Trudie
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 Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 8:48 pm Post subject: August 19th - St. Sixtus III |
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August 19th - St. Sixtus III
432 - 440 AD
Sixtus was one of those gentle souls who seem to exist for the purpose of
binding wounds and healing bruises. A Roman, prominent among the clergy, a
friend of St. Augustine, Sixtus was a natural choice for pope. He set himself
the task of consolidating the victory over Pelagianism and Nestorianism by
kindness and gentleness. Indeed, at one time it appeared as if that clever
protagonist of Pelagianism, Julian of Eclanum, was about to pull the wool over
the Pope's eyes. But his insincerity was unmasked, and Sixtus refused him
readmittance into the Church. At the side of Sixtus in this matter stood a
deacon named Leo whose aid was very valuable to the Pope. Of him more shall be
heard.
The Pope's kindness had happier results with the Nestorians. In 433, Sixtus held
a council at Rome at which he announced that Cyril of Alexandria had informed
him that many Nestorian leaders had returned to the Church. Certainly Sixtus
made it easy for them to do so.
The condemnation of Nestorianism had been a striking vindication of the honor
paid to Mary as Mother of the Person who is God. Indeed, just as the word
consubstantial was the keyword of orthodoxy against the Arians, so theotokos
(Mother of God) was the keyword of orthodoxy against the Nestorians. The Council
of Ephesus precipitated a spontaneous outburst of devotion to Mary. St. Sixtus
celebrated the council by rebuilding the old basilica of Pope Liberius and
decorating it with magnificent mosaics picturing the childhood of Jesus and the
life of Mary. The church, which was dedicated to the Mother of God, is called
St. Mary Major.
Sixtus III did much for the churches in Rome. Not only did he redecorate St.
Mary Major but he obtained from Emperor Valentinian III a golden image adorned
with jewels on which the twelve apostles were represented. This he placed over
the tomb of St. Peter. He did some restoration in the old Lateran Basilica and
he erected a silver altar and porphyry columns in the Church of St. Lawrence.
St. Sixtus III died August 19, 440. He was buried in that Church of St. Lawrence
he did so much to adorn. His feast is kept on August 19.
Saint Quote:
Listen to me for one moment and you will see that only the service of God will
console us and make us happy in the midst of all the miseries of life. To
accomplish it, you do not need to leave either your belongings, or your parents,
or even your friends, unless they are leading you to sin. You have no need to go
and spend the rest of your lives in the desert to weep there for your sins. If
that were necessary for us, indeed, we should be very happy to have such a
remedy for our ills. But no, a father and a mother of a family can serve God by
living with their children and bringing them up in a Christian way. A servant
can very easily serve God and his master, with nothing to stop him. No, my dear
brethren, The way of life that means serving God changes nothing in all that we
have to do. On the contrary, we simply do better all the things we must do!
-St. John Vianney
Bible Quote:
I sanctify Myself for them, that they also may be sanctified in truth. St. John
17:19
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CANTICLE OF THE THREE YOUTHS
Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord;
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord;
You heavens, bless the Lord;
All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord.
All you hosts of the Lord; bless the Lord.
Sun and moon, bless the Lord;
Stars of heaven, bless the Lord.
Every shower and dew, bless the Lord;
All you winds, bless the Lord.
Fire and heat, bless the Lord;
Cold and chill, bless the Lord.
Dew and rain, bless the Lord;
Frost and cold, bless the Lord.
Ice and snow, bless the Lord;
Nights and days, bless the Lord.
Light and darkness bless the Lord;
Lightning and clouds, bless the Lord.
Let the earth bless the Lord;
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Mountains and hills, bless the Lord
Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord.
You springs, bless the Lord;
Seas and rivers, bless the Lord.
You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord;
All you birds of the air, bless the Lord.
All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord;
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
You sons of men, bless the Lord;
O Israel, bless the Lord.
Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord;
Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord;
Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord.
Ananias, Azarias, Misael, bless the Lord;
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Let us bless the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost;
Let us praise and exalt God above all forever.
Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven;
Praiseworthy and glorious forever. |
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