Traudel
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 Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 10:15 pm Post subject: - Philippians 4:6-7 - |
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- Philippians 4:6-7 -
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ
Jesus.
______________________________________________________________________-
Paul offered a radical peace plan: praise the Lord while suffering
persecution,
thank him when facing trials, pray about everything. Each prayer braces your
heart against anxiety. That's solid advice from a man who practiced what he
preached. He wrote these verses from a prison cell.
<<>><<>><<>>
October 27th - Sts Vincent, Sabina & Christeta Martyrs
Died 303. Untrustworthy acta record that Vincent was a young Christian in
Ávila,
Spain, when Governor Dacian ordered the suppression of all Christians during
the
break up of the Roman Empire. Today there are some countries where the
Christians are so inoffensive that nobody bothers with them, and there are
other
countries where they are persecuted because they are true Christians. We
should
ask ourselves which of the two most deserves our pity.
Vincent's crime was his freedom and independence. He felt that he was in the
right, and so risked upsetting all the old traditional obsolete beliefs. He
was
dangerous, but he was right to be dangerous as are all other Christians of
every
place and every age.
They tried to set him on the "right" path: the path of apathy, tradition,
numbness, and idolatry. But in his eyes Jupiter was a scoundrel deserving
blows,
not worship. He preferred the man who had been crucified in Jerusalem and,
brushing away the dust and mold of the old religion, he let in the fresh air
of
the new. And even if the particular details of Vincent's story are not
absolutely authentic, his story is true in a wider sense, for the powerful
empire was crumbling and the new light of Christianity was inspiring Vincent
and
many others-feebly at first but shining ever more brightly.
Vincent was condemned to death. We know from legends what happened to him,
but
not what happened inside him, for only he and Jesus Christ know that. It is
the
most essential part of a person's life, and yet one which is only rarely
mentioned by historians, critics, or writers. We cannot blame them, for no
one
on earth can tell you about your life with Jesus Christ, and that is as it
should be. Therefore what we have to say about a person is relatively
unimportant; and if none of the things which are recorded of Vincent ever
actually happened, that would in no way alter the essential and only truth,
which is his life with Jesus Christ.
It is said that Vincent left the imprint of his foot on a stone and that was
enough to convert his guards. His guards, however, were no more
simple-minded
than we are, and if they were converted it was because they saw more in
Vincent
than a foot which could leave its imprint on a stone: it was because they
saw in
him the imprint of Jesus Christ. Wherever Vincent went he left the imprint
of
Jesus, his "odor" as the old books used to call it. There are few of us
today
who leave an imprint likely to inspire those around us to convert. Dacian
has
nothing to worry about and can stay at home.
For a while everything went well for Vincent. His guards were converted and
with
the help of his sisters Sabina and Christeta he was able to escape. But
Christ
is not especially fond of those who win too easily. They had barely arrived
at
Alba when all three were arrested. They were scourged, beaten, quartered,
and
crushed between stones. This time they left no imprint on the stones, but an
enormous imprint on the whole of Spain (Benedictines, Encyclopedia).
In art they are identified as a man and two women broken on wheels. They are
venerated at Ávila, Spain, where they were martyred (Roeder).
Saint Quote:
Receive Lord, all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will.
You
have given me all that I have, all that I am, and I surrender all to your
divine
will, that you dispose of me. Give me only your love and your grace. With
this I
am rich enough, and I have no more to ask.
--St. Ignatius Loyola
Bible Quote:
19 Now when it was late that same day, the first of the week, and the doors
were
shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews,
Jesus
came and stood in the midst, and said to them: Peace be to you. 20 And when
he
had said this, he shewed them his hands and his side. The disciples
therefore
were glad, when they saw the Lord. (John 20:19-20)
<><><><>
MARY, GUARDIAN OF THE FLOWERS
In a garden of souls stands a Lady so fair,
She caresses each petal growing weak from despair,
Breathes the strength down upon them,
Brings the waters of life,
Feeds the plants that have weakened
From the earth's constant strife.
The flowers spread out in colors profuse,
Each a bud a fair promise of heavenly use.
Tender hands take the bent stalk
Grown weak from the flight,
From the darkness of soil that has shut out the light.
Turned the blossoming petal with soft tender hands,
To face up to the Light that shines down from His land
Sprinkles stardust to cover the flowers with grace
As they grow on the path
That leads straight to the place.
Where the fairest of Flowers sits next to Her Son,
As She welcomes you all
From a mission well done! |
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