St. Sabbas, Martyr, A.D. 372.
by VP
Posted on Saturday April 12, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
"He was by birth a Goth, converted to the faith in his youth, and a faithful imitator of the obedience, mildness, humility, and other virtues of the apostles. He was affable to all men, yet with dignity; a lover of truth, an enemy to all dissimulation or disguise, intrepid, modest, of few words, and a lover of peace; yet zealous and active. To sing the divine praises in the Church, and to adorn the altars, were his great delight. He was so scrupulously chaste, that he shunned all conversation with women, except what was indispensable. He often spent whole days and nights in prayer, and devoted his whole life to the exercises of penance. By his charity he kept peace with all. He was humble amidst a world of admirers; and ever ready to serve and help all. He esteemed silver as contemptible earth, never providing beyond absolute necessity. He avoided all visits and entertainments, and whatever could serve only as a dissipation; that so his prayers might have less interruption.
Being apprehended for his
faith, he was dragged over thorns and briars, and forced along with
whips and staves. His hands and feet were afterwards stretched and
bound; and in this situation he was tormented for a considerable part of the night. Being violently struck with a javelin, so that all thought he was killed, the saint declared that he felt no more pain than if the javelin had been a lock of wool. He was at length thrown into a river, praising God to the last, and beseeching him to have mercy on his
judge, that he might not be lost eternally, who had put him in so
compendious a way to heaven. He blessed God, and surprised at his
goodness, admired that he should be called to this glory, who was so
unworthy.
Day 39. Lent with the Cure d'Ars: Have a clean face
by VP
Posted on Saturday April 12, 2025 at 12:00AM in Lenten Sermons
"I have told you that you should have neat and clean clothes. I do not mean expensive clothes, but only ones which are not soiled or torn. That is to say, the clothes should be washed and mended if one has no others. There are some who have nothing to change or who, through laziness, do not do so; they do not change their linen, that is, their shirts.
For those who have no other clothes, there is nothing wrong in that. But those who have, do wrong, for it is lacking in respect to our Lord, Who wishes to come into their hearts.
Your hair should be combed and tidy and your face and hands clean. You should never come to the altar without stockings, good or bad.
One should not approve of those young people who, in going up to the altar, appear no differently at that moment than at the time when they are going to a ball or a dance.
I do not know how they go to receive a God Who was humbled and despised by all, with such a parade of vanity and style.
Dear Lord, what a contradiction this is!"
Source: The Sermons of the Cure d'Ars 1960
Prayer for Lent: O Lord who, for our sake, didst fast forty days and forty nights; give us grace to use such abstinence that, our flesh being subdued to the spirit, we may worthily lament and acknowledge our wretchedness, and may obtain perfect remission and forgiveness of Thee, the God of all mercy, who livest and reignest with the Father and Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen
Source: Lent with the Cure d'Ars Compiled by the CAPG