Saints Vincent and Anastasius, Martyrs, A.D. 304 and 628.
by VP
Posted on Wednesday January 22, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
"The former was a deacon of Spain, who for preaching the Gospel in the time of Dioclesian, was apprehended. St. Augustine assures us that he suffered torments far beyond what any man could have endured, unless supported by a supernatural strength; and that he preserved such peace and tranquillity in his words, countenance, and gestures, in the midst of them, as quite astonished his very persecutors, and visibly appeared as something divine. He continued faithful under the trial of scourges, racks, and fire, and variety of other torments; and at length a soft bed was prepared for him, on which he was no sooner laid than he expired.
Pray for this spirit of patience under all trials. There is no living in this world, but under some kind of persecution.
Relations, neighbours, your own indiscretion and passions may be to you a Dioclesian. If you have not a trial of your faith, you have at least of your fidelity to your God; and if you could but hold out with the charity and patience of the martyrs, you need not doubt of meeting with the crown of martyrs. Pray therefore that you may be just and faithful in little occasions. These present themselves often, and so often are you tried. If you sincerely honour the constancy of a martyr on the rack, be ashamed of your ordinary weakness, and beg pardon for it.
St. Anastasius was a
Persian monk, who after cruel torments, was put to death with seventy
other Christians, who were all ordered to be strangled. Pray for the empire of Persia, that God would please to bring it to the knowledge of his truths. Pray for all under any affliction whatever. Be careful never to sink under your own trials, nor consent to the least secret murmuring. Pray for all who are in their agony, or near death, that God would comfort and support them with his divine grace." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gotheer
The Return Home
by VP
Posted on Wednesday January 22, 2025 at 12:00AM in Meditations
"I. At length, when it seemed as if God had almost forgotten His well-beloved Son, the summons came to return to the land of Israel. An angel appeared to Joseph with the welcome news that those who had sought the life of Jesus were dead, and that therefore they might go back in safety. Those who are willing to wait are sure to obtain their desires. It is impatience and the restless desire for immediate relief that leads to so many disappointments. In the things of God, as in all else, it is those who wait who win.
2. How full of joy were the hearts of Joseph and Mary as they neared once more their native land! Like all the saints, they had an intense love for their country and their people and their home. Holy indifference does not mean that we have no natural affections for kindred and for fatherland, but that those affections are entirely subordinate to the will of God.
3. If the people of Egypt knew not that their God was dwelling among them, they knew that they had amongst them those who were the special friends of God. Mary and Joseph had endeared themselves to all around by their gentleness, charity. Patience, courtesy, humility, and thoughtful kindness to all. To them how terrible a grief was the departure of the Holy Family! Do I endear myself to those among whom I live? "
Meditations for Christmas . By Rev. Richard F. Clarke S.J. The Catholic Truth Society, London 1891
Jan 22. Catholic Unity for all American Christians (Church Unity Octave Prayer)
by VP
Posted on Wednesday January 22, 2025 at 12:00AM in Prayers
"Ten thousand times ten thousand - Who are these
Of every tongue and language gathered here
In our own land? Send forth thy quickening breeze
Which guided to these shores our Christopher
And thy strong grace in Pentecostal flame
To make all one in calling on thy Name.
"Ut omnes unum sint," O lord, we pray
That all be drawn within thy one, true fold,
Back to thy Church - from which the wand'rers stray
And the true Faith she keeps like saints of Old.
O bring them back, Good Shepherd of the sheep;
And rouse the heathen nations from their sleep. Amen"
Source: Catholic Hymns for the People, James Martin Raker 1919 -
Prayer intention: Catholic Unity for all American Christians
- Ant. That they all may be one, as
Thou, Father, in me and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us; that
the world may believe that Thou has sent me.
℣. I say to thee, that thou art Peter,
℟. And upon this rock I will build my Church.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, Who didst say to Thine Apostles: peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, look not upon my sins, but upon the faith of Thy Church; and vouchsafe unto Her that peace and unity which is agreeable to Thy will: Who livest and reignest God forever and ever. Amen.
Reflection:
"The object of prayer for this day should be especially dear to all
the faithful in the United States. Our own land, dedicated to the Mother
of God under the title of the Immaculate Conception, should be noted
for its love for Mary. To some extent, it is true, this love has been
shown, from the coming of Christopher Columbus in his Santa Maria to the
Rosary Rallies, the widespread Legion of Mary and Sodality
organizations of the present day. But such tribute is not complete. Mary
seeks the souls of all in America, of all the members of more than
three hundred sects cut off from the Church.
If the Catholic laity of
our nation were imbued with the dignity and glory of their vocation as
lay apostles, what tremendous strides the Church would make! If each
Catholic brought just one soul a year to the Church, in five years all
America would be Catholic. True, this is idealistic, but it is surely a
goal worthy of sacrifice and prayer.
There has been no appreciable change of attitude towards the Church in this country. The attacks today are fundamentally the same as they were a century ago, but here and there admiration bespeaks an interest in things Catholic and under the aegis of grace, admirable can lead to conversion. For example, a Methodist ministers in Brooklyn said two years ago:
I
like Roman Catholicism because it is the mother Church. The bulk of our
traditions have been preserved by this great institution. I like Roman
Catholicism because it is Catholic, it is a Church militant which always
has had a passion for souls. I like Roman Catholicism for its
discipline. In this day when we are discovering how important to health
and happiness is peace of mind, it is well to re-examine the basic
principles of confession. I like Roman Catholicism, most of all for its
realism. It is one Christian Church which takes itself most seriously.
When a Roman communicant comes to Mass, he comes to the presence of
Christ. There is no room in his faith for any doubt of this reality.
Unfortunately,
one of the chief difficulties for the Protestant mind is devotion to
the Mother of God. But even in this matter patience and charity can do
much to dispel the spiritual iron curtain with which so many have
surrounded themselves. The faithful must pray for those who are not
members of the Church and be ready apostles in explaining the faith
whenever they have the opportunity.
The forums, the trailer
chapels, the information centers, all are valuable means of bringing
souls to the faith; while the efforts, at times heroic, of priest,
Brothers, and Sisters laboring in the vast areas of the south and west
have wrought incalculable results. But these are not the only missions
to the non-Catholics. In our large cities there are thousands and
millions who do not have the true faith. How will they be converted?
When? By whom? In the providence of God it seems that the principal way
of bringing souls to Christ is the humble unheralded activity of lay
Catholics, conscious of their duty and dignity in spreading the faith.
Any sphere of activity, any walk of life, any circumstance can be
significant. There is a story told of a little Sister who won a convert
simply because she signed "God bless you" in a business letter.
Countless others awaken the first interest in the faith by a kind act, a
smile, a courteous gesture. There are so many possibilities of
apostolic action for those who love Christ and His mother." The American Ecclesiastical Review, Volume 130, Herman Joseph Heuser Catholic University of America Press, 1954
