PLEASE PRAY FOR THE FOLLOWING INTENTIONS
WHAT’S HAPPENING
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Lietuvi
AT ST. CASIMIR PARISH?|
SAINT FOR AUGUST ST. EUSEBIUS OF VERCELLI
Bishop
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I
beg you to keep the faith with all vigilance, to preserve harmony, to be earnest
in prayer, to remember me always, so that the Lord may grant freedom to his
Church which is suffering throughout the world, and that I may be set free from
the sufferings that weigh upon me, and so be able to rejoice with you.
Born on the isle of Sardinia, Eusebius became a member of the Roman clergy and in 345 was named the first recorded bishop of Vercelli (a small mountain city in northern Italy). He is also the first to join the monastic life with that of the clergy, establishing a community of his diocesan clergy on the principle that the best way to sanctify his people was to have them see a clergy formed in solid virtue and living in community. Eusebius was happy in his position in his diocese. However, as noted in the above quotation by Eusebius, life did not proceed smoothly for him. Early in the fourth century, a popular heretic named Arius spread the false teaching that Jesus was not really divine. He taught that Jesus was a good man, but only a man. In 325 the bishops gathered for a meeting in Nicea and condemned Arius and his teaching. At this council they composed the Nicene Creed, which listed the basic beliefs of the Catholic faith. Thirty years after the Council of Nicea Pope Liberius sent Eusebius to encourage the emperor to call another council because the Arians were still causing trouble. This council was held in Milan. Eusebius was persecuted and harassed because of his orthodox stand and writings. He traveled trying to make peace and effect compromise between feuding factions. His insistence that the emperor keep out of the theological dispute led to his exile, which continued until a new emperor allowed him to return to Vercelli. Eusebius died peacefully in his own diocese at an advanced age. Sources: IN HIS LIKENESS by Rev. Charles E. Yost, SCJ, STL, SAINTS AND FEAST DAYS, Loyola University Press, and SAINT OF THE DAY, Leonard Foley, O.F.M., editor |
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THOUGHTS FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH |
Mary
#973 By pronouncing her “fiat” at the Annunciation and giving her consent to the Incarnation, Mary was already collaborating with the whole work her Son was to accomplish. She is mother wherever he is Savior and head of the Mystical Body.
#974 The Most Blessed Virgin Mary, when the course of her earthly life was completed, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven, where she already shares in the glory of her Son’s Resurrection, anticipating the resurrection of all members of his Body.
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REFLECTION |
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SPIRITUAL READING
In the presence of God, during a recollected reading of the text, it is good to ask, for example: “Lord, what does this text say to me? What is it about my life that you want to change by this text? What troubles me about this text? Why am I not interested in this? Or perhaps: What do I find pleasant in this text? What is it about this word that moves me? What attracts me? Why does it attract me? When we make an effort to listen to the Lord, temptations usually arise. One of them is simply to feel troubled or burdened, and to turn away Another common temptation is to think about what the text means for other people, and so avoid applying it to our own life. It can also happen that we look for excuses to water down the clear meaning of the text. Or we can wonder if God is demanding too much of us, asking for a decision which we are not yet prepared to make. This leads many people to stop taking pleasure in the encounter with God’s word; but this would mean forgetting that no one is more patient than God our Father, that no one is more understanding and willing to wait. He always invites us to take a step forward, but does not demand a full response if we are not yet ready. He simply asks that we sincerely look at our life and present ourselves honestly before him and that we be willing to continue to grow, asking from him what we ourselves cannot as yet achieve.
(Source: The Joy of the Gospel, EVANGELII GAUDIUM, number 153, Pope Francis