BELLUM CONTRA HÆRÉTICOS
Novena to Saint Joseph.pdf
Today begins the Novena to St. Joseph.
From Challoner's Meditations:
WEDNESDAY, THIRD WEEK IN LENT
ON OTHER LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM CHRIST IN HIS PASSION
Consider first, that in the passion of Christ his meekness is no less admirable than his humility. These two he jointly recommended in life to be learned of him, Matt. xi. 29. And these two he jointly taught in death by his great example. 'He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer he opened not his mouth.' Isai liii. 7. 'The Lord God hath opened my ear,' saith he, Isai l. 5, 6, 'and I do not resist - I have given my body to the strikers, and my cheeks to them that plucked them; I have turned not away my face from them that rebuke me, and spit upon me.' And why all this? But 'to leave us an example that we should follow his steps,' 1 Pet. ii. 21, 23. 'Who when he was reviled did not revile; when he suffered he threatened not; but delivered himself to them that judged him unjustly.' O let us learn from the consideration of the behaviour of our Lord in his sufferings to suppress all the risings of our passion and pride, and to imitate his meekness and silence; who in the midst of affronts and injuries of all kinds, 'became as a man that heareth not, and as a dumb man not opening his mouth.'
Consider 2ndly, that the devotion to the passion of Christ is the great means to teach a Christian patience under all the crosses and sufferings we are exposed to during our mortal pilgrimage. We cannot live without crosses and sufferings; and 'in our patience' under them, 'we are to possess our souls.' Luke xxi. 19. Patience both sweetens and sanctifies all our sufferings; 'patience is necessary for us, that doing the will of God, we may receive the promise.' Heb. x. 36. 'Patience hath a perfect work; that we may be perfect and entire, failing in nothing.' James i. 4. As none hath ever gone to heaven but by the way of the cross, so none can ever come thither without patience. Now, this all-necessary virtue of patience is best learned in the school of the passion of Christ by the consideration of the multitude and variety of his sufferings; and the manner in which he endures all for the love of us. How shall a sinner (who has deserved hell for his crimes) pretend to complain, or think much of any sufferings in life or death, when by a serious meditation he sets before his eyes the far greater sufferings of the innocent Lamb of God, endured with an unwearied patience, for his sins?
Consider 3rdly, what further lessons are to be learned from the contemplation of the passion of Christ. 1. Of charity for our enemies; by considering the Son of God, praying for them that crucified him, and dying for his enemies. 2. Of perfect resignation, and conformity in all things to the holy will of God; by the great example of the prayer of our Lord in his agony, 'not my will but thine be done;' and the consideration of the great sacrifice that he made of himself to his Father upon the cross, without the least reserve. 3. Of the spirit of voluntary mortification and self-denial; by seeing how the Son of God allows himself no ease or comfort in his sufferings; but both in life and death makes choice of what is most disagreeable to natural inclination. O my soul, these are necessary lessons indeed. See thou study them well at the foot of the cross, sitting under the shadow of thy beloved. O dear Jesus, do thou, by thy eternal grace, teach me effectually these virtues, by that mercy and love that nailed thee to the cross.
Conclude by loving and blessing thy God for having sent thee so excellent a master from heaven to teach thee the way thither by his sufferings and death. Let these be always before thy eyes, and thou shalt never miss thy way.
WEDNESDAY, THIRD WEEK IN LENT
ON OTHER LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM CHRIST IN HIS PASSION
Consider first, that in the passion of Christ his meekness is no less admirable than his humility. These two he jointly recommended in life to be learned of him, Matt. xi. 29. And these two he jointly taught in death by his great example. 'He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer he opened not his mouth.' Isai liii. 7. 'The Lord God hath opened my ear,' saith he, Isai l. 5, 6, 'and I do not resist - I have given my body to the strikers, and my cheeks to them that plucked them; I have turned not away my face from them that rebuke me, and spit upon me.' And why all this? But 'to leave us an example that we should follow his steps,' 1 Pet. ii. 21, 23. 'Who when he was reviled did not revile; when he suffered he threatened not; but delivered himself to them that judged him unjustly.' O let us learn from the consideration of the behaviour of our Lord in his sufferings to suppress all the risings of our passion and pride, and to imitate his meekness and silence; who in the midst of affronts and injuries of all kinds, 'became as a man that heareth not, and as a dumb man not opening his mouth.'
Consider 2ndly, that the devotion to the passion of Christ is the great means to teach a Christian patience under all the crosses and sufferings we are exposed to during our mortal pilgrimage. We cannot live without crosses and sufferings; and 'in our patience' under them, 'we are to possess our souls.' Luke xxi. 19. Patience both sweetens and sanctifies all our sufferings; 'patience is necessary for us, that doing the will of God, we may receive the promise.' Heb. x. 36. 'Patience hath a perfect work; that we may be perfect and entire, failing in nothing.' James i. 4. As none hath ever gone to heaven but by the way of the cross, so none can ever come thither without patience. Now, this all-necessary virtue of patience is best learned in the school of the passion of Christ by the consideration of the multitude and variety of his sufferings; and the manner in which he endures all for the love of us. How shall a sinner (who has deserved hell for his crimes) pretend to complain, or think much of any sufferings in life or death, when by a serious meditation he sets before his eyes the far greater sufferings of the innocent Lamb of God, endured with an unwearied patience, for his sins?
Consider 3rdly, what further lessons are to be learned from the contemplation of the passion of Christ. 1. Of charity for our enemies; by considering the Son of God, praying for them that crucified him, and dying for his enemies. 2. Of perfect resignation, and conformity in all things to the holy will of God; by the great example of the prayer of our Lord in his agony, 'not my will but thine be done;' and the consideration of the great sacrifice that he made of himself to his Father upon the cross, without the least reserve. 3. Of the spirit of voluntary mortification and self-denial; by seeing how the Son of God allows himself no ease or comfort in his sufferings; but both in life and death makes choice of what is most disagreeable to natural inclination. O my soul, these are necessary lessons indeed. See thou study them well at the foot of the cross, sitting under the shadow of thy beloved. O dear Jesus, do thou, by thy eternal grace, teach me effectually these virtues, by that mercy and love that nailed thee to the cross.
Conclude by loving and blessing thy God for having sent thee so excellent a master from heaven to teach thee the way thither by his sufferings and death. Let these be always before thy eyes, and thou shalt never miss thy way.
MARCH 10.
THE FORTY HOLY MARTYRS.
Under Licinius, forty soldiers of the Garrison of Sebaste (Armenia) were exposed on a frozen pond for refusing to sacrifice to idols. All persevered but one, whose courage failed him, and who perished in a bath of tepid water prepared for him. But their guard, inspired by grace, took his place and expired with them, so there were forty martyrs still. They suffered martyrdom in A.D. 320.
Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we who acknowledge the steadfastness of Thy glorious Martyrs in confessing Thy Name, may feel their loving intercession for us before Thee. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
THE FORTY HOLY MARTYRS.
Under Licinius, forty soldiers of the Garrison of Sebaste (Armenia) were exposed on a frozen pond for refusing to sacrifice to idols. All persevered but one, whose courage failed him, and who perished in a bath of tepid water prepared for him. But their guard, inspired by grace, took his place and expired with them, so there were forty martyrs still. They suffered martyrdom in A.D. 320.
Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we who acknowledge the steadfastness of Thy glorious Martyrs in confessing Thy Name, may feel their loving intercession for us before Thee. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
Forwarded from -
𝑩𝒐𝒘 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈
The Vikings came to believe that the Christian God is more powerful than any other god.
They saw him answer the prayers of Christians.
They witnessed miracles.
They saw how Christian kings and missionaries were able to destroy idols and defy pagan gods without suffering any bad effects.
They saw that their pagan gods were powerless before the almighty Jesus Christ.
Christ was revered and worshiped as the mighty warrior who triumphed over all powers of death, hell, and the grave. He is the risen, ascended Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords, to whom all other powers are subject.
"Yes, all kings will bow down before him; all nations will serve him." Psalm 72:11
Triumph of Christianity Over Paganism by Gustave Doré (1868)
@Christianityandfascism
The Vikings came to believe that the Christian God is more powerful than any other god.
They saw him answer the prayers of Christians.
They witnessed miracles.
They saw how Christian kings and missionaries were able to destroy idols and defy pagan gods without suffering any bad effects.
They saw that their pagan gods were powerless before the almighty Jesus Christ.
Christ was revered and worshiped as the mighty warrior who triumphed over all powers of death, hell, and the grave. He is the risen, ascended Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords, to whom all other powers are subject.
"Yes, all kings will bow down before him; all nations will serve him." Psalm 72:11
Triumph of Christianity Over Paganism by Gustave Doré (1868)
@Christianityandfascism
Forwarded from ChristianTactics (Fernando)
The Jew fears the Christian that knows how to use his hands and mind in unison
Forwarded from Integral Life +
Churches aren't buildings.
Buildings are empty. Churches are portals.
Churches go beyond the physical structure.
The shapes, space, relationships of geometry, symmetry in the music that comes from the lungs of the building, all point toward the same direction.
No.
These are entities built over centuries.
Living breathing.
No buildings.Forwarded from This Day in Jew History
418: jews in the Roman Empire
were barred from the civil service, and from all military positions by Theodosius II's Theodosian Code.
were barred from the civil service, and from all military positions by Theodosius II's Theodosian Code.
From Challoner's Meditations:
THURSDAY, THIRD WEEK IN LENT
ON THE LOVE THAT CHRIST HAS SHOWN US IN HIS PASSION
Consider first, those words of our Saviour, St. John xxii. 13, 'Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends.' And indeed history scarce furnishes any instances of a friendship so perfect, as that one friend should be willing to lay down his life for another. But, O divine Saviour of our souls, how imperfect is all human friendship compared with thine. What love between man and man could ever bear the least resemblance to that divine charity which burned in thy sacred breast, and which obliged thee to offer up thyself in sacrifice, in the midst of all kinds of ignominies, and the very worst of torments, for thy very enemies; for those very wretches that crucified thee, for us miserable sinners, who were like to make no better return for all thy love, and for all thy sufferings, than sin and ingratitude; and this to such a degree as scarce ever to think of thy sufferings, or thank thee for them; but rather by repeated treasons, to be daily treading under foot thy precious blood. O blessed by all creatures for evermore be this infinite goodness and love of our dearest Redeemer! O my dear Saviour, I beseech thee, by all this love and by all this precious blood which thou hast so lovingly shed for me, that thou wouldst never more suffer me to be thus ungrateful to thee.
Consider 2ndly, what the world would think of a prince, the only son and heir of some great monarch, who should entertain such love and friendship for one of the meanest of his slaves, as to offer himself to die a cruel and ignominious death, to rescue his slave from the just punishment of his crimes. Would not all mankind stand amazed at such an extraordinary love? And much more, if the crime for which this slave was condemned to die, were no less than a treasonable conspiracy against this prince, by whom he was so tenderly beloved. All Christian souls, this is but a faint resemblance, a very imperfect image of that inconceivable and inexpressible love, which our Saviour has shown to us, in laying down his life upon a cross, to rescue us his ungrateful creatures - rebels and traitors to him and his Father - from the eternal torments of hell, which we have a thousand times deserved by our treasons against him. For as there is an infinite distance between the sovereign majesty of God and any of his creatures, how dignified soever; so there is between that love which our God has shown in dying for us worms of the earth and slaves of hell, and that love which would oblige one mortal to die for another. O dear Jesus, never suffer me to forget this love which thou hast shown me! O give me grace to return thee love for love.
Consider 3rdly, how truly sweet our Lord has shown himself to us in his passion, and how rich in mercy. For supposing it was his pleasure to deliver us from sin and hell, he could have brought this about with the same ease with which he created all things out of nothing; only one word, one act of his would have been sufficient; or if he must needs suffer and shed his blood for our redemption, one drop alone of his sacred blood, by reason of the infinite dignity of his divine person, would have been abundantly enough to atone for all the sins of ten thousand worlds. But this infinite love for us, and the desire he had to gain our hearts, and to oblige us to love him, would not be content with this, nor with any thing less than with pouring out the last drop of his most sacred blood by suffering for us the worst of torments, and the worst of deaths. O infinite goodness, how little art thou considered h us here! O how astonishing shalt thou appear to the Saints and Angels for all eternity!
THURSDAY, THIRD WEEK IN LENT
ON THE LOVE THAT CHRIST HAS SHOWN US IN HIS PASSION
Consider first, those words of our Saviour, St. John xxii. 13, 'Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends.' And indeed history scarce furnishes any instances of a friendship so perfect, as that one friend should be willing to lay down his life for another. But, O divine Saviour of our souls, how imperfect is all human friendship compared with thine. What love between man and man could ever bear the least resemblance to that divine charity which burned in thy sacred breast, and which obliged thee to offer up thyself in sacrifice, in the midst of all kinds of ignominies, and the very worst of torments, for thy very enemies; for those very wretches that crucified thee, for us miserable sinners, who were like to make no better return for all thy love, and for all thy sufferings, than sin and ingratitude; and this to such a degree as scarce ever to think of thy sufferings, or thank thee for them; but rather by repeated treasons, to be daily treading under foot thy precious blood. O blessed by all creatures for evermore be this infinite goodness and love of our dearest Redeemer! O my dear Saviour, I beseech thee, by all this love and by all this precious blood which thou hast so lovingly shed for me, that thou wouldst never more suffer me to be thus ungrateful to thee.
Consider 2ndly, what the world would think of a prince, the only son and heir of some great monarch, who should entertain such love and friendship for one of the meanest of his slaves, as to offer himself to die a cruel and ignominious death, to rescue his slave from the just punishment of his crimes. Would not all mankind stand amazed at such an extraordinary love? And much more, if the crime for which this slave was condemned to die, were no less than a treasonable conspiracy against this prince, by whom he was so tenderly beloved. All Christian souls, this is but a faint resemblance, a very imperfect image of that inconceivable and inexpressible love, which our Saviour has shown to us, in laying down his life upon a cross, to rescue us his ungrateful creatures - rebels and traitors to him and his Father - from the eternal torments of hell, which we have a thousand times deserved by our treasons against him. For as there is an infinite distance between the sovereign majesty of God and any of his creatures, how dignified soever; so there is between that love which our God has shown in dying for us worms of the earth and slaves of hell, and that love which would oblige one mortal to die for another. O dear Jesus, never suffer me to forget this love which thou hast shown me! O give me grace to return thee love for love.
Consider 3rdly, how truly sweet our Lord has shown himself to us in his passion, and how rich in mercy. For supposing it was his pleasure to deliver us from sin and hell, he could have brought this about with the same ease with which he created all things out of nothing; only one word, one act of his would have been sufficient; or if he must needs suffer and shed his blood for our redemption, one drop alone of his sacred blood, by reason of the infinite dignity of his divine person, would have been abundantly enough to atone for all the sins of ten thousand worlds. But this infinite love for us, and the desire he had to gain our hearts, and to oblige us to love him, would not be content with this, nor with any thing less than with pouring out the last drop of his most sacred blood by suffering for us the worst of torments, and the worst of deaths. O infinite goodness, how little art thou considered h us here! O how astonishing shalt thou appear to the Saints and Angels for all eternity!
Conclude with astonishment at the ingratitude and insensibility of Christians, who make professions of believing this infinite goodness, mercy, and love, and yet are so little touched with it, or restrained by the consideration of it, from going on, daily crucifying their Lord by their sins. O divine love, let me never be so unhappy! O let me never forget thee! O come and take full possession at least of my soul and let nothing in life or death ever separate me from thee.