The prophecy
- From: "Traudel" <richarra@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:20:13 -0600
The prophecy
Prompted by the Spirit to prophecy Zechariah, the father of John, declared
that a mighty savior has been raised up for his people, and Simeon likewise
when
he received
the holy infant in his hands said: My own eyes have seen the salvation which
you
have prepared
in the sight of every people.
And so, recognizing as the hope of our race the Savior and Redeemer foretold
long before,
they will cry out in the words of the Prophet: Behold, our God, and will
proclaim that God will
give rest upon this mountain. The mountain referred to must surely be the
Church, for it is there
that rest is given. We have heard the words of Christ: Come to me, all who
are
weary and
overburdened, and I will give you rest. By faith in Christ we have laid
aside
the grievous, the
insupportable burden of sin. And we have been given rest in another way too,
for
we have been
delivered from dread of the punishment we should have had to suffer for our
sins. Nor are
these the only effects of the presence in us of the grace of Christ our
Savior.
We have in
addition the hope of blessings yet to come, the kingdom of heaven, eternal
life,
and freedom
from every cause of distress. --Cyril of Alexandria
<<>><<>><<>>
December 23rd - Saint Servulus of Rome, Invalid and Beggar
(d. 670)
Saint Servulus was a perfect model of submission to the divine Will; it
would be difficult to offer a more consoling example to persons afflicted by
poverty, illnesses and the other miseries of life. It is Saint Gregory the
Great who narrates for us his edifying story:
"We have seen under the portico of the Church of Saint Clement, a poor man
named Servulus, who is known to all the people of Rome as to Us. He was
deprived of all the goods of this world; a long illness had reduced him to a
pitiful state. From his youth he was paralyzed in all his members. Not only
could he not stand up, but he was unable to rise from his bed; he could
neither sit down nor turn himself from one side to the other, nor bring his
hand to his mouth. Nothing in him was sound except his eyes, ears, tongue,
stomach and entrails.
"This unfortunate man, who had learned the mysteries of religion, meditated
unceasingly on the sufferings of the Saviour, and never did he complain. He
was surrounded by the loving care of his mother and brother. Neither the
mother nor the children had ever studied, yet the paralytic had pious books
bought for himself, in particular the Psalms and the Holy Gospels, and he
would ask the religious who came to visit him on his cot to read from them
to him. In this way he learned these books by heart; he spent days and part
of the nights in singing or reciting them, and meditating them, and he
constantly thanked the Lord for having taken him to be a victim associated
with the pains and sufferings of Jesus Christ.
"Many alms came to the little house of the paralytic, to such an extent that
he became rich in his poverty. After having taken from these what was
necessary for his subsistence and that of his mother, he gave the rest to
the indigent, who often assembled around him to be edified by his words and
his virtues. His bed of pain was a pulpit of preaching, from which he
converted souls.
"When the time came which was decreed by God to reward his patience and put
an end to his painful life, Servulus felt the paralysis spreading to the
vital parts of his body, and he prepared for death. At the final moment, he
asked those in attendance to recite Psalms with him. Suddenly he cried out:
'Ah! Don't you hear that melody resounding in heaven?' At that moment his
soul escaped from his body, which until his burial gave forth a marvelous
fragrance."
Source: Vie des Saints pour tous les jours de l'année, by Abbé L. Jaud
(Mame: Tours, 1950).
Saint Quote:
Virtue is nothing without the trial of temptation, for there is no conflict
without an enemy, no victory without strife.
-Pope St. Leo the Great
Bible Quote
He that speaketh of himself, seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh the
glory of him that sent him, he is true, and there is no injustice in him.
(John 7:18)
<><><><>
We thank you, O Master, lover of mankind, King of the ages and giver of
all good things, for destroying the dividing wall of enmity and granting
peace to those who seek your mercy. We appeal to you to awaken the longing
for a peaceful life in all those who are filled with hatred for their
neighbors, thinking especially of those at war or preparing for war. Grant
peace to your servants. Implant in them the fear of you and confirm in them
love one for another. Extinguish every dispute and banish all temptations to
disagreement. For you are our peace and to you we ascribe glory: to the
Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever and unto ages
of ages. Amen.
Three-fold Litany:
We pray, O Lord our God, for all those who suffer from acts of war,
especially for the victims and all those in the struggle in [.............].
We pray for your peace and your mercy in the midst of the great suffering
that people are now inflicting on each other. Accept the prayers of your
Church, so that by your goodness peace may return to all peoples. Hear us
and have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.
O Lord our God, remember and have mercy on our brothers and sisters who
are involved in civil conflict. Remove from their midst all hostility,
confusion and hatred. Lead everyone along the path of reconciliation and
peace, we pray you, hear us and have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.
Let all believers turn aside from violence and do what makes for peace. By
the strength of your mighty arm save your people and your Holy Church from
all evil oppression; hear the supplications of all who call to you in sorrow
and affliction, day and night. O merciful God, let their lives not be lost,
we pray you, hear us and have mercy.
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy.
But grant, O Lord, peace, love and speedy reconciliation to your people
whom you have redeemed with you precious blood. Make your presence known to
those who have turned away from you and do not seek you, so that none of
them may be lost, but all may be saved and come to the knowledge of the
truth, so that everyone, in true love and harmony, O long-suffering Lord,
may praise your all holy Name. Amen.
.
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