Leo was born at Rome, in Italy and spent his life in that city. When Leo grew up he studied at the Benedictine monastery near St. Peter's Basilica to become a priest. As a priest he performed his ministry at St. John Lateran's, a large, famous basilica. Leo was well-known and loved by two popes, Gregory IV who died in 844, and Sergius II who died in 847.
Around the time Pope Sergius II died, rumors of a barbarian invasion of Saracens had the Romans terrified. Neither the people nor the cardinals wanted to be left without a pope. Leo's life changed forever, because they quickly elected him as pope and he took the name Leo IV. As pope, Leo had the city walls around the Vatican and other areas repaired and strengthened. The walls had been damaged the previous year by a Saracen attack. He made the churches more beautiful and had St. Peter's Basilica rebuilt. He brought many relics (remains of things that were holy) to Rome. He called a meeting of all Roman priests and passed forty-two rules which helped priests live more fervent, prayerful and joy-filled lives. A few bishops lived bad lives and this caused Leo great suffering. They boldly faced the pope and would not change their wrong ways. No matter how much Pope Leo was hurt, he was always fair, patient and humble. He never let his troubles dishearten him but gave all his time and energy for Jesus and his Church. He loved the beautiful prayers of the liturgy and encouraged liturgical chant and music. People loved St. Leo and with God's grace he performed many miracles. It is said that he was responsible for stopping the terrible fire in the English quarter of Rome. Pope Leo IV continued serving the Church with cheerfulness right up to the end of his life. He died on July 17, 855. Reflection: "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."- (Jn15: 13) |
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English: Douay-Rheims | Latin: Vulgata Clementina | Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000) | |
Matthew 12 |
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1. | AT that time Jesus went through the corn on the sabbath: and his disciples being hungry, began to pluck the ears, and to eat. | In illo tempore abiit Jesus per sata sabbato : discipuli autem ejus esurientes cperunt vellere spicas, et manducare. | εν εκεινω τω καιρω επορευθη ο ιησους τοις σαββασιν δια των σποριμων οι δε μαθηται αυτου επεινασαν και ηρξαντο τιλλειν σταχυας και εσθιειν |
2. | And the Pharisees seeing them, said to him: Behold thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days. | Pharisæi autem videntes, dixerunt ei : Ecce discipuli tui faciunt quod non licet facere sabbatis. | οι δε φαρισαιοι ιδοντες ειπον αυτω ιδου οι μαθηται σου ποιουσιν ο ουκ εξεστιν ποιειν εν σαββατω |
3. | But he said to them: Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and they that were with him: | At ille dixit eis : Non legistis quid fecerit David, quando esuriit, et qui cum eo erant : | ο δε ειπεν αυτοις ουκ ανεγνωτε τι εποιησεν δαυιδ οτε επεινασεν αυτος και οι μετ αυτου |
4. | How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the loaves of proposition, which it was not lawful for him to eat, nor for them that were with him, but for the priests only? | quomodo intravit in domum Dei, et panes propositionis comedit, quos non licebat ei edere, neque his qui cum eo erant, nisi solis sacerdotibus ? | πως εισηλθεν εις τον οικον του θεου και τους αρτους της προθεσεως εφαγεν ους ουκ εξον ην αυτω φαγειν ουδε τοις μετ αυτου ει μη τοις ιερευσιν μονοις |
5. | Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple break the sabbath, and are without blame? | aut non legistis in lege quia sabbatis sacerdotes in templo sabbatum violant, et sine crimine sunt ? | η ουκ ανεγνωτε εν τω νομω οτι τοις σαββασιν οι ιερεις εν τω ιερω το σαββατον βεβηλουσιν και αναιτιοι εισιν |
6. | But I tell you that there is here a greater than the temple. | Dico autem vobis, quia templo major est hic. | λεγω δε υμιν οτι του ιερου μειζον εστιν ωδε |
7. | And if you knew what this meaneth: I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: you would never have condemned the innocent. | Si autem sciretis, quid est : Misericordiam volo, et non sacrificium : numquam condemnassetis innocentes : | ει δε εγνωκειτε τι εστιν ελεον θελω και ου θυσιαν ουκ αν κατεδικασατε τους αναιτιους |
8. | For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath. | dominus enim est Filius hominis etiam sabbati. | κυριος γαρ εστιν του σαββατου ο υιος του ανθρωπου |
(Also see Holodomor)
Friday, July 17
Liturgical Color: Green
The Church dedicates the month of
October to the Blessed Virgin of the
Rosary. As we pray the rosary we can
look to Our Lady for comfort as she
directs us towards her Son.
Day 198 - The Parable of the Prodigal and His Brother (Part 1)
Today’s Reading: Luke 15:11-24
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons; 12 and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the share of property that falls to me.’ And he divided his living between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took his journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in loose living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a great famine arose in that country, and he began to be in want. 15 So he went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have fed on the pods that the swine ate; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.” ‘ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; 23 and bring the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and make merry; 24 for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to make merry.
Today’s Commentary:
The parable of the Prodigal Son reveals the boundless mercy of God. Though our sins offend the Father, he is ever willing to show us compassion and restore us to family life. In many ways the parable narrates the continuing struggles of the spiritual life, where conversion and repentance are part of an ongoing process.
embraced him: Literally, “fell upon his neck”. The actions of the father recall the mercy shown to Jacob (Gen 33:4) and the joys of family reunion in the patriarchal narratives (Gen 45:14; 46:29).
Old Calendar: St. Alexis, confessor; The Blessed Martyrs of Compiegne (Hist)
St. Alexius was an Eastern saint whose veneration was transplanted from the Byzantine empire to Rome, whence it spread rapidly throughout western Christendom. Together with the name and veneration of the Saint, his legend was made known to Rome and the West by means of Latin versions based on the form current in the Byzantine Orient. He was famous for his extraordinary self-denial. Before the reform of the General Roman Calendar today was his feast.
Historically today is the feast of the Blessed Martyrs of Compiegne, sixteen Carmelites who are the first martyrs of the French Revolution that have been recognized. They were guillotined on 17 July 1794 at the Place du Trône Renversé (modern Place de la Nation) in Paris, France.
St. Alexis
To what extent the life and Acts of this saint are historical, whether this "man of God," as he was and is called in the Orient, lived in the East or at Rome these are questions we here must pass over. The story of St. Alexius, one of the most edifying in Christian hagiography, presents a glorious illustration of that Christian ideal of perfection which for Christ's sake embraces poverty and humiliations. Is it possible to be more heroic than to live for seventeen years under the steps in one's own house, to endure the wanton affronts of one's father's slaves, to remain as an unknown beggar to father, mother, and a bride still longing for her spouse? And for Alexius all this was motivated by an insurmountable love of Christ! Even supposing the legend to lack an historical kernel, it still would be marvelous to find a religion that could create such an ideal.
The Breviary gives these details. Alexius belonged to a noble Roman family. Prompted by a special divine illumination and moved by an ardent love for Jesus Christ, he left his maiden bride upon their wedding day and began a pilgrimage to the more illustrious churches of Christendom. He had devoted seventeen years to this pilgrimage and was at Edessa, a Syrian city, when his holiness was revealed by a picture of the Blessed Virgin that uttered his name. He left the place and by boat arrived at the port of Rome. His father received him as a traveling stranger and he remained there seventeen years, living under the stairs of the house unrecognized by anyone. Only after his death were documents found giving his name, family, and a kind of autobiography. He died July 17, 417, during the pontificate of Pope Innocent I.
Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch
Patron: Of beggars and pilgrims.
Symbols: A beggar or pilgrim holding a staircase (his emblem); asleep by the stairs, dirty water emptied on him; as a pilgrim with a staff and scrip; as a pilgrim, kneeling before the pope, to whom he gives a letter.
Things to Do:
The Blessed Martyrs of Compiegne
On July 17, 1794, sixteen Carmelites caught up in the French Revolution were guillotined at the Place du Trône Renversé (now called Place de la Nation), in Paris.
When the revolution started in 1789, a group of twenty-one discalced Carmelites lived in a monastery in Compiegne France, founded in 1641. The monastery was ordered closed in 1790 by the Revolutionary government, and the nuns were disbanded. Sixteen of the nuns were accused of living in a religious community in 1794. They were arrested on June 22 and imprisoned in a Visitation convent in Compiegne There they openly resumed their religious life.
For a full twenty months before their execution, the sisters came together in an act of consecration whereby each member of the community would join with the others in offering herself daily to God, soul and body in holocaust to restore peace to France and to her Church.
The nuns were not just mere victims of the Revolution overcome by circumstances. Each contemplated her martyrdom; each understood her offering. Each sought that greater love of giving herself for her fellow man in imitation of the Divine Lamb Who redeemed humanity.
On July 12, 1794, the Carmelites were taken to Paris and five days later were sentenced to death. Before their execution they knelt and chanted the "Veni Creator", as at a profession, after which they all renewed aloud their baptismal and religious vows. They went to the guillotine singing the Salve Regina. They were beatified in 1906 by Pope St. Pius X.
The Carmelites were: Marie Claude Brard; Madeleine Brideau, the subprior; Maire Croissy, grandniece of Colbert Marie Dufour; Marie Hanisset; Marie Meunier, a novice; Rose de Neufville Annette Pebras; Anne Piedcourt: Madeleine Lidoine, the prioress; Angelique Roussel; Catherine Soiron and Therese Soiron, both extern sisters, natives of Compiegne and blood sisters: Anne Mary Thouret; Marie Trezelle; and Eliza beth Verolot. The martyrdom of the nuns was immortalized by the composer Francois Poulenc in his famous opera Dialogues des Carmelites.
Excerpted from Catholic Fire
Things to Do:
If links don't work go here-->http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2015-07-17
15th Week in Ordinary Time
You shall reckon it the first month of the year. (Exodus 12:2)
Most of us celebrate significant anniversaries: our birthday, our wedding day, or our graduation day. In today’s first reading, God invites the Israelites to set apart the day when he delivered them from slavery. He tells them not only to celebrate a past event, but to mark a new beginning as well.
Each of us has experienced a day just as significant as the day of the Israelites’ Passover: the day of our baptism. Like our spiritual ancestors, we too were delivered from slavery; we too were given a new identity; and we too were welcomed into a covenant relationship with the Lord.
If you were baptized as an infant, your parents and godparents made promises on your behalf. But every Easter, you are invited to make those promises your own. You can reject sin and all the ways the evil one lures you into sin. Profess faith in the God who is your Creator, Redeemer, Inspirer, and Friend. Affirm the Church as your home. And celebrate that the life you were given in Baptism will last forever.
When you emerged from the waters of baptism, you were anointed with chrism, a symbol of the Holy Spirit who lives in you. Cleansed from sin, you were also clothed in white—a symbol of the innocence that you can recapture every time you celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. You received a candle as a symbol of the risen Christ whose inextinguishable life you have shared from that day forward.
If you’re not sure of the date of your baptism, try to find out when it was. Mark it on your calendar, and do something special to commemorate the anniversary. Light a candle, maybe, or look at old photos or make a special visit to church. Remember and give thanks, for that is the day when God brought you into his kingdom, made you a part of his people, and united you with his Son forever.
Of course your baptism, like your wedding or your graduation, is only the beginning of your story. So be sure to ask how you can continue to grow into the life you have received!
“Father, thank you for plunging me into your gift of eternal life!”
Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18
Matthew 12:1-8
Daily Marriage Tip for July 17, 2015:
Happiness tip #4: Happiness can be fleeting. Selfless love has the potential to carry a couple over the long haul and bring abiding joy. Is there some way you can be selfless today? Dont aim for every day, just todayone day at a time.
Condemning the Innocent | ||
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July 17, 2015. Friday of the Fifteenth Week of Ordinary Time
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Introductory Prayer: Almighty and ever-living God, I seek new strength from the courage of Christ our shepherd. I believe in you, I hope in you, and I seek to love you with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength. I want to be led one day to join the saints in heaven, where your Son Jesus Christ lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.
Petition: Help me to make every Sunday a special day for me and my family.
1. Fasting on Sunday? It was the Sabbath, a day of rest. The disciples had had a difficult and busy week, and they were hungry. Jesus allowed them to look for food in the fields. This could have discouraged them, not having a meal waiting for them. But they were accustomed to hardship. They were busy and had much to do. There was little free time. Christ was busy on weekends; his mission didn’t stop. The disciples were united with Jesus, participating in his mission. This made all their sacrifices worthwhile and easier to cope with. When we trust in and unite ourselves with Christ, we can be patient and at peace in the midst of trials.
2. The Confrontation: The Sabbath was established in order for the Jewish people to remember and reflect on their special covenant relationship with God. He had delivered them from slavery and given them rest. The Pharisees, however, focused on “what you can’t do” and failed to see “what you should do.” On Sundays, we should focus more on what we should do in order to worthily receive Christ. Then secondary things will not distract us from what is essential. God has a special relationship with us. He has delivered us from slavery. He continues to love us and asks that we love him and others with all our heart. On Sundays, do I recall my covenant relationship with Our Lord? Am I mindful and grateful for all the good things he has done and continues to do for me? Does God take first place for me on Sundays?
3. Sunday Service: Christ instructed his disciples about his mission. They grew to understand, appreciate and live it. He taught them to participate at the Sabbath service with fervor, but also to be open to any needs others might have, even on the Sabbath. It is lawful to do good any day of the week, especially the Lord’s Day. Christ cured the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath, fed his disciples on the Sabbath, and cured another woman with a bent back on the Sabbath. Charity will inspire us to do good to others even on a Sunday. “Sunday service” and “Service-on-Sunday” go together. Do I ever dedicate my Sundays, or part of them, to bring rest to those who are most in need? What can I do to help the poor and marginalized on that day? How can I instill this spirit of service in my children?
Conversation with Christ: You long to share your Word and Body with me at Sunday Mass and at every Mass I can attend during the week. May I always have a hunger for this encounter with your love and friendship. May I serve others with the same charity and love as you serve me. May Sunday be the most important day of the week for me and my family.
Resolution: I will organize this coming Sunday to be a day of worship and rest. I will try to do good to someone this Sunday, and I will help someone come back to Sunday Mass attendance. |
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