CAPG's Blog 

"The order of Trinitarians was instituted by this saint, for the redemption of captives, in the year 1198. Pray for all the religious of this holy order, that they may faithfully comply with the spirit of this servant of God. Pray for all those unhappy Christians, who are in slavery amongst infidels; where being exposed to great dangers, through the want of all spiritual help, they stand in need of your charity. Pray for all that are in prison, that God would be their comfort, preserve them from the usual contagion of those places of confinement, and give them grace to sanctify their sufferings. See that you have no hand in making any so unhappy, through passion, malice, revenge, or hardheartedness.

Pray for all that are slaves to sin; that by the power of divine grace, they may use violence to themselves, and break their chains. And let it be your constant care never to be the occasion of drawing any into this state of misery. Ill example and all corrupt discourse must therefore be carefully avoided. For it is by these encouragements that the piety of many is overthrown; and you communicate your poison to others, which they too often carry with them to their grave. And however in this case you pretend to repent, yet by what possible means can you make reparation for the injury which you have done? How will you prevent their condemnation from being yours too? It is a very perplexing case; and it ought to make Christians much more cautious than they are, and not so easy in laying snares before their brethren, for making them as great slaves as themselves. Lament the general corruption of Christians in this point, whose common meetings and conversation are but too often the assemblies of Satan, and schools for propagating iniquity. Lament and beg for mercy; and if you are any way concerned, pray for grace, and resolve upon amendment. If you have helped to draw any into slavery, you must labour for their redemption; and be as courageous in this, as you have been forward in bringing on the mischief." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

"A SERVANT of God, who after some few years spent in the common disorders of the world, at the age of twenty being touched with the sense of his offences, entered into a religious house, with a design of employing forty days in bewailing his past sins, and suing for mercy. But these forty days he lengthened into three years of extraordinary penance and sanctity. Learn hence not to despair either of yourself or others; for years of sin may be succeeded by a life of virtue. The grace of God is sufficient. Endeavour sincerely to obtain this for yourself; and cease not to importune heaven in behalf of those who seem even past recovery. But then learn what kind of repentance is the proper remedy for habitual sin. It is easy for a Christian in this case to conceive a sensible dislike of his evil ways. He as easily acknowledges his guilt, and resolves upon amendment. But how easily too does he fall back again for want of taking a due method for the cure of those passions, which being strongly rooted in him, are the cause of his relapses and cannot be overcome in a moment?

St. Romuald, looking upon himself as unworthy of the many conveniences which he found in the monastery, resolved upon a life of yet greater austerity, and therefore retired into a desert; where in rigorous fasting on bread and water, almost perpetual silence and prayer, he lived to the age of upwards of seventy years, being there the founder of the hermits of Camaldoli, though not without great difficulties and opposition. He died in his monastery, in the year 1027. Pray for this spirit of penance; and though you are not commanded to follow his example, yet consider whether it be not a just reproach to your niceness and self-love; who, though under the same obligation of punishing your sins, industriously avoid every thing that mortifies, and are so far from condemning yourself to voluntary chastisements, that by dispensations or contrivance, you elude all the pious designs of the Church, even in those mortifications, which she prescribes for your cure. Consider this seriously, and pray for grace to amend." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother.

Holy Apostle Titus of Crete;Kosovo, XIV century. Patriarch's Furnace. Church of St. Nikolay

"We are to celebrate today, the Feast of a holy Bishop of the Apostolic Age - a Disciple of the Apostle St. Paul. Little is known of his life; but, by addressing to him one of his inspired Epistles, the Apostle of the Gentiles has immortalised his memory. Wheresoever the Faith of Christ has been or shall be preached, Titus' name has been venerated by the Faithful; and as long as the world lasts, the holy Church will read to her children this Epistle, which was written, indeed, to a simple Bishop of the Isle of Crete, but was dictated by the Holy Ghost, and therefore destined to be a part of those Sacred Scriptures, which contain the word of God. Counsels and directions given in this admirable Letter, were the rule of the holy Bishop, for whom St. Paul entertained a very strong affection. St. Titus had the honour of establishing the Christian Religion in that famous Island, which was one of the strong-holds of Paganism. He survived his master, who was put to death by Nero. Like St. John, he sweetly slept in Christ at a very advanced age, respected and loved by the Church he had founded. As we have already observed, his life left but few traces behind it; but these few are sufficient to prove him to have been one of those wonderful men, whom God chose as the directors of his infant Church,

Favoured Disciple of the great Apostle! the holy Church has decreed that one of the days of the ecclesiastical year should be spent in celebrating thy virtues, and presenting thee our prayers. Look down with love upon the Faithful who glorify the Holy Spirit that gave thee thy rich graces. Thou didst discharge thy Pastoral duties with untiring zeal. Every quality enumerated in the Epistle addressed to thee by St. Paul, as required in a Bishop, was possessed by thee; and thou shinest in the crown of Jesus, the Prince of Pastors, as one of the brightest of its gems. Forget not the Church militant, of which thou wast one of the first guides. Eighteen hundred years have passed away since thou wast taken from her. During this long period, she has had sufferings and trials without end; but she has triumphed over every obstacle, and she continues her glorious path, saving souls and offering them to her heavenly Spouse; and this will she persevere doing, until her Jesus comes to stop the course of time, and open the gates of eternity. Meanwhile, O glorious Saint! she counts on the aid of thy prayers, in the great work of the salvation of souls. Ask of Jesus, that he send us Pastors like unto thee. Pray for that Island, which thou didst convert to the true faith, but which is now buried in the darkness of infidelity and schism. Pray, too, for the Greek Church, that it may regain its ancient glory by union with the See of Peter." The Liturgical Year: Christmas, 3d edition. 1904 By Prosper Guéranger

Homilies on the Epistles of St. Paul to Titus Saint John Chrysostom

Saint Remigius baptizes Clovis I, by the Master of Saint Gilles, c. 1500

"EVANGELICAL MEEKNESS: St. Vedast had the glory of leading, by means of his devout exhortations, King Clovis to the saving waters of baptism. He accompanied the haughty prince while on his way to Rheims to join St. Remigius. Vedast at that time was practicing the hermetical life in a solitary spot near Toul. Having afterwards been raised to the see of Arras, he converted a multitude of unbelievers, and erected in different parts of his diocese a great number of new churches. His gentleness, affability, and modesty won all hearts. The poor regarded him as their father, and never entreated him in vain ; the rich looked upon him as their friend, as one who held their persons in esteem, and did not condemn the legitimate enjoyment of their worldly possessions; the unbelievers regarded him as a very oracle, and the Christians as a saint. After having exercised for forty years this ministry of charity, conciliation, and apostolic labours, frequently illustrated by miracles, he died on the 6th February, 540.

MORAL REFLECTION.-It is but a little matter to convince the mind, if the heart be not won over; to demonstrate the truths of religion does not suffice - it is of more account to cause it to be loved. Let us adopt, then, as our guiding-line of conduct the counsel of St. Paul: "To become all things to all men, to gain all to Christ."-(1 Cor. ix. 22.) Pictorial Half hour with the Saints, by Rev. Fr. Auguste Lecanu

"She was a virgin of Sicily, of a rich and illustrious family; who being solicited by all arts to comply with the wicked desires of the governor, resolutely withstood them all, choosing rather the humility and contempt of the Gospel, than the great offers of honor and riches that were made her. Pray for all that are exposed to the like temptations; great grace is necessary to stand against them. Your charity cannot be better employed, than to beg in behalf of those who are under these trials. Resolve likewise for yourself and those under your care, that worldly advantages shall never turn the balance in whatever choice you are to make. It is hence that many ruin themselves and their children; while considering only what is likely to make them great or rich, they have so little regard for what is to make them good and happy, that they greatly expose this to the hazard, so that they can but secure the other. All these want the faith of those eternal goods which directed this holy virgin in her choice: they want that sincere love of God which moved her to run the hazard of all that is worldly, for satisfying her duty, and securing God to herself. Pray that you may always follow her example.

St Agatha, being not to be wrought upon by promises, is tried by cruelty. She is accused of being a Christian; and because she will not worship and sacrifice to idols, is cast into prison, put on the rack, has her breast cut off, and is broiled on the fire. Having gone through all these torments, at length giving up her soul to God, she finished a happy martyrdom in the year 251. Pray for this constancy of spirit under all trials. Be ashamed to be so much outdone by a tender virgin, and pray for her patience. Pray for all those who, wanting courage, are ready to sink under the weight of their troubles, that God would be their support, and send them comfort that they may never lose their hope in Him. Pray for all those who are now in their last agony, that they may surrender their souls into the hands of God, with the holy dispositions of this glorious saint." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother

God having afterwards touched his heart, he renounced all his former ways, and entering into a religious state, became an example of great piety. After some years, he was chosen bishop of Fesulæ; in which charge he laboured to satisfy all its obligations, and by a life of extraordinary charity and mortification, gave encouragement to all virtues. He died in 1373. Let no sinners be discouraged, but raise their hopes in God, who offers His grace to all; and upon a sincere conversion, never fails to change vessels of weakness into vessels of honor. He has mercy to forgive the greatest offences, and no crime is so provoking as a distrust of His goodness. Make then an act of hope for yourself, with entire confidence in your God; and pray for all those dejected souls, whose immoderate fears keep them at a distance from Him. That is a good fear which makes us humble, and more fervent in prayer, upon the knowledge of our infirmity and unworthiness; but this fear is abused when it discourages us in our duty, and hinders our progress. Pray for all that are thus indiscreet; and resolve that your fear shall never extinguish your hope." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother

"He was bishop of Sebaste, in Armenia, in the primitive times, when prelacy was the recompense of virtue, and almost a certain way to martyrdom. The business of his life was the care of his flock; in which he laboured with wonderful zeal for discharging his own conscience, and supporting theirs, amidst the dangers of those difficult times. Pray that this may be the spirit of all the prelates and pastors in Christ's Church; and make your address to God in behalf of that people, who having preserved Christianity, are yet unhappily separated from the Church. Pray for unity and peace among Christians; and all schisms being healed, they may be all of one spirit and one mind.

The persecution being very severe, though he earnestly desired to suffer for Christ, yet he retired into a cave, that he might, in that shelter, be capable of giving some assistance to his people. But, being discovered, he was seized by Agricolaus, president under Dioclesian: and after many torments, put to death by the sword. Pray for patience under all trials, both for yourself and others. Pray that you may learn the true practice of retiring in time of persecution and danger: and remember that the persecution of friends is many times much greater than that of enemies. You are oftener in danger from flattery, than from the sword. While the one threatens your body, and the other your soul, consider whether in this there be not the greater obligation of withdrawing. Pray then for this grace, that you may be ever upon the watch, in observing the many snares and occasions of sin, into which your most familiar acquaintance are apt to draw you. Happy are you, if you choose rather to lie hid, than expose yourself to danger. In this you may disoblige friends, and provoke their raillery; but you will certainly please God, and draw down plenty of heavenly blessings on your head: and is not this the more Christian part? The courage and constancy of the martyrs condemn your weak resolutions, your pusillanimity and cowardice in the pursuit of virtue. But now at least begin your conversion with great fervour." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother

"He was the third bishop of Antioch after St. Peter and Evodius, and governed that Church above forty years with apostolic zeal and piety, which has rendered him eminent to all succeeding ages. Pray for all bishops of Christ's Church, that his spirit may be revived in them. Pray for the people of that city and diocese, now subject to the tyranny and errors of the Turks, that they may once more be the object of his mercy.