St. Edesius, Martyr, A.D. 306.
by VP
Posted on Tuesday April 08, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
"He was born in Lycia, had been a professed philosopher, and continued to wear the cloak of a philosopher after his conversion to the faith. In the persecution of Galerius Maximianus, he often confessed his faith before magistrates, had sanctified several dungeons, and been condemned to the mines in Palestine. Being released from thence, he went into Egypt, but there found the persecution more violent than in Palestine itself, under Hierocles, the most barbarous prefect of Egypt. St. Edesius being at Alexandria, and observing how outrageously the judge proceeded against the Christians, by tormenting grave men, and delivering up women of singular piety, and even virgins, to the purchasers of slaves, boldly presented himself before this savage monster, rather than man, and reproached him with his inhumanity, and barbarous usage of the Christians. He endured courageously the scourge, and the greatest torments, which the rage of such a tyrant was capable of inventing, and was at length cast into the sea in 306.
Does not this bravery of the primitive Christians inspire you with the same generous thoughts of offering yourself a sacrifice to God? You have opportunity of doing this in all that you suffer, whether in mind or body, whether from God or man. And if a total peace at any time takes this out of your hands, you have your labors still to offer to Him, as likewise the frequent contradictions of your will, in forcing it to submit to the will of God. You have again the difficulties of your state to struggle with, and the trouble caused by your inward corruption, which will not easily be overcome. If you are faithful in these occasions, it is in your power to make your life an acceptable sacrifice to heaven, by giving it every hour to God. Let not then sloth hinder the offering of your labors, nor impatience take your sufferings from the altar, nor self-love cut off self-denial. For this would be unworthy of a member of Christ Jesus, and fellow-member of the martyrs." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
Day 35. Lent with the Cure d'Ars: We are nothing in Ourselves
by VP
Posted on Tuesday April 08, 2025 at 12:00AM in Lenten Sermons
"Temptation is necessary to us to make us realize that we are nothing in ourselves.
St. Augustine tells us that we should thank God as much for the sins from which He has preserved us as for those which He has had the charity to forgive us. If we have the misfortune to fall so often into the snares of the Devil, we set ourselves up again too much on the strength of our own resolutions and promises and too little upon the strength of God. This is very true. When we do nothing to be ashamed of, when everything is going along according to our wishes, we dare to believe that nothing could make us fall. We forget our own nothingness and our utter weakness. We make the most delightful protestations that we are ready to die rather than to allow ourselves to be conquered.
We see a splendid example of this in St. Peter, who told our Lord that although all others might be scandalized in Him, yet he would never deny Him. Alas! To show him how man, left to himself, is nothing at all, God made use, not of kings or princes or weapons, but simply of the voice of a maidservant, who even appeared to speak to him in a very indifferent sort of way. A moment ago, he was ready to die for Him, and now Peter protests that he does not even know Him, that he does not know about whom they are speaking. To assure them even more vehemently that he does not know Him, he swears an oath about it. Dear Lord, what we are capable of when we are left to ourselves!
There are some who, in their own words, are envious of the saints who did great penances. They believe that they could do as well. When we read the lives of some of the martyrs, we would, we think, be ready to suffer all that they suffered for God; the moment is short lived, we say, for an eternity of reward. But what does God do to teach us to know ourselves or, rather, to know that we are nothing? This is all He does: He allows the Devil to come a little closer to us.Look at this Christian who a moment ago was quite envious of the hermit who lived solely on roots and herbs and who made the stern resolution to treat his body as harshly. Alas! A slight headache, a prick of a pin, makes him, as big and strong is he is, sorry for himself. He is very upset. He cries with pain. A moment ago, he would have been willing to do all the penances of the anchorites -- and the merest trifle makes him despair! Look at this other one, who seems to want to give his whole life for God, whose ardor all the torments there are cannot damp. A tiny bit of scandal-mongering .... a word of calumny .... even a slightly cold reception or a small injustice done to him .... a kindness returned by ingratitude .... immediately gives birth in him to feelings of hatred, of revenge, of dislike, to the point, often, of his never wishing to see his neighbor again or at least of treating him coldly with an air which shows very plainly what is going on in his heart. And how many times is this his waking thought, just as it was the thought that almost prevented him from sleeping?
Alas, my dear brethren, we are poor stuff, and we should count very little upon our good resolutions!"
Source: The Sermons of the Cure d'Ars, 1960
Prayer for Lent: O Lord who, for our sake, didst fast forty days and forty nights; give us grace to use such abstinence that, our flesh being subdued to the spirit, we may worthily lament and acknowledge our wretchedness, and may obtain perfect remission and forgiveness of Thee, the God of all mercy, who livest and reignest with the Father and Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen
Source: Lent with the Cure d'Ars Compiled by the CAPG