May 13th - St. John the Silent
- From: "Waldtraud" <richarra@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 13 May 2007 09:39:29 -0500
May 13th - St. John the Silent
John was born in the year 454 in Nicopolis, Armenia, apparently to a wealthy
family whose ancestors included governors and generals. His parents died
when he was eighteen. He built a monastery, gave away the rest of his
fortune to the poor and with ten companions strove to live the monastic life
with fervor and dedication.
John's reputation for holiness as well as his leadership abilities drew the
attention of many and at the age of 28 he was appointed bishop of Colonia.
He spent the next nine years exercising his episcopal duties. He would work
tirelessly instructing his flock and often went without the necessities of
life to relieve the burdens of the poor.
Unable to successfully combat some of the evils he saw and desiring a more
secluded life, John fled his diocese and entered the monastery of St. Sabas
outside Jerusalem. Here he lived the life of simplicity and austerity that
he felt God had called him to. The remainder of his life would be spent
doing whatever work he was asked to do willingly and quietly. Tradition
tells us that he lived the last forty years of his life in total silence
unless, under obedience, he was obliged to speak. John died in 558 after
having lived some seventy-six years in solitude.
The overt persecutions of Christians had ended. Many Christians began to
become lax in the practice of their faith. John chose a different form of
martyrdom. He felt called by God to dedicate his whole life to living the
Way of Jesus. His martyrdom was to give up all his wealth, comfortable
surroundings and way of life, and to take on a life of total simplicity. He
gave up his own will and desires to live in obedience to his superiors. His
food and shelter were the bare minimum needed for survival. His work was
manual labor and continuous prayer and praise of God.
How many people in our world today, without choosing to do so, live in
conditions even more primitive? May God grant us the grace to live more
simply in order that others may simply live.
Also today:
May 13th - Our Lady of Fatima
The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, appeared six times to three
shepherd children ("the Three Seers") near the town of Fatima, Portugal
between May 13th and October 13th 1917. Appearing to the children, the
Blessed Virgin told them that She had been sent by God with a message for
every man, woman and child living in our century. Coming at a time when
civilization was torn asunder by war and bloody violence, She promised that
Heaven would grant peace to all the world if Her requests for prayer,
reparation and consecration were heard and obeyed.
"If My requests are granted ... there will be peace"
Our Lady of Fatima explained to the children that war is a punishment for
sin and warned that God would further castigate the world for its
disobedience to His Will by means of war, hunger and the persecution of the
Church, the Holy Father and the Catholic Faithful. God's Mother prophesied
that Russia would be God's chosen "instrument of chastisement," spreading
the "errors" of atheism and materialism across the earth, fomenting wars,
annihilating nations and persecuting the Faithful everywhere.
In all Her appearances at Fatima, the Blessed Mother repeatedly emphasized
the necessity of praying the Rosary daily, of wearing the Brown Scapular of
Mount Carmel and of performing acts of reparation and sacrifice. To prevent
the terrible chastisement at the hands of Russia and to convert "that poor
nation", Our Lady requested the solemn public Consecration of Russia to Her
Immaculate Heart by the Pope and all the Catholic bishops of the world. She
also asked that the Faithful practice a new devotion of reparation on the
first Saturday of five consecutive months ("the Five First Saturdays")
Quote:
And what might this noble Lord do of more worship and joy to me than to show
me (that am so simple) this marvelous homeliness [i.e., naturalness and
simplicity]? Thus it fareth with our Lord Jesus and with us. For truly it is
the most joy that may be that He that is highest and mightiest, noblest and
worthiest, is lowest and meekest, homeliest and most courteous: and truly
this marvelous joy shall be shewn us all when we see Him.
-Juliana of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love
Bible Quote:
It is necessary that scandals come, but woe to the man through whom scandal
does come! St. Matthew 18:7
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PRAYER FOR THE CONVERSION OF SINNERS
God of great mercy, Who deigned to send us Your only-begotten
Son as the greatest proof of Your fathomless love and mercy,
You did not reject sinners; but in Your boundless mercy You
have opened for them also Your treasures, treasures, from
which they draw abundantly, not only justification, but also
all the sanctity that a soul can attain. Father of great mercy,
I desire that hearts turn with confidence to Your infinite mercy.
No one will be justified before You is he is not accompanied by
Your unfathomable mercy. When You reveal the mystery of
Your mercy to us, there will not be enough of Eternity to
render You thanksgiving.
O Jesus, how sorry I am for poor sinners. Jesus, grant them
contrition and repentance. Remember Your Sorrowful Passion.
Jesus, give me the souls of sinners; let Your mercy rest on
them. Take everything away from me, but give me souls.
Let the shell of my body conceal my offering, for Your
Most Sacred Heart is hidden in a Host, a living sacrifice. Transform
me into a sacrifice for sinners, pleasing to You. I desire to atone
each moment for poor sinners . . .O my Creator and Father
of great mercy, I trust in You, for You are Goodness Itself.
.
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