Ss. Philip and James, apostles
by VP
Posted on Friday May 03, 2024 at 01:00AM in Saints
Paolo Veronese: Saints Philip and James the Less
"They were apostles of our Lord: pray for all who succeed in that function, that by their zealous labours, the whole world may be enlightened, and brought to the knowledge and love of God.
They both laid down their lives for Christ, confirming their doctrine with their blood. St. Philip was crucified; St. James suffered a manifold martyrdom, in being first stoned, then thrown down from a pinnacle of the temple, and lastly, being yet alive, and praying for his persecutors, had his brains dashed out with a club. Pray for all those who are under any kind of persecution for truth or justice, that they may persevere to the end with the patience, constancy, and charity of these apostles.
On this (...) day of the month, while you profess to honour these apostles, resolve to live in the practice of the doctrine which they preached, by renouncing the corrupt customs of the world, and taking the Gospel for your rule. Examine the method of your life, and compare it with this rule; beg grace to reform whatever you find amiss, and let the blood of these martyrs inform you, how much you ought to suffer in this cause. He that has not patience under the unavoidable mortifications of a virtuous life, is not yet disposed to give his life for Christ. Learn to put yourself in this disposition from these holy apostles, in the lessons which they give you.
In these holy men, leaving all to follow Christ, and thus becoming His apostles, we have a lesson, that we cannot be followers of Christ,
but by leaving something for Him. They left all; and we are to be in a
preparation for leaving all, whenever He pleases to call us to it. But
can this be reasonably expected, unless by proportionate steps we
endeavour to bring our souls to this holy disposition? We are therefore,
first, to leave all that is sinful: because a state of sin is a rebellion against God, and an aversion of the heart wholly from Him; and it is therefore inconsistent with the very lowest degree of a follower of Christ. They must be blind and mad, who in this state flatter themselves with the thoughts of being
prepared to leave all for Him. Secondly, we are to leave all that is
evidently dangerous: because living in voluntary dangers, is a state
either of presumption or neglect, in rashly expecting God's grace, or being too little concerned for that divine assistance; both which are great dispositions for leaving God, but not of leaving all for Him. Thirdly, we are to leave whatever draws our hearts away from God, and fixes them with immoderate affection on creatures; because all such affections diminish the love of God,
by which alone we are prevailed upon to forsake all for Him. Therefore
such as desire in good earnest to put their souls in the true disposition of Christ's disciples, are very jealous of everything
that is prejudicial to that love which they ought to have for Him. So
that in whatever degree their state obliges them to make use of creatures, in the same
proportion is their care to preserve their hearts from excessive
affection for what they use. They avoid all attachment to grandeur and
state, while their circumstances oblige them to it; they love not riches
while they possess them. And so of all other things, which please the appetite, court the fancy, and are too apt insensibly to engage the heart,
and draw it from its more substantial good. So that, however they are
circumstanced, as to outward possessions, they are ever solicitous to
preserve interior poverty, which is the poverty of spirit, one of the best titles to eternal riches, and the best character of a true disciple. This is the only expedient, by which those who live in plenty and honour, can pretend to the spirit of the Gospel. For if amidst all their greatness, there be not poverty of spirit, it is plain that as they possess and use the world, so they enjoy and love the world: and this is not the spirit of Christ, but contrary to all that he has taught. Leaving therefore all, either in reality or in spirit, is indispensably necessary for all those, who undertake in earnest to follow Christ." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
Finding of the Holy Cross.
by VP
Posted on Friday May 03, 2024 at 01:00AM in Tradition
The Discovery of the True Cross and St. Helena Giovanni Battista Tiepolo 1745
"A FESTIVAL in memory of that day, when St. Helen, mother of Constantine the Great, found the cross, on which our Blessed Saviour had suffered, in the year 326, after it had laid buried by the heathens 180 years. Adore Christ crucified, and give God thanks for the memory of His Passion, renewed in the miraculous discovery of His cross. Pray that you may be partaker of His sufferings, and through the merits of His Passion obtain all the divine helps necessary for your salvation.
Pray that you may effectually find the cross of Christ in your soul, by the sincere love of Him who was crucified, and the practice of those lessons, which he has taught you on the cross; by dying to the world and sin, and removing all those earthly and corrupt passions, by which the knowledge of Christ crucified has been so long hidden from your eyes.
Detest the wickedness of those infidels, who, to destroy the memory of Christ's passion, had erected a statue of Venus in the place where the cross had stood; and resolve not to imitate their sacrilegious impiety, by establishing in your heart the love of the world and its sinful pleasures, instead of the love of your crucified Redeemer.
It ought to be a principal business of all Christians, to find the cross of Christ; first by a firm act of faith, professing the belief of Christ crucified; that the second Person of the Blessed Trinity, consubstantial to His Father, was made man, and died on the cross, for the salvation of man.
Secondly, by an act of hope, placing their whole confidence in the merits of Christ's Passion, in virtue of which alone they are to have expectation of grace and glory. This they are to renew every day, as often as they repeat the creed; not running it over without attention, but accompanying what they say with express and lively acts of this their faith and hope, and reflecting on those great obligations, which this mercy of their redemption brings upon them.
Thirdly, they are to find the cross of Christ, by often making the sign of the cross; that as in this they are baptized, so by the same they may consecrate the day, and all the actions of it, to the honour of Christ crucified, and obtain His blessing on all that they do. It is therefore a good practice, and recommended by the primitive Christians, not only to begin and end the day with the sign of the cross, but to make the same at our going abroad, and returning home, at eating and drinking, at our prayers, in time of danger, in the beginning of any occupation, as often as we do perceive any passion growing upon us, or are assaulted with temptations. Thus we are taught by St. John Chrysostom, and other ancient fathers; that by this means, putting ourselves under the conduct of Christ, and desiring His assistance, we may experience the effect of His sufferings, and truly find the cross in that grace and protection, which our Redeemer has purchased for us. For it cannot be doubted, that if upon repeating this action, we as often renew our faith and hope in Christ, and at the same time raise up our hearts to Him with a dependence on Him, and confidence in His assistance, we shall find very good effects of it in abundance of heavenly succours.
Fourthly, Christians are to find the cross, by labouring to bring their hearts to the holy dispositions of Christ crucified. And this ought to be the principal part of this day's devotion; without which all the rest can be but of little advantage to us. For, however we profess a faith and hope in Christ, and by often making the sign of the cross, seem to be solicitous for His help; yet if we advance not so far, as to find the spirit and dispositions of the cross in our hearts, we cannot expect that the rest, without this, will avail us to salvation. Now, to find the spirit of the cross in our hearts, is to find there the humility of the cross, the patience of the cross, the charity of the cross, the resignation, the mortification, and self-denial of the cross, that is, of Christ
crucified. And this cannot be, unless we make a vigorous opposition to
all that corruption and perverseness, which is contrary to the spirit of the cross." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
