CAPG's Blog 

"A holy man, who came in company with St. Peter from Antioch to Rome, and was by him ordained bishop, and sent to Ravenna, in Italy, to preach the gospel. There he was blessed with great success, in the conversion of many. Venerable Bede in his martyrology, says that he sat twenty years. He was put to cruel torments, and afterwards banished out of the city. But the spirit of God everywhere accompanying him, he preached in other places, doing good to all, but was everywhere persecuted, and put to the most severe trials. God preserved him a long time to his Church; but at length returning to Ravenna, he had all his labours and sufferings crowned with martyrdom under the Emperor Vespasian, in the year 82.

Pray for all the prelates and pastors of Christ's Church, that succeeding in the function of this holy man, they may inherit his spirit and zeal, and venture all extremities for the good of souls, so that no apprehension of suffering may discourage them from their duty. Pray again for all in persecution and trouble: and let the patience of the martyrs teach you patience in all your trials. Christians ought to be ashamed, after so many great examples, to let ordinary difficulties and provocations cast them into dejection and passion. Labour therefore in earnest to overcome these evils: go through all with courage and resolution; considering them as the passage to everlasting rest; and beseech God to help you, who gave strength to the martyrs. Pray for all in affliction and trouble. They stand in need of God's assistance, to support them against excessive solitude, against impatience and dejection. If your experience has made you sensible of this danger, fail not to importune heaven in favour of all such as are under it: thus in Christ's mystical body, the members are to help one another. If you have any part of the bitter cup before you, offer yourself to drink it with the spirit of a martyr. It may be the only martyrdom required of you; be faithful, and beg of Him to strenghten you." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

"Woe to us who have been born in this wretched age, an age - I say it weeping - in which anyone who has any zeal whatever for the glory of God, and casts his eyes on the men and women who now live, will be moved to tears to see everything turned upside down, the beautiful order of virtue overthrown, the bright light of life quenched, and scarce anything left in the Church but open iniquity and feigned sanctity. The light of good example is extinguished in those who ought to shine as luminaries to the whole world, like watch-towers and beacons on the mountains. No light, alas! comes from them, but horrid darkness, and pestilent mischief, by which innumerable souls are falling into destruction." -- St. John Fisher; Bishop of Rochester, Cardinal, Tower of London, 1535

Prayer for Holy Bishops: Lord, according to Your promise that the Gospel should be preached throughout the whole world, raise up men fit for such work. The Apostles were but soft and yielding clay till they were baked hard by the fire of the Holy Ghost. So, Good Lord, do now in like manner again with Thy Church Militant; change and make the soft and slippery earth into hard stones; set in Thy Church strong and mighty pillars, that may suffer and endure great labors, watching, poverty, thirst, hunger, cold and heat; which also shall not hear the threatenings of princes, persecution, neither death but always persuade and think with themselves to suffer with a good will, slanders, shame, and all kinds of torments, for the glory and laud of Thy Holy Name. By this manner, good Lord, the truth of Thy Gospel shall be preached throughout all the world. Therefore, merciful Lord, exercise Thy mercy, show it indeed upon Thy Church. Saint John Fisher (Sermon in 1508) from Saint John Fisher Forum