Saint Charbel Makhlouf, Priest, monk, Hermit
by VP
Posted on Wednesday July 24, 2024 at 12:22PM in Saints
Saint Charbel Maronite Church in Raleigh, NC
"The collapse of the family means the ruin of the Lord’s plan for
humanity, that is to say, a breakdown that removes salvation and
sanctity from human beings. (...) "The family is the basis of the Lord’s plan; and all forces of evil are
focusing all their evil on destroying the family because they know that
by destroying the family, the foundations of the plan of God will be
shaken. The war of the Evil One against the Lord is his war against the
family, and the war of the Evil One against the family is the core of
his war against the Lord. Because the family is the image of God, from
the beginning of the creation of this universe, The Evil one is focusing
on destroying the family, the foundation of God’s plan." "One does not have to look far to see evidence of Satan’s plan in our
world today, as the family is further fragmented and divided in modern
culture." Saint Charbel's Sermon
"And in fact, who would not admire, in Charbel Makhlouf, the positive aspects that austerity, mortification, obedience, chastity, solitude have made possible to a degree rarely achieved? Think of his sovereign freedom in the face of difficulties or passions of all kinds, of the quality of his interior life, of the elevation of his prayer, of his spirit of adoration manifested in the heart of nature and especially in the presence of the Holy Sacrament, to his filial tenderness for the Virgin, and to all these wonders promised in the beatitudes and realized literally in our saint: gentleness, humility, mercy, peace, joy, participation, from this life, in the power of healing and of conversion of Christ. In short, austerity, for him, put him on the path to perfect serenity, to true happiness; it left ample room for the Holy Spirit." Homily Pope Paul VI at the Canonization of Charbel (in French)
Saint Lupus, Bishop
by VP
Posted on Wednesday July 24, 2024 at 01:00AM in Saints
French furniture patrimony of the French ministry of culture, under the reference PM35002875.
The Guardianship of God:
There is no protection comparable with that of God and his Saints; the
life of St. Lupus, bishop of Troyes, is about to afford us an example
thereof. Lupus had been raised, despite all opposition on his part, and
by reason of his sanctity, to the see of Troyes. He had been directed by
the bishop of Gaul to proceed in company with St. Germain of Auxerre to
England, in order to combat the Pelagian heresy,
and had the glory of entirely uprooting it there. Having returned to
his diocese, he was surprised in the midst of his apostolic labors by
the invasion of Attila. Thrace, Syria, and Greece, had been laid waste;
Rheims, Cambrai, Besancon, Auxerre, and Langres were merely heaps of
ruin; the turn of the town of Troyes had come. Lupus prayed himself, and
got his people to pray during three days and three nights; he placed
his flock under the protection of God, and went forward to meet the
ferocious conqueror. "I am the scourge of God!" said the king of the
Huns, "and am come to destroy you." "Beware!" replied the bishop; "God
crushes the instruments He has made use of." Attila, astonished at such
boldness, turned his army aside from its onward march, and was defeated
in the plains of Mery. St. Lupus died in 478.
Moral reflection: "God is wonderful in His saints, and will give power and strength to His people." (Psalm LXVII. 36)
Source: Pictorial half hours with the saints, Abbe Auguste François Lecanu
St. Alexius, Confessor, A.D. 410.
by VP
Posted on Wednesday July 24, 2024 at 01:00AM in Saints
"This saint is a perfect model of the most generous contempt of the world. Whilst yet a child, not content to give all he could, he left nothing unattempted for the relief of all in distress. Fearing lest temporal honours might draw his heart too much from those objects which alone are noble and great, he entertained thoughts of renouncing the advantages of his birth, and retiring from the more dangerous part of the world. In disguise he travelled into a distant country. embraced extreme poverty, and resided in a hut adjoining to a Church dedicated to the Holy Mother of God. Being, after some time, discovered to be a stranger of distinction, he returned home; and being received as a poor pilgrim, lived seventeen years unknown in his father's house, bearing the contumely and ill treatment of the servants with invincible patience and silence. A little before he died, he by a letter discovered himself to his parents. In this saint, all those who have retired from the world may see the advantage of their choice; especially, if with his desire of inward peace, they are solicitous to cut off, as much as possible, all conversation with it. What a strange blindness it is, for men to have time given them to prepare their souls for the eternal possession of God, and to consume this time in seeking this world instead of him!
Pray for the spirit of purity, and beseech God to give you a clean heart. Be careful to avoid whatever may be prejudicial to it. Keep a guard on your eyes and tongue, and expose not yourself to dangers. Examine your weakness in this particular; resolve upon using the means
necessary for your security, and having begged pardon for past
failings, beseech God to strengthen you in all temptations. This you
have reason to hope for in such as occasionally happen; but if you
expose yourself to them, you tempt God to forsake you."The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother
