Faith Is the Victory

Faith Is the Victory

And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith.
1 John 5:4

John Henry Yates - shoe salesman, hardware store manager, newspaper editor,
local pastor, and hymn writer - is best remembered for his old song, "Faith
Is the Victory." It likens the Christian life to a battle, using vivid
imagery:

Encamped along the hills of light,
Ye Christian soldiers, rise.
And press the battle ere the night
Shall veil the glowing skies.
Against the foe in vales below
Let all our strength be hurled.
Faith is the victory, we know,
That overcomes the world.

That hymn is a good commentary on the life of the biblical martyr, Stephen,
who was described as being full of faith (Acts 6:8). Even as he was being
stoned to death, Stephen was protected by the shield of faith. The darts of
despair never fazed him, and the devil had no missile that could overcome
his trust in God. Until his last breath, Stephen remained confident in his
Lord.


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June 12th - John of Sahagun, Confessor, Augustinian
(also known as John of Saint Facundo)

(1430-1479)

Saint John, one of the greatest preachers Spain has ever known, was born at
St.
Fagondez, and from his early youth gave signs of his future sanctity. He was
the
fruit of the ardent prayers of his parents after sixteen years of sterility;
God
blessed them afterwards with several children. He was entrusted to the
Benedictines of the monastery of St. Fagondez for his education. He
distributed
to the poor virtually all the wealth accruing to him from several benefices,
while he himself lived in great poverty; but soon he renounced all of these
and
obtained from his bishop permission to study theology in Salamanca. As a
young
priest he was already regarded as a Saint, so ardent was his devotion at
Holy
Mass. He entered the Order of Saint Augustine soon after he had bestowed on
a
poor man half of his clothing, and the following night experienced so great
an
increase in the love of God, that he referred to this as his conversion.

He was a model religious, and soon was entrusted with important offices in
his
Order - master of novices, definitor for the province, and prior of the
convent
of the city of Salamanca. He commanded well because he knew so well how to
obey.
When he observed in himself a slight defect in his obedience, he repaired it
with extraordinary penances. Often while offering the adorable Sacrifice
with
tender piety, he enjoyed the sight of Jesus in glory, and held sweet
colloquies
with Him. The ineffable bliss of these moments caused him to spend much more
time than the other priests in celebrating Holy Mass; and everyone was
complaining. It was only when his Superior forbid him to delay in this way
that
he was obliged to acknowledge the favors he enjoyed.

The power of his personal holiness was seen in his preaching, which produced
a
complete reformation of morals in Salamanca. He had a special gift for
reconciling differences, and was able to put an end to the quarrels and
feuds
among noblemen, at that period very common and fatal. The boldness shown by
Saint John in reproving vice endangered his life. A powerful nobleman,
having
been corrected by the Saint for oppressing his vassals, sent two assassins
to
slay him; but the remarkable holiness of the Saint's aspect, result of the
peace
constantly reigning in his soul, struck such awe into their minds that they
could not execute their purpose, and humbly begged his forgiveness. The
nobleman
himself, falling sick, was brought to repentance, and recovered his health
by
the prayers of the Saint whom he had endeavored to murder.

Saint John was also very zealous in denouncing the vices of impurity, and it
was
in defense of holy purity that he met his death. A lady of noble birth but
evil
life, whose companion in sin he had converted, contrived to administer a
fatal
poison to the Saint. After several months of terrible suffering, borne with
unvarying patience, Saint John went to his reward on June 11, 1479. This
painful
death and the cause for which he suffered it, have caused several of his
historians and panegyrists to say that he won a martyr's crown. A great many
striking miracles followed at his tomb and elsewhere, even by the simple
invocation of his name. He was canonized in 1690 by Pope Alexander VIII.

Reflection. All men desire peace, but only those enjoy it who, like Saint
John,
are completely dead to themselves, and bear all things with love for Christ.

Sources: Les Petits Bollandistes: Vies des Saints, by Msgr. Paul Guérin
(Bloud
et Barral: Paris, 1882), Vol. 6; Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, a
compilation based on Butler's Lives of the Saints, and other sources by John
Gilmary Shea (Benziger Brothers: New York, 1894).


Saint Quote:
Free your mind from all that troubles you, God will take care of things. You
will be unable to make haste in this (choice) without, so to speak, grieving
the
heart of God, because He sees that you do not honor Him sufficiently with
holy
trust. Trust in Him, I beg you, and you will have the fulfillment of what
your
heart desires
-- St Vincent de Paul

Bible Quote:
That which is exalted in the sight of men is an abomination before God.
(St.
Luke 16:15)


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Be Joyful, Mary

Text: Latin, 17th century
Music: Leisentritt's Catholicum Hymnologium Germanicum 1584
Tune: Regina Caeli Jubila 85.84.7
OHT Incipit:

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Be joyful, Mary, heav'nly queen,
Gaude, Maria:
Your Son who died was living seen,
Alleluia,
Laetare, O Maria!

The Son you bore by heaven's grace,
Gaude, Maria:
Did all our guilt and sin efface,
Alleluia,
Laetare, O Maria!

The Lord is risen from the dead,
Gaude, Maria:
He rose with might as he had said,
Alleluia,
Laetare, O Maria!

Then pray to God, O Virgin fair,
Gaude, Maria:
That He our souls to heaven bear.
Alleluia!
Laetare, O Maria!

Be joyful, Mary, heav'nly Queen,
Be joyful, Mary!
Your grief is changed to joy serene,
Alleluia!
Rejoice, rejoice, O Mary!

The Son you bore by heaven's grace,
Be joyful, Mary!
Did by His death our guilt erase.
Alleluia!
Rejoice, rejoice, O Mary!

The Lord has risen from the dead,
Be joyful, Mary!
He rose in glory as He said.
Alleluia!
Rejoice, rejoice, O Mary!

Then pray to God, O Virgin fair,
Be joyful, Mary!
That He our souls to heaven bear.
Alleluia!
Rejoice, rejoice, O Mary!




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