The world
- From: "Traudel" <richarra@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 13:20:33 -0600
The world
The world would sooner be brought close to God. His will would sooner be
done on
earth, if all
who acknowledge Him gave themselves unreservedly to being used by Him. God
can
use every
human being as a channel for divine love and power. What delays the bringing
of
the world closer
to God is the backwardness of His followers. If each one lived each day for
God
and allowed
God to work through him, then the world would soon be drawn much closer to
God,
its Founder
and Preserver.
I pray that I may be used as a channel to express the Divine Love.
I pray that I may so live as to bring God's spirit closer to the world.
--From Twenty-Four Hours a Day
<<>><<>><<>>
December 1st - St. Natalia of Nicomedia, Widow (RM)
Died on December 1, c. 311. The story is told that after a turbulent life,
Saint
Natalia died peacefully in Argyropolis near Constantinople. She was the
young
Christian wife of an imperial officer of Nicomedia named Adrian. Her husband
was
so impressed by the patient suffering of some persecuted Christians that he
openly declared he was a Christian himself, though he had not yet been
baptized.
Adrian was at once thrown in jail, where Natalia visited him and arranged
for
his instruction in the faith. It is said the Natalia also ministered bravely
to
other imprisoned Christians during the persecution of Diocletian. After
Adrian
had been sentenced to death visitors were forbidden to him, but Natalia
disguised herself as a boy and bribed her way in to ask him to pray for her
in
heaven.
At Adrian's execution, Natalia watched as her husband was broken limb by
limb.
After his death on September 8 about the year 304, a fire was built to burn
the
bodies of the martyrs, so that there would be nothing left for burial.
Natalia
had to be restrained from casting herself into the fire when Adrian's body
was
burned. A rain storm put out the fire, and Christians gathered the remains
and
buried them.
Natalia managed to recover Adrian's hand, then fled to Argyropolis, on the
Bosporus, to escape the importune wooing of another imperial official. When
Natalia died she was buried among the martyrs. It is not known what, if any,
truth lies behind this romantic tale. There were apparently two Adrians
martyred
at Nicomedia, one under Diocletian, the other under Licinius.
In art she is shown holding her husband's hand (Attwater, Benedictines,
Delaney,
Roeder).
Saint Quote:
Divine providence often allows even good men to be expelled from the
Christian
community.... By their patient endurance of such injury and disgrace for
the
peace of the Church..., they will give man a lesson in true affliction, in
the
really genuine charity, which God's service calls for. The object of such
men
is to return when the gale has blown itself out; but if this is not possible
because the storm continues, or is more likely to break out more furiously
than
ever if they go back, they cling to their determination ... and are prepared
....
to defend to the death the faith which they know is preached in the Catholic
Church, and to support it by their loyal testimony. The Father sees these
men
in secret, and rewards them in secret.
-St. Augustine
Bible Quote:
But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 18 For not he who
commendeth
himself, is approved, but he, whom God commendeth. (2 Cor. 10:17-18)
<><><><>
The first Sunday of Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year. That
Mass
prepares us for the double coming (adventus) of mercy and justice. That is
why
St. Paul tells us, in the Epistle, to cast off sin in order that, being
ready
for the coming of Christ as our Saviour, we may also be ready for His coming
as
our Judge, of which we learn in the Gospel. Let us prepare ourselves, by
pious
aspirations and by the reformation of our life, for this twofold coming.
Jesus
Our Lord will reward those who yearn for Him and await Him: "Those who trust
in
Him shall not be confounded."
<><><><>
Litany of December Saints
If you add this short litany to your daily Rosary, you will
have
the benefit of invoking the prayers of some of these lesser-known saints for
December.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy, Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Jesus Christ, King of glory, born in Bethlehem of the Immaculate Virgin
Mary,
have mercy on us
Holy Mary, pray for us.
* pray for us
St. Edmund Campion, Holy Martyr and Priestly Patron of the Press *
St. Florence *
St. Eligius * St. Bibiana, Virgin and Holy Martyr *
St. Francis Xavier, Holy Confessor and Missionary *
St. Peter Chrysologos, Holy Bishop and Doctor of the Church *
St. Barbara, Virgin and Holy Martyr *
St. Sabbas, Holy Abbot *
St. Gerald, Holy Bishop *
St. Nicholas, Holy Bishop and Patron of Children *
St. Ambrose, Holy Bishop and Doctor of the Church *
Holy Mary, Immaculate Ark of the Covenant *
Pope St. Melchiades, Successor of Peter and Holy Martyr *
St. Romaric, Holy Abbot *
Holy Mary, Our Lady of Loretto *
Pope St. Damasus I, Holy Successor of Peter *
Holy Mary, Queen of the Angels *
Holy Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe *
St. Odilia, Holy Virgin and Patron invoked against blindness *
St. Lucy, Virgin and Holy Martyr and Patroness of the blind *
St. Nicasius, Holy Archbishop *
St. Eutropia *
St. Venantius Fortunatus, Holy Bishop *
St. Christiana, Holy Virgin *
St. Eusabius of Vercelli, Bishop and Holy Martyr *
St. Adelaide, Holy Queen of Italy *
Sts. Ananias, Azarius & Misael, Companions of Daniel *
St. Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead *
St. Olympias, Holy Widow *
St. Gatian, Holy Bishop *
Blessed Urban V, Holy Sovereign Pontiff *
Sts. Abraham, Isaac & Jacob, Old Covenant Patriarchs *
St. Dominic of Silos, Abbot and Patron of Captives *
St. Thomas, Holy Apostle who baptized the Magi *
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin and Religious, Patron of Immigrants *
Sts. Chaeremon & Ischyrion, Holy Martyrs *
St. Servulus, Holy Beggar *
St. Yvo of Chartres, Holy Bishop *
Sts. Adam and Eve, First Parents *
St. Adele, Holy Widow *
St. Chrysogonus, Martyr *
St. Anastasia, Holy Martyr *
St. Stephen, Holy Protomartyr and Patron of Stonemasons *
St. John the Evangelist, Holy Apostle *
Holy Innocents, Blessed Martyrs *
St. Thomas Beckett, Archbishop of Canterbury and Holy Martyr *
St. David, Holy King of the Old Testament *
St. Sabinus, Bishop and Holy Martyr *
St. Anysius, Holy Bishop of Thessalonica *
Pope St. Sylvester I, Holy Successor of Peter *
All you holy saints and angels, pray for us.
.
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