- Isaiah 41:10 -

- Isaiah 41:10 -

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
________________________________________________________________________

Are you afraid? "Fear not!"
Are you alone? "I am with you!"
Are you confused? "Be not dismayed!" ("Do not anxiously look about
you" -
NASV)
Do you need help greater than your own? "I am your God!"
Are you at wit's end? "I will help you!"
Are you weak? "I will strengthen you!"
Do you feel like you are falling? "I will uphold you with my righteous
right
hand!"



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August 21st - Apollinaris Sidonius

d. 480

Bishop and classical scholar. Caius Sollius Apollinaris Sidonius was born in
Lugdunum, about 423. He was from a noble family and received a brilliant
education in the classical style. Entering the military, he married
Papianilla,
the daughter of Avitus, who became emperor of the West in 455. Living at the
imperial court, Apollinaris survived the deposition of Avitus in 456 and
subsequently served as the chief senator and prefect of Rome from 468 to
469. He
then retired to Gaul, where he carried on a vast correspondence that gives
considerable insight into the political period. In 469, although unwilling
and
not yet a priest, Apollinaris was named bishop of Avernum. He was chosen
because
of his piety and because he was considered the only one capable of defending
the
people against the invading Goths, under Alaric. Apollinaris assumed the
humble
lifestyle of the bishopric and learned so much about ecclesiastical affairs
that
he was soon recognized as an authority. He opposed King Euric of the Goths
in
474 and was exiled briefly. He was an outstanding orator and poet, and he
introduced the days of public prayer called "Rogation Days." Twenty-four of
his
letters and poems survived and are a valuable resource on the period.
Apollinaris is considered to be the last representative of the great
classical
culture of Rome which was being overrun by the Germanic invasions.



August 21st - Sidonius Apollinaris

Gaius Sollius Modestus Sidonius Apollinaris (ca 430 - after 489), poet,
diplomat, bishop, is "the single most important surviving author from
fifth-century Gaul" according to Eric Goldberg (see link). He was Urban
Prefect
of Rome in 470 and after his career in Imperial service, he was appointed
bishop
of Clermont in the Auvergne (now Clermont-Ferrand) afterwards until his
death.
Most of the previous holders of the benefice have been made saints in the
Roman
Catholic Church, including his recent predecessor, St Namatius (bishop
446-62),
who laid the foundations of a proper cathedral. Sidonius Apollinaris was not
a
religious man; his election was probably due more to his influential
contacts,
and his tireless efforts on preserving his corner of Gaul for the Roman
Empire.

Sidonius was a major Gallo-Roman aristocrat, whose life and friendships put
him
in the center of 5th century Roman affairs. He married Papianilla, daughter
of
Avitus who was later Roman Emperor. Sidonius was also acquainted with the
Arian
Visigothic kings who ruled during his lifetime. Some, like Theodoric II, he
was
on good terms with; others, like Euric, who was given the Auvergne in 475,
after
a siege of Clermont, had him imprisoned for his pro-Roman views.

Sidonius' writings are an invaluable source of information for events and
attitudes during his adult lifetime. There are about a hundred letters. He
wrote
several panegyrics, after the fashion of Claudian, which document several
important political events. Carmen 7 is a panegyric to his father-in-law
Avitus
on his inauguration as emperor. Carmen 5 is a panegyric to Majorian, which
offers evidence that Sidonius was able to overcome the natural suspicion and
hostility towards the man who was responsible for the death of his
father-in-law. Carmen 2 is a panegyric to the emperor Anthemius, part of
Sidonius' efforts to be appointed Urban Prefect of Rome. A letter of
Sidonius's
addressed to Riothamus, King of the Bretons (~460) is of particular
interest,
since it provides significant evidence that a King or leader with power was
existent in the historical time frame of King Arthur.

Sidonius' relations have been traced over several generations, from his
paternal
grandfather's time in the narrative of a family's fortunes from prominence
in
late Roman time into subsequent decline in the 6th century under the Franks.


Saint Quote:
Humility, to be true, must be always accompanied by charity; that is,
loving,
seeking, and accepting humiliations to please God, and to become more like
Jesus
Christ; to do otherwise, would be to practice it in the manner of the
heathen.
-St. France de Sales

Bible Quote
12 Now therefore saith the Lord: Be converted to me with all your heart, in
fasting, and in weeping, and in mourning. (Joel 2:12)


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CANTICLE OF THE THREE YOUTHS

Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord;
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord;
You heavens, bless the Lord;
All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord.
All you hosts of the Lord; bless the Lord.
Sun and moon, bless the Lord;
Stars of heaven, bless the Lord.
Every shower and dew, bless the Lord;
All you winds, bless the Lord.
Fire and heat, bless the Lord;
Cold and chill, bless the Lord.
Dew and rain, bless the Lord;
Frost and cold, bless the Lord.
Ice and snow, bless the Lord;
Nights and days, bless the Lord.
Light and darkness bless the Lord;
Lightning and clouds, bless the Lord.
Let the earth bless the Lord;
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Mountains and hills, bless the Lord
Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord.
You springs, bless the Lord;
Seas and rivers, bless the Lord.
You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord;
All you birds of the air, bless the Lord.
All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord;
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
You sons of men, bless the Lord;
O Israel, bless the Lord.
Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord;
Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord;
Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord.
Ananias, Azarias, Misael, bless the Lord;
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Let us bless the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost;
Let us praise and exalt God above all forever.
Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven;
Praiseworthy and glorious forever.



.

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