Waldtraud
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 Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2008 9:53 pm Post subject: - John 14:1-3 - |
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- John 14:1-3 -
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In
my
Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I
am
going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for
you,
I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I
am."
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These verses are rich with promises about heaven and eternity for the
followers
of Jesus Christ. Here Jesus says "I am going there to prepare a place for
you"
and "I will come back." We can look forward to eternal life because Jesus
has
promised it to all who believe in him. We need not fear eternity because
Jesus
is preparing for us and will spend eternity with us.
<><><><><>
October 25th - Sts Chrysanthus and Daria, Martyrs
(d. 284)
According to legend Chrysanthus was the son of a Roman senator, born in
Egypt.
While still young he went with his father to Rome, where his superior
intelligence was quickly appreciated. Convinced of the vanity of
idol-worship,
he undertook every means at his disposition to learn the truth and deliver
his
soul from the doubts afflicting him. An elderly gentlemen was pointed out to
him
as a sage, and Chrysanthus went to him with his questions. The old man, who
was
a Christian, had no difficulty in opening the eyes of the young neophyte;
Chrysanthus instantly embraced the truth with ardor and became an apostle.
His father, at first astonished, became irritated and decided to bring his
son
back from what he called his superstitions and errors. No means were
effectual
for this purpose. Thus, influenced by his associates, the father locked him
in
his palace and sent a courtesan to seduce his purity.
When the first one did not succeed, others were commissioned for the
infamous
task, and finally a vestal virgin, priestess of an idol regarded as the
empire's
bulwark, attempted every artifice to corrupt the young Christian. Instead,
she
herself became the conquest of grace. The two Christians saw themselves
united
by the bonds of faith, hope and charity, and determined to add to these holy
chains those of a virginal marriage. This decision brought about liberty for
Chrysanthus and gave him the means to continue his preaching of Christ. Many
conversions among the officers of the Roman society with which he was
already
familiar, were the fruit of the apostolate of the young spouses, including
that
of the tribune Claudius, with his household and seventy soldiers.
But complaints began to be addressed to the prefect of Rome, who arrested
the
young couple. After enduring torments, Chrysanthus was shut up in the
Mamertine
prison, and Daria was sent to a house of ill fame. But the Lord watched over
both of them as He had done over many others, and they surmounted their
trials,
intact and pure. To be done with them, the irritated emperor had them buried
alive. It appears this torment was chosen in order to inflict on Daria the
death
reserved for unfaithful vestals. The principal relics of Chrysanthus and
Daria
are in the Abbey of Saint Avold in the diocese of Metz.
Source: Les Petits Bollandistes: Vies des Saints, by Msgr. Paul Guérin
(Bloud et
Barral: Paris, 1882), Vol. 12.
Saint Quote:
The patient and humble endurance of the cross whatever nature it may be is
the
highest work we have to do.
--Saint Katherine Drexel
Bible Quote:
And it came to pass, whilst he was at table with them, he took bread, and
blessed, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and
they
knew him: and he vanished out of their sight. (Luke 24:30-31)
<><><><>
Is the Cross you wear too Heavy to Bear?
Complainingly I told myself,
"this cross is too heavy to wear"
And I wondered discontentedly
why God gave it to me to bear.
And I looked with envy at others
whose crosses seemed lighter than mine
And wished that I could change my cross
for one of a lighter design -
And then, in a dream, I beheld the cross
I impulsively wanted to wear,
It was fashioned of pearls and diamonds
and gems that were precious and rare.
And when I hung it around my neck
the weight of the jewels and the gold
Was much too heavy and cumbersome
for my small, slender neck to hold -
So I tossed it aside and before my eyes
was a cross of rose-red flowers
And I said with delight as I put it on,
"this cross I can wear for hours" -
For it was so dainty and fragile,
so lovely and light and thin,
But I had forgotten about the thorns
that started to pierce my skin -
And then in my dream I saw "my cross,"
rugged and old and plain,
That clumsy old cross I had looked upon
with discontented disdain -
And at last I knew that God had made
this "special cross for me,"
For God in His great wisdom knew
what I before could not see,
That often the loveliest crosses
are the heaviest crosses to bear,
For only God is wise enough
to choose the cross we can wear -
So never complain about YOUR CROSS,
for your cross has been blest,
God made it JUST FOR YOU to wear
and remember, GOD KNOWS BEST! |
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