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Balthasar Beschey: A Hermit at Prayer

"In the fifth century many holy hermits who lived in the deserts of Palestine, separated from the world, and from all conversation besides that of God, were murdered by the Saracens, and by their cruelty made so many sacrifices to God. Is it not strange that these, who had renounced all the goods of this life, should not have been more exempt from its evils? But such is the order of Providence, that while the wicked are often punished here for their iniquities, the just too have their scourges, either for the trial of their fidelity, or to render their crown more glorious. If these come to be your portion, be not dejected, nor too positive in concluding them to be the effect of God's anger, since there are scourges of mercy, as well as of justice. Accept them with a peaceable mind, using our best and continued endeavours to moderate all fears and impatience, and suppressing those thoughts which too curiously search into the counsels of God. Leave it to Him to order as He knows best; with an assurance that it is in your power to turn them to your advantage. If you are in sin, let them be a motive to amendment: if you can discover no disorder in your life, look on Christ and His martyrs, and learn from them how you are to suffer.

Bow down before the sovereign Lord of all, in acknowledgment of His mercy to these His servants: who being nothing of themselves but vessels of weakness, were by His grace so raised above nature, as to triumph over all the cruelty that the enraged enemies of their faith could practise against them. Acknowledge this privilege of grace, which was such a blessing to these holy hermits, to have been his gift. By Him they were so perfected in faith, as to despise this world with all that was inviting in it. They rejoiced in torments, and met the terrors of death with comfort. Study their example, and you cannot fail of turning all to your good." The Catholic Year by Rev. John Gother

Pray for all pastors of Christ's Church, that they may inherit the spirit of this holy prelate. Pray for him in particular, under whose care you are. And since there is no living in this world without suffering, remember to embrace those sufferings with joy, which are the consequence of a faithful discharge of your duty. Follow innocence and justice: for however they may be prejudicial to your temporal concerns, yet never think yourself a loser, as long as there is an everlasting blessing attending them. What if men judge and speak ill of you? Be contented that God is the witness of your fidelity. It is much better to suffer for justice, than to rejoice in the fruit of iniquity. That is the Gospel rule which you profess; the other is the way of the world, which you are obliged to renounce. Pray for grace, that you may be faithful in what you have undertaken. Pray for all Christians, that they may renounce what is corrupt, and be true to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, whatever sacrifices it may require of them." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother

St. Theodulus,

MARTYR, A.D. 309.

"THEODULUS was an old man of eminent virtue and wisdom, who enjoyed one of the most honourable posts in the household of Firmilian, the governor of Palestine, and had several sons. His personal merit gained him the love of all who knew him; and the governor had a particular esteem for him. This holy man had seen the invincible courage and patience of the martyrs who were put to death by his master's order, and believed in Christ. Going to the prisons, he made use of the example of the martyrs whom he had seen, to encourage the other confessors, and prepare them for the like battles. Firmilian, vexed at this conduct of an old favourite servant, sent for him, reproached him strongly with ingratitude, and without hearing his defence, condemned him to be crucified. Theodulus received the sentence with joy, and went with transports to a death which was speedily to unite him to his Saviour, and in which he was thought worthy to bear a near resemblance to him. He suffered a glorious martyrdom, rejoicing in the honour that was done him, and praising God for those charitable offices, which had brought him to this happy end.

It is often so ordered by Providence, that the best undertakings fall with an unexpected weight on those who engage in them; and that Christians, by doing good to others, draw great inconveniencies upon themselves. The apprehension of such consequences discourages many from executing very pious designs, and their being once disappointed, makes them shrink from the most commendable undertakings. But this is nothing better than impatience and cowardice, disguised under the name of discretion, and therefore not to be consulted. The better rule is to embrace the present occasion offered for doing good; and then to depend so much on the divine conduct, as to leave the consequences to Providence. If all succeed well, bless God for it; and if otherwise, embrace the inconvenience. If this be done with submission and patience, your disappointment will be no loss. Thus you may come to be called a fool by the world; but it is a folly more valuable than the wisdom of those who are too cautious in doing good." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

Domenico Fetti: St. Juliana

"In prison, she was said to have been exposed to a vision of a demon who pretended to be an angel of light and asked her to sacrifice to the pagan gods. Juliana recognised the deception and shouted: “Lord God of heaven and earth, do not leave me and do not allow your maid to perish.” She defeated the tempter who admitted to her that the devils suffer especially when Christians assist at Mass." Prayer for Reparation

"A holy virgin of Nicomedia, who in the persecution of Galerius Maximianus, not consenting to marry a certain governor, who was a heathen, drew upon her the fury of her idolatrous father, and likewise of him whom she had refused to marry. Finding her not to be prevailed upon by all the flatteries they could propose, they commanded her by order of justice to be hung up by the hair, to be cruelly scourged, to be tormented with hot plates of iron, to be cast into a furnace, and into boiling oil; and being miraculously preserved, she was at length beheaded, and so brought to the possession of her heavenly spouse.

Are you not here taught how much you ought to value your faith, and not to put this to the hazard upon any consideration which this world can offer you? Is not here a condemnation of those, who in disposing of themselves or of their children, look about for worldly advantages of titles, state, or preferments, and let these determine their choice as to marriage, profession, or service, without any regard to the hazard they run of that which is most valuable, and is the only thing above all to be considered? This is not according to the Gospel, which commands, before all things, to seek the kingdom of God and His justice, and to venture everything else for securing this. Resolve to make this your rule for yourself, and all that belong to you. If you are a loser by it, remember that such loss will be your greatest gain. It is the loss of the martyrs, and will not your gain be the same as theirs. It is a loss for time, but it will be gain for eternity.

Pray for all who are under troubles, whether temporal or spiritual; that God would be their protector and comforter, and strengthen them against all temptations of impatience and distrust. Your charity to them now may bring relief to you when it comes to your turn. Pray to this holy virgin and martyr, to intercede in your behalf."

"Two brothers, who by their zealous labours in converting many infidels to the Christian faith, drew upon themselves the fury of unbelievers. They were apprehended, exposed to wild beasts, and cast into the fire and sea. But being miraculously delivered, after many torments, they were at length beheaded, and thus finished a glorious martyrdom, in the year 121.

The heathens had a lewd superstitious custom of boys drawing the names of girls at this time, in honour of their goddess, Februata Juno. In order to abolish this profane and dangerous practice, several zealous pastors substituted the names of saints in billets which were given on this day. St. Francis of Sales severely forbade the customs of valentines; and to abolish it, he changed it into giving papers with the names of certain saints, to be particularly honoured, and as an encouragement to imitate their virtues. This pious custom prevails in many religious houses; and is to be commended. But there are great abuses in the common practices on this day, which should be condemned and abolished as unworthy of true followers of Christ. Evil is often the more dangerous, when the occasion of it is less suspected. In this way many Christians are brought into great snares, while they unwarily strengthen their own passions, and beginning with the spirit, too often end in the flesh. Be charitable then to all, but familiar with none. This is the advice of the pious author of the Following of Christ; and will prove your best security." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother

"He was born in Italy, and having been piously educated, he resolved upon forsaking the world. For this he made choice of a desert mountain covered with woods, where, with the boughs of trees, he made a shelter against the injury of the weather, and there lived in the practice of great austerities of watching, praying, and fasting to the age of fourscore, when God called him to a better life.

If you have forsaken the world, let your life manifest the choice you have made. Retirement has many advantages, but no security. If you are not faithful to what you profess, you will meet with many temptations, and may find at last a deeper hell than others who had not such opportunities for gaining a better life. If you are in the world, walk with fear, because you are in danger. Many things will offer, seemingly innocent, which yet will take off your heart from God. If you admire what others have renounced that they might save their souls, you must either conclude them to have been rash, or that you are obliged to be very cautious how you go on. You must endeavor to separate your heart from the world: otherwise this will separate your heart from God; and how then will it ever come to the possession of him?

 This saint retired into a desert, where, free from the distractions of the world, he might attend with greater application to the concerns of eternity. Lament the many dissipations of mind, to which you have voluntarily exposed yourself. Resolve to withdraw from whatever is dangerous, unprofitable, or not becoming your state. Pray for constancy amidst all unavoidable distractions: remember God and eternity in the midst of your business. Learn to be a hermit in the world, by taking off your affections from all that you possess. You are one day to leave all; practice something of this every day. It is a difficult work, and is best done by degrees. Pray for all those who have the charge of governing a community, that they may follow the example of this saint." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother

St. Meletius of Antioch

"THIS saint was of one of the best families of Lesser Armenia. In his youth he made fasting and mortification his choice, in the midst of every thing that could flatter his senses. His conduct was uniform and irreproachable; and the sweetness and affability of his temper gained him the confidence and esteem both of the Catholics and Arians. He was promoted to the see of Antioch in the time of the Emperor Constantius; when, by the tumults of the Arians, the Eastern Church was in confusion. The Arians however, prevailed with the emperor to banish him into Lesser Armenia. The Emperor Julian having allowed the banished bishops to go back to their churches, St. Meletius returned to Antioch about the the end of the year 362; but the generous freedom with which he opposed idolatry, provoked that emperor to banish him a second time. But Jovian soon after succeeding that unhappy prince, St. Meletius returned to Antioch. The next emperor, Valens, banished him a third time; but he was restored a third time by his successor, the Emperor Gratian.

He governed his flock with remarkable exemplarity, and the opinion of his sanctity among his people was very great. He submitted to the orders of Providence with wonderful resignation, and at length died at Constantinople, being called there to the first general Council assembled in that city, in the year 881.

Give thanks for the zeal and virtue of the primitive bishops. It was by them that Christianity was preserved; and you owe it to their sufferings that you are now a Christian. Pray for the pastors of the Church. Good pastors are a great blessing, and bad ones are as great a judgment. It is the sins of the people that draw this upon them: see that you have no part in provoking these public scourges. Imitate the holy life of St. Meletius. Though continually opposed and persecuted, by his great meekness and patience he had converted the various trials he had gone through into occasions of virtue, and had exceedingly endeared himself to all who had the happiness of his acquaintance." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother

Prayer for Holiness in Priests

Grant, O Lord, that every hand laid upon Thee at the altar may be a friendly hand, whose touch is tender and consoling as Josephʼs was; That the lips which form so many sacred words may never be profaned by frivolous or unworthy speech;That priests may guard, even in the noisy streets of the city, the impress of their noble functions, the bright token that they have but lately come down from Thy holy mountain; And in their garments the fragrance of the altar, that everyone may find them living memorials of Thee, accessible to all, yet more than other men.

Grant that they may contract from the Mass of today a hunger and thirst for the Mass of the morrow, that the sacred anticipation be their last thought at night and Thy tender summons their first awareness in the morning;That Thy priests, filled with Thee and Thy good gifts may give largely to the rest of men who look to Thee. Amen

Mort de Sainte-Scholastique - 1730 painting, Alsace, Bas-Rhin, Altorf, Saint-Cyriaque abbey church

"A holy virgin, sister of St. Benedict; "who," as St. Gregory says, was chosen from her cradle to be a victim holy and agreeable to God." She lived for some years in the world; but in such manner as if it had been a solitude, shutting her heart and eyes to all its charms, and not letting the considerable inheritance which fell to her, by her brother's forsaking the world, make any change in the method of her life, or in the design she had of going into retirement. Wherefore she soon followed her brother, choosing a place near his monastery, where she lived in the practice of a general self-denial, even so as never to see her brother but once a-year. As she was not allowed to enter his monastery, he went out with some of his monks to meet her, at a house at some small distance. They spent these visits in the praises of God, and in spiritual conferences. The last time that they met, St. Scholastica begged her brother towards evening to delay his return till the next day, that they might discourse during the night of the happiness of heaven. St. Benedict desired her not to insist on such a request, as he could not pass a night out of his monastery. His holy sister prayed to God very earnestly; and her prayer was scarcely ended, when there came such a storm of thunder, lightning, and rain, that St. Benedict and his companions were obliged to remain in the house. He complained to her, saying, "God forgive you, sister, what have you done?" She answered: "I asked a favour of you, and you refused it me: I asked it of Almighty God, and He has granted it." They accordingly passed the night in pious conferences, and the next morning they parted, to meet no more in this world. St. Scholastica died three days afterwards.

St. Scholastica Priory

Prayer for Spiritual Fathers

Most gracious Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for thou faithful priests and bishops, whose spiritual fatherhood and example of fidelity, self-sacrifice, and devotion is so vital to the faith of your people. May our spiritual fathers be guided by the example of St. John Vianney. Give them valiant faith in the face of confusion and conflict, hope in time of trouble and sorrow, and steadfast love for Thee, for their families, and for all Thou people throughout the world.

May the light of Thy Truth shine through their lives and their good works. Assist all spiritual fathers, that through Thy Grace they may steadily grow in holiness and in knowledge and understanding of Thy Truth. May they generously impart this knowledge to those who rely on them, Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Source: Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness of Priests: Curé of Ars St. John Marie Vianney, a true example of a pastor at the service of Christ's flock.