Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin
by VP
Posted on Wednesday April 30, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Wake Forest NC
“The sins of the clergy should not lessen your reverence for them.” -- Saint Catherine of Siena, (Dialogue 116)
"A HOLY virgin of Sienna, of the order of St. Dominic, who was wonderful for her religious fasting and great austerities. God was pleased to exercise this His servant with long and violent temptations, and painful sickness for many years. Under all these trials, she held out with admirable patience, humility and resignation, and had the reward of her labours even in this life, in many signal favours received from the hand of God. Pray for the spirit of this holy virgin; and first, that if you are not advised to extraordinary rigours, you may at least be faithful in those which the Church prescribes to all the faithful; not requiring unnecessary dispensations, nor by studied contrivances endeavouring to take off all self-denial from them; but willingly admitting some uneasiness in those institutions which are ordained for your punishment and humiliation.
Secondly, that you may be courageous and faithful under the violence of temptations. These can be no prejudice to your soul, if you yield not, though they were as lasting as life. Christ himself has taught you this in the temptations with which He was assaulted, and with which He has been pleased to exercise the best of His servants. They may be very troublesome to you, but patience under this trouble will render you more acceptable to God. It is self-love which puts you often upon desiring quiet and ease, and it has an effect of the same ill root to be fretful, impatient, and dejected under such disquiets.
"(...) At the age of fifteen Catherine entered the Third Order of Saint Dominic, but continued to reside in her father's shop, where she united a life of active charity with the prayer of a contemplative Saint. From this obscure home the seraphic virgin was summoned to defend the Church's cause. Armed with Papal authority, and accompanied by three confessors, she traveled through Italy, reducing rebellious cities to the obedience of the Holy See, and winning hardened souls to God. In the face well-nigh of the whole world she sought out Gregory XI. at Avignon, brought him back to Rome, and by her letters to the kings and queens of Europe made good the Papal cause. She was the counselor of Urban VI., and sternly rebuked the disloyal cardinals who had part in electing an antipope. Long had the holy virgin foretold the terrible schism which began before she died. Day and night she wept and prayed for the unity and peace. But the devil excited the Roman people against the Pope, so that some sought the life of Christ's vicar. With intense earnestness did St. Catherine beg our Lord to prevent this enormous crime. In spirit she saw the whole city full of demons tempting the people to resist and even slay the Pope. The seditious temper was subdued by Catherine's prayers; but the devils vented their malice by scourging the Saint herself, who gladly endured all for God and His Church. She died in Rome, in 1380, at the age of thirty-three.
Reflection: The seraphic St. Catherine willingly sacrificed the delights of contemplation to labor for the Church and the Apostolic See. How deeply do the troubles of the Church and the consequent loss of souls afflict us? How often do we pray for the Church and the Pope?" source: Little Pictorial lives of the Saints.
Prayer for the Church and Priests (St. Catherine of Siena)
My Lord, do not look upon my sins, but
hear Thy servant through the clemency of Thine inestimable charity. When
Thou left us Thou didst not leave us orphans, but Thou left us Thy
vicar and Thy ministers who give us the baptism of the Holy Ghost; and
not only once, but always, through Thy holy power they wash our souls
from sin.
O eternal Piety, may Thy vicar and all ministers be hungry for souls,
may they burn with holy desires for Thy honor, may they remain with
thee always, because Thou are the almighty and the eternal goodness.
Once again, eternal God, sanctify these Thy servants so that, with
simplicity of heart and a perfect will they may follow Thee and Thee
alone. Do not look upon my misery, but place them in the garden of Thy
will.
I know, eternal God, that Thy arm is so strong as to be able to free
the Church and Thy people, to pull them out of the devilʼs hands, and
to cease all persecutions against the Church. I know that the wisdom of
Thy Son, which is one with thine, can illuminate the eye of my
intellect, that of Thy people and lift the darkness from Thy spouse the
Church.
I thus supplicate Thy almighty power, O eternal Father, the wisdom of
Thine Only-begotten Son, the clemency of the Holy Ghost, fire and abyss
of charity, so that Thy mercy may be given to the world and that there
may be the warmth of charity with peace and union in the holy Church. I
pray that Thine infinite goodness will lead Thee not to close the eye of
Thy mercy upon Thy holy spouse. Sweet Jesus, loving Jesus.
Amen.
Saint Peter Verona, Martyr A.D. 1252
by VP
Posted on Tuesday April 29, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
"In his youth he was singularly protected and preserved from heresy and licentiousness of morals. To fly more effectually from the danger of sin, he addressed himself to St. Dominic, and received from him the habit of his order. He practiced his rule with the most scrupulous exactness and fidelity, and even went beyond it. He was the admiration of his brethren for his profound humility, incessant prayer, exact silence, and general mortification of his senses and inclinations. He was a professed enemy of idleness, which he knew to be the bane of all virtues. After he was promoted to the holy order of priesthood, he entirely devoted himself to preaching. He converted an incredible number of heretics and sinners. He suffered much from false accusations; but after some months his innocence was cleared, and his humility drew on his labors an increase of graces and benedictions. He had ever been the terror of the Manichean heretics; who at length hired two assassins to murder him. They lay in ambush for him, and martyred him on the road to Milan, in the year 1252, he being forty-six years old.
Join with the charity of this holy man this day. Fail not to offer up your daily prayers for all that are engaged in sin or error. Their ill state demands your compassion; and if you had a true sense of it, you would never be wanting in this charity. To live in sin, in the displeasure of God, and in the way to eternal misery, and that this is the case of such numbers of your fellow-members and brethren, is a thought which, in as many as have one spark of Christian charity and faith, must be followed by prayers and tears. My soul fainted away, says David, because of sinners that forsake Thy law. Let your charitable compassion have the same effect on you, and oblige you to bewail their misery. Such daily fainting of your soul may be a means of giving them life, and the best security of your own." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
Prayer to St. Peter Verona, by Dom Gueranger:
"Obtain for us, O holy Martyr, a keen appreciation of the precious gift of Faith — that element which keeps us in the way of salvation. May we zealously do everything that lies in our power to preserve it, both in ourselves and in them that are under our care.
The love of this holy Faith has grown cold in so many hearts, and frequent intercourse with heretics or free-thinkers has made them think and speak of matters of Faith in a very loose way. Pray for them, O Peter, that they may recover that fearless love of the Truths of Religion which should be one of the chief traits of the Christian character. If they be living in a country where the modern system is introduced of treating all religions alike, that is, of giving equal rights to error and to truth, let them be all the more courageous in professing the truth and detesting the errors opposed to the truth.
Pray for us, O holy Martyr, that there may be kindled within us an ardent love of that Faith without which, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews xi. 6). Pray that we may become all earnestness in this duty which is of vital importance to salvation, that thus our Faith may daily gain strength within us, till at length we will merit to see in Heaven what we have believed unhesitatingly on Earth." Dom GuerangerNOVENA PRAYER FOR THE RETURN OF LAPSED CATHOLICS:
O
Good Shepherd, You never cease to seek out the lost, to call home the
stray, to comfort the frightened, and to bind up the wounded. I
ask You to bring (mention names)….. back to the practice of the Faith,
and to remove all obstacles that prevent them from receiving Your
abundant mercy, which flows sacramentally through the heart of Your Holy
Church.
Through the intercession of Mary, the Mother
of God, their Guardian Angel(s), their Patron Saint(s) and the
ever-prayerful Saint Monica, may You pardon their sins and unshackle
them from whatever hinders their freedom to come Home. For You, O Good
Shepherd, loved us to the end and offered Yourself to the Father For the
salvation of all. Amen
Saint Paul of the Cross
by VP
Posted on Monday April 28, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
Statue of Saint Paul of the Cross, at the Vatican Basilica of S. Peter. By Ignazio Iacometti, 1876
"On the feast of the Holy Trinity, both said their first masses. Cold must be the heart, indeed, which is not moved with emotion at the first mass. It is that dread moment, when a man offers up in his own hands the Son of God to the Father for the first time. He sees his life, his hope, his all, in his hands, and that he has power to call Him, and that His honour whilst there is committed to his keeping. The smallest faith must realise these sensations to the newly ordained priest. What must be the measure of lively faith in that soul which had lived almost upon faith up to that very moment? A soul which seemed to touch and feel the very truths of our holy religion, so clearly did he apprehend them and so long could he remain absorbed in their mere contemplation. Paul said his first mass, of course, with that extra measure of delight which his perfection would lead us to anticipate. He is said to have received some special graces which made him ever look back to that event with, "Oh, what a sight!"
Custom or habit never brought F. Paul less fervour in celebrating mass. To the end of his life he had the gift of tears, and his humility made him continually repeat mentally to himself, as he approached the altar, "The hour cometh, and now is, when the Son of Man shall be delivered into the hands of a sinner." Often at the mysterious parts of the sacrifice was his face seen to glow with heavenly beauty. Often was he raised aloft in the air whilst contemplating his Incarnate God as he lay upon the corporal, and often again was he enveloped in a strange but lucid cloud. Such was the scene once witnessed and attested in the processes by an opulent and charitable man, named Dominico Costantini, who was serving the Saint's mass in the church of Sta. Lucia, in Corneto.
F. Paul was very particular with regard to the rubrics and ceremonies of the mass, and nothing offended him so much as to see the furniture of the altar either torn or stained. He considered it an offence in the whole congregation if their houses, and especially the pastor's, were like palaces, whilst the house of God was suffered to remain like a stable." (...)
"In the year 1733, they gave their first mission in Orbetello-this was what we should call the post-town of the place, and thus are we told of its fruits. This mission began in February. The attendance was very great; for besides the inhabitants of the town there was a new garrison quartered there, and the soldiers and officers with their wives swelled the audience. The influence of soldiers upon a country town is proverbial. They bring dissipation, amours, and open, or at least badly disguised immorality with them. In Orbetello this barefaced lewdness had gone so far that ladies made it a point to appear in church, in attire much more scanty than our fashionable full-dress. The Saint inveighed so strongly against this profanation that shoulders were moderately covered next night; he went a little further in his invectives, and the female portion of the audience were at length pretty modestly dressed. There was one Frenchwoman there who resented very much these restrictions upon the exhibition of female vanity, and determined to show her disapprobation of the whole business, at the same time resolving to defy the Saint and assert the right her sex lay claim to; namely, that of doing what they please, provided it be in the fashion. She planted herself just under the missionary's eyes, if possible, even more fully dressed than any of her companions had been. The Saint said not a word. He gave one severe reproving look at her, and in a moment her face, hands, arms, and shoulders, became as black as charcoal. All were horrified. She took out a handkerchief and tried to hide her deformity, but could not succeed-grace did its work, and at the conclusion of the sermon she was as demonstrative in the signs of her repentance as she had been at its beginning in those of her vanity and impudence. By the prayers of the Saint she recovered her former colour in a few days; but such was the effect of the incident, that about forty of the most respectable ladies in the town dressed henceforward almost in the garb of as many nuns."
"The Saint was so intent on God that he said one time,-"If anybody should ask me at any moment of the day, what are you thinking about? I think I should answer, of God." Everything reminded him of God, and set him a thinking on the divine perfections. He would be seen sometimes during his walks beating the flowers playfully with his stick, saying,— “Be silent, be silent." When somebody asked him why, he said it was because they were always preaching to him and speaking of God. It was remarked once that he went to say the Rosary in the woods, and after being there ever so long, absorbed in God, he had not got further than "Pater Noster" of the first decade. His faith was shown in everything which betokened its presence. The feasts of the Church, her rites and ceremonies, were observed by him with peculiar devotion and exactitude.
He reverenced priests from
the same principle of faith. Time, and his experience of all the
shortcomings and want of spirit which he was sure to discover, did not
lessen this respect. To the very end of his life he would rise before a
priest, if able. This is the more to be wondered at, as he was the
superior of priests so long himself, and had to administer correction to
them, as if they were pupils. No one could give him a greater offence
than by speaking ill of any priest, no matter how unworthy his life
might be. The hardest thing he was ever heard to say on this point, when
speaking of the great perfection to which priests might attain if they
would, was :— "Ah! how little faith is there in the world; if they
did but know how heavenly is their dignity, they would respect it more."
His devotion and attachment to the Church was equally wonderful. He could not endure the slightest word which, even by insinuation, threw a reflection on her practice. He would say in a stern tone to the author of any such remark, with S. Cyprian,—“ He who hath not the Church for a mother, cannot have God for a father. Would you treat your mother in that way?" When he heard of the evil machinations, which were then rife in Italy against the Church, he was inconsolable. Every book, pamphlet, or publication which touched the Church in any way he would burn if he could, and wished he could come across their authors, in order to reprove them publicly. On the other hand, those who wrote, or spoke, or acted on the side of the Church he could not honour or praise sufficiently. It was remarked that he was always very fond of the students of the Propaganda. He used to envy them their high and noble calling.
The Saint was very devout to the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity. He bowed his head always at the gloria patri, and severely reproved any of the religious who failed to do the same according to the regulations; and it was remarked that his most frequent ejaculation was Sanctus! Sanctus! Sanctus! He said that came from heaven, and its sound brought him there in spirit. His devotion was remarkable also towards the Infant Jesus, because he then contemplated the mystery of the Incarnation. He used especially to love to see an image of the Infant wrapped up in a few rags, on Christmas night, because, he said, "Oh, is it not humiliating to see Omnipotence like that; and nothingness like this, moving about in conscious strength ?"
His devotion found full expression in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. There he could spend days and nights motionless in prayer. Until he had the Blessed Sacrament in a newly opened house he did not seem to be at all happy. Whenever he came near a town, as soon as he saw the church, he knelt down to adore the Blessed Sacrament kept there, and when he entered he went off straight to the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, as if by instinct. The fruit of his missions used to be seen principally in the crowds of labourers who turned into the church every evening to visit the Blessed Sacrament as they came home from their work. He introduced this beautiful custom wherever he went.
Only his devotion to the Passion, which was the all-absorbing one of his life, could equal the devotion he had to our Blessed Lady. He began everything with her blessing. Nearly all his greatest favours were received on her feasts, and he was blessed with many surprising visions of her glory. He said one day to the students (the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception was not then defined),-" This doctrine (Immaculate Conception) has not been declared an article of faith by holy Church, but I would give my blood and sacrifice my life in torments in defence of it; and if by doing this I did not become a martyr, I am sure I should give great glory to this august Lady. Oh! happy me, if this might take place." In all his great troubles he used to say,-" These are times when the Blessed Virgin comes in to help." He never pronounced the name of Mary without bowing his head, or taking off his cap, after he began to wear one. Of course, the mystery of her life, which had the greatest attraction for him, was her sufferings at the foot of the cross."The Life of S. Paul of the Cross: Founder of the Congregation of Discalced Clerks of the Holy Cross and Passion of Our Lord, Usually Called Passionists 1867
St. Louis Grignion de Montfort, missionary in Brittany and Vendée
by VP
Posted on Monday April 28, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
Saint Louis Grignion de Montfort, Saint Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Wake Forest
"I believe that anyone who wishes to be devout and live piously in Jesus will suffer persecution and will have a daily cross to carry. But he will never manage to carry a heavy cross, or carry it joyfully and perseveringly, without a trusting devotion to our Lady, who is the very sweetness of the cross. It is obvious that a person could not keep on eating without great effort unripe fruit which has not been sweetened." -- St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort (Treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin)
Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort (b. at Montfort-sur-Meu, Brittany 31 January, 1673; d. at Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre, Vendee 28 April, 1716.)
From his childhood, he was indefatigably devoted to prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, and, when from his twelfth year he was sent as a day pupil to the Jesuit college at Rennes, he never failed to visit the church before and after class. He joined a society of young men who during holidays ministered to the poor and to the incurables in the hospitals, and read for them edifying books during their meals. At the age of nineteen, he went on foot to Paris to follow the course in theology, gave away on the journey all his money to the poor, exchanged clothing with them, and made a vow to subsist thenceforth only on alms.
He was ordained priest at the age of twenty-seven, and for some time fulfilled the duties of chaplain in a hospital. In 1705, when he was thirty-two,
he found his true vocation, and thereafter devoted himself to preaching
to the people. During seventeen years he preached the Gospel in
countless towns and villages. As an orator he was highly gifted, his
language being simple but replete with fire and divine love. His whole life was conspicuous for virtues difficult for modern degeneracy to comprehend: constant prayer, love of the poor, poverty carried to an unheard-of degree, joy in humiliations and persecutions. The following two instances will illustrate his success. once gave a mission for the soldiers of the garrison at La Rochelle, and, moved by his words, the men wept, and cried aloud for the forgiveness of their
sins. In the procession which terminated this mission, an officer
walked at the head, barefooted and carrying a banner, and the soldiers,
also barefooted,
followed, carrying in one hand a crucifix, in the other a rosary, and
singing hymns.
Grignion's extraordinary influence was especially apparent in the matter of the Calvary at Pontchâteau. When he announced his determination of building a monumental Calvary on a neighboring hill, the idea was enthusiastically received by the inhabitants. For fifteen months between two and four hundred peasants worked daily without recompense, and the task had just been completed, when the king commanded that the whole should be demolished, and the land restored to its former condition. The Jansenists had convinced the Governor of Brittany that a fortress capable of affording aid to persons in revolt was being erected, and for several months five hundred peasants, watched by a company of soldiers, were compelled to carry out the work of destruction. Father de Montfort was not disturbed on receiving this humiliating news, exclaiming only: "Blessed be God!"
This was by no means the only trial to which Grignion was subjected. It often happened that the Jansenists, irritated by his success, secured by their intrigues his banishment from the district, in which he was giving a mission. At La Rochelle some wretches put poison into his cup of broth, and, despite the antidote which he swallowed, his health was always impaired. On another occasion, some malefactors hid in a narrow street with the intention of assassinating him, but he had a presentiment of danger and escaped by going by another street. A year before his death, Father de Montfort founded two congregations - the Sisters of Wisdom, who were to devote themselves to hospital work and the instruction of poor girls, and the Company of Mary, composed of missionaries. He had long cherished these projects but circumstances had hindered their execution, and, humanly speaking, the work appeared to have failed at his death, since these congregations numbered respectively only four sisters and two priests with a few brothers. But the blessed founder, who had on several occasions shown himself possessed of the gift of prophecy, knew that the tree would grow. At the beginning of the twentieth century the Sisters of Wisdom numbered five thousand, and were spread throughout every country; they possessed forty-four houses, and gave instruction to 60,000 children. After the death of its founder, the Company of Mary was governed for 39 years by Father Mulot. He had at first refused to join de Montfort in his missionary labors. "I cannot become a missionary ", said he, "for I have been paralyzed on one side for years; I have an affection of the lungs which scarcely allows me to breathe, and am indeed so ill that I have no rest day or night." But the holy man, impelled by a sudden inspiration, replied, “As soon as you begin to preach you will be completely cured.' And the event justified the prediction. Grignion de Montfort was beatified by Leo XIII in 1888." Catholic Encyclopedia 1910
Canonized: 20 July 1947 by Pope Pius XIISt. Zita
by VP
Posted on Sunday April 27, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
S.Zita (Michelangelo Pittatore)
THE GREATNESS OF HUMILITY.-St. Zita, placed by reason of her lowly birth in a position obscure, or vile even, according to the views of the world, knew how to lift herself by faith to the sublime heights of sanctity. She passed her life in domestic work, the object of hatred and calumny: her humility was too great, it was said, to be real; it was sheer hypocrisy. Her submission was too prompt and perfect to be exempt from pride; and if the poor servant were any better than people of her condition, it was merely because she wished to appear so. Zita, however, accomplished all her duties with that perfection which those who wish to please God are wont to employ. She bore reproofs, injuries, bodily and moral sufferings, with that patience and submission which the love of God alone knows how to inspire. She was pious, cherished the poor, and forgave injuries. At last the general voice ended by rendering her full justice, which she by no means looked for. The world was struck with wonderment, and the Church has placed her on her altars. St. Zita died at Lucca in 1272, and was beatified in 1696.
MORAL REFLECTION.-All acts in themselves good become acts of holiness when accomplished with reference to God. "All things are turned into good in the hands of those that love God," saith the Apostle.-(Rom. viii. 28.). Pictorial half hours with the saints. By Abbe Auguste François Lecanu
SS. Cletus and Marcellinus, Popes and Martyrs, A.D. 89 and 304
by VP
Posted on Saturday April 26, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
"Saint Cletus was the third bishop of Rome, and succeeded St. Linus, which shews his eminent virtue among the first disciples of St. Peter. He suffered martyrdom under the Emperor Domitian. St. Marcellinus succeeded St. Caius in the bishopric of Rome in the year 296. He acquired great glory in those stormy times of persecution, and is always styled a martyr, though he did not actually shed his blood in the cause of religion,
St. Mark, Evangelist
by VP
Posted on Friday April 25, 2025 at 07:35AM in Saints
St. Mark the Evangelist by Valentin de Boulogne
St. Mark, Evangelist
"He was a disciple of St. Peter, and one of the Evangelists. Pray that the Gospel may be the rule of your life; and while you profess a faith of what it teaches, see that your practice be not a confutation of your profession. Pray for all those who read the Gospel, that they may not wrest it to their own perdition, through presumption and rashness; but being assisted by the same spirit, by which it was written, may be led into all truth.
St. Mark went into Egypt, and was the first who preached the Christian faith at Alexandria, where by his labours the Church was established, and by his example the faithful were trained up in that exact discipline conformable to the rules of the Gospel, that they were a pattern to all believers, and admired even by the enemies of their faith. And after having suffered great persecution, he was called to the reward of his labours, in the fourteenth year of the Emperor Nero. Pray for all who embrace the true faith; and for all the professors of it; that they may live up to the maxims of the Gospel, and give no occasion to unbelievers to blaspheme the name of Christ. There is nothing so scandalous, as a wicked life, joined with the true faith: it carries everywhere contagion with it, infecting both friends and enemies. There is nothing so provoking to Almighty God, as it involves a contempt of His greatest mercies, and therefore draws down His heaviest judgments. Pray for the reformation of all believers, that infidelity may not be the punishment of abused Christianity. (...)." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
St. Fidelis of Sigmaringa, Martyr, A.D. 1622.
by VP
Posted on Thursday April 24, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
For some time he practiced the law as a counselor at Colmar, with great reputation, but still greater virtue. He abstained from all invective, detraction, and whatever might affect the reputation of any adversary. He conceived a disgust, however, for a profession, which was to many an occasion of sin; and determined to enter among the Capuchin friars. He first received holy orders, and having said his first mass in their convent at Fribourg, he consecrated himself to God by taking the habit. From that moment, humiliations, mortification, and implicit obedience were his delight. In regard to dress and furniture, he always chose that for his own use, which was the least valuable and convenient. His life was a continued prayer and recollection; and at his devotions he seemed rather like an angel than a man.
When he had finished his course of divinity, St. Fidelis was employed in preaching and hearing confessions. He reformed many by his zealous labors, and converted several Calvinists. When a pestilential fever infected the Austrian army, he exercised wonderful charity in assisting the sick and dying. He also exerted himself indefatigably in composing differences between neighbors, and relieving those who were in distress. He was most devout to the Blessed Virgin, and regularly recited the holy rosary. By her prayers and those of other saints, he begged that he might shed his blood in the defense of the Catholic faith. His prayer was granted. For the Calvinists were so incensed against him, for his pious labors to convert them, that they murdered him in the year 1622, the forty-fifth of his age.
Pray for all who are engaged in the holy ministry, and laboring for the conversion of souls. To contribute to the conversion of a sinner, is something more excellent than to raise the dead to life. The soul, which from the death of sin is raised to the life of grace, passes from slavery to the devil, to the dignity and privileges of a child of God. By this divine adoption, she is rescued out of the abyss of infinite misery, and exalted to the most sublime state of glory and happiness, in which all the treasures of grace and of heaven are her portion for ever." The Catholic Year by Fr. John GotherSt. George, Martyr, Patron of England, A.D. about 303.
by VP
Posted on Wednesday April 23, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
St. George was a martyr. Pray for all those who suffer for their faith, that they may be strengthened from above. Pray for all others under whatever kind of trouble, that God would give them patience, and be their comfort.
Authentic history
furnishes us with very few particulars relating to this martyr, besides
his being a soldier in Cappadocia, and being put to death under
Dioclesian for the Christian faith. But the extraordinary devotion of all Christendom to this saint, is an authentic proof how glorious his triumph and name have always been in the Church. According to the best accounts, he was born in Cappadocia, of noble Christian parents. After the death of his father, he went with his mother into Palestine. Having embraced the profession of a soldier, he was made a tribune, or colonel in the army. For his courage and conduct, he was soon preferred to higher stations by the Emperor Dioclesian. When that Prince waged war against the Christian religion, St. George laid aside the marks of his dignity, threw up his commission and posts of honor, and complained to the emperor himself of his severe and cruel edicts. He was immediately cast into prison, and tried, first by promises, and afterwards by the rack, and tortured with great cruelty; but nothing could shake his constancy. The next day he was led through the city and beheaded. St. George is usually painted on horseback,
and tilting at a dragon under his feet; but this representation is no
more than an emblematical figure, purporting that by his faith and
Christian fortitude he conquered the Devil, who is called the dragon in the Apocalypse. The general opinion of his
courage in his military profession, and great constancy in his
suffering for justice and truth, has been a motive to our forefathers to
choose St. George for the patron of this nation. They hoped by his charity to obtain of God
a plentiful benediction in all public affairs, and success to their
arms. The same considerations may be motives to us this day to enquire into
ourselves, and see how much we want his charitable assistance, in order
to obtain those so necessary qualifications, which rendered him so
eminent to the Christian world, his courage
and constancy. Without these, we can neither do what we are commanded,
nor suffer what Providence has ordained for us. One that was a soldier
is a proper patron for Christians. For, whatever their sex or condition be, they are soldiers of Christ, their whole life is a warfare upon earth, they have many battles to fight, they are to meet very powerful enemies in the field; and without great courage and perseverance, they can never hope for victory.
Courage is necessary in the discharge of our common duties; because of the great opposition we meet with, from the general corruption of those with whom we live and converse. Custom and practice have given such authority to sinful liberty and neglect, that a compliance seems expected from all: and those who refuse to go along with the stream, must look to be charged with pride, singularity, and bigotry. Now while this seems to concern our reputation, those who have not courage to bear the stroke, surrender and yield; and by joining in what they disapprove, show that it is fear that carries them on; and that they would be virtuous, if they were but bold enough to be so. This fear puts numbers upon complying with all the extravagances of fashion and the age: and though sensible how disagreeable, and even opposite many of these are to the spirit of the gospel, yet awed by what the world will say, they choose to follow what they condemn, and become children of the world, because they dare not be the disciples of Christ.
SS. Soter and Caius, Pope and Martyrs, A.D. 177 and 296
by VP
Posted on Tuesday April 22, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
" Saint Soter was raised to the papacy, upon the death of St. Anicetus in 173. By the sweetness of his discourses, he comforted all persons with the tenderness of a father, and assisted the indigent with liberal alms, especially those who suffered for the faith. He liberally extended his charities, according to the custom of his predecessors, to remote churches, particularly to that of Corinth, to which he addressed an excellent letter, which was read for edification on Sundays at their assemblies to celebrate the divine mysteries, together with the letter of St. Clement, pope. St. Soter vigorously opposed the heresy of Montanus, and governed the Church to the year 177, when he was put to death for the Christian faith, under Marcus Aurelius.
St. Caius succeeded St. Eutychian in the apostolic see, in the year 283. The Church then enjoyed a calm, but was soon after disturbed by a tumultuous persecution for two years, on the death of Carinus. St. Caius encouraged St. Sebastian and the other martyrs and confessors. However, to preserve himself for his flock, he withdrew for a time to avoid the fury of the storm. Having sat twelve years, he died on the 21st of April, 296; his great sufferings having obtained him the title of martyr.
Pray for the present bishop of the holy see of Rome, and for all bishops and pastors of Christ's Church; that whether in peace or persecution, they may ever bear testimony to the truth.
Their lives are powerful persuasives to virtue, if they live up to
their character: and to licentiousness, if they give countenance to it.
If they are unfaithful, let not this make you question the truth of what you profess. Your faith is built on the truth of God, and the promises of Christ: and however individuals may fail, these can never fail. Let the ill conduct therefore of others make you fear and tremble, and humbly distrust yourself, but not God's power, His goodness, or His truth. Learn the value of crosses and sufferings. Those Christian heroes, of whom the world was not worthy, all suffered, and were persecuted in many ways. These crosses ensured to them their greatest crowns" The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
