The Angelus

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of
our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary . . .

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

"Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Lk 1:28)

"Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb"
(Lk 1:42).

Luke
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Luke 11
27.	And it came to pass, as he spoke these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to him: Blessed is the womb that bore thee, and the paps that gave thee suck.	Factum est autem, cum hæc diceret : extollens vocem quædam mulier de turba dixit illi : Beatus venter qui te portavit, et ubera quæ suxisti.	εγενετο δε εν τω λεγειν αυτον ταυτα επαρασα τις γυνη φωνην εκ του οχλου ειπεν αυτω μακαρια η κοιλια η βαστασασα σε και μαστοι ους εθηλασας
28.	But he said: Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it.	At ille dixit : Quinimmo beati, qui audiunt verbum Dei et custodiunt illud.	αυτος δε ειπεν μενουνγε μακαριοι οι ακουοντες τον λογον του θεου και φυλασσοντες αυτον

27. And it came to pass, as he spoke these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said to him, Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the paps which you have sucked.
28. But he said, Yes rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

BEDE; While the Scribes and Pharisees were tempting our Lord, and uttering blasphemies against Him, a certain woman with great boldness confessed His incarnation, as it follows, And it came to pass, as he spoke these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said to him, Blessed is the womb that bore you, &c. by which she refutes both the calumnies of the rulers present, and the unbelief of future heretics. For as then by blaspheming the works of the Holy Spirit, the Jews denied the true Son of God, so in after times the heretics, by denying that the Ever virgin Mary, by the cooperating power of the Holy Spirit, ministered of the substance of her flesh to the birth of the only-begotten Son, have said, that we ought not to confess Him who was the Son of man to be truly of the same substance with the Father. But if the flesh of the Word of God, who was born according to the flesh, is declared alien to the flesh of His Virgin Mother, what cause is there why the womb which bore Him and the paps which gave Him suck are pronounced blessed? By what reasoning do they suppose Him to be nourished by her milk, from whose seed they deny Him to be conceived? Whereas according to the physicians, from one and the same fountain both streams are proved to flow. But the woman pronounces blessed not only her who was thought worthy to give birth from her body to the Word of God, but those also who have desired by the hearing of faith spiritually to conceive the same Word, and by diligence in good works, either in their own or the hearts of their neighbors, to bring it forth and nourish it; for it follows, But he said, Yes rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

CHRYS. In this answer He sought not to disown His mother, but to show that His birth would have profited her nothing, had she not been really fruitful in works and faith. But if it Met profited Mary nothing that Christ derived His birth from her, without the inward virtue of her heart, much less will it avail us to have a virtuous father, brother, or son, while we ourselves are strangers to virtue.

BEDE; But she was the mother of God, and therefore indeed blessed, in that she was made the temporal minister of the Word becoming incarnate; yet therefore much more blessed that she remained the eternal keeper of the same ever to be beloved Word. But this expression startles the wise men of the Jews, who sought not to hear and keep the word of God, but to deny and blaspheme it.

Catena Aurea Luke 11

Reliquary Tabernacle

Fra Angelico

c. 1430
Tempera and gold on panel, 62 x 39 cm
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston

Gorgeous painting.

Saint Callistus I

Fr. Don Miller, OFM

Image: Statue of Pope Callistus I on the Saints portal | Northern transept of Our Lady cathedral of Reims, Marne, France | photo by Fab5669

Saint Callistus I

Saint of the Day for October 14

(d. 223)

Saint Callistus I’s Story

The most reliable information about this saint comes from his enemy Saint Hippolytus, an early antipope, later a martyr for the Church. A negative principle is used: If some worse things had happened, Hippolytus would surely have mentioned them.

Callistus was a slave in the imperial Roman household. Put in charge of the bank by his master, he lost the money deposited, fled, and was caught. After serving time for a while, he was released to make some attempt to recover the money. Apparently he carried his zeal too far, being arrested for brawling in a Jewish synagogue. This time he was condemned to work in the mines of Sardinia. Through the influence of the emperor’s mistress he was released and went to live at Anzio.

After winning his freedom, Callistus was made superintendent of the public Christian burial ground in Rome–still called the cemetery of Saint Callistus–probably the first land owned by the Church. The pope ordained him a deacon and made him his friend and adviser.

Callistus was elected pope by a majority vote of the clergy and laity of Rome, and thereafter was bitterly attacked by the losing candidate, Saint Hippolytus, who let himself be set up as the first antipope in the history of the Church. The schism lasted about 18 years.

Hippolytus is venerated as a saint. He was banished during the persecution of 235 and was reconciled to the Church. He died from his sufferings in Sardinia. He attacked Callistus on two fronts—doctrine and discipline. Hippolytus seems to have exaggerated the distinction between Father and Son–almost making two gods–possibly because theological language had not yet been refined. He also accused Callistus of being too lenient, for reasons we may find surprising: 1) Callistus admitted to Holy Communion those who had already done public penance for murder, adultery, and fornication; 2) he held marriages between free women and slaves to be valid—contrary to Roman law; 3) he authorized the ordination of men who had been married two or three times; 4) he held that mortal sin was not a sufficient reason to depose a bishop; 5) he held to a policy of leniency toward those who had temporarily denied their faith during persecution.

Callistus was martyred during a local disturbance in Trastevere, Rome, and is the first pope–except for Peter–to be commemorated as a martyr in the earliest martyrology of the Church.

Reflection

The life of this man is another reminder that the course of Church history, like that of true love, never did run smooth. The Church had to–and still must–go through the agonizing struggle to state the mysteries of the faith in language that, at the very least, sets up definite barriers to error. On the disciplinary side, the Church had to preserve the mercy of Christ against rigorism, while still upholding the gospel ideal of radical conversion and self-discipline. Every pope—indeed every Christian—must walk the difficult path between “reasonable” indulgence and “reasonable” rigorism.

Pope Saint Callistus

Information: St. Callistus I

Feast Day: October 14

Died: 223

Patron of: cemetery workers

Holy Spirit Interactive Kids: A Saint a Day

St. Callistus

Feast Day: October 14
Born:(around) 165 :: Died:222

This great pope and martyr was once a young slave in Rome, who got into serious trouble. His master, a Christian, had put him in charge of a bank. Because other Christians, who took loans from the bank, refused to pay back the money, the bank went broke.

Callistus knew that he would be blamed even though he was not at fault and in fear, he ran away from Rome. He was caught, after jumping into the sea to try to get away. His sentence was a terrible one: he was chained and put to hard labor in a mill.

From this punishment Callistus was released, only because the people the bank owed money to, hoped he could get some of their money back. But once again he was arrested, this time for having gotten into a fight and was sent to the mines of Sardinia.

Fortunately, when the emperor freed all the Christians who had been punished and sent to those mines, Callistus was freed too. From that time on, things became better for him.

Pope St. Zephrinus got to know and trust St. Callistus. He put him in charge of the public Christian cemetery in Rome. This cemetery even today is called the Cemetery of St. Callistus.

Many popes were buried in it. Callistus proved himself worthy of the pope's confidence in him. St. Zephrinus not only ordained him a priest, but also made him his friend and advisor.

Later on, St. Callistus himself became pope. Some people complained because he showed too much mercy to sinners. However, the holy pope ruled that even murderers could be given communion after they had done penance for their sins.

He also declared that the rich could marry the poor. This made the Romans very angry because it was against their law. But Pope Callistus would not give in; he said that the Church law was always greater than the Roman law.

This great pope always defended the true teachings of Jesus. He was killed for his faith in 222 with a glorious martyrdom.

The life of St. Callistus reminds us that God can choose anyone to do his work. We only need to have faith and trust in Him.

CATHOLIC ALMANAC

Saturday, October 14

Liturgical Color: Green

Today the Church recalls St. Dominic
Loricatus. When he discovered that his
father paid a bribe to have him ordained a
priest, he dedicated himself to a life of
extreme penance. He was appointed prior
of a hermitage founded by St. Peter
Damian.

Catholic Culture

Ordinary Time: October 14th

Optional Memorial of St. Callistus I, pope and martyr

MASS READINGS

October 14, 2017 (Readings on USCCB website)

COLLECT PRAYER

O God, who raised up Pope Saint Callistus the First to serve the Church and attend devoutly to Christ's faithful departed, strengthen us, we pray, by his witness to the faith, so that, rescued from the slavery of corruption, we may merit an incorruptible inheritance. 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.

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Recipes (6)

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Activities (2)

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Prayers (1)

Book of Blessings: Visiting a Cemetery on All Souls Day, Memorial Day, or on the Anniversary of Death or Burial
Old Calendar: St. Callistus I, pope and martyr ; Other Titles: Callixtus
A Christian slave of Rome, Callistus was ordained deacon by Pope St. Zephyrinus, whom he succeeded as pope in the year 217. As deacon he was guardian of the Christian cemetery on the Appian Way which is still known by his name. While he vigorously opposed heresy, his charitable attitude toward repentant sinners incurred the wrath of contemporary rigorists.

St. Callistus I
Callistus was born to a Christian slave who had a Christian master in second-century Rome. He was placed in charge of a Christian bank which went broke. He fled the city, but was caught and sentenced to the treadmill, then later to the tin mines. He was later ransomed and returned to Rome. As a deacon he was hired by Pope Zephyrinus to administer the Church's property and organize the burial of martyrs in the catacombs on the Appian Way, still named the Cemetery of Saint Callistus.
Eighteen years later in 217 he succeeded Zephyrinus as pontiff, the sixteenth pope. As pope he regulated the discipline of the sacrament of penance, ruling that penitent sinners were welcome in church. He defended the faith against the Adoptionist and Modalist heresies regarding the Holy Trinity and the Person of Jesus Christ. Under the reign of Alexander Severus, he was thrown into prison, and then was tortured by starvation in prison and scourged daily. Finally Callistus was thrown from a window of the house headlong into a well, where he drowned. Callistus died a martyr in 223.
Patron: Cemetery workers.
Symbols: Window; model of church; stone; well; millstone or grindstone; papal tiara; a triple cross (papal symbol).
Things to Do:
- Christians have always cared for the dead, particularly because we believe in the resurrection of the body. We should remember to pray for the dead (a spiritual work of mercy), visit cemeteries and pray for the departed souls, particularly those who have no one to pray for them.
- Take a virtual tour of the Catacombs of St. Callistus.
- Learn more about the Adoptionist and Modalist heresies.
- Since St. Callistus worked in the cemetery, recipes like bread of the dead and other recipes for All Souls Day would be appropriate for this feast.

The Word Among Us

Meditation: Joel 4:12-21

Saint Callistus I, Pope and Martyr (Optional Memorial)

The Lord is a refuge to his people. (Joel 4:16)

Even though biblical scholars argue over the exact time when Joel prophesied, one thing is sure: the Israelites were in bad shape. They had been led astray by neighboring peoples and had embraced their false idols and unjust practices.

Israel’s sin seemed overwhelming, and yet Joel promised that God would still be their refuge. Even when they were at their worst—especially when they were the furthest from him—God promised to protect them, restore them, and make them fruitful again.

This is the beautiful thing about the way the Bible describes God’s love for his people. It is so strong that despite all their sins, he never abandons his plan to make them fruitful and prosperous. Like a fervent lover or zealous parent, he never tires of picking them up and restoring them. Their weakness spurs him to action. He even promises to punish all those who have led them astray!

Don’t be mistaken—“God’s people” is not just a historical group. You are part of that people. He looks at you with the same love and commitment that he had for the Israelites of Joel’s time. Yes, he sees your sin. Yes, he knows your infidelities even better than you do. But he is always your refuge; he is never, ever your enemy.

Do you want to get a taste of God’s perfect, merciful love? Then go to Confession. Let him wipe away your sins, no matter how many or how grievous they are. Let him shower you with love and prove that he wants to do nothing but good for you. Let him heal your wounds so that you can become fruitful for him.

God’s love and mercy are also available to you every day at Mass. It’s there, before the altar, that we see Joel’s promise come to fulfillment: “The mountains shall drip new wine . . . A fountain shall issue from the house of the Lord” (4:18). There, as bread becomes divine Flesh and wine becomes divine Blood, our Redeemer meets us with tender personal love. He comes to nourish us, to tend our wounds, and to show us our true dignity and honor.

Your Father is completely committed to you. He is your refuge—now and forever!

“Lord, I praise you that you will stop at nothing to bring me back to you, make me holy, and fill me with your love!”

Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12
Luke 11:27-28

Marriage = One Man and One Woman Until Death Do Us Part

Daily Marriage Tip for October 14, 2017:

An old proverb says, “The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” Don’t get so busy caring for your child that you forget the love that brought that child into being.

Regnum Christi

October 14, 2017 – Mary Is My Master Educator in Virtue

14 Oct 2017

Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Father James Swanson, LC

Luke 11:27-28

While Jesus was speaking, a woman from the crowd called out and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are the master of the universe, and yet you wish to listen to me and guide me. You know all things past, present and future, and yet you respect my freedom to choose you. Holy Trinity, you are completely happy and fulfilled on your own, and yet you have generously brought us into existence. You are our fulfillment. Thank you for the gift of yourself. I offer the littleness of myself in return, knowing you are pleased with what I have to give.

Petition: Lord, help me to imitate Mary.

1. Mary’s Masterpiece: The woman in this passage has a great insight. She senses the greatness of Jesus. Probably she intuits that he is the Messiah. It is doubtful if she has guessed that he is also God-made-man. But from Jesus’ greatness, she is able to infer the greatness of Mary. It is obvious to her that whoever produced this masterpiece of humanity must have been a masterpiece of humanity herself. And she is right. The humanity of Jesus is Mary’s masterpiece. All of what she is, she imparted to him. While we cannot credit Mary with the perfections of Jesus’ divinity, we would be doing her a grave injustice to think that Jesus’ human virtues and perfections were not positively impacted by her example.

2. The Immaculate Conception: God desired Jesus to come into this world like every one of us, as an infant, and so Jesus needed a mother. God wanted him to have the finest mother, a perfect mother, and so he gave Mary many gifts, starting with her Immaculate Conception, preserving her from original sin. Who could imagine Jesus – pure and innocent – wrapped in flesh polluted by sin for the first nine months of his existence? Would such an innocent child ever have been able to stop crying while being tended to by a sinner? The Father wanted the best for his Son and gave him the best, even though he had to provide the miracle of the Immaculate Conception in order to do it.

3. Jesus’ Educator: Being truly human, Jesus had to learn just like any one of us. Because of his divinity, his human capacities were untainted by sin, but it was Mary who taught him how to use them, who honed them in the everyday life of the family until they were perfect – just as any mother would. Mary was the perfect one to bring out all the perfections in Jesus’ human nature. Being immaculately conceived, Mary’s mind was not wounded by sin and so was always able to discover ways of parenting and teaching that were perfectly suited to Jesus’ human nature. To educate doesn’t mean to just give knowledge. In its fullest sense, it means to train in virtue. Mary’s continuous example of virtue – hearing the word of God and observing it – was certainly compelling for Jesus in his educational upbringing.

Conversation with Christ: Dear Jesus, it’s hard for me to understand that, as human, you needed education just like anyone else. Help me to see that you were truly and fully human like me. Moreover, since you have already given me Mary to be my Mother, ask her to educate me too, to form me in all the virtues the way she formed them in you.

Resolution: Do I really think of Mary as my educator in the full sense, in the sense of teaching me virtue? What is the virtue I need the most? I will ask Mary to educate me in it in a special way today.

One Bread, One Body

Language: English | Espa�ol

All Issues > Volume 33, Issue 6

<< Saturday, October 14, 2017 >>

Pope St. Callistus I

Joel 4:12-21
View Readings

Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12

Luke 11:27-28
Similar Reflections

BLEST BEST

"Blest are they who hear the word of God and keep it." �Luke 11:28

A woman exclaimed that Mary was blessed by being the mother of Jesus (Lk 11:27). Jesus replied that those "who hear the Word of God and keep it" are more greatly blessed.

Many of us have been blessed with good health, great wealth, many children, beautiful families, fame, exceptional intelligence, success in business, power, abundant possessions, or countless other blessings. Nevertheless, none of these blessings can compare with hearing the Word of God and keeping it, for God's law and Word are "more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces" (Ps 119:72). When we hear God's Word, we hear God and thereby grow in faith (Rm 10:17) by which we accept the grace of salvation (Eph 2:8). Jesus promised: "My mother and My brothers are those who hear the word of God and act upon it" (Lk 8:21). "Blest are your eyes because they see and blest are your ears because they hear. I assure you, many a prophet and many a saint longed to see what you see but did not see it, to hear what you hear but did not hear it" (Mt 13:16-17).

"Blest is the man who reads this prophetic message, and blest are those who hear it and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near!" (Rv 1:3, our transl)

Prayer: Father, may I let You "bless me real good."

Promise: "A fountain shall issue from the house of the Lord." �Jl 4:18

Praise: The future Pope St. Callistus I learned to pray to the Sardinian martyrs in the Sardinian mines. The Lord enabled him to demonstrate extraordinary forgiveness throughout his life.