We must use mercy for the present and have hope for the future

I have always laboured out of love

First of all, if we wish to appear concerned about the true happiness of our foster children and if we would move them to fulfil their duties, you must never forget that you are taking the place of the parents of these beloved young people. I have always laboured lovingly for them, and carried out my priestly duties with zeal. And the whole Salesian society has done this with me.

My sons, in my long experience very often I had to be convinced of this great truth. It is easier to become angry than to restrain oneself, and to threaten a boy than to persuade him. Yes, indeed, it is more fitting to be persistent in punishing our own impatience and pride than to correct the boys. We must be firm but kind, and be patient with them.

I give you as a model the charity of Paul which he showed to his new converts. They often reduced him to tears and entreaties when he found them lacking docility and even opposing his loving efforts.

See that no one finds you motivated by impetuosity or wilfulness. It is difficult to keep calm when administering punishment, but this must be done if we are to keep ourselves from showing off our authority or spilling out our anger.

Let us regard those boys over whom we have some authority as our own sons. Let us place ourselves in their service. Let us be ashamed to assume an attitude of superiority. Let us not rule over them except for the purpose of serving them better.

This was the method that Jesus used with the apostles. He put up with their ignorance and roughness and even their infidelity. He treated sinners with a kindness and affection that caused some to be shocked, others to be scandalised, and still others to hope for God’s mercy. And so he bade us to be gentle and humble of heart.

They are our sons, and so in correcting their mistakes we must lay aside all anger and restrain it so firmly that it is extinguished entirely.

There must be no hostility in our minds, no contempt in our eyes, no insult on our lips. We must use mercy for the present and have hope for the future, as is fitting for true fathers who are eager for real correction and improvement.

In serious matters it is better to beg God humbly than to send forth a flood of words that will only offend the listeners and have no effect on those who are guilty.

~ Saint John Bosco

Two thousand pigs charged down the cliff into the lake and were drowned (Mark 5:13)

Picture interpretation and Reflection from Perpetual Learner

What does the cartoon (above) depict?

First of all, you have this pig who is falling off a cliff, and discovers that she has the soul of a sky diver, or a base jumper (those people who leap off tall buildings or cliffs and wait until the last possible moment to open their parachute). People who do that say it gives them an incredible thrill and intense sense of being alive. So, this poor pig has discovered what she really enjoys in life (i.e. the sensation of free falling), has really become aware of her own vitality, and has forgotten that she is about to hit the water.

Now, here’s how I see a homily in this. The Gospel passage says that the pigs are happily grazing (or whatever pigs do) on the hillside, more or less obedient to their swineherds, until they are possessed by the devil. Then, they abandon the safety of their caretakers and plunge off the steep hillside and drown. The cartoonist imagines what the pigs might have felt in those moments between running free and drowning: freedom! No more swineherds telling them what to do! They have discovered their freedom and independence and are finally enjoying life, following their own feelings and instincts, ignoring or defying those who try to impose rules on them! Of course, this is leading to their imminent demise, but they are blissfully unaware of that.

All to often this is what happens when people reject God and His laws. They might have a feeling of freedom and independence, but without divine guidance in the various ways it comes to us (through reason which discovers meaning and order in nature, through the Scriptures, through the guidance of pastors, etc.), they often end up running themselves off the cliff of hedonism, pride, etc., which leads to their spiritual – and sometimes material – destruction.

At times, it seems like this is what we are doing as a nation. We have embraced moral relativism and rejected any objective standard of behavior beyond the consensus of public sentiment (often manipulated by the media) or the ideology of whatever interest groups happen to have the power to influence legislation and the judiciary. This means we have largely rejected the guidance of divine revelation and even, in many cases, right reason. The more we give in to our base impulses and irrational emotional tendencies, the more we become like the possessed herd that races towards destruction, all the while rejoicing in our freedom and our absolute right to determine the meaning of life, the universe, and everything.

If we don’t want to be like this cute little piggy who is happily plunging towards a murky death in the water, we need to turn to objective moral truths to guide us, both from a sound rational approach to reality (rooted in a solid philosophical realism with metaphysical foundations) and from the revealed truths taught in the Scripture and Tradition and explained in the Magisterium of the Church.

That’s oversimplifying things a little, but I think you get what I mean. The cartoon has an initial irony and incongruity that made me smile, but it also can be read as a commentary on the situation of modern post-Christian, morally relativistic society. ~ Fr. Matthew Green

Where is the BC located?

There was a nice lady, a minister's widow, who was a little old fashioned. She was planning a week's vacation in California at Skylake Yosemite campground (Bass Lake, to the uninitiated), but she wanted to make sure of the accommodations first. Uppermost in her mind were bathroom facilities, but she couldn't bring herself to write "toilet" in a letter. After considerable deliberation,  she settled on "bathroom commode," but when she wrote that down, it still sounded too forward, so, after the first page of her letter, she referred to the bathroom commode as "BC." "Does the cabin where I will be staying have its own 'BC'? If not, where is the 'BC' located?" is what she actually wrote.

The campground owner took the first page of the letter and the lady's check and gave it to his secretary. He put the remainder of the letter on the desk of the senior member of his staff without noticing that the staffer would have no way of knowing what "BC" meant. Then the owner went off to town to run some errands.

The staff member came in after lunch, found the letter, and was baffled by the euphemism, so he showed the letter around to several counselors, but they couldn't decipher it either. The staff member's wife, who knew that the lady was the widow of a famous Baptist preacher, was sure that it must be a question about the local Baptist Church. "Of course," the first staffer exclaimed, "'BC' stands for 'Baptist Church.' " And he sat down and wrote:

Dear Madam,

I regret very much the delay in answering your letter, but I now take the pleasure in informing you that the BC is located nine miles north of the campground and is capable of seating 250 people at one time. I admit it is quite a distance away if you are in the habit of going regularly, but no doubt you will be pleased to know that a great number of people take their lunches along and make a day of it. They usually arrive early and stay late.

The last time my wife and I went was six years ago, and it was so crowded we had to stand up the whole time we were there. It may interest you to know that right now there is a supper planned to raise money to buy more seats. They are going to hold it in the basement of the 'BC.'

I would like to say that it pains me very much not to be able to go more regularly, but it is surely no lack of desire on my part. As we grow older, it seems to be more of an effort, particularly in cold weather. If you decide to come down to our campground, perhaps I could go with you the first time, sit with you, and introduce you to all the folks. Remember, this is a friendly community.

Be Quiet! (Mark 1:25)

"Here is a teaching that is new-and with authority behind it!" (Mark 1:27)

Today's Gospel warns us to be on guard because evil spirits are con­stantly at work tempting us and harassing us. This warning is even more urgent today, as the world has practically dismissed the reality of evil spirits.

Evil spirits are always on the prowl. They whisper lies and half-truths to us and try to confuse us. They try to influence us to do things we know are wrong—even things we don’t want to do. We have all felt their influence at different times. We know how they have tried to sow division, to make us fearful, to get us down on ourselves, to lie, to manip­ulate people, or to doubt God’s love.

Yes, we have a free will. Yes, we make the final choices for our lives. But these choices are never made in isolation. They are always influ­enced by the people around us, by the media, by the Holy Spirit, and by Satan.

All this may sound intimidating, but we shouldn't be afraid. Jesus overcame one evil spirit in today's Gospel, and he overcame them all on the cross. We just have to be more alert to what is coming into our minds, especially more alert to the devil's tactics.

Another thing we can do is begin every day by praying for protection against evil spirits. All we have to do is say the words that Jesus taught us: "Father, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."

Finally, we should believe in the power of the name of Jesus. Scripture tells us how St. Paul, in dealing with an evil spirit that was harassing a woman, commanded: "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And the spirit left immediately (Acts 16:18). Likewise, we need to call on the name of Jesus throughout the day, especially when we are feeling tempted or harassed.

"In the name of Jesus, I command all evil spirits to be quiet and to depart from me and from every member of my family. Lord, deliver us from the lies of the evil one and help us to be ever more alert."

Christ’s patience on the cross was great

The Cross exemplifies every virtue

Why did the Son of God have to suffer for us? There was a great need, and it can be considered in a twofold way: in the first place, as a remedy for sin, and secondly, as an example of how to act.

It is a remedy, for, in the face of all the evils which we incur on account of our sins, we have found relief through the passion of Christ. Yet, it is no less an example, for the passion of Christ completely suffices to fashion our lives. Whoever wishes to live perfectly should do nothing but disdain what Christ disdained on the cross and desire what he desired, for the cross exemplifies every virtue.

If you seek the example of love: Greater love than this no man has, than to lay down his life for his friends. Such a man was Christ on the cross. And if he gave his life for us, then it should not be difficult to bear whatever hardships arise for his sake.

If you seek patience, you will find no better example than the cross. Great patience occurs in two ways: either when one patiently suffers much, or when one suffers things which one is able to avoid and yet does not avoid. Christ endured much on the cross, and did so patiently, because when he suffered he did not threaten; he was led like a sheep to the slaughter and he did not open his mouth. Therefore Christ's patience on the cross was great. In patience let us run for the prize set before us, looking upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith who, for the joy set before him, bore his cross and despised the shame.

If you seek an example of humility, look upon the crucified one, for God wished to be judged by Pontius Pilate and to die.

If you seek an example of obedience, follow him who became obedient to the Father even unto death. For just as by the disobedience of one man, namely, Adam, many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one man, many were made righteous.

If you seek an example of despising earthly things, follow him who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Upon the cross he was stripped, mocked, spat upon, struck, crowned with thorns, and given only vinegar and gall to drink.

Do not be attached, therefore, to clothing and riches, because they divided my garments among themselves. Nor to honours, for he experienced harsh words and scourgings. Nor to greatness of rank, for weaving a crown of thorns they placed it on my head. Nor to anything delightful, for in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

~Saint Thomas Aquinas

Return Of The Lover (Take My Heart)

For a long time, I’ve been waiting for You
You have won my heart, and I am following
For a long time, I’ve been crying out for You
Tears make my heart soft
And I am ready for the return of the Lover

Fashioned from the very fabric of God
At the start of time, set free to decide
I will love You, ’cause You’re the One who loved me first
Just one look from Your eyes
I’m captivated by the eyes of the Lover

Take my heart, my mind and strength too
I was made for loving You
I will wait, and I’ll be faithful
I was made for loving You

Bowing low in the presence of the One
At the end of time, I’ll hear the bells chime for our wedding
It will wait no longer now
Oh how I love You
I’ll finally fall into the arms of the Lover

Take my heart, my mind and strength too
I was made for loving You
I will wait, and I’ll be faithful
I was made for loving You

With all my heart
With all my soul
With all my strength
And all I know

Take my heart, my mind and strength too
I was made for loving You
I will wait, and I’ll be faithful
I was made for loving You

I was made for loving You

Playing God???

Food for thought: Playing God

Here is a thought provoking conversation a priest friend (Fr. Ashley, SDB) had with a foreman who was repairing the bathrooms in his house. The foreman is a Philosophy Grad, and well versed in computers. Fr. Ashley on the other hand is a Philosophy professor to young seminarians at the Divyadaan, Salesian Institute of Philosophy (Nashik, India). In short Ash is a very enthu -“philosophical-historian,” a true Salesian.

Reading through the conversation "Playing God", what struck me most was that parents sometimes do play God. I’ve heard the phrase "Parents take the place of God," been said so many times, that now I fire a Scripture verse or two to the one saying it. No one can take God’s place. The Lord himself says, "I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols" (Isaiah 42:8). Translated-, "I will not allow it to ascribe to another I will not allow another to assume or receive the honor which is due to me." Of course there is a different kind of honour that is due to parents, which the fourth commandment commands. Children are to obey parents for that pleases the Lord! (Colossians 3:20) Besides we ought to respect them, show kindness, be patient with them, care for their needs, and above all not leave them in old-aged homes / centers when they are feeble and fragile. Failing to accomplish this will result is breaking the fourth commandment, which is the first commandment with a promise! (Ephesians 6:2-3)

I don't want to side track the post, those were MY thoughts and I will end my comments here!!! When you read the post remember it’s an Indian scenario, which is a lot different from what happens elsewhere in the world…and Indian parents are over protective!!! So just read on:


"We are getting the bathrooms in our house repaired and as a result over the last month we have had many plumbers and other workmen moving in and out of our house. They are mostly migrants from the north of India, tough, hardworking, rustic, men of few words. I got talking to the foreman of the group this morning. After discussing the weather, rising costs, the falling quality of education, corruption and other such matters, we ended up talking about the meaning of life. Even though I am the talkative kind this time I did most of the listening. I discovered that this not very sophisticated looking foreman was a graduate in philosophy and also well versed in computers. I also discovered that he could give many of us a run for our money [which we do not have too much of] with the depth of his knowledge of philosophy in general and Indian Philosophy in particular.

Speaking to me about taking care of children, he explained to me that we adults are called to be parents to our children but we try to play God. It is the role of parents to take care of, protect and nourish children when they are young. Parents must seek to prepare children for the great adventure of life. The parent can’t and must not seek to insulate and protect children from all the hard knocks of life. Parents must seek to shape the character of their children in such a manner that they may be able to face life and its uncertainties with courage and hope. Instead, parents seek to be God to their children. They want to make sure that they are protected from every hardship, suffering and inconvenience. As a result they tend to be overprotective and stiflingly over caring. As a result, instead of strengthening their children and helping them grow, parents make them dependent and insecure.

He explained to me that in India in particular the tendency of parents to play God is seen in how they are not satisfied with saving for their children’s education or for some unforeseen eventuality like a sickness or accident. Instead many today, especially, the rich and also government officials, and politicians, want to make sure that not only their children but also their descendents over the next seven generations would not have to fear any calamity or tragedy. [And in order to do so they end up pursuing wealth by fair means and foul. It is this that gives rise to the kind of mammoth corruption that we have in India. ]

Our philosopher foreman went on to say that if we only were intelligent enough to accept that money cannot – no matter how huge the sum – keep us from death and the glorious uncertainties of life perhaps we would be less corrupt. Even rich people die. Even the wealthy get sick and suffer loss. To be human is to accept uncertainty. We could even perhaps say that without ups and down, without uncertainty, our lives would cease to be human." – Fr. Ashley Miranda, SDB

Fan into a flame the gift that God gave you (2 Timothy 1:6)

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-disciple." (2 Timothy 1:7)

Today is the feast of two of our first bishops, Sts. Timothy and Titus, who were loyal companions of St. Paul. The memorial of theses saints appear a day after we commemorate the Conversion of St Paul. It's obvious that Paul was personally involved in the lives of these saints. Paul had met Timothy on his first missionary journey (Acts 16). Timothy may have witnessed the stoning of Paul at Lystra. In the epistles we read how Paul always spoke of Timothy as his own son in Christ Jesus. It was from this position of friendship and mutual love that Paul was able to recognise Timothy's talents and encourage him to use them. His friendship with Timothy also gave Paul the freedom to help him set the unshakable truths of the gospel as the foundation for his life.

Timothy was the son of a Jewish mother and a Gentile father, and undoubtedly knew the ways of each people. He traveled a great deal with Paul. Another of Paul's trust worthy traveling companions was Titus. Titus was the non-circumcised, Gentile Christian (as we know from Galatians) at the Council of Jerusalem. He, too, was a reconciler in the Corinthian turmoil. Later, in Crete, it was his charge to organize and civilize an unstable and endangered, neophyte Church, to refute opponents, and to insist upon faithful word.

So, if Paul's conversion sets the Gentile mission in motion and thus becomes the channel by which—the vessel from which God pours out his elective grace indiscriminately upon the world, Timothy and Titus are living expressions of that grace. Tradition has it, that Timothy died when he rushed into the portico of a pagan temple to plead with a procession bearing idols to cease a lewd dance in honor of their god. Outraged, the dancers beat him to death with sticks and stones. On this day, January 26, the Anglican, Lutheran and Roman churches commemorate the companions of Paul, Timothy and Titus.

Like Timothy and Titus we are coworkers in this great mission of preaching, a mission which stretches down through the ages and covers every time and place—yet, a mission never finished until the Son of Man will at last send his angel harvesters to gather in all that is his. Until then, it is now still the "proper time"; and God continues to manifest his word by the same perennial proclamation. Every Christian is a bearer of the Gospel and must continually reveal the saving will of God by our preaching. Our charism is, like Timothy and Titus, to be specialists in the mission. There will be challenges, heartbreaks, and enemies to be faced, but the more we rely on Jesus our burden bearer greater will be our joy in the manifestation of his kingdom.

"Lord, help me fan the flame of encouragement and keep burning the gifts you’ve bestowed upon me. Let its warmth be a blessing and comfort to those around me and may I burn bright for you."

The Conversion of Saint Paul, Apostle

For love of Christ, Paul bore every burden

Paul, more than anyone else, has shown us what man really is, and in what our nobility consists, and of what virtue this particular animal is capable. Each day he aimed ever higher; each day he rose up with greater ardour and faced with new eagerness the dangers that threatened him. He summed up his attitude in the words: I forget what is behind me and push on to what lies ahead. When he saw death imminent, he bade others share his joy: Rejoice and be glad with me! And when danger, injustice and abuse threatened, he said: I am content with weakness, mistreatment and persecution. These he called the weapons of righteousness, thus telling us that he derived immense profit from them.

Thus, amid the traps set for him by his enemies, with exultant heart he turned their every attack into a victory for himself; constantly beaten, abused and cursed, he boasted of it as though he were celebrating a triumphal procession and taking trophies home, and offered thanks to God for it all: Thanks be to God who is always victorious in us! This is why he was far more eager for the shameful abuse that his zeal in preaching brought upon him than we are for the most pleasing honours, more eager for death than we are for life, for poverty than we are for wealth; he yearned for toil far more than others yearn for rest after toil. The one thing he feared, indeed dreaded, was to offend God; nothing else could sway him. Therefore, the only thing he really wanted was always to please God.

The most important thing of all to him, however, was that he knew himself to be loved by Christ. Enjoying this love, he considered himself happier than anyone else; were he without it, it would be no satisfaction to be the friend of principalities and powers. He preferred to be thus loved and be the least of all, or even to be among the damned, than to be without that love and be among the great and honoured.

To be separated from that love was, in his eyes, the greatest and most extraordinary of torments; the pain of that loss would alone have been hell, and endless, unbearable torture.

So too, in being loved by Christ he thought of himself as possessing life, the world, the angels, present and future, the kingdom, the promise and countless blessings. Apart from that love nothing saddened or delighted him; for nothing earthly did he regard as bitter or sweet.

Paul set no store by the things that fill our visible world, any more than a man sets value on the withered grass of the field. As for tyrannical rulers or the people enraged against him, he paid them no more heed than gnats. Death itself and pain and whatever torments might come were but child’s play to him, provided that thereby he might bear some burden for the sake of Christ.

~Saint John Chrysostom

An Act of Abandonment

O my God, I thank you and I praise
you for accomplishing your holy
and all-lovable will without any regard for mine.
With my whole heart,
in spite of my heart,
do I receive this cross I feared so much!

It is the cross of Your choice,
the cross of Your love.
I venerate it;
nor for anything in the world
would I wish that it had not come,
since You willed it.

I keep it with gratitude and with joy,
as I do everything that comes from Your hand;
and I shall strive to carry it without letting it drag,
with all the respect
and all the affection which Your works deserve.

Amen.

(By Saint Francis De Sales)

Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven (Mark 3:29)

"If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand." (Mark 3:24)

"Let anyone blaspheme against the Holy Spirit and he will never have forgiveness: he is guilty of eternal sin" (Mark 3:29). This is a very stark statement coming from a loving and forgiving God. Can it be that he who comes in flesh and blood to proclaim God's liberality to all of us sets limits to God's mercy and forgiveness? Haven't we been told time and again that, no matter what offences we have committed God is faithful and just and will grant us his forgiveness and purify us from all unrighteousness if we confess our sins? (1 John 1:9). So what is Jesus trying to say here? The next line of Scripture explains why Jesus made this statement, it is because the scribes were saying, 'An unclean spirit is in him' (Mark 3:30). They called love "hate" and goodness "evil." They saw the goodness of Jesus but they refused to accept and follow it, they chose to remain rigid to the working of the Holy Spirit.

There have been numerous misconceptions concerning the 'unpardonable sin'. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, that "there are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss" –CCC 1864. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture explains, "Unlike other blasphemies or sins which might be partially excused by ignorance, passion or inadvertence, this was[/is] a sin of willful malice and blindness to the light. As long as such a mentality persists, pardon is impossible, not because of any limitation of God, but because those who are guilty of this sin refuse to respond to the promptings of grace" (p.912). Simply put, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the attitude of willful rejection of God's grace and forgiveness.

While we will probably never commit this dreadful sin of denying Christ and his mercy, we are still guilty of rejecting God's command to 'love one another'. Jesus tells us, that it is not enough to say, "I haven't killed anyone” but "whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgement." If this is the case with us, then surely we have some repenting to do. Thankfully there is available to us the beautiful sacrament of reconciliation, where we can ask pardon for sins committed repeatedly or knowingly and accept God’s saving help. We constantly need to implore God’s mercy and humbly acknowledge our sinfulness, only then will we be able to leave this world in a state of grace!

"Heavenly Father, I acknowledge my sinfulness, my pride and my ego that takes me further away from your divine grace. Lord, I pray that you may break down every barrier that keeps me away from you."

Acts 2:38 Turn away from all your offenses

The Power Of Scripture

An elderly woman had just returned to her home from an evening of religious service when she was startled by an intruder. As she caught the man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables, she yelled, "Stop - Acts 2:38!" (..turn from your sin...) The burglar stopped dead in his tracks. The woman calmly called the police and explained what she had done. As the officer cuffed the man to take him in, he asked the burglar, "Why did you just stand there? All the old lady did was yell a scripture to you." "Scripture?" replied the burglar, "She said she had an AXE and two 38's!"

The Lord is my Shepherd

The Lord is my Shepherd! He's all that I need.
I rest peacefully among lush green meadows
You’ll find me there, near the brook called ‘River of Life’
Refreshing my weary soul with ‘Living Waters’

He leads me on a well beaten path
Paved by His footprints alone.
Where the Master is, there I shall follow.
I’m not afraid of the dark
To me they are only harmless fleeting shadows
I gaze upon what lies up ahead, the ‘Light of Life’
I bask in His warmth that comforts and shields me.

Down the valleys and up the hills
Across plains and rocky crags I go
Leaving all my foes far behind
I’m headed to the banquet of the Lord
Where a table is set for me,
With the best of foods and clear aged-wines.

I radiate with the oil of gladness
A perfume emits the air
My cup of blessings runs over
A royal garment and a crown I wear
The Lord has been true to his promises
I’ve reached the place that is empty of worldly care.


~Olivia

Copyright© 2012 All rights reserved

Judges of the Sacra Rota

Pope Benedict XVI (C) poses with judges to mark the start of the judiciary year of the Sacra Rota at the Vatican. (Reuters Pictures)

Pope marks the feast of St. Agnes

Pope Benedict XVI marked the Feast of St. Agnes Saturday with a centuries-old rite: the blessing of the lambs from whose wool the Pallium will be made. Two small lambs were carried to the Pope in baskets, as per tradition, by the Canons Regular of the Lateran Basilica.

Agnes means “lamb” in Latin. The saint of the same name was a martyr of the early 4th century, known for her consecrated virginity, who was killed for refusing to worship pagan gods.
To symbolize St. Agnes’ purity, one of the lambs wears a crown of white flowers, while the other wears a red floral wreath to recall her faithful witness even unto death.

Reared in the convent instead of Tre Fontane in Rome, come Summer these same two lambs will be brought to the monastery of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere where in a custom that has remained in tact down through the centuries, they will be shorn to supply the wool from which the religious sisters will weave the Pallium.

These white stoles are worn by metropolitan archbishops around their necks as a symbol of their authority and unity with the pope. The Holy Father presents them to newly-appointed metropolitan archbishops each year on June 29, the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.

(Getty Images)

It Takes Courage

It takes courage to answer a call,
It takes courage to give your all.
It takes courage to risk your name,
It takes courage to be true.

It takes courage to dare what no other would share,
To be standing alone, one whom no one will own,
To be ready to stake, to be loyal not fake,
It takes courage to be true.

It takes courage to answer a call,
It takes courage to give your all.
It takes courage to risk your name,
It takes courage to be true.

It takes courage to say what you know will not pay,
To give each one a share though there’ll be less to spare,
To be seeking no more than the neighbour next door,
It takes courage to be true.

It takes courage to answer a call,
It takes courage to give your all.
It takes courage to risk your name,
It takes courage to be true.

It takes courage to leave what good fortune can give,
And to go to a land where the poor need a hand
To be spending one’s days in less leisurely ways,
It takes courage to be true.

In the midst of tears, she sheds no tears herself

Too young to be punished, yet old enough for a martyr's crown

Today is the birthday of a virgin; let us imitate her purity. It is the birthday of a martyr; let us offer ourselves in sacrifice. It is the birthday of Saint Agnes, who is said to have suffered martyrdom at the age of twelve. The cruelty that did not spare her youth shows all the more clearly the power of faith in finding one so young to bear it witness.

There was little or no room in that small body for a wound. Though she could scarcely receive the blow, she could rise superior to it. Girls of her age cannot bear even their parents’ frowns and, pricked by a needle, weep as for a serious wound. Yet she shows no fear of the blood-stained hands of her executioners. She stands undaunted by heavy, clanking chains. She offers her whole body to be put to the sword by fierce soldiers. She is too young to know of death, yet is ready to face it. Dragged against her will to the altars, she stretches out her hands to the Lord in the midst of the flames, making the triumphant sign of Christ the victor on the altars of sacrilege. She puts her neck and hands in iron chains, but no chain can hold fast her tiny limbs.

A new kind of martyrdom! Too young to be punished, yet old enough for a martyr’s crown; unfitted for the contest, yet effortless in victory, she shows herself a master in valour despite the handicap of youth. As a bride she would not be hastening to join her husband with the same joy she shows as a virgin on her way to punishment, crowned not with flowers but with holiness of life, adorned not with braided hair but with Christ himself.

In the midst of tears, she sheds no tears herself. The crowds marvel at her recklessness in throwing away her life untasted, as if she had already lived life to the full. All are amazed that one not yet of legal age can give her testimony to God. So she succeeds in convincing others of her testimony about God, though her testimony in human affairs could not yet be accepted. What is beyond the power of nature, they argue, must come from its creator.

What menaces there were from the executioner, to frighten her; what promises made, to win her over; what influential people desired her in marriage! She answered: “To hope that any other will please me does wrong to my Spouse. I will be his who first chose me for himself. Executioner, why do you delay? If eyes that I do not want can desire this body, then let it perish.” She stood still, she prayed, she offered her neck.

You could see fear in the eyes of the executioner, as if he were the one condemned; his right hand trembled, his face grew pale as he saw the girl’s peril, while she had no fear for herself. One victim, but a twin martyrdom, to modesty and to religion; Agnes preserved her virginity, and gained a martyr’s crown.

(From a treatise On Virgins by Saint Ambrose)

Martyrdom of Saint Fabian

Fabian shows us an example of faith and strength

When St Cyprian had learnt of Pope Fabian’s death, he sent this letter to the presbyters and deacons of Rome (250AD):

When the report of the departure of the excellent man, my colleague, was still uncertain among us, my beloved brethren, and I was wavering doubtfully in my opinion on the matter, I received a letter sent to me from you by Crementius the sub-deacon, in which I was fully informed of his glorious end; and I rejoiced greatly that the integrity of his administration had been matched by the nobility of his end.

I greatly congratulate you that you honour his memory with so public and illustrious a testimony, through which you have made known to me not only the memory of your bishop, which confers glory upon you, but also an example of faith and strength that I should follow.

For just as the fall of a bishop tends to bring about the ruinous fall of his followers, so it is a useful and helpful thing when, by the firmness of his faith, a bishop becomes manifest to his brethren as an object of imitation.

Before receiving the above letter, the Church of Rome wrote to Cyprian, bearing witness to its steadfastness in persecution:

The church stands in faith, even though some have been driven to fall by sheer terror, whether because they were people of some eminence or that, when they were seized, they were overwhelmed by the fear of man. We did not abandon these people, although they were separated from us, but exhort them, and exhort them still, to repent, so that they may somehow receive pardon from Him who is able to pardon them, and so that they should not, by being deserted by us, become worse.

So you see, brethren, that you ought to do the same, so that even those who have fallen may be brought to their senses by your exhortation, and confess, if they are seized once more, and so make amends for their former sin. You have other duties too, which we have added here. For example, if anyone who has fallen into this temptation begins to be taken with sickness, and repents of what he has done, and desires communion, it must be granted to them in any case. And if you have widows or bedridden people who cannot maintain themselves, or people who are in prison or otherwise excluded from their own dwellings, they must always have someone to minister to them. Moreover, catechumens who are taken ill should not be disappointed in their hopes, but should also be given help.

The brethren who are in chains greet you, as do the elders and the whole Church, which also, with the deepest anxiety, keeps watch over all who call on the Lord. And we too ask that you in your turn should remember us.

(Letters of St Cyprian)

The persecutors who are visible are not the only ones.

Faithful witnessing to Christ

To enter the kingdom of God we must endure many tribulations. If there are many persecutions, there are many testings; where there are many crowns of victory, there are many trials of strength. It is then to your advantage if there are many persecutors; among many persecutions you may more easily find a path to victory.

Take the example of the martyr Sebastian, whose birthday in glory we celebrate today. He was a native of Milan. At a time when persecution either had ceased or had not yet begun or was of a milder kind, he realised that there was only slight, if any, opportunity for suffering. He set out for Rome, where bitter persecutions were raging because of the fervour of the Christians. There he endured suffering; there he gained his crown. He went to the city as a stranger and there established a home of undying glory. If there had been only one persecutor, he would not have gained a martyr’s crown.

The persecutors who are visible are not the only ones. There are also invisible persecutors, much greater in number. This is more serious. Like a king bent on persecution, sending orders to persecute to his many agents, and establishing different persecutors in each city or province, the devil directs his many servants in their work of persecution, whether in public or in the souls of individuals. Of this kind of persecution Scripture says: All who wish to live a holy life in Christ Jesus suffer persecution. “All” suffer persecution; there is no exception. Who can claim exemption if the Lord himself endured the testing of persecution? How many there are today who are secret martyrs for Christ, giving testimony to Jesus as Lord! The Apostle knew this kind of martyrdom, this faithful witnessing to Christ; he said: This is our boast, the testimony of our conscience.

(From an exposition of psalm 118 by Saint Ambrose)

All Are To Be Loved!

"Disturbers are to be rebuked,
the low-spirited to be encouraged,
the infirm to be supported,
objectors confuted,
the treacherous guarded against,
the unskilled taught,
the lazy aroused,
the contentious restrained,
the haughty repressed,
the poor relieved,
the oppressed liberated,
the good approved,
the evil borne with,
and all are to be loved!"

Augustine, Sermo CCIX

The first Indo-Mohawkian Saint to be canonised

Kateri Tekakwitha, a 17th century Mohawkian (mohican) woman who the Vatican will canonise later this year, seen in St. Peter's Chapel at the National Kateri Shrine in Fonda, New York. Kateri will become the first Native American saint in the Catholic church.

The framed painting is attributed to Father Claude Chauchetiere, a French missionary, in 1681, a year after her death.

(Getty Images)

The 700-year-old letter from King Philip

A 700-year-old letter, believed to have been in the possession of William Wallace, is seen displayed at the National Records of Scotland January 12, 2012.

The letter from King Philip of France to his officials at the Vatican will go on display until 2014.

(Getty Images)

How Long Will You Mourn (1 Samuel 16:1)

"Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way." (1 Samuel 16:1)

The prophet Samuel loved King Saul dearly and prayed for him daily over a span of forty years (1 Samuel 12:23). He wished to see Saul as a mature spiritual leader for the people of Israel. On the other hand Saul was everything but godly and so the Lord decided to remove him from kingship. Samuel was overcome with grief. In the earlier chapter we read, he "was troubled and cried out to God all night," about Saul (1 Samuel 15:1-11). God allowed Samuel to mourn Saul's defeat for some time. However the Lord had already made up his mind, Samuel's tears were not going to change the Lord's plans. But yet there was hope! The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you go on mourning over Saul?" I have better plans and I want to make you part of the new thing that I’ve in mind. Be on your way for I will lead you to the new king.

Samuel was grieved and afraid. Grief always comes with fear!!! Fear of the unknown... the "what if's." What if he obeyed God, and anointed the new king, he would have to pay with his life (1 Samuel 16:2). What if this new king turned out to be like Saul? Would the Israelites reject him as prophet, accusing him of disloyalty and vacillation? Samuel had a lot to lose and very little to gain. His response would determine the history of God's people. Surely he must have mourned over and over again. Thinking to himself, "if only," Saul "could have done this and this," then maybe "it would have been." And wept over all those wasted years, forty to be precise.

We have all faced the "Sauls" and "Samuels" in life. The times when we came across the "could have been" and the "should have been" and yes we have mourned over the wasted years and said the "if only's." It is but natural to brood over missed opportunities, weak decisions, lost relationships, the demise of a loved one, or failures, nonetheless we must learn to move forward. It is the Lord who asks us the same question, "How long will you go on mourning???" For in situations like these we must forget what lies behind and press forward to what lies ahead (Philippians 3:13).We have to let go. There is a time for healing, which only the Lord knows. But we must remember to never let the oil of gladness run dry. We need to release the un-forgiveness, the broken heartedness, the un-cried tears, and the pains that were buried alive and fill ourselves with the Holy Spirit. We can never know where the Lord is leading us to, we can only keep guessing just as Samuel did with the sons of Jesse but we’ve got to stay deeply rooted in faith. When we let go of things beyond our control the Lord will help us see things the way he sees them, all we ought to do is trust and obey.

"Heavenly Father, I may never see things the way you see them. At times I fail to understand why you do not satisfy the longings of my heart. Lord, I lift up these moments to you and pray for trust in your unfathomable wisdom and obedience to your divine plan."

Life of Saint Anthony, Abbot

Saint Anthony receives his vocation

When Anthony was about eighteen or twenty years old, his parents died, leaving him with an only sister. He cared for her as she was very young, and also looked after their home.

Not six months after his parents’ death, as he was on his way to church for his usual visit, he began to think of how the apostles had left everything and followed the Saviour, and also of those mentioned in the book of Acts who had sold their possessions and brought the apostles the money for distribution to the needy. He reflected too on the great hope stored up in heaven for such as these. This was all in his mind when, entering the church just as the Gospel was being read, he heard the Lord’s words to the rich man: If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor – you will have riches in heaven. Then come and follow me.

It seemed to Antony that it was God who had brought the saints to his mind and that the words of the Gospel had been spoken directly to him. Immediately he left the church and gave away to the villagers all the property he had inherited, about 200 acres of very beautiful and fertile land, so that it would cause no distraction to his sister and himself. He sold all his other possessions as well, giving to the poor the considerable sum of money he collected. However, to care for his sister he retained a few things.

The next time he went to church he heard the Lord say in the Gospel: Do not be anxious about tomorrow. Without a moment’s hesitation he went out and gave the poor all that he had left. He placed his sister in the care of some well-known and trustworthy virgins and arranged for her to be brought up in the convent. Then he gave himself up to the ascetic life, not far from his own home. He kept a careful watch over himself and practised great austerity. He did manual work because he had heard the words: If anyone will not work, do not let him eat. He spent some of his earnings on bread and the rest he gave to the poor.

Having learned that we should always be praying, even when we are by ourselves, he prayed without ceasing. Indeed, he was so attentive when Scripture was read that nothing escaped him and because he retained all he heard, his memory served him in place of books.

Seeing the kind of life he lived, the villagers and all the good men he knew called him the friend of God, and they loved him as both son and brother.

(From the Life of Saint Anthony by Saint Athanasius)

Shirley and Marcy

A young mother was very concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school. He didn't want his mother to walk with him.

She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe.

So she had an idea of how to handle it.

She asked a neighbour if she would please follow him to school in the mornings, staying at a distance,
So he probably wouldn't notice her.

The neighbour agreed and said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well.

The next school day, the neighbour and her little girl set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbour girl he knew.

She did this for the whole week. As the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs.

Timmy's little friend noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all week.

Finally she said to Timmy, 'Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week? Do you know her?'

Timmy nonchalantly replied, 'Yeah, I know who she is.'

The little girl said, 'Well, who is she?'

'That's just Shirley Goodnest,' Timmy replied, 'and her daughter Marcy.'

'Shirley Goodnest? Who is she and why is she following us?'

'Well,' Timmy explained, 'every night my Mum makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, 'cause she worries about me so much...And in the Psalm, it says, "Shirley Goodnest (surely goodness ) and Marcy (mercy) shall follow me all the days of my life," so I guess I'll just have to get used to it!'

*******************

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

May Shirley Goodnest and Marcy be with you today and always!"

The Power of Three

+ There are THREE persons in the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

+ God made man in His own image. Man has THIRTY-THREE vertebrae in his spine.

+ Man has THIRTY- THREE joints on each foot.

+ There are THREE sons of Noah: Shem, Ham and Japet (and their THREE families that were saved from the flood).

+ There are THREE members of the Holy Family: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.

+ When baby Jesus was born, THREE Magi came to honour him with gifts.

+ In his youth, Jesus was lost for THREE days and was found in the temple.

+ Jesus preached for THREE years in his ministry.

+ There are THREE parables of God’s mercy: the Lost Sheep, the Lost Drachma and the Lost Son (The Prodigal Son)

+ When Jesus went to pray in the desert, he was tempted by the devil THREE times.

+ Jesus spoke THREE times about the prophecy of the passion and His death; around the villages of Caesarea Philippi, on the way to Galilee, and on the road to Jerusalem.

+During the agony in the garden, Jesus went to pray THREE times while his THREE friends, Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, slept.

+ Jesus was denounced THREE times by Peter.

+ Judas betrayed Jesus for THIRTY pieces of silver.

+ Jesus was unjustly judged by THREE judges.

+ THREE guards watched over Jesus.

+ Pilate asked the angry crowd THREE times what he should do with Jesus.

+ Jesus was nailed to the Cross in THREE places.

+ There were THREE crosses on Calvary.

+ There were THREE women with the name, Mary, at the foot of the Cross: Mary, the Mother of Jesus; Mary Magdalene; and Mary, the wife of Cleophas.

+ Jesus suffered on the Cross for THREE hours.

+ Jesus died on the Cross at THREE o’clock.

+ Jesus died at the age of THIRTY- THREE.

+ Jesus was in the tomb for THREE days.

+ Jesus rose on the THIRD day.

+ After the Resurrection, Jesus met Simon Peter, and asked him THREE times, "Do you love me?" (the THIRD appearance of Jesus).

+ At the transfiguration, the THREE disciples: Peter, James and John, witnessed the conversation of these THREE persons: Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.

+ Saul who was converted to Paul was blind for THREE days.

+ There are THREE theological virtues: Faith, Hope, and Love.

+ There are THREE elements to a person: Body, Soul, and Spirit.

+ There are THREE elements of faith: Knowledge, Assent, and Confidence.

+ There are THREE evangelical counsels: Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience.

+ There are THREE notable duties: Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving.

+ There are THREE realms of the afterlife: Heaven, Hell and Purgatory (Limbo is regarded as hypothetical)

~Olivia

Copyright© 2012 All rights reserved

Here I Am, Since You Called Me (1 Samuel 3:5)

"Here I am Lord, I come to do your will." (Psalm 40:7-8)

The reason we assemble together in Church is because in some way or the other we have heard the call of God and have decided to follow him. If you paid careful attention to the readings today, you will realize that the central theme is based on discipleship. However, responding to the call means that we have to be available 24 x 7 to the promptings of the Spirit. In the first reading we hear how the Lord called young Samuel while he was serving in the temple. Even though Samuel was lying in the sanctuary where the Divine ark was, he could not perceive the presence of God because according to Scripture, "the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him." In fact he thought it was Eli the High priest that was calling out to him. When the Lord called, 'Samuel!, Samuel!' notice what Scripture says, "Then he ran to Eli and said, 'Here I am, since you called me,'" he does it not once but three times. If it were one of us, would we be ready to serve the call? Or would we yell, "What?" the first time, "Don't disturb me!" the second, and maybe go absolutely mute the third time and pretend to be asleep. Samuel was an obedient servant to Eli and followed his instructions in responding to the Lord's persistent call by saying: "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening." Because of his readiness to carry out God's plans, he was chosen to be a prophet and later a judge over God’s people.

The call of Samuel and his answer to it is a living example to all of us. Just as he grew in the knowledge and wisdom of the Lord, we too are called to live in obedience, faith, service and love of the Lord. In the Second Reading we are reminded that our bodies belong to the Lord (1 Cor. 6:13-15, 17-20). By the Sacrament of Baptism, we became temples of the Holy Spirit. Each one of us is a part of the mystical Body of Christ, and anyone who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him. Therefore how can we abuse this temple with worldly desires and pleasures that do not glorify God? We have been bought and paid for by the Blood of the Lamb. When we realized this heavy price that was paid, we will be able to live more fully as holy children of a loving Father. It is only through our thoughts, words and actions that witnessing to Christ could continue to manifest.

Today's Gospel passage describes the call of the first disciples. John the Baptiser points to Jesus as the 'Lamb of God'. The 'lamb' that is led to the slaughter is connected with Isaiah's 'suffering servant' (Chapter 53) and refers to Jesus who gives his life as a ransom for all. On hearing John's witness two of his disciple leave him and follow Jesus. One of them curiously asks Jesus, 'Rabbi, where do you live?' Jesus replies, "Come and see." It was a direct invitation by Jesus, "Come and See". It was the Lord saying to them, 'come experience for yourselves the life I live and the work I do. Spend a hassle free day with me and then decide'. If you want to know somebody or something you've got to spend time with them or in that place. There is nothing like first - hand information! In the Book of Ezekiel, just before he was made watchman for the house of Israel, the Spirit of the Lord took him to Tel Abib to feel what the exiles felt. Remember this: Jesus Christ loved us so much that he was willing to come to earth to sit where we sit and to feel what we feel. Compassion is the result of our relationship with God. John 3:16 sums it up.

The two disciples followed Jesus and their lives were never the same again. The encounter makes one of the followers, Andrew by name, assert "We have found the Messiah!" Moreover, he brings his brother Simon Peter to Jesus. By the testimony of John the Baptist two disciples answered the call. By the testimony of Andrew, Peter answered the call. The Lord yet calls, sometimes it's a persistent ringing in the ears and sometimes it just points to the task. But he keeps calling until we answer it. It all depends on what our response is, "Speak Lord, your servant is listening," or will it be "Please Do Not Disturb! We're too disturbed, already!!!"


"Heavenly Father, help us embrace your will, and give us the strength to follow your call, so that your truth may live in our hearts and reflect peace to those who believe in your love."

Why God? Why?

Saint Hilary, Bishop, Doctor

Hilary was born in the beginning of the 4th century at Pictavium, Gaul (modern-day Poitiers, France) to wealthy pagan parents. He married early in life and had a daughter Saint Abra. After receiving a thorough education in Greek and Latin classics, he became an orator. He studied the Old and New Testament writings and at the age of about 35, he rejected his Neo-Platonism and became a Christian through a long process of study and thought. In 353 he received the sacrament of baptism along with his wife and his daughter.

So great was the respect in which he was held by the citizens of Poitiers that he was elected bishop, although still a married man (clerical celibacy was not required by the church until the late Middle Ages). Hilary is the first Bishop in that region of whom we have authentic information, he became an outspoken champion of orthodoxy against the Arians heresy (A heresy that denied the divinity of Jesus Christ). St Augustine praised him as "the illustrious teacher of the churches." St Jerome wrote that Hilary was "a most eloquent man, and the trumpet of the Latins against the Arians." Hilary acquired the name "Athanasius of the West."

Almost immediately upon assuming the office of bishop, St Hilary became active in the debate over the Trinity then dividing the church. At that time, the defenders of the Council of Nicaea suffered official disfavour: Emperor Constantius, son and successor of Constantine the Great, supported the pro-Arian bishops. Hilary refused the emperor’s demand to sign a condemnation of Athanasius, whereupon Constantius exiled him to Phyrgia. Hilary made good use of his time in exile. He met with Greek-speaking church leaders and theologians and wrote important works on church doctrine. While in exile, St Hilary publicly and forcefully defended Nicene orthodoxy at church synods and councils in 356 and 359. The emperor decided that Hilary was causing too much trouble for Arians in the eastern church and so in 360 ordered him to return from exile to Poitiers. He was received back home in Gaul with great rejoicing and thanksgiving. When Constantius died in 361, official support for Arianism ended. Hilary's eloquent defence of orthodoxy was decisive in removing or converting remaining Arian bishops, and he is recognised for the great achievement of restoring order to the church of his time.

His most celebrated book is On the Trinity, a twelve-volume work written in 359 and 360, in which Hilary refuted Arianism by proving the consubstantiality of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (De trinitate libri XII). Quoting St. Hilary: "For one to attempt to speak of God in terms more precise than he himself has used: -- to undertake such a thing is to embark upon the boundless, to dare the incomprehensible. He fixed the names of His nature: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Whatever is sought over and above this is beyond the meaning of words, beyond the limits of perception, beyond the embrace of understanding."

St Hilary believed that the only way to learn about God was through adoration and devotion. God must be approached with a devout mind. True knowledge of God comes only through thinking with understanding formed by piety. Theology therefore requires the warmth of faith. He began writing hymns after seeing that Arians used hymns to spread their false doctrines. Deciding that orthodox Christians should popularise their beliefs in the same way, he became the first Latin hymn-writer of the Church.

St. Hilary died in the year 368 and was raised to the rank of Doctor of the Church in the year 1851 by Pope Pius IX.


Honored in :- Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Churches, Anglican Communion, Lutheran Church, Oriental Orthodoxy

Canonized :- Pre-Congregation

Feast :- January 13, January 14 (in some local calendars and pre-1970 General Roman Calendar)



Published by Olivia
Copyright© 2012 All rights reserved

Grant That We May Express What We Believe.

May I serve you by making you known

I am well aware, Almighty God and Father, that in my life I owe you a most particular duty. It is to make my every thought and word speak of you.

In fact, you have conferred on me this gift of speech, and it can yield no greater return than to be at your service. It is for making you known as Father, the Father of the only-begotten God, and preaching this to the world that knows you not and to the heretics who refuse to believe in you.

In this matter the declaration of my intention is only of limited value. For the rest, I need to pray for the gift of your help and your mercy. As we spread our sails of trusting faith and public avowal before you, fill them with the breath of your Spirit, to drive us on as we begin this course of proclaiming your truth. We have been promised, and he who made the promise is trustworthy: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Yes, in our poverty we will pray for our needs. We will study the sayings of your prophets and apostles with unflagging attention, and knock for admittance wherever the gift of understanding is safely kept. But yours it is, Lord, to grant our petitions, to be present when we seek you and to open when we knock.

There is an inertia in our nature that makes us dull; and in our attempt to penetrate your truth we are held within the bounds of ignorance by the weakness of our minds. Yet we do comprehend divine ideas by earnest attention to your teaching and by obedience to the faith which carries us beyond mere human apprehension.

So we trust in you to inspire the beginnings of this ambitious venture, to strengthen its progress, and to call us into a partnership in the spirit with the prophets and the apostles. To that end, may we grasp precisely what they meant to say, taking each word in its real and authentic sense. For we are about to say what they already have declared as part of the mystery of revelation: that you are the eternal God, the Father of the eternal, only-begotten God; that you are one and not born from another; and that the Lord Jesus is also one, born of you from all eternity. We must not proclaim a change in truth regarding the number of gods. We must not deny that he is begotten of you who are the one God; nor must we assert that he is other than the true God, born of you who are truly God the Father.

Impart to us, then, the meaning of the words of Scripture and the light to understand it, with reverence for the doctrine and confidence in its truth. Grant that we may express what we believe. Through the prophets and apostles we know about you, the one God the Father, and the one Lord Jesus Christ. May we have the grace, in the face of heretics who deny you, to honour you as God, who is not alone, and to proclaim this as truth.

(From the treatise on the Trinity by Saint Hilary of Poitiers)

And The Sparkling Floor

Pope Benedict XVI (2nd R) and Msgr Georg Gänswein (3rd R) leave the Aula Paolo VI at the Vatican at the end of the weekly general audience on January 4, 2012. (Getty Images)

The Pope does get some rare gifts..a croc???

A member of Rome's Biopark zoo holds a baby crocodile as he presents it to Pope Benedict XVI during his Wednesday general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican January 11, 2012. (Reuters Pictures)

Nuns pose with a circus performer

Nuns pose with the clown of an Italian circus after Pope Benedict XVI's Wednesday general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican January 11, 2012. (Photo credit AP Photo, Reuters Pictures, Getty Images)

What is it which upsets your mind?

Come now let me relieve the wound of thy despondency, and disperse the thoughts which gather this cloud of care around you. For what is it which upsets your mind, and why are you sorrowful and dejected?

When you look at calamities do not abandon the hope of better things, considering as to who the Pilot is in all this — not One who gets the better of the storm by His art, but calms the raging waters by His rod.

But if He does not effect this at the outset and speedily, such is His custom — He does not at the beginning put down these terrible evils, but when they have increased, and come to extremities, and most persons are reduced to despair, then He works wondrously, and beyond all expectation, thus manifesting His own power, and training the patience of those who undergo these calamities. Do not therefore be cast down. For there is only one thing, which is really terrible, only one real trial, and that is sin! But as for all other things, plots, enmities, frauds, calumnies, insults, accusations, confiscation, exile, the keen sword of the enemy, the peril of the deep, warfare of the whole world, or anything else you like to name, they are but idle tales. For whatever the nature of these things may be they are transitory and perishable, and operate in a mortal body without doing any injury to the vigilant soul.

Therefore the blessed Paul, desiring to prove the insignificance both of the pleasures and sorrows relating to this life, declared the whole truth in one sentence when he said — "For the things which are seen are temporal" (2 Cor.4:18). Why then do you fear temporal things which pass away like the stream of a river. For such is the nature of present things whether they be pleasant or painful. And another prophet compared all human prosperity not to grass, but to another material even more flimsy, describing the whole of it "as the flower of grass."

Do you see the abundance of resource belonging to God? His wisdom, His extraordinary power, His loving-kindness and care? Be not therefore dismayed or troubled but continue to give thanks to God for all things, praising, and invoking Him; beseeching and supplicating; even if countless tumults and troubles come upon you, even if tempests are stirred up before your eyes let none of these things disturb you.

For our Master is not baffled by the difficulty, even if all things are reduced to the extremity of ruin. For it is possible for Him to raise those who have fallen, to convert those who are in error, to set straight those who have been ensnared, to release those who have been laden with countless sins, and make them righteous, to quicken those who are dead, to restore lustre to decayed things, and freshness to those which have waxen old. For if He makes things which are not, come into being, and bestows existence on things which are nowhere by any means manifest, how much more will He rectify things which already exist.


(Adapted from a letter to Olympias by St. John Chrysostom)

Here I Am, Lord

Here am I, Lord. Is it I, Lord
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.


I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin,
My hand will save.


I, who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?


Here am I, Lord. Is it I, Lord
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.


I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.


I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my words to them.
Whom shall I send?


Here am I, Lord. Is it I, Lord
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.


I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will send the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.


Finest bread I will provide,
'Til their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?


Here am I, Lord. Is it I, Lord
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

God's wisdom in creation

Wisdom in creation and in the history of Israel

Wisdom speaks her own praises,

  in the midst of her people she glories in herself.

She opens her mouth in the assembly of the Most High,

  she glories in herself in the presence of the Mighty One;

‘I came forth from the mouth of the Most High,

  and I covered the earth like a mist.

I had my tent in the heights,

  and my throne in a pillar of cloud.

Alone I encircled the vault of the sky,

  and I walked on the bottom of the deeps.

Over the waves of the sea and over the whole earth,

  and over every people and nation I have held sway.

Among all these I searched for rest,

  and looked to see in whose territory I might pitch camp.

Then the creator of all things instructed me,

  and he who created me fixed a place for my tent.

He said, “Pitch your tent in Jacob,

  make Israel your inheritance.”

From eternity, in the beginning, he created me,

  and for eternity I shall remain.

I ministered before him in the holy tabernacle,

  and thus was I established on Zion.

In the beloved city he has given me rest,

  and in Jerusalem I wield my authority.

I have taken root in a privileged people,

  in the Lord’s property, in his inheritance.

I have grown tall as a cedar on Lebanon,

  as a cypress on Mount Hermon;

I have grown tall as a palm in Engedi,

  as the rose bushes of Jericho;

as a fine olive in the plain,

  as a plane tree I have grown tall.

I have exhaled a perfume like cinnamon and acacia,

  I have breathed out a scent like choice myrrh,

like galbanum, onycha and stacte,

  like the smoke of incense in the tabernacle.

I have spread my branches like a terebinth,

  and my branches are glorious and graceful.

I am like a vine putting out graceful shoots,

  my blossoms bear the fruit of glory and wealth.

Approach me, you who desire me,

  and take your fill of my fruits,

for memories of me are sweeter than honey,

  inheriting me is sweeter than the honeycomb.

They who eat me will hunger for more,

  they who drink me will thirst for more.

Whoever listens to me will never have to blush,

  whoever acts as I dictate will never sin.’

All this is no other than the book of the covenant of the Most High God,

  the Law that Moses enjoined on us,

an inheritance for the communities of Jacob.


Ecclesiasticus 24:1-33