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| Rumors Swirling: Pope Francis may resign in December? |
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Posted by: Stone - 08-24-2021, 07:47 AM - Forum: Pope Francis
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“A Conclave is in the Air”: Francis Rumored to Resign in December and Regulate Role of ‘Pope Emeritus’
NWO [adapted] | August 23, 2021
Today the Italian newspaper Libero has an explosive headline on its front page: “Francis ready to resign ‘due to health, not age’. Whispers in the Vatican: ‘There’s a conclave in the air’.”
It is the title to an article written by Vaticanist Antonio Socci. The full text has not yet been published in professional English translation; however, it can be found online in the original Italian at the Libero site as well as at Socci’s own blog, which can easily be translated using tools such as deepl.com.
At first, one might quickly dismiss this as yet another attempt to sell papers and garner clicks by means of a sensational headline. It wouldn’t be the first time, after all: Jorge Bergoglio’s resignation has been rumored many times in the past, and he himself has gone on record saying that he might one day resign rather than serve for life.
This time, however, there seems to be a bit more to it than mere speculation.
For one thing, Socci is a credible journalist and author of numerous books. Although the mainstream has tried to dismiss him as a crank, on more than one occasion Socci has proven himself to be astute, well-informed, and a serious and capable researcher. For instance, his 2007 book The Fourth Secret of Fatima was so compelling that it forced Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone to go on Italian television to “prove” that the Vatican had indeed released the true Third Secret of Fatima in full — an episode in which Bertone unwittingly ended up demonstrating the opposite, thus vindicating Socci (as documented in the 2008 book The Secret Still Hidden by Christopher Ferrara).
Similarly, it was Antonio Socci who predicted in Libero as far back as 2011 that Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger) would soon resign his pontificate — a thing that seemed absurd at the time and earned Socci plenty of mockery. Curiously, it was on Feb. 10, 2012 — exactly one year and one day before his public declaration of resignation — that the Italian Il Fatto Quotidiano predicted that Benedict XVI would die within 12 months. Obviously, neither publication got it completely right, but it would be silly to simply relegate all this to the status of sensationalist coincidence.
The front page of Libero on Aug. 23, 2021
“In the Vatican there is ever more persistent talk of a new conclave”, Socci begins his Aug. 23 article in Libero. Allegedly, Francis has made known his desire to resign on or about his 85th birthday, which would be Dec. 17 of this year.
It is a good idea to recall, as Socci also does, that the credible pro-Bergoglio blog Il Sismografo reported last month that Francis’ health was much poorer than the Vatican public relations machine was letting on: “The disease that has struck Pope Francis is severe and degenerative”, editor Luis Badilla Morales wrote. Some have suggested that instead of a mere case of diverticulitis, the “Pope” is actually afflicted with colon cancer.
Socci mentions that the first to speak of a conclave being “in the air” was veteran Vaticanist Sandro Magister, in his July 13 post “Conclave in view, everyone backing away from Francis”.
According to the Italian tabloid publication Dagospia (which we won’t link to, as it contains lewd images), Francis’ successor will definitely be an Italian, and the contest will be decided between Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the current Secretary of State, and Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, both of them born in 1955 and both Francis appointees. Predictions like this aren’t worth much, of course, but it is interesting that these two characters should be considered papabile (“Pope-able”).
Now, one must ask, of course: Is it reasonable to believe that Bergoglio would ever want to give up his power? Over the last 8+ years, it has become painfully evident that the oh-so humble Pope Francis the media likes to portray is in fact the same ruthless, narcissistic, and power-hungry dictator that he was as Archbishop of Buenos Aires (1998-2013):
- Book The Dictator Pope exposes the true Jorge Bergoglio
- Omar Bello: Francis Plays Both Sides
- Novus Ordo Cardinals slam Francis as “Cold-Blooded, Cunning Machiavellian [who] Lies”, Heretic
On the face of it, therefore, it would seem highly unlikely that someone like Bergoglio would ever voluntarily cede power.
However, there is at least one conceivable scenario under which he might do so: If in exchange for relinquishing power, he will (at least covertly) get to direct who his successor shall be, thus more or less ensuring that his agenda will live on. Depending on how compromised at least some of the conclave participants are, having Bergoglio present in Vatican City looking over the shoulders of the electors, as it were, breathing down their necks while the conclave is in session, would surely influence a vote or two.
Can it be ruled out? Certainly not.
What makes matters more interesting is that in addition to the rumors about Francis stepping down in December, there is word that the same “Pope” will soon establish canonical norms for papal resignations and regulate (or abolish altogether) the putative office of “Pope Emeritus”, which is really a fantasy dreamed up in the mind of Ratzinger.
An article by Vaticanist Maria Antonietta Calabrò appeared, also today (curious timing!), in the Italian edition of the Huffington Post. Robert Moynihan of Inside the Vatican provides a full translation of the article in his e-mail Letter #92, which has not yet been published online.
Calabrò writes:
Quote:Pope Francis could soon promulgate a new law (in the form of an Apostolic Constitution) to regulate the resignation of the Pope, and especially the status following the resignation of a Pontiff.
This is also to avoid a whole series of misleading interpretations on the existence of two Popes, on their cohabitation, on the thesis of “an enlarged papacy” and on other issues which, although not having touched the vast majority of the faithful, have fed the underground poisons of the so-called “Pope-vacantists,” [=“Resignationists”] who have come to hypothesize that the only true Pope is Ratzinger.
In short, it is not even excluded, although it would be sensational, that for the new law there has been no Pope Emeritus at all.
(Maria Antonietta Calabrò, “Francesco potrebbe promulgare una norma sullo status di ‘Papa emerito'”, Huffington Post, Aug. 23, 2021; translation by Robert Moynihan.)
The report of Francis possibly issuing canonical guidelines for the whole “Pope Emeritus” circus lends great weight to the rumor that he intends to resign in December.
With Benedict XVI still alive, a resignation by Francis could add some hilarity to the already absurd clown show in the Vatican: Then there would be two “Popes emeriti” in the 0.19-square-mile territory, and after the conclave there would be three men dressed as Pope! (Unless, of course, Bergoglio abolishes the thing altogether.)
Is such a charade inconceivable?
No, it is not — not after all that has transpired in the Vatican since 2013, including the Pachamama circus, the Muslim prayers of “victory over the infidels”, the cocaine-fueled sodomite orgy, the happy encounter with abortionist Emma Bonino, the public showers in the colonnades, the Sistine Chapel being rented to Porsche, the exhortation Amoris Laetitia, and heaps more.
In fact, one might just shrug and echo the words of an unsavory character of American politics: What difference, at this point, would it make?
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| Pfizer Jab Receives Full Approval From FDA - Pentagon Mandates Vaccinations For All Troops |
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Posted by: Stone - 08-23-2021, 02:01 PM - Forum: COVID Vaccines
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Pfizer Jab Receives Full Approval From FDA, Pentagon Mandates Vaccinations For All Troops
ZH | AUG 23, 2021
Update (1100ET): The Pentagon's press secretary has just confirmed that - as expected - the DoD will now require all troops across the armed services to get the vaccine.
Troops who refuse the vaccine could face "disciplinary" measures, including being dragged in front of a military tribunal that would mete out punishment. Commanders have several options for dealing with troops who refuse mandatory COVID-19 vaccines including issuing them a letter of reprimand or taking other administrative action; using nonjudicial punishment to push them to get vaccinated; referring troops to an administrative separation board for failure to obey an order, or even referring service members to courts-martial, which has already happened in the past when some troops refused to get vaccinated for Anthrax.
Quote:"We have every expectation that once the vaccines are made mandatory the troops are going to do the right thing," Kirby told reporters at a Pentagon news conference a few weeks ago. "But, without speaking to the future, it’s treated, certainly, like any lawful order, and there could be administrative and disciplinary repercussions for failing to obey that order."
The DoD also make sure that service members who have reservations about getting a COVID-19 vaccine are "properly counseled" about the risks to their personal health and their unit’s readiness that could arise from them refusing the jab, and that commanders have a "range of tools" to pressure troops to comply.
Quote:"Commanders have a range of tools, short of using the UCMJ [Uniform Code of Military Justice] available to them to try to help individuals make the right decisions," Kirby added.
Similar mandates are expected in the private sector as well, with companies like Wal-Mart, along with thousands of smaller businesses, expected to require proof of vaccination for all workers.
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Roughly 8 months after the Pfizer-BioNTech jab was first approved for public use after receiving an unprecedented emergency authorization, the jab has officially become the first to receive full approval by the FDA on Monday, the Washington Post reports.
The news, which was telegraphed days in advance, sent shares of Pfizer and BioNTech surging shortly after the open on Monday.
As the mainstream media immediately pointed out, the approval might prompt some skeptical adults to take the vaccine, while giving businesses the last piece of ammunition they needed to require workers to get the jab, or be fired. According to the CDC, 204MM Pfizer jabs (which will henceforth be known as Comirnaty, the official brand name of the jab) have been doled out since the emergency authorization was first handed down last December.
The vaccine is officially approved for Americans over the age of 16, while the emergency authorization remains in effect for patients between 12 and 15. Notably, the FDA is requiring Pfizer to conduct more research on the risks of myocarditis and pericarditis and other potential side effects. Pfizer will also develop a registry to help monitor outcomes for infants after vaccinated women give birth.
CNBC reports that a survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation found 3 in 10 unvaccinated adults said they would be more likely to get vaccinated if one of the vaccines receives full approval. Full approval is "more psychological than anything else,” said Dr. Paul Offit, a voting member of the agency’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee. "I mean you already have more than 320MM doses administered. The vaccines already have an enormous safety and efficacy profile."
"The FDA will do what it thinks it needs to do to make sure that the American public is safe," he said.
Initially, full authorization was expected to arrive in September, but the Biden Administration has ramped up the pressure in recent days. Full approval opens the door to several activities that were barred under the emergency authorization: Pfizer can now advertise the jab, and it can now continue to vaccinate people even after the COVID "emergency" is deemed over. Pfizer can also now raise the price of the vaccine. They have already raised the price of the jab in the EU.
Pfizer and BioNTech have both said they intend to generate billions of dollars in revenues (and likely profits) from sales of the jab.
As vaccine proponents celebrate the news, Alex Berenson, a prominent skeptic, has a question: how can a vaccine be fully approved when we don't even know the optimal number of doses?
Here's the full press release from the FDA:
Quote:Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine has been known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and will now be marketed as Comirnaty (koe-mir’-na-tee), for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older. The vaccine also continues to be available under emergency use authorization (EUA), including for individuals 12 through 15 years of age and for the administration of a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals.
"The FDA’s approval of this vaccine is a milestone as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. While this and other vaccines have met the FDA’s rigorous, scientific standards for emergency use authorization, as the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product,” said Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D. “While millions of people have already safely received COVID-19 vaccines, we recognize that for some, the FDA approval of a vaccine may now instill additional confidence to get vaccinated. Today’s milestone puts us one step closer to altering the course of this pandemic in the U.S."
Since Dec. 11, 2020, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine has been available under EUA in individuals 16 years of age and older, and the authorization was expanded to include those 12 through 15 years of age on May 10, 2021. EUAs can be used by the FDA during public health emergencies to provide access to medical products that may be effective in preventing, diagnosing, or treating a disease, provided that the FDA determines that the known and potential benefits of a product, when used to prevent, diagnose, or treat the disease, outweigh the known and potential risks of the product.
FDA-approved vaccines undergo the agency’s standard process for reviewing the quality, safety and effectiveness of medical products. For all vaccines, the FDA evaluates data and information included in the manufacturer’s submission of a biologics license application (BLA). A BLA is a comprehensive document that is submitted to the agency providing very specific requirements. For Comirnaty, the BLA builds on the extensive data and information previously submitted that supported the EUA, such as preclinical and clinical data and information, as well as details of the manufacturing process, vaccine testing results to ensure vaccine quality, and inspections of the sites where the vaccine is made. The agency conducts its own analyses of the information in the BLA to make sure the vaccine is safe and effective and meets the FDA’s standards for approval.
Comirnaty contains messenger RNA (mRNA), a kind of genetic material. The mRNA is used by the body to make a mimic of one of the proteins in the virus that causes COVID-19. The result of a person receiving this vaccine is that their immune system will ultimately react defensively to the virus that causes COVID-19. The mRNA in Comirnaty is only present in the body for a short time and is not incorporated into - nor does it alter - an individual’s genetic material. Comirnaty has the same formulation as the EUA vaccine and is administered as a series of two doses, three weeks apart.
"Our scientific and medical experts conducted an incredibly thorough and thoughtful evaluation of this vaccine. We evaluated scientific data and information included in hundreds of thousands of pages, conducted our own analyses of Comirnaty’s safety and effectiveness, and performed a detailed assessment of the manufacturing processes, including inspections of the manufacturing facilities,” said Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. "We have not lost sight that the COVID-19 public health crisis continues in the U.S. and that the public is counting on safe and effective vaccines. The public and medical community can be confident that although we approved this vaccine expeditiously, it was fully in keeping with our existing high standards for vaccines in the U.S."
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While this is definitely a 'win' for Pfizer, BioNTech and their shareholders, it's not the end of the road as far as the approval process is concerned: The FDA is now expected to weigh approval of a booster dose, which the Biden Administration is pushing for before Sept. 20, when it expects to start doling out jabs to the most vulnerable patients.
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| Christians: Pay Attention To What Is Happening To Nick Fuentes, Because You’re Next |
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Posted by: SAguide - 08-23-2021, 10:46 AM - Forum: Anti-Catholic Violence
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Christians: Pay Attention To What Is Happening
You have to ask yourself: why is this happening to Nick and
what are they so afraid of a 22 year old young man for?
Link
You may have heard that CPAC, the establishment right’s cool kids club conference for “conservatives,” was going on in Texas this weekend. President Donald Trump was there among many Republican members of Congress and the familiar faces of Paul Ryan’s controlled opposition network Fox News.
The most powerful speech wasn’t delivered at CPAC, not even by President Trump. Instead it was delivered from a hotel across the street by a 22 year old college drop out who was banned from Twitter and thrown out of the “Uncanceled” CPAC event.
Is Nick Fuentes what the talking heads on Fox News and the controlled opposition at Breitbart said he is, or is he perhaps saying something compelling that very powerful people, on both the left and the right, don’t want you to hear?
Nick Fuentes is the civil rights hero of our time.
In an age where young, straight, White, Christian men who hold Biblical values are being treated as second class citizens for their political and religious beliefs, Nick Fuentes is a voice of reason.
In an age where Christians of every race are being silenced and censored by Big Tech oligarchs, Nick Fuentes is a shining example of where things are going for us all if we dare to simply say “no” and crack a few jokes about the American Regime.
Nick is banned from flying in airplanes, banned from all of Big Tech platforms and payment processors, he had his money seized by the feds, he is defamed by special interest groups and media outlets with billions in assets, and worst of all he is attacked by fake “conservatives” and swiftly judged by fellow “Christians” who conserve absolutely nothing and serve as mere pawns of the Satanic elites.
You have to ask yourself: why is this happening to Nick and what are they so afraid of a 22 year old young man for?
Nick has never advocated for violence. He has millions of fans and followers from around the world from every race and creed. He advocates for putting our country and its people–all of its people, first in our political policy, and for proclaiming his faith in Jesus Christ as King. Nothing more, nothing less.
Nick is making Christianity cool again.
Nick is a Christian young man who openly proclaims Jesus Christ as King in front of millions of young people. At a time when it seems like the youth have all but abandoned Christ, Christians should be rejoicing that a bright and talented young man is speaking God’s Truth to the wicked and demonic powers of this world–-and bringing souls to Christ in the process.
You may not like his style and he certainly makes mistakes as we all do, but the Holy Spirit sometimes uses people we least expect in ways we least expect to do magnificent things for the Kingdom of God.
Nick is a young guy who is having fun, making jokes, and capturing the attention of millions of his peers in a new cohort of voters and political activists.
More importantly: Nick is building a new generation of young Christians who are undoing 100+ years of false and deceptive theology in American Christianity, blatantly wrong and purely fictional false eschatology, and the fundamental lack of Biblical understanding and Christian leadership in every branch of the faith.
I believe that these two things are what make the Satanic Elites so angry. Nick is a young kid in the prime of his youth having fun, glorifying and bringing young people to Christ, while running intellectual and rhetorical circles around people twice his age and making fools out of trillion dollar multi-national corporations and spineless politicians.
You may not like it, but Nick Fuentes and the millions of young Christian men and women like him are the future. Get used to it. We’re not going anywhere and we grow stronger by the day. America First Christian Nationalism is inevitable.
![[Image: dc1cf476acc1958b.png]](https://news.gab.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/dc1cf476acc1958b.png)
Nick is single handedly shifting the Overton Window further to the right than any “conservative” thinker in the past 100 years with a live stream show from his childhood bedroom. Only in America is this possible. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit is it happening.
In a just and civil Christian society, we do not judge individuals based on what other much more powerful people say about them. We take the time to listen to what it is they have to say with an open mind and an open heart.
Regardless of what you may have heard from your “trusted sources” of information and news about Nick Fuentes, you need to pause and reflect on what is happening to him, who is doing it, and why.
If you are a Christian, the things that have happened to Nick will most certainly be happening to you very soon.
I know this because they have happened to me. As a Christian technology entrepreneur I’ve faced tremendous challenges from the Enemy over the past five years. I’ve been banned from payment processors, app stores, hosting providers, email services, multiple banks, and even VISA. I’ve been defamed and smeared by media outlets all over the world.
Why? Because I built a website that allows people, including Nick, to speak freely on the internet. Because I openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is King as the public CEO of a social network that is used by tens of millions of people every month.
What is happening to Nick, and what has happened to me, will eventually happen to you. Now is the time to start caring about what is going on here.
The Enemy wants to gaslight us into violence. They want to paint us all as “violent extremists,” “racists” and “anti-semites.” In reality we are just normal Christian people with families who are fed up. This is a peaceful movement and Gab is a peaceful community.
We are builders, reformers, men and women of God. We do not destroy things. We build civilizations. We build roads, bridges, airplanes, space ships, and the internet. We explore the world and the stars. We spread the Gospel to every nation.
God is righteously judging our county, but do not be tempted by The Enemy’s deception and lies, including about Nick Fuentes and Gab. We are going to sit back and watch as the woke American Regime consumes itself. While this happens we are going to peacefully rebuild and we’re going to have fun and glorify God doing it.
We are building new channels of communication. New sources of information. New marketplaces. New economies. New cities. We will rebuild it all, just as we’ve done many times before.
Get out of the cities, get your kids out of woke schools, stop watching controlled opposition media, stop using Big Tech services, stop buying products from brands who hate you, shop local, start a small business, get involved in your local community, and sit tight.
God is in control, and Logos is rising.
Andrew Torba
CEO, Gab.com
Jesus is King
July 11th, 2021
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| August 23rd – St Philip Benizi, Confessor |
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Posted by: Stone - 08-23-2021, 07:36 AM - Forum: August
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August 23 – St Philip Benizi, Confessor
Our Lady is now reigning in heaven. Her triumph over death cost her no labor; and yet it was through suffering that she like Jesus entered into her glory. We too cannot attain eternal happiness otherwise than did the Son and the Mother. Let us keep in mind the sweet joys we have been tasting during the past week; but let us not forget that our own journey to heaven is not yet completed. “Why stand ye looking up into heaven!” said the Angels to the disciples on Ascension day, in the name of the Lord who had gone up in a cloud; for the disciples, who had for an instant beheld the threshold of heaven, could not resign themselves to turn their eyes once more down to this valley of exile. Mary, in her turn, sends us a message today from the bright land whither we are to follow her, and where we shall surround her, after having in the sorrows of exile merited to form her court: without distracting us from her, the Apostle of her dolors, Philip Benizi, reminds us of our true condition as strangers and pilgrims upon earth.
Combats without fears within: such for the most part was Philip’s life, as it was also the history of his native city Florence, of Italy too, and indeed of the whole Christian world, in the 13th century. At the time of his birth, the city of flowers seemed a new Eden for the blossoms of sanctity that flourished there; nevertheless it was a prey to bloody factions, to the assaults of heresy, and to the extremity of every misery. Never is hell so near us as when heaven manifests itself with greatest intensity; this was clearly seen in that age, when the serpent’s head came in closest contact with the heel of the Woman. The old enemy, by creating new sects had shaken the faith in the very center of the provinces surrounding the eternal city. While in the east Islam was driving back the last crusaders, in the West the Papacy was struggling with the empire, which Frederick II had made as a fief of Satan. Throughout Christendom social union was undone, faith had grown weak, and love cold; but the old enemy was soon to discover the power of the reaction heaven was preparing for the relief of the aged world. Then it was that our Lady presented to her angered Son Dominic and Francis, that, by uniting science with self-abnegation, they might counterbalance the ignorance and luxury of the world, then too, Philip Benizi, the Servite of the Mother of God, received form her the mission of preaching through Italy, France, and Germany the unspeakable sufferings whereby she became the co-redemptress of the human race.
Quote:Philip was born at Florence of the noble family of the Benizi, and from his very cradle gave signs of his future sanctity. When he was scarcely five months old he received the power of speech by a miracle, and exhorted his mother to bestow an alms on the Servants of the Mother of God. As a youth, he pursued his studies at Paris, where he was remarkable for his ardent piety, and enkindled in many hearts a longing for our heavenly fatherland. After his return home he had a wonderful vision in which he was called by the Blessed Virgin to join the newly-founded Order of the Servites. He therefore retired into a cave on Mount Senario, and there led an austere and penitential life, sweetened by meditation on the sufferings of our Lord. Afterwards he travelled over nearly all Europe and great part of Asia, preaching the Gospel and instituting everywhere the Sodality of the Seven Dolors of the Mother of God, while he propagated his Order by the wonderful example of his virtues.
He was consumed with love of God and zeal for the propagation of the Catholic faith. In spite of his refusals and resistance he was chosen General of his Order. He sent some of his brethren to preach the Gospel in Scythia, while he himself journeyed from city to city of Italy repressing civil dissensions, and recalling many to the obedience of the Roman Pontiff. His unremitting zeal for the salvation of souls won the most abandoned sinners from the depths of vice to a life of penance and to the true love of Jesus Christ. He was very much given to prayer and was often seen rapt in ecstasy. He loved and honored holy virginity, and preserved it unspotted to the end of his life by means of the greatest voluntary austerities.
He was remarkable for his love and pity for the poor. On one occasion when a poor leper begged an alms of him, at Camegliano, a village near Sienna, he gave him his own garment, which the beggar had no sooner put on than his leprosy was cleansed. The fame of this miracle having spread far and wide, some of the Cardinals who were assembled at Viterbo for the election of a successor to Clement IV, then lately dead, thought of choosing Philip as they were aware of his heavenly prudence. On learning this, the man of God, fearing lest he should be forced to take upon himself the pastoral office, hid himself at Montamiata until after the election of Pope Gregory X. By his prayers he obtained for the baths of that place, which still bears his name, the virtue of healing the sick. At length, in the year 1285, he died a most holy death at Todi, while in the act of kissing the image of his crucified Lord, which he used to call his book. The blind and lame were healed at his tomb, and the dead were brought back to life. His name having become illustrious by these and many other miracles, Pope Clement X enrolled him among the Saints.
Philip, draw near, and join thyself to this chariot. When the world was smiling on thy youth and offering thee renown and pleasures, thou didst receive this invitation from Mary. She was seated in a golden chariot which signified the religious life; a mourning mantle wrapped her round; a dove was fluttering about her head; a lion and a lamb were drawing her chariot over precipices from whose depths were heard the groans of hell. It was a prophetic vision: thou wast to traverse the earth accompanied by the Mother of sorrows, and this world which hell had already everywhere undermined, was to have no danger for thee; for gentleness and strength were to be thy guides, and simplicity thy inspirer: Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land.
But this gentle virtue was to avail thee chiefly against heaven itself; heaven, which wrestles with the mighty, and which had in store for thee the terrible trial of an utter abandonment, such as had made even the God-Man tremble. After years of prayer and labor and heroic devotedness, for thy reward thou wast apparently rejected by God and disowned by the Church, while imminent ruin threatened all those whom Mary had confided to thee. In spite of her promises, the existence of thy sons the Servites was assailed by no less an authority than that of two General Councils, whose resolutions the Vicar of Christ had determined to confirm. Our Lady gave thee to drink of the chalice of her sufferings. Thou didst not live to see the triumph of a cause which was hers as well as thine; but as the ancient patriarchs saluted from afar the accomplishment of the promises, so death could not shake thy calm and resigned confidence. Thou didst leave thy daughter Juliana Falconieri to obtain by her prayers before the face of the Lord, what thou couldst not gain from the powers of this world.
The highest power on earth was once all but laid at thy feet; the Church, remembering the humility wherewith thou didst flee from the tiara, begs thee in the Collect for today to obtain for us, that we may despise the prosperity of this world and seek heavenly goods alone; deign to hear her prayer. But the Faithful have not forgotten that thou wert a physician of the body before becoming a healer of souls; they have great confidence in the water and bread blessed by thy sons on this feast, in memory of the miraculous favors granted to their father: graciously regard the faith of the people, and reward the special honor paid to thee by Christian physicians. Now that the mysterious chariot, shown thee at the beginning, has become the triumphal car whereon thou accompaniest our Lady in her entrance into heaven, teach us so to condole, like thee, with her sorrows, that we may deserve to be partakers with thee in her eternal glory.
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| Archdiocese of Manila to train priests to other fields of specialization |
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Posted by: Stone - 08-23-2021, 07:18 AM - Forum: Pandemic 2020 [Spiritual]
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Archdiocese of Manila to train priests to other fields of specialization
![[Image: 03387-1170x730.jpg]](https://rcam.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/03387-1170x730.jpg)
Archdiocese of Manila website | August 19, 2021
With the hope to enhance the skills of the clergy and be able to respond in times of crisis, Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula plans to send priests for other fields of specialization to help the faithful, especially now that the country is currently facing the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his on-air pastoral visit via Radio Veritas’ “Barangay Simbayanan” on August 16, Cardinal Advincula said that he wanted the priests to be able to respond to the people’s conditions as a result of the social and economic repercussions brought by the coronavirus.
“Kailangan din natin ng mga kaparian who will dedicate themselves especially sa mga areas of psychology, counselling, mga interventions na ito especially nitong pandemic na ito. Nakita natin na kailangan talaga, may mga pari rin tayo sa different areas of specialization,” he said.
While the archdiocese is addressing its scarcity of priests and the lack of those who want to enter to seminaries, the Archbishop of Manila expressed his intention to send priests to more advanced education to expand their knowledge and skills in other fields of specialization.
“Alam ko na compared to the population of Manila, talagang maliit ang ratio ng ating mga kaparian. In fact, I still need to have an inventory of our priests here at hindi lang itong mga kaparian sa parokya because we also have to prepare our priests para mag-specialize on some areas so they will be also sent for further studies,” Cardinal Advincula stressed.
He also expressed his gratitude to the service of all religious orders and congregations who are filling the gaps made by the shortage of archdiocesan clergy.
Despite the limited movement created by quarantine restrictions within the National Capital Region, Cardinal Advincula is reaching out to all the workers of the Archdiocese of Manila and different sectors as he entered his third month as the 33rd Archbishop of the country’s premier metropolitan see. (Lem Leal Santiago/SOCOM-Binondo Church | File Photo of RCAM-AOC)
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| Audiobook: The Great Biblical Commentary Of Cornelius À Lapide: Gospel According To Saint Matthew |
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Posted by: Stone - 08-23-2021, 06:42 AM - Forum: Resources Online
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The Great Biblical Commentary Of Cornelius À Lapide: The Gospel According To Saint Matthew (I - IV)
Cornelius Cornelii a Lapide was born in Belgium. He became a priest in 1595 and taught philosophy, and Hebrew, while also preaching and administering the Sacraments. In 1616 he was moved to Rome in the same capacity. Towards the end of his life, he devoted himself exclusively to completing and correcting his commentaries, which covered almost every part of the Bible.
The commentaries show a mastery of Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Syriac and Arabic, in addition to a familiarity with the church fathers. His Latin commentaries stretched over 30 volumes and were the standard Catholic texts for understanding any part of scripture, until more modern times.
Cornelius Cornelii a Lapide SJ (né Cornelis Cornelissen van den Steen; 18 December 1567 – 12 March 1637) was a Flemish Catholic priest. He was a Jesuit and exegete of Sacred Scripture.
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| Here we go again?: Dangerous new COVID strain found ...everywhere. |
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Posted by: Stone - 08-23-2021, 06:36 AM - Forum: Pandemic 2020 [Secular]
- Replies (1)
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Dangerous new COVID strain found in Israel
Health Min. reports 10 cases in Israel of AY3 COVID strain, a more virulent offshoot of the contagious Delta variant.
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Coronavirus ward, Ichilov Hospital Tel AvivEitan Elhadez / TPS
Israel National News | Aug 19
The Health Ministry reported today (Thursday) that the first ten cases of the AY3 coronavirus strain based on the Delta strain had been found in Israel. The AY3 strain is based on the Delta variant, from which a number of further mutations have been found, including several considered more "virulent." Of those infected, eight had returned from abroad and two were infected inside Israel.
This week, a representative of the Health Ministry in the Knesset said of the strain that it "causes concern and will lead us to lockdown" and expressed concern about the possibility of it being discovered in Israel, since it is a variant with a high infection rate that can develop a resistance to the coronavirus vaccines.
The Health Ministry on Thursday morning reported that the number of severe coronavirus cases had reached 603.
At the same time, the Ministry reported that 7,856 new coronavirus cases were diagnosed on Wednesday, representing 5.50% of the coronavirus test results received.
There are currently 62,163 active coronavirus cases, and the country has so far seen 6,726 coronavirus deaths, including 17 who died on Tuesday and four who died Wednesday.
Nearly one thousand (994) coronavirus patients are hospitalized, including the 603 who are in serious condition, of whom 149 are in critical condition, with 106 patients intubated.
Earlier this month, the Health Ministry said that if Israel reaches 600-700 severe coronavirus cases, the country will need to lock down in order to avoid overwhelming the hospitals.
The reason for this is that Israel's hospitals are able to properly care for just 1,200 coronavirus patients, and reaching the Ministry benchmark would signal that hospitals would reach maximum capacity within the coming weeks.
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| Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary - August 22nd |
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Posted by: Stone - 08-22-2021, 02:21 PM - Forum: Our Lady
- Replies (4)
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August 22 – The Octave of the Assumption (Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary)
He alone who could understand Mary’s holiness could appreciate her glory. But Wisdom, who presided over the formation of the abyss, has not revealed to us the depth of that ocean, beside which all the virtues of the just and all the graces lavished upon them are but streamlets. Nevertheless, the immensity of grace and merit, whereby the Blessed Virgin’s supernatural perfection stands quite apart from all others, gives us a right to conclude that she has an equal supereminence in glory, which is always proportioned to the sanctity of the elect. Whereas all the other predestined of our race are placed among the various ranks of the celestial hierarchy, the holy Mother of God is exalted above all the choirs, forming by herself a distinct order, a new heaven, where the harmonies of Angels and Saints are far surpassed. In Mary, God is more glorified, better known, more loved than in all the rest of the universe. On this ground alone, according to the order of creative Providence, which subordinates the less to the more perfect, Mary is entitled to be Queen of earth and heaven. In this sense, it is for her, next to the Man-God, that the world exists. The great theologian, Cardinal de Lugo, explaining the words of the Saints on this subject, dares to say: “Just as, creating all things in his complacency for his Christ, God made him the end of creatures; so, with due proportion, we may say he drew the rest of the world out of nothing through the love of the Virgin Mother, so that she too might thus be justly called the end of all things.”
As Mother of God, and at the same time his first-born, she had a right and title over his goods; as Bride she ought to share his crown. “The glorious Virgin,” says St. Bernardine of Sienna, “has as many subjects as the Blessed Trinity has. Every creature, whatever be its rank in creation, spiritual as the Angels, rational as man, material as the heavenly bodies or the elements, heaven and earth, the reprobate and the blessed, all that springs from the power of God is subject to the Virgin. For he who is the Son of God and of the Blessed Virgin, wishing, so to say, to make his Mother’s principality in some sort equal to his Father’s, became, God as he is, the servant of Mary. If then it be true to say that every one, even the Virgin, obeys God, we may also convert the proposition, and affirm that every one, even God, obeys the Virgin.”
The empire of Eternal Wisdom comprises, so the Holy Spirit tells us, the heavens, the earth, and the abyss: the same then is the appanage of Mary on this her crowning day. Like the divine Wisdom to whom she gave Flesh, she may glory in God. He whose magnificence she once chanted, today exalts her humility. The Blessed one by excellence has become the honor of her people, the admiration of the Saints, the glory of the armies of the Most High. Together with the Spouse, let her, in her beauty, march to victory; let her triumph over the hearts of the mighty and the lowly. The giving of the world’s scepter into her hands is no mere honor void of reality: from this day forward, she commands and fights, protects the Church, defends its head, upholds the ranks of the sacred militia, raises up Saints, directs Apostles, enlightens doctors, exterminates heresy, crushes hell.
Let us hail our Queen, let us sing her mighty deeds; let us be docile to her; above all, let us love her and trust in her love. Let us not fear that, amidst the great interests of the spreading of God’s Kingdom, she will forget our littleness or our miseries. She knows all that takes place in the obscurest corners, in the furthest limits of her immense domain. From her title of universal cause under the Lord, is rightly deduced the universality of her providence; and the masters of doctrine show us Mary in glory sharing in the science called of vision, whereby all that is, has been, or is to be, is present before God. On the other hand, we must believe that her charity could not possibly be defective: as her love of God surpasses the love of all the elect, so the tenderness of all mothers united, centered upon an only child, is nothing to the love wherewith Mary surrounds the least, the most forgotten, the most neglected of all the children of God, who are her children too. She forestalls them in her solicitude, listens at all times to their humble prayers, pursues them in their guilty flights, sustains their weakness, compassionates their ills, whether of body or of soul, sheds upon all men the heavenly favors whereof she is the treasury.
Let us then say to her in the words of one of her great servants: “O most holy Mother of God, who hast beautified heaven and earth, in leaving this world thou hast not abandoned man. Here below thou didst live in heaven; from heaven thou conversest with us. Thrice happy those who contemplated thee and lived with the Mother of life! But in the same way as thou didst dwell in the flesh with them of the first age, thou now dwellest with us spiritually. We hear thy voice; and all our voices reach thine ear; and thy continual protection over us makes thy presence evident. Thou dost visit us; thine eye is upon us all; and although our eyes cannot see thee, O most holy One, yet thou art in the midst of us, showing thyself in various ways to whosoever is worthy. Thy immaculate body, come forth from the tomb, hinders not the immaterial power, the most pure activity of that spirit of thine, which, being inseparable from the Holy Ghost, breathes also where it wills. O Mother of God, receive the grateful homage of our joy, and speak for thy children to him who has glorified thee: whatsoever thou askest of him, he will accomplish it by his divine power; may he be blessed for ever!”
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| CDC Buries Study Finding That Student Masking Has 'No Statistically Significant Benefit' |
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Posted by: Stone - 08-22-2021, 01:11 PM - Forum: Pandemic 2020 [Secular]
- No Replies
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CDC Buries Study Finding That Student Masking Has 'No Statistically Significant Benefit'
ZH | AUG 21, 2021 - 03:00 PM
Less than three months ago, the Centers for Disease Control published a mostly-ignored, large-scale study of Covid-19 transmission in US schools which concluded that while masking then-unvaccinated teachers and improving ventilation was associated with lower levels of virus transmission in schools - social distancing, classroom barriers, HEPA filters, and forcing students to wear masks did not result in a statistically significant benefit.
Quote:A few major news outlets covered its release by briefly reiterating the study’s summary: that masking then-unvaccinated teachers and improving ventilation with more fresh air were associated with a lower incidence of the virus in schools. Those are common-sense measures, and the fact that they seem to work is reassuring but not surprising. Other findings of equal importance in the study, however, were absent from the summary and not widely reported. These findings cast doubt on the impact of many of the most common mitigation measures in American schools. Distancing, hybrid models, classroom barriers, HEPA filters, and, most notably, requiring student masking were each found to not have a statistically significant benefit. In other words, these measures could not be said to be effective. -NYMag
According to the report, scientists believe that the CDC's decision to intentionally omit the findings on student masking from a summary of the study amounts to "file drawering" the findings - the practice of burying studies that don't have statistically significant results.
"That a masking requirement of students failed to show independent benefit is a finding of consequence and great interest," according to Vinay Prasad, an associate professor in University of California, San Francisco’s Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. "It should have been included in the summary."
Epidemiologist Tracy Hoeg, author of a different CDC study on Covid-19 transmission in schools said that "The summary gives the impression that only masking of staff was studied," adding "when in reality there was this additional important detection about a student-masking requirement not having a statistical impact."
As Twitchy notes, NYMag's David Zweig questioned why the US is requiring masks when other countries don't.
David was joined by others pointing out similar facts:
More via Twitchy:
But it’s not just this CDC study. There are no studies that Zwieg — or anyone — can find that “show conclusively that kids wearing masks in schools has any effect on their own morbidity or mortality or on hospitalization or death rate in the community around them”:
Meanwhile, as we've noted a few times in the past week, there are plenty of studies which conclude that masks provide minimal to no protection.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/....full-text
https://swprs.org/face-masks-evidence/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29395560/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32590322/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15340662/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26579222/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31159777/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4420971/
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/...20049528v1
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/...20047217v2
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2006372
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fu...le/2749214
https://www.cmaj.ca/content/188/8/567
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5779801/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19216002/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4420971/
https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/65/11/1934/4068747
https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/bio...f/-char/en
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF01658736
https://www.journalofhospitalinfection.c...0148-2/pdf)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/article...9-0009.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/202007171418...sound-data
https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25776/rapid-...ril-8-2020
https://www.nap.edu/read/25776/chapter/1#6
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/5/19-0994_article
https://academic.oup.com/annweh/article/54/7/789/202744
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6599448/
https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M20-1342
https://link.springer.com/article/10.100...20-01704-y
https://clinmedjournals.org/articles/jid...p?jid=jide
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ar...7308702355
So why are we making American kids wear oat bags every day?
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| Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost |
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Posted by: Stone - 08-22-2021, 11:11 AM - Forum: Pentecost
- Replies (6)
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INSTRUCTION ON THE THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
From Fr. Leonard Goffine's Explanations of the Epistles and Gospels for the Sundays, Holydays, and Festivals throughout the Ecclesiastical Year 36th edition, 1880
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PRAY to-day at the Introit of the Mass with the Church against her enemies: Have regard, O Lord, to thy convenant, and forsake not to the end the souls of thy poor: arise, O Lord, end judge thy cause, and forget not the voices of them 3 that seek thee. O God, why hast thou cast us off unto the end: why is thy wrath enkindled against the sheep of thy pasture? (Ps. lxxiii.) Glory be to the Father, &c.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH. Almighty and everlasting God, give unto us an increase of faith, hope and charity; and that we may obtain that which Thou dost promise, make us to love that which Thou dost command. Thro'.
EPISTLE. (Gal. iii. 16—22.) Brethren, To Abraham were the promises made, and to his seed. He saith not, And to his seeds, as of many, but as of one: And to thy seed, which is Christ. Now this I say, that the testament which was confirmed by God, the law which was made after four hundred and thirty years doth not disannul, or make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise. But God gave it to Abraham by promise. Why, then, was the law? It was set because of transgressions, until the seed should come to whom he made the promise, being ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not of one: but God is one. Was the law, then, against the promises of God? God forbid. For if there had been a law given which could give life, verily justice should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by the faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Quote:EXPLANATION. St. Paul in this epistle proves to the Galatians who were misled by false doctrines, and adhered too much to the Jewish Law, that they could be saved only through a lively faith in Christ, enriched by good works. Therefore he says that the great promises, made by God to Abraham, referred to Christ, through whom all nations of the earth, who would believe in Him, would be blessed and saved. (Gen. xii. 3., and xxii. 18.) The law, indeed, does not annul these promises, since it rather leads to their attainment, yet it must be placed after them because of their advantages, nay even cease to exist, because the promises are now fulfilled, Christ, the promised Messiah, has really appeared and liberated man, who could not be freed from their sins by the Jewish law. O, let us be grateful for this promise, yet more, however, for the Incarnation of Christ, whereby this promise has been fulfilled.
ASPIRATION. O God, who didst send the Promised One, and with Him hast given us all, grant that we, through a lively faith in Him, may become heirs of heaven.
GOSPEL. (Luke xvn. n — 19.) At that time. As Jesus was going to Jerusalem, he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee : and as he entered into a certain town, there met him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off, and lifted up their voice, saying: Jesus, master, have mercy on us. Whom, when, he saw, he said: Go, show yourselves to the priests. And it came to pass, that as they went, they were made clean. And one of them, when he saw that he was made clean, went back, with a loud voice glorifying God, and he fell on his face before his feet, giving thanks: and this was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering, said: Were not ten made clean? And where are the nine? There is no one found to return , and give glory to God, but this stranger. And he said to him: Arise go thy way; for thy faith hath made thee whole.
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What may be understood by leprosy in a spiritual sense?
Sin, particularly impurity, by which the soul of man is stained much more than is the body by the most horrid leprosy. In the Jewish law (Lev. xiii.) three kinds of leprosy are enumerated, viz: the leprosy of the flesh, of garments, and of houses. Spiritually, the impure are afflicted with the leprosy of the flesh, who easily infect others, and are therefore to be most carefully avoided. The leprosy of garments consists in extravagance of dress and scandalous fashions, whereby not only individuals, but also whole communities are brought to poverty, and many lose their innocence. The leprosy of houses, finally, is to be found in those places, where scandalous servants are retained, where nocturnal gatherings of both sexes are encouraged, where obscenities are indulged in, where unbecoming dances and plays are held, and filthy actions performed; where married people allow themselves liberties in presence of others, and give scandal to their household, where they take their small children and even such as already have the use of reason, with themselves to bed, where they permit children of different sexes to sleep together, &c. Such houses are to be avoided, since they are infected with the pestilential leprosy of sin, and woe to them who voluntarily remain in them.
Why did the lepers remain standing afar off?
Because it was thus commanded in the law of Moses, (Lev. xiii. 46.) so that no one would be infected by them. From this we learn that we must carefully avoid scandalous persons and houses; for he who converses with lewd, vain and unchaste persons, will soon become like them. (Ecclus. xiii. 1.)
Why did Christ send the lepers to the priests?
This He did to show the honor due to the sacerdotal dignity and to the law of God: for it was commanded, (Lev. xiv.) that the lepers should show themselves to the priests, in order to be declared by them clean or unclean; He did it to try the faith, the confidence, and the obedience of these lepers: for Christ did not wish to heal them upon their mere prayer, but their cure was to cost them something, and they were to merit it by their cooperation. Their purification, therefore, was the reward of their obedience and faith. Further Christ sent these lepers to the priests to show figuratively, as it were, that he who wishes to be freed from the leprosy of sin, must contritely approach the priest, sincerely confess his sins, and be cleansed by him by means of absolution.
Why did Christ ask for the others, who were also made clean?
To show how much ingratitude displeases Him. Although He silently bore all other injuries, yet He could not permit this ingratitude to pass unresented. So great, therefore, is the sin of ingratitude, hateful alike to God and man! Ingratitude," says St. Bernard, is an enemy of the soul, which destroys merits, corrupts virtues, and impedes graces: it is a heavy wind, which dries up the fountain of goodness, the dew of mercy, and the stream of the grace of God." "The best means," says St. Chrysostom, "of preserving benefits, is the remembrance of them and gratitude for them, and nothing is more acceptable to God than a grateful soul; for, while He daily overloads us with innumerable benefits, He asks nothing for them, but that we thank Him." Therefore, my dear Christian, by no means forget to thank God in the morning and evening, before and after meals. As often as you experience the blessing of God in your house, in your children, and your whole property, thank God, but particularly when you take in the fruits of the earth; (Lev. xxiii. 10.) by this you will always bring upon yourself new blessings and new graces. "We cannot think, say, or write anything better or more pleasing to God," says St. Augustine, "than: Thanks be to God."
ASPIRATION. O most gracious Jesus! who, as an example for us, wast always grateful to Thy Heavenly, Father, as long as Thou didst live upon earth, grant, that I may always thank God for all His benefits, according to Thy example and the teaching of Thy servant St. Paul. (Col. ii. 17.)
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INSTRUCTION ON THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDER
Go, show yourselves to the priests. (Luke xvii. 14.)
SUCH honor did God show to the priests of the Old Law that He sent the lepers to them, although they could in no wise contribute to the removal of leprosy. What honor, therefore, do the priests of the New Law deserve, who through the sacerdotal ordination, have not only received from God the power to free mankind from the leprosy of the soul, but also far higher privileges.
Is the priesthood a special and holy state, selected by God?
Yes; this is evident from the writings of the Old as well as of the New Testament, and is confirmed by holy apostolic tradition. In the Mosaic Law God Himself selected a particular race — Aaron and his descendants — from among the tribes of Juda, to perform solemnly the public service, to pray for the people, and instruct them in matters of religion, (Exod. xxviii. 1.; Lev.xi. 7; Kings ii. 28.) but particularly to offer the daily sacrifices, (Lev. i. 1 1 ; Num. xviii.) for which offices they were consecrated by different ceremonies, ordained by God, which ceremonies lasted seven days. (Exod. xxviii. 4. &c. id. xxix.) Besides these, God instituted a sort of minor priesthood, Levites, for the service of the temple and of God; (Num. hi. 12; viii. 6-18.) they were of the tribe of Levi, and received no land like the other tribes, but lived on the offerings and tithes, and were consecrated like the priests. (Num. xviii. 21.; viii. 6-26.)
This priesthood, an emblem of the real priesthood of the New Testament, was not abolished by Christ, but He brought it to its fulfilment and completed it, since He did not come to take away but fulfil the law. For this reason Christ selected twelve apostles and seventy-two disciples from among the faithful, at the commencement of His public life, and He said to them: I have chosen you, and have appointed you, that you should go, and should bring forth fruit. (John xv. 10.) He gave them power to free man from sin, to sanctify and reconcile him with God. (Matt, xviii. 18.) He commanded them to preach His gospel to all nations, {Matt, xxviii. 18 — 20.) and to offer up His holy Sacrifice. (Luke xxii. 19.) Just as the apostles were chosen by Christ, so afterwards by the Holy Ghost St. Paul was chosen to be an apostle, and he calls himself a minister of Christ and a dispenser of the mysteries of God, (i Cor. iv. i) and who together with Barnabas was ordained. (Acts xiii. 2, 3.) In the same manner the apostles chose their successors, and ordained them, (i Tim. iv. 14.; ii Tim. i. 6.) and even appointed seven deacons, as assistants in the priestly office. (Acts vi. 1—3.) From these clear testimonies of holy Writ, it is evident that, as God in the Old, so Christ in the New Testament chose a particular class of men, and established certain grades among them, for the government of His Church, for the service of God, and the salvation of the faithful, as holy apostolic tradition also confirms. Already the earliest Fathers, Ignatius and Clement, disciples of the apostles, write of bishops, priests, and deacons, who are destined for the service of God and the faithful. Subdeacons, ostiariates , lectors, exorcists, and acolytes, are mentioned by St. Gregory of Nazianzen, St. Justin, St. Cyprian, and many others, but particularly by the Council of Carthage in the year 398, which also gives the manner of ordaining priests.
The heretics, indeed, contend that the Roman Catholic Church robs the true believers of their dignity, since she grants the priesthood only to a certain class, and give as proofs of their assertion two texts, where St. Peter (i Pet. ii. 9.) calls the faithful a kingly priesthood, and where St. John (Apoc. i. 6.) says that Christ made us kings and priests. But these texts speak only of an internal priesthood, according to which every Christian, sanctified by baptism, who is in the state of grace, and consequently justified, and a living member of Christ , the great High Priest, should offer spiritual sacrifices, that is, good works, such as prayer, mortification, charity, penance &c, on the altar of the heart, as also St. Peter, (i Pet. ii. 5-) St. Paul, (Rom. xii. 1.) and David (Ps. 1. 19.) teach. If the assertion of the heretics were true that all believers are priests, why did God in the Old Law institute an especial priesthood, why did Christ and the apostles choose suitable men for the service of God? If all believers must be priests, why are not all kings, since St. John says, that Christ has made us kings? God on the contrary, severely punished those who presumed to arrogate to themselves a priestly office, as He did to King Ozias, who was afflicted with leprosy, because he burnt incense in the temple, which the priests alone were permitted to do. (ii Paralip. xxvi. 18. 19.)
Of course heretics must make this assertion; for since they say that Scripture is the only rule of faith, and that every one can explain it, for what purpose are preachers necessary? And since they have no sacrifice, and with the exception of baptism, no Sacraments, for what purpose should hey want priests? But since the sacrifice of Jesus is to continue m the Catholic Church until the end of time, since all the Sacraments instituted by Christ are still dispensed by her and the command of Christ to teach all nations, must be carried out by her, therefore there must be priests chosen and destined, who will perform the ministry of the Lord and these must not only be chosen, but also be consecrated for
this by a special Sacrament.
What is Holy Order?
Holy Order is a Sacrament by which Bishops, Priests &c are ordained, and receive grace and power to perform the duties belonging to their charge.
What is the external sign, by which grace is communicated to the priests?
The imposition of the bishop's hands, the presentation of the chalice with bread and wine, and the words by which power is given to offer the Sacrifice of the New Law changing bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ, and to forgive or retain sins. (Cone. Flor. in Deer. Eug. et 7 rid Sess. 14. c . 3. de poen. et Sess. 22. c. 1.)
When did Christ institute this Sacrament?
At the Last Supper, when, having changed bread and ine into His body and blood, He said: Do this for a commemoration of me, and when after His Resurrection He said to them: As the Father hath sent me, I also send you (to free man from sin and to sanctify him). When he had said this, he breathed on them: and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. (John xx. 21. 22.) The power to forgive and retain sins He gave them when He said: Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them: and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. (John xx. 23.)
Has Holy Order always been regarded as a Sacrament in the Church?
Yes for St Paul admonishes his disciple Timothy (i Tim iv. 14.) not to neglect the grace conferred upon him by the imposition of hands, and in another place he admonishes him, (ii Tim, i. 6.) to stir up the grace which was in him by the imposition of his (St. Paul's; hands. From this it follows, that St. Paul believed that the external sign of the imposition of hands of the bishops conferred a particular grace, wherein, indeed, the essence of a Sacrament consists. Therefore the Council of Trent (Scss. 23. de ord. can. 3.) declares those anathema, who contend, that Holy Order is not a real and true Sacrament, instituted by Christ, but only a human invention, or a certain form of electing the ministers of the Word of God and the Sacraments.
Are those called to the priesthood ordained at once?
No, they are not admitted to Holy Order until they have undergone a rigid examination regarding their vocation, moral conduct, and their knowledge of the sacred science.
How many degrees are there in Holy Order?
In Holy Order there are seven degrees: four lesser, and three greater.
Of the lesser, the first is that of Porter, whose office is to keep the keys of the Church, sacristy, treasury, and to see that due respect is observed in the house of God: to him the bishop says, in his ordination: So behave yourself as to give an account to God of what is kept under your charge.
2. That of Lector: his office is to read aloud the lessons of the Old and New Testament, which belong to the divine office, and to instruct the ignorant in the rudiments of the Christian religion: the bishop gives him a book containing those things, and charges him faithfully and profitably to fulfil his office.
3. That of Exorcist; to him is given power to exorcise possessed persons: the bishop gives a book of exorcism, and bids him receive the power to lay his hands on such as are possessed, whether baptized or catechumens.
4. That of Acolyte; his office is to assist the deacon and sub-deacon at the altar; to carry the Lights, to prepare the wine and water for consecration, and attend to the divine mysteries: the bishop gives him a wax candle, with two little cruets, bidding him light the candle, and serve wine and water in the cruets.
The first of the greater is the order of subdeacon; he serves the deacon; prepares the altar, the chalice, the bread, and the wine; he reads the epistle aloud at high Mass; the bishop before he ordains him declares that none are to receive this order, but those who will observe perpetual continency; he then gives him a chalice, paten, basin and towel, two little cruets, and the book of epistles; bids him consider his ministry, and behave so as to please God.
The second of the greater orders is that of Deacon; his office is immediately to assist the bishop or priest at high Mass; and the administration of the sacraments. He reads the Gospel aloud at high Mass; he gives the cup when the sacrament of the Eucharist is given in both kinds; he may administer baptism, and preach the Gospel, by commission. To him the bishop gives a book of Gospels, with power to read it in the Church of God. The third is that of Priesthood, which has two degrees of power and dignity: that of bishops, and that of priests. The office of a priest is to consecrate and offer the sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Christ, under the forms of bread and wine ; to administer all the sacraments, except Confirmation and Holy Order; to preach the Gospel, to bless the people, and to conduct them in the way to life eternal; as also to bless such things as are not reserved to the benediction of the bishop. The bishop, when he ordains a priest, anoints his hands with oil; he gives him the paten with bread upon it, and a chalice with wine, with power to offer sacrifice for the living and the dead; then he lays his hands upon him and says: Receive the Holy Ghost, whose sins &c, and performs several other ceremonies.
Learn from this instruction to honor and respect the priests, whose dignity as representatives of God, and dispensers of His mysteries, surpasses all human dignity; upon whom a load, too heavy even for angels, as St. Chrysostom says, has been imposed, namely the care of your immortal soul; who daily enter the sanctuary before the face of the Lord, to offer the immaculate Lamb of God for the forgiveness of our sins; to whom Jesus confided the merits of His most precious blood, in order to cleanse your soul therewith in the tribunal of penance, if you confess your sins contritely; of whom God will one day ask the strictest account. Honor, therefore, these ministers of God, pray daily for the assistance of heaven in their difficult calling; particularly on the Ember-days implore God, that He may send pious and zealous priests; and if, perhaps, you know a bad priest, do not despise his high dignity which is indelibly imprinted on him, have compassion on him, pray for him, and consider that Jesus has said of such: "All things whatsoever they shall say to you, observe and do: but according to their works do ye not." (Matt, xxiii. 3.)
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| The martyrdom of Barsamya, bishop of Edessa. |
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Posted by: Stone - 08-21-2021, 08:37 AM - Forum: The Saints
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Martyrdom of Barsamya of Edessa
Further, the Martyrdom of Barsamya, the Bishop of the Blessed City Edessa.
In the year four hundred and sixteen of the kingdom of the Greeks, that is the fifteenth year of the reign of the sovereign ruler, our lord, Trajan Cæsar, in the consulship of Commodus and Cyrillus, in the month Ilul, on the fifth day of the month, the day after Lysinus, the judge of the country, had heard the case of Sharbil the priest; as the judge was sitting in his judgment-hall, the Sharirs of the city came before him and said to him: We give information before your Excellency concerning Barsamya, the leader of the Christians, that he went up to Sharbil, the priest, as he was standing and ministering before the venerable gods, and sent and called him to him secretly, and spoke to him, quoting from the books in which he reads in the church where their congregation meets, and recited to him the belief of the Christians, and said to him, It is not right for you to worship many gods, but only one God, and His Son Jesus Christ— until he made him a disciple, and induced him to renounce the gods whom he had formerly worshipped; and by means of Sharbil himself also many have become disciples, and are gone down to the church, and lo! This day they confess Christ; and even Avida, and Nebo, and Barcalba, and Hafsai, honourable and chief persons of the city, have yielded to Sharbil in this. We, accordingly, as Sharirs of the city, make this known before your Excellency, in order that we may not receive punishment as offenders for not having declared before your Excellency the things which were spoken in secret to Sharbil by Barsamya the guide of the church. Your Excellency now knows what it is right to command in respect of this said matter.
And, immediately that the judge heard these things, he sent the Sharirs of the city, and some of his attendants with them, to go down to the church and bring up Barsamya from the church. And they led him and brought him up to the judgment-hall of the judge; and there went up many Christians with him, saying: We also will die with Barsamya, because we too are of one mind with him in respect to the doctrine of which he made Sharbil a disciple, and in all that he spoke to him, and in all the instruction that Sharbil received from him, so that he was persuaded by him, and died for the sake of that which he heard from him.
And the Sharirs of the city came, and said to the judge: Barsamya, as your Excellency commanded, lo! Is standing at the door of the judgment-hall of your Lordship; and honourable chief-persons of the city, who became disciples along with Sharbil, lo! Are standing by Barsamya, and crying out, We will all die with Barsamya, who is our teacher and guide.
And, when the judge heard those things which the Sharirs of the city had told him, he commanded them to go out and write down the names of the persons who were crying out, We will die with Barsamya. And, when they went out to write down the names of these persons, those who so cried out were too many for them, and they were not able to write down their names, because they were so many: for the cry kept coming to them from all sides, that they would die for Christ's sake along with Barsamya.
And, when the tumult of the crowd became great, the Sharirs of the city turned back, and came in to the judge, and said to him: We are not able to write down the names of the persons who are crying aloud outside, because they are too many to be numbered. And the judge commanded that Barsamya should be taken up to the prison, so that the crowd might be dispersed which was collected together about him, lest through the tumult of the multitude there should be some mischief in the city. And, when he went up the jail, those who had become disciples along with Sharbil continued with him.
And after many days were passed the judge rose up in the morning and went down to his judgment-hall, in order that he might hear the case of Barsamya. And the judge commanded, and they brought him from the prison; and he came in and stood before him. The officers said: Lo, he stands before your Excellency.
The judge said: Are you Barsamya, who hast been made ruler and guide of the people of the Christians, and made a disciple of Sharbil, who was chief-priest of the gods, and used to worship them?
Barsamya said: It is I who have done this, and I do not deny it; and I am prepared to die for the truth of this.
The judge said: How is it that you were not afraid of the command of the emperors, so that, when the emperors commanded that every one should sacrifice, you induced Sharbil, when he was standing and sacrificing to the gods and offering incense to them, to deny that which he had confessed, and confess Christ whom he had denied?
Barsamya said: I was assuredly made a shepherd of men, not for the sake of those only who are found, but also for the sake of those who have strayed from the fold of truth, and become food for the wolves of paganism; and, had I not sought to make Sharbil a disciple, at my hands would his blood have been required; and, if he had not listened to me, I should have been innocent of his blood.
The judge said: Now, therefore, since you have confessed that it was you that made Sharbil a disciple, at your hands will I require his death; and on this account it is right that you rather than he should be condemned before me, because by your hands he has died the horrible deaths of grievous tortures for having abandoned the command of the emperors and obeyed your words.
Barsamya said: Not to my words did Sharbil become a disciple, but to the word of God which He spoke: You shall not worship images and the likenesses of men. And it is not I alone that am content to die the death of Sharbil for his confession of Christ, but also all the Christians, members of the Church, are likewise eager for this, because they know that they will secure their salvation before God thereby.
The judge said: Answer me not in this manner, like Sharbil your disciple, lest your own torments be worse than his; but promise that you will sacrifice before the gods on his behalf.
Barsamya said: Sharbil, who knew not God, I taught to know Him: and do you bid me, who have known God from my youth, to renounce God? God forbid that I should do this thing!
The judge said: You have made the whole creation disciples of the teaching of Christ; and lo! They renounce the many gods whom the many worshipped. Give up this way of thinking, lest I make those who are near tremble at you as they behold you today, and those also that are afar off as they hear of the torments to which you are condemned.
Barsamya said: If God is the help of those who pray to Him, who is he that can resist them? Or what is the power that can prevail against them? Or your own threats — what can they do to them: to men who, before you give commandment concerning them that they shall die, have their death already set before their eyes, and are expecting it every day?
The judge said: Bring not the subject of Christ before my judgment-seat; but, instead of this, obey the command of the emperors, who command to sacrifice to the gods.
Barsamya said: Even though we should not lay the subject of Christ before you, yet the sufferings of Christ are portrayed indelibly in the worshippers of Christ; and, even more than you hearken to the commands of the emperors, do we Christians hearken to the commands of Christ the King of kings.
The judge said: Lo! You have obeyed Christ and worshipped him up to his day: henceforth obey the emperors, and worship the gods whom the emperors worship.
Barsamya said: How can you bid me renounce that in which I was born? When lo! You exacted punishment for this at the hand of Sharbil, and said to him: Why have you renounced the paganism in which you were born, and confessed Christianity to which you were a stranger? Lo! even before I came into your presence you yourself gave testimony on the matter beforehand, and said to Sharbil: The Christians, to whom you are gone over, do not renounce that in which they were born, but continue in it. Abide, therefore, by the word, which you have spoken.
The judge said: Let Barsamya be scourged, because he has rebelled against the command of the emperors, and has caused those also who were obedient to the emperors to rebel with him.
And, when he had been scourged by five men, he said to him: Reject not the command of the emperors, nor insult the emperors' gods.
Barsamya said: Your mind is greatly blinded, O judge, and so also is that of the emperors who gave you authority; nor are the things that are manifest seen by you; nor do ye perceive that lo! The whole creation worships Christ; and you say to me, Do not worship Him, as if I alone worshipped Him — Him whom the watchers above worship on high.
The judge said: But if you have taught men to worship Christ, who is it that has persuaded those above to worship Christ?
Barsamya said: Those above have themselves preached, and have taught those below concerning the living worship of the King Christ, seeing that they worship Him, and His Father, together with His divine Spirit.
The judge said: Give up these things which your writings teach you, and which you teach also to others, and obey those things which the emperors have commanded, and spurn not their laws— lest ye be spurned by means of the sword from the light of this venerable sun.
Barsamya said: The light which passes away and abides not is not the true light, but is only the similitude of that true light, to whose beams darkness comes not near, which is reserved and stands fast for the true worshippers of Christ.
The judge said: Speak not before me of anything else instead of that about which I have asked you, lest I dismiss you from life to death, for denying this light which is seen and confessing that which is not seen.
Barsamya said: I cannot leave alone that about which you ask me, and speak of that about which you do not ask me. It was you that spoke to me about the light of the sun, and I said before you that there is a light on high which surpasses in its brightness that of the sun which you worship and honour. For an account will be required of you for worshipping your fellow- creature instead of God your Creator.
The judge said: Do not insult the very sun, the light of creatures, nor set at nought the command of the emperors, nor contentiously resist the lords of the country, who have authority in it.
Barsamya said: Of what avail is the light of the sun to a blind man that cannot see it? For without the eyes of the body, it is not possible for its beams to be seen. So that by this you may know that it is the work of God, forasmuch as it has no power of its own to show its light to the sightless.
The judge said: When I have tortured you as you deserve, then will I write word about you to the Imperial government, reporting what insult you have offered to the gods, in that you made a disciple of Sharbil the priest, one who honoured the gods, and that you despise the laws of the emperors, and that you make no account of the judges of the countries, and live like barbarians, though under the authority of the Romans.
Barsamya said: You do not terrify me by these things which you say. It is true, I am not in the presence of the emperors today; yet lo! Before the authority which the emperors have given you I am now standing, and I am brought to trial, because I said, I will not renounce God, to whom the heavens and the earth belong, nor His Son Jesus Christ, the King of all the earth.
The judge said: If you are indeed assured of this, that you are standing and being tried before the authority of the emperors, obey their commands, and rebel not against their laws, lest like a rebel you receive the punishment of death.
Barsamya said: But if those who rebel against the emperors, even when they justly rebel, are deserving of death, as you say, for those who rebel against God, the King of kings, even the punishment of death by the sword is too little.
The judge said: It was not that you should expound in my judgment-hall that you were brought in before me, because the trial on which you stand has but little concern with expounding, but much concern with the punishment of death, for those who insult the emperors and comply not with their laws.
Barsamya said: Because God is not before your eyes, and you refuse to hear the word of God; and graven images that are of no use, which have a mouth and speak not, are accounted by you as though they spoke, because your understanding is blinded by the darkness of paganism in which you stand —
The judge interrupting said: Leave off those things you are saying, for they will not help you at all, and worship the gods, before the bitter tearings of combs and harsh tortures come upon you.
Barsamya said: Do thou too leave off the many questions which lo! You ask me, and give command for the stripes and the combs with which you menace me: for your words will not help you so much as your inflictions will help me.
The judge said: Let Barsamya be hanged up and torn with combs.
And at that very moment there came to him letters from Alusis the chief proconsul, father of emperors. And he commanded, and they took down Barsamya, and he was not torn with combs; and they took him outside of the hall of judgment.
And the judge commanded that the nobles, and the chief persons, and the princes, and the honourable persons of the city, should come before him, that they might hear what was the order that was issued by the emperors, by the hand of the proconsuls, the rulers of the countries under the authority of the Romans. And it was found that the emperors had written by the hand of the proconsuls to the judges of the countries: Since our Majesty commanded that there should be a persecution against the people of the Christians, we have heard and learned, from the Sharirs whom we have in the countries under the dominion of our Majesty, that the people of the Christians are persons who eschew murder, and sorcery, and adultery, and theft, and bribery and fraud, and those things for which the laws of our Majesty also exact punishment from those who commit them. We, therefore, in our impartial justice, have commanded that on account of these things the persecution of the sword shall cease from them, and that there shall be rest and quietness in all our dominions, they continuing to minister according to their custom and no man hindering them. It is not, however, towards them that we show clemency, but towards their laws, agreeing as they do with the laws of our Majesty. And, if any man hinder them after this our command, that sword which is ordered by us to descend upon those who despise our command, the same do we command to descend upon those who despise this decree of our clemency.
And, when this command of the emperor's clemency was read, the whole city rejoiced that there was quietness and rest for every man. And the judge commanded, and they released Barsamya, that he might go down to his church. And the Christians went up in great numbers to the judgment-hall, together with a great multitude of the population of the city, and they received Barsamya with great and exceeding honour, repeating psalms before him, according to their custom; there went also the wives of the chief of the wise men. And they thronged about him, and saluted him, and called him the persecuted confessor, the companion of Sharbil the martyr. And he said to them: Persecuted I am, like yourselves; but from the tortures and combs of Sharbil and his companions I am clean escaped. And they said to him: We have heard from you that a teacher of the Church has said, The will, according to what it is, so is it accepted. And, when he was entered into the church, he and all the people that were with him, he stood up and prayed, and blessed them and sent them away to their homes rejoicing and praising God for the deliverance which He had wrought for them and for the Church.
And the day after Lysinas the judge of the country had set his hand to these Acts, he was dismissed from his authority.
I Zenophilus and Patrophilus are the notaries who wrote these Acts, Diodorus and Euterpes, Sharirs of the city, bearing witness with us by setting-to their hand, as the ancient laws of the ancient kings command.
This Barsamya, bishop of Edessa, who made a disciple of Sharbil, the priest of the same city, lived in the days of Fabianus, bishop of the city of Rome. And ordination to the priesthood was received by Barsamya from Abshelama, who was bishop in Edessa; and by Abshelama ordination was received from Palut the First; and by Palut ordination was received from Serapion, bishop of Antioch; and by Serapion ordination was received from Zephyrinus, bishop of Rome; and Zephyrinus of Rome received ordination from Victor of the same place, viz., Rome; and Victor received ordination from Eleutherius; and Eleutherius received it from Soter; and Soter received it from Anicetus; and Anicetus received it from Dapius; and Dapius received it from Telesphorus; and Telesphorus received it from Xystus; and Xystus received it from Alexander; and Alexander received it from Evartis; and Evartis received it from Cletus; and Cletus received it from Anus; and Anus received it from Simon Cephas; and Simon Cephas received it from our Lord, together with his fellow apostles, on the first day of the week, the day of the ascension of our Lord to His glorious Father, which was the fourth day of Heziran, which was is the nineteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, in the consulship of Rufus and Rubelinus, which year was the year 341; for in the year 309 occurred the advent of our Saviour in the world, according to the testimony which we ourselves have found in a correct register among the archives, which errs not at all in whatever it sets forth.
Here ends the martyrdom of Barsamya, bishop of Edessa.
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| August 21st – St. Jane Frances Fremiot de Chantal, Widow |
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Posted by: Stone - 08-21-2021, 08:27 AM - Forum: August
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August 21 – St. Jane Frances Fremiot de Chantal, Widow
Although Mary’s glory is within her, beauty appears also in the garment wherewith she is clad: a mysterious robe woven of the virtues of the Saints, who owe to her both their justice and their reward. As every grace comes to us through our Mother, so all the glory of heaven converges towards that of the Queen.
Now among the blessed souls there are some more immediately connected with the holy Virgin. Prevented by the peculiarly tender love of the Mother of grace, they left all things, when on earth, to run after the odor of the perfumes of the Spouse she gave to the world; in heaven they keep the greater intimacy with Mary which was theirs even in the time of exile. Hence it is that at this time of her exaltation beside the Son of God, the Psalmist sings also of the Virgins entering joyously with her into the temple of the King. The crowning of our Lady is truly the special feast of these daughters of Tyre, who have themselves become princesses and queens in order to form her noble escort and her royal court.
If the Saint proposed to our veneration today is not adorned with the diadem of virginity, she is nevertheless one of those who have deserved in their humility to hear the heavenly message: Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear; and forget thy people and thy father’s house. In reply, such was her eagerness in the ways of love, that numberless virgins followed in her footsteps in order to be more sure of reaching the Spouse. She also, then, has a glorious place in the vesture of gold, with its play of colors, wherewith the Queen of Saints is clad in her triumph. For what is the variety noticed by the Psalm, in the embroideries and fringes of that robe of glory, if not the diversity of tints in the gold of divine charity among the elect? In order to bring forward the happy effect produced by this diversity in the light of the Saints, Eternal Wisdom has multiplied the forms under which the life of the counsels may be presented to the world. Such is the teaching given in the holy Liturgy, by bringing together the feasts of yesterday and today on its sacred cycle. Between Cistercian austerity and the more interior renouncement of the Visitation of holy Mary, there seems to be a great distance: nevertheless the Church unites the memory of St. Jane de Chantal and of the Abbot of Clairvaux in homage to the Blessed Virgin during the happy Octave which consummates her glory; it is because all rules of perfection are alike in being merely variations of the one Rule, that of love, of which Mary’s life was a perfect patter. “Let us not divide the robe of the Bride,” says St. Bernard. “Unity, as well in heaven as on earth, consists in charity. Let him who glories in the rule, not break the rule by acting contrary to the Gospel. If the kingdom of God is within us, it is because it is not meat and drink; but justice, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. To criticize others on their exterior observance, and to neglect the Rule in what regards the soul, is to take out a gnat from the cup and to swallow a camel. Thou breakest thy body with endless labor, thou mortifiest with austerities thy members which are on the earth; and thou dost well. But while thou allowest thyself to judge him who does not so much penance, he perhaps is following the advice of the Apostle: more eager for the better gifts, keeping less of that bodily exercise which is profitable to little he gives himself up more to that godliness which is profitable to all things. Which then of you two keeps the Rule better? doubtless he that becomes better thereby. Now which is the better? The humbler? or the more fatigued? Learn of me, said Jesus, because I am meek and humble of heart.”
St. Francis de Sales, in his turn, speaking of the diversity of religious Orders, says very well: “All Religious Orders have one spirit common to them all, and each has a spirit peculiar to itself. The common spirit is the design they all have of aspiring after the perfection of charity; but the peculiar spirit of each is the means of arriving at that perfection of charity, that is to say, at the union of our souls with God, and with our neighbor through the love of God.” Coming next to the special spirit of the institute he had founded together with our Saint, the Bishop of Geneva declares that it is “a spirit of profound humility towards God and of a great sweetness towards our neighbor, inasmuch as there is less rigor towards the body, so much the more sweetness must there be in the heart.” And because “this Congregation has been so established that no great severity may prevent the weak and infirm from entering it and giving themselves up to the perfection of divine love,” he adds playfully: “If there be any sister so generous and courageous as to wish to attain perfection in a quarter of an hour by doing more than the Community does, I would advise her to humble herself and be content to become perfect in three days, following the same course as the rest. For a great simplicity must always be kept in all things: to walk simply, that is the true way for the daughters of the Visitation, a way exceedingly pleasing to God and very safe,”
With sweetness and humility for motto, the pious Bishop did well to give his daughters for escutcheon the divine Heart whence these gentle virtues derive their source. We know how magnificently heaven justified the choice. Before a century had elapsed, a nun of the Visitation, the Blessed Margaret Mary, could say: “Our adorable Savior showed me the devotion to his divine Heart as a beautiful tree which he had destined from all eternity to take root in the midst of our Institute. He wills that the daughters of the Visitation should distribute the fruits of this sacred tree abundantly to all those that wish to eat of it, and without fear of its failing them.”
“Love! love! love! my daughters; I know nothing else.” This did Jane de Chantal, the glorious co-operatrix of St. Francis in establishing the Visitation of holy Mary, often cry out in her latter years. “Mother,” said one of the sisters, “I shall write to our houses that your Charity is growing old, and that, like your godfather St. John, you can speak of nothing but love.” To which the Saint replied: “My daughter, do not make such a comparison, for we must not profane the Saints by comparing them to poor sinners; but you will do me a pleasure if you tell those sisters that if I went by my own feelings, if I followed my inclination, and if I were not afraid of wearying the sisters, I should never speak of anything but Charity; and I assure you, I scarcely ever open my mouth to speak of holy things, without having a mind to say: Thou shalt love the Lord with thy whole heart, and thy neighbor as thyself.”
Such words are worthy of her who obtained for the Church the admirable Treatise on the Love of God, composed, says the Bishop of Genoa, for her sake, at her request and solicitation, for herself and her companions. At first, however, the impetuosity of her soul, overflowing with devotedness and energy, seemed to unfit her to be mistress in a school where heroism can only express itself by the simple sweetness of a life altogether hidden in God. It was to discipline this energy of the valiant woman without extinguishing its ardor, that St. Francis perseveringly applied himself during the eighteen years he directed her. “Do all things,” he repeats in a thousand ways, “without haste, gently, as do the Angels; follow the fuidance of divine movements, and be supple to grace; God wills us to be like little children.” And this reminds us of an exquisite page from the amiable Saint, which we cannot resist quoting: “If one had asked the sweet Jesus when he was carried in his Mother’s arms, whither he was going, might he not with good reason have answered: I go not, ’tis my Mother that goes for me: and if one had said to him: But at least do you not go with your Mother? Might he not reasonably have replied: No, I do not go, or if I go whither my Mother carries me, I do not myself walk with her nor by my own steps, but by my Mother’s, by her, and in her. But if one had persisted with him, saying: But at least, O most dear divine child, you really will to let yourself be carried by your sweet Mother? No, verily, might he have said, I will nothing of all this, but as my entirely good Mother walks for me, so she wills for me; I leave her the care as well to go as to will to go for me where she likes best; and as I go not but by her steps, so I will not but by her will; and from the instant I find myself in her arms, I give no attention either to willing or not willing, turning all other cares over to my Mother, save only the care to be on her bosom, to suck her sacred breast, and to keep myself close clasped to her most beloved neck, that I may most lovingly kiss her with the kisses of my mouth. And be it known to you that while I am amidst the delights of these holy caresses which surpass all sweetness, I consider that my Mother is a tree of life, and myself on her as its fruit, that I am her own heart in her breast, or her soul in the midst of her heart, so that as her going serves both her and me without my troubling myself to take a single step, so her will serves us both without my producing any act of my will about going or coming. Nor do I ever take notice whether she goes fast or slow, hither or thither, nor do I inquire whither she means to go, contenting myself with this, that go whither she please I go still locked in her arms, close laid to her beloved breasts, where I feed as among lilies … Thus should we be, Theotimus, pliable and tractable to God’s good pleasure.”
The Church abridges for us far better than we could, the life of St. Jane Frances de Chantal:
Quote:Jane Frances Frémiot de Chantal was born at Dijon in Burgundy, of noble parents, and from her childhood gave clear signs of her future great sanctity. It was said that when only five years of age, she put to silence a Calvinist nobleman by substantial arguments, far beyond her age, and when he offered her a little present she immediately threw it into the fire, saying: “This is how heretics will burn in hell, because they do not believe Christ when he speaks.” When she lost her mother, she put herself under the care of the Virgin Mother of God, and dismissed a maid servant who was enticing her to love of the world. There was nothing childish in her manners; she shrank from worldly pleasures, and thirsting for martyrdom, she devoted herself entirely to religion and piety. She was given in marriage by her father to the Baron de Chantal, and in this new state of life she strove to cultivate every virtue, and busied herself in instructing in faith and morals her children, her servants and all under her authority. Her liberality in relieving the necessities of the poor was very great, and more than once God miraculously multiplied her stores of provisions; on this account she promised never to refuse any one who begged an alms in Christ’s name.
Her husband having been killed while hunting, she determined to embrace a more perfect life and bound herself by a vow of chastity. She not only bore her husband’s death resignedly, but overcame herself so far as to stand godmother to the child of the man who had killed him, in order to give a public proof that she pardoned him. She contented herself with a few servants and with plain food and dress, devoting her costly garments to pious usages. Whatever time remained from her domestic cares she employed in prayer, pious reading, and work. She could never be induced to accept offers of second marriage, even though honorable and advantageous. In order not to be shaken in her resolution of observing charity, she renewed her vow, and imprinted the most holy name of Jesus Christ upon her breast with a red-hot iron. Her love grew more ardent day by day. She had the poor, the abandoned, the sick, and those who were afflicted with the most terrible diseases brought to her, and not only sheltered, and comforted, and nursed them, but washed and mended their filthy garments, and did not shrink from putting her lips to their running sores.
Having learned the will of God from St. Francis de Sales her director, she founded the Institute of the Visitation of our Lady. For this purpose she quitted, with unfaltering courage, her father, her father-in-law, and even her son, over whose body she had to step in order to leave her home, so violently did he oppose her vocation. She observed her Rule with the utmost fidelity, and so great was her love of poverty, that she rejoiced to be in want of even the necessaries of life. She was a perfect model of Christian humility, obedience, and all other virtues. Wishing for still higher ascensions in her heart, she bound herself by a most difficult vow, always to do what she thought most perfect. At length when the Order of the Visitation had spread far and wide, chiefly through her endeavors, after encouraging her sisters to piety and charity by words and example, and also by writings full of divine wisdom; laden with merits, she passed to the Lord at Moulins, having duly received the Sacraments of the Church. She died on the 13th of December, in the year 1641. St. Vincent de Paul, who was at a great distance, saw her soul being carried to heaven, and St. Francis de Sales coming to meet her. Her body was afterwards translated to Annecy. Miracles having made her illustrious both before and after her death, Benedict XIV placed her among the Blessed, and Pope Clement XIII among the Saints. Pope Clement XIV commanded her feast to be celebrated by the universal Church on the 12 of the Calends of September.
The office of Martha seemed at first to be destined for thee, O great Saint! Thy father, Francis de Sales, forestalling St. Vincent de Paul, thought of making thy companions the first daughters of Charity. Thus was given to thy work the blessed name of Visitation, which was to place under Mary’s protection thy visits to the sick and neglected poor. But the progressive deterioration of strength in modern times had laid open a more pressing want in the institutions of holy Church. Many souls called to share Mary’s part were prevented from doing so by their inability to endure the austere life of the great contemplative Orders. The Spouse, who deigns to adapt his goodness at all times, made choice of thee, O Jane, to second the love of his Sacred Heart, and come to the rescue of the physical and moral miseries of an old, worn-out, and decrepit world.
Renew us, then, in the love of him whose charity consumed thee first; in its ardor, thou didst traverse the most various paths of life, and never didst thou fail of that admirable strength of soul, which the Church presents before God today in order to obtain through thee the assistance necessary to our weakness. May the insidious and poisonous spirit of Jansenism never return to freeze our hearts; but at the same time, as we learn from thee, love is only then real when, with or without austerities, it lives by faith, generosity, and self-renunciation, in humility, simplicity, and gentleness. It is the spirit of thy holy institute, the spirit which became, through thy angelic Father, so amiable and so strong: may it ever reign amidst thy daughters, keeping up among their houses the sweet union which has never ceased to rejoice heaven; may the world be refreshed by the perfumes which ever exhale from the silent retreats of the Visitation of holy Mary!
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| Cdl. Cupich mandates COVID jab for ‘all employees and clergy’ or face ‘disciplinary action’ |
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Posted by: Stone - 08-21-2021, 08:08 AM - Forum: Pandemic 2020 [Spiritual]
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Cdl. Cupich mandates COVID jab for ‘all employees and clergy’ or face ‘disciplinary action’
No exemptions will be allowed in the Archdiocese of Chicago except for documented medical reasons.
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Fri Aug 20, 2021
CHICAGO (LifeSiteNews adapted) — Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich released a new archdiocesan policy, ordering “all employees and clergy” to receive the COVID-19 injections no more than “five weeks” after full approval of “at least one of the three vaccines,” threatening “disciplinary measures” if priests and employees do not comply.
In a memo dated August 18, Cardinal Cupich outlined that the “goal of this policy is that all employees and clergy will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 using one of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized vaccines and vaccination regimen.”
The directive, not “currently” applicable for volunteers, is due to take force just “five weeks” after the FDA gives approval to “at least one of the three vaccines,” which Cupich wrote would give time for the “unvaccinated persons to get their full regimen” of the injections.
‘Non-compliance’ with injection mandate could lead to ‘disciplinary action’
Cupich’s directive stipulates that in addition to receiving the gene-therapy injections, the employees and clergy must provide “documentation” to the archdiocesan “tracking portal or website” in order to prove their vaccination status. This “tracking” is to be done “centrally” so that the archdiocese will have full oversight into the vaccine status of all clergy and employees.
Despite the abortion-tainted nature of the injections – which has led Cardinal Raymond Burke to declare it is “never morally justified to develop a vaccine through the use of the cell lines of aborted fetuses,” – Cardinal Cupich did not permit any religious exemptions.
“Consistent with the current guidance of the Church, there will be no allowable religious exemption from compliance with the vaccination policy,” wrote the cardinal. However, in doing so, Cupich ignored a line from the December 2020 note from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF).
While the CDF’s document did offer some support for using abortion-tainted vaccines – a matter strongly protested by a number of prominent, faithful clergy – the CDF also stated that “practical reason makes evident that vaccination is not, as a rule, a moral obligation and that, therefore, it must be voluntary.”
Instead, Cupich allows exemptions from the mandate only on medical grounds.
Should such a medical exemption be sought, a request is to be assessed by “a panel including two Medical Doctors; a pastor, a member of the General Counsel’s office and an AoC HR representative.” The decision of this body is not subject to an appeal, wrote Cupich.
Should such an exemption be granted, the cleric or employee would be forced to undergo weekly tests for COVID-19 and submit the results to the archdiocesan tracking portal, although the note mentions that the frequency of the tests. In addition, those who are not vaccinated will have to wear a face mask “at all times in Archdiocese facilities until further notice for the health and safety of employees/clergy and guests.”
Such restrictions are in addition to the cardinal’s stipulation that the “unvaccinated … may be restricted from use of certain amenities such as eating in lunchrooms if appropriate social distancing and/or other mitigation measures cannot be implemented to maintain a safe environment (e.g. staggered times, more than six-foot distancing etc.) in Archdiocese facilities until further notice for the health and safety of employees and guests.”
Furthermore, those who are able to obtain a medical exemption from the cardinal’s vaccine mandate might still face additional restrictions, as yet unspecified: “The Archdiocese reserves the right to prohibit unvaccinated employees/clergy from entering archdiocesan facilities for reasons of health and safety of employees and guests.”
The policy ends with a veiled threat from the cardinal’s office as he warns against “Non-compliance with the provisions of this policy,” which “may result in disciplinary action for those individuals.” No further detail is given about what “disciplinary action” might be expected.
LifeSiteNews repeatedly contacted the cardinal’s secretary, the diocesan press office, and the vaccine policy office but was unable to make successful contact with anyone authorized to respond to LifeSite’s questions about the policy.
Cupich orders priests to refuse vaccine exemptions
The cardinal, known for his widespread deviation from Church teaching on a variety of issues, has also ordered his priests not to issue any religious exemptions from the abortion-tainted injections. In a letter sent out August 17, Cupich told priests to “politely decline” signing any such religious exemption templates, declaring “there is no basis in Catholic moral teaching for rejecting vaccine mandates on religious grounds.”
Writing that the Holy See “clearly stated that receiving the Covid vaccine is unquestionably in keeping with Catholic faith,” and that Catholic morality “always keeps in focus the common good,” Cupich declared that priests must thus refuse to support requests for a religious exemption.
He told clergy to explain that signing such a form “would mean that you would be endorsing something that is not in keeping with Catholic teaching.”
While the 72-year-old cardinal admitted that the laity “can determine their own actions” and refuse the injection, he told priests to “clarify” that lay Catholic “cannot use the teaching of the church to justify such decisions, which in their essence, are a rejection of the church’s authentic moral teaching regarding Covid vaccines.”
Days earlier, reports emerged that Cupich’s opposition to any such religious exemption had resulted in him reportedly “leaning hard” on bishops and board members of the National Catholic Bioethics Center (NCBC) to retract their defense of religious exemptions from mandatory vaccination.
In a July 2 statement, the NCBC defended religious, medical, and conscience exemptions, and a few days later issued an exemption letter template that provided the basis for the Colorado letter some weeks later.
Speaking anonymously to CNA, one of the NCBC board members revealed that Cupich had been putting “a tremendous pressure” on the organization to retract its statements allowing for religious exemptions, but added that the NCBC would not change its statement.
Civil war among U.S. bishops over vaccine exemptions
With the issue of mandatory vaccination now looming in many areas of life, the Catholic episcopate in the United States appears divided over whether to grant religious exemptions from such mandates.
Catholic bishops in Colorado and South Dakota, along with the National Catholic Bioethics Center, have recently written to defend exemptions from vaccine mandates. All of these statements supported the right to religious, medical and freedom of conscience exemptions in the matter of vaccine mandates.
“If a Catholic comes to an informed judgment that he or she should not receive a vaccine, then the Catholic Church requires that the person follow this judgment of conscience and refuse the vaccine,” wrote the NCBC and Colorado’s Catholic prelates.
Meanwhile, along with Cupich, an increasing number of the U.S hierarchy refuses to permit religious exemptions to the abortion-tainted vaccines, including Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego, and Bishop Daniel Garcia of Monterey.
Their support for the injections, along with support for mandatory injections, comes in direct opposition to Cardinal Burke, former Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, who previously spoke out against vaccines using aborted babies: “It must be clear that it is never morally justified to develop a vaccine through the use of the cell lines of aborted fetuses. The thought of the introduction of such a vaccine into one’s body is rightly abhorrent.”
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