SUNDAY IN THE YEAR OF FAITH

FAITH OF OUR FATHERS

THE SEVEN DEACONS OF ROME
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At that time, as the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith. - Acts 6:1-7

Photo Source: Wikipedia


St. Stephen (Proto-Martyr)
Feast Day: December 26



St. Philip the Evangelist
Feast Day: June 6

Prochorus
Feast Day: July 28 (Eastern Church)

Nicanor
Feast Day: January 10

Timon
Feast Day: July 28 (Eastern Church)

Parmenas
Feast Day: January 23

Nicholas
Feast Day: July 28 (Eastern Church)

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

SUNDAY IN THE YEAR OF FAITH

ST. PAUL

Photo:R.Massaro(c)2013SpiritSinging

TIMELINE OF ST. PAUL 

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

SUNDAY IN THE YEAR OF FAITH

WHERE THE TWELVE APOSTLES DIED

(click on photo)

Photo:R.Massaro(c)2013SpiritSinging

St. Michael Byzantine Church Akron, Ohio (closed)

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

FAITH OF OUR FATHERS

Sunday in the Year of Faith


ST. CYPRIAN (200-253)
Feast Day: September 16

Photo:R.Massaro(c)2013SpritSinging

The Martyrdom of Cyprian:

In August, 258, Cyprian learned that Pope Sixtus had been put to death in the catacombs on the 6th of that month, together with four of his deacons, in consequence of a new edict that bishops, priests, and deacons should be at once put to death; senators, knights, and others of rank are to lose their goods, and if they still persist, to die; matrons to be exiled; Caesarians (officers of the fiscus) to become slaves. Galerius Maximus, the successor of Paternus, sent for Cyprian back to Carthage, and in his own gardens the bishop awaited the final sentence. Many great personages urged him to flee, but he had now no vision to recommend this course, and he desired above all to remain to exhort others. Yet he hid himself rather than obey the proconsul's summons to Utica, for he declared it was right for a bishop to die in his own city. On the return of Galerius to Carthage, Cyprian was brought from his gardens by two principes in a chariot, but the proconsul was ill, and Cyprian passed the night in the house of the first princeps in the company of his friends. Of the rest we have a vague description by Pontius and a detailed report in the proconsular Acts. On the morning of the 14th a crowd gathered "at the villa of Sextus", by order of the authorities. Cyprian was tried there. He refused to sacrifice, and added that in such a matter there was no room for thought of the consequences to himself. The proconsul read his condemnation and the multitude cried, "Let us be beheaded with him!" He was taken into the grounds, to a hollow surrounded by trees, into which many of the people climbed. Cyprian took off his cloak, and knelt down and prayed. Then he took off his dalmatic and gave it to his deacons, and stood in his linen tunic in silence awaiting the executioner, to whom he ordered twenty-five gold pieces to be given. The brethren cast cloths and handkerchiefs before him to catch his blood. He bandaged his own eyes with the help of a priest and a deacon, both called Julius. So he suffered. For the rest of the day his body was exposed to satisfy the curiosity of the pagans. But at night the brethren bore him with candles and torches, with prayer and great triumph, to the cemetery of Macrobius Candidianus in the suburb of Mapalia. He was the first Bishop of Carthage to obtain the crown of martyrdom.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ST. CYPRIAN

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

FAITH OF OUR FATHERS

Sunday in the Year of Faith

ST. IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH (50-107)

St. Ignatius was the third bishop or patriarch of Antioch and a student of the Apostle John. Ignatius was arrested and led to Rome to be martyred, on the way, he wrote a series of letters that have been preserved. He was the first writer to use the term Catholic Church.

From a letter to the Romans from St. Ignatius of Antioch



I am writing to all the churches to let it be known that I will gladly die for God if only you do not stand in my way. I plead with you: show me no untimely kindness. Let me be food for the wild beasts, for they are my way to God. I am God’s wheat and bread. Pray to Christ for me that the animals will be the means of making me a sacrificial victim for God. No earthly pleasures, no kingdoms of this world can benefit me in any way. I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth. He who died in place of us is the one object of my quest. He who rose for our sakes is my one desire. The prince of this world is determined to lay hold of me and to undermine my will which is intent on God. Let none of you here help him; instead show yourselves on my side, which is also God’s side. Believe instead what I am now writing to you. For though I am alive as I write to you, still my real desire is to die. My love of this life has been crucified, and there is no yearning in my for any earthly thing. Rather within me is the living water which says deep inside me: “Come to the Father.” I no longer take pleasure in perishable food or in the delights of this world I want only God‘s bread, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, formed from the seed of David, and for drink I crave his blood, which is love that cannot perish. Pray for me that I may obtain my desire. I have not written to you as a mere man would, but as one who knows the mind of God. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT ST. IGNATIUS

THE LETTERS OF ST. IGNATIUS

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Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

FAITH OF OUR FATHERS

Sunday in the Year of Faith

ST. IRENAEUS-BISHOP OF LYONS (130-202)
(Disciple of St. Polycarp)

Photo: R. Massaro(c)2013SpiritSinging

Knowing, my beloved Marcianus, your desire to walk in godliness, which alone leads man to life eternal, I rejoice with you and make my prayer that you may preserve your faith entire and so be pleasing to God who made you. Would that it were possible for us to be always together, to help each other and to lighten the labor of our earthly life by continual discourse together on the things that profit. But, since at this present time we are parted from one another in the body, yet according to our power we will not fail to speak with you a little by writing, and to show forth in brief the preaching of the truth for the confirmation of your faith. We send you as it were a manual of essentials, that by little you may attain to much, learning in short space all the members of the body of the truth, and receiving in brief the demonstration of the things of God. So shall it be fruitful to your own salvation, and you shall put to shame all who inculcate falsehood, and bring with all confidence our sound and pure teaching to everyone who desires to understand it. For one is the way leading upwards for all who see, lightened with heavenly light: but many and dark and contrary are the ways of them that see not. This way leads to the kingdom of heaven, uniting man to God: but those ways bring down to death, separating man from God. Wherefore it is needful for you and for all who care for their own salvation to make your course unswerving, firm and sure by means of faith, that you falter not, nor be retarded and detained in material desires, nor turn aside and wander from the right. Read more

FACTS ABOUT ST. IRENAEUS

Learn more about St. Irenaeus

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, ocds

Faith of our Fathers

Sunday in the Year of Faith

ST. AMBROSE-(337 AD-397 AD)

Aurelius Ambrosius, better known in English as Saint Ambrose, was an archbishop of Milan who became 
one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the 4th century. He was one of the four original doctors 
of the Church.

St. Ambrose writes in praise of gentleness, pointing out how needful that grace is for the rulers of the Church, and commended to them by the meekness of Christ. As the Novatians have fallen away from this, they cannot be considered disciples of Christ. Their pride and harshness are inveighed against.

1. If the highest end of virtue is that which aims at the advancement of most, gentleness is the most lovely of all, which does not hurt even those whom it condemns, and usually renders those whom it condemns worthy of absolution. Moreover, it is the only virtue which has led to the increase of theChurch which the Lord sought at the price of His own Blood, imitating the lovingkindness of heaven, and aiming at the redemption of all, seeks this end with a gentleness which the ears of men can endure, in presence of which their hearts do not sink, nor their spirits quail.

2. For he who endeavours to amend the faults of human weakness ought to bear this very weakness on his own shoulders, let it weigh upon himself, not cast it off. For we read that the Shepherd in theGospel Luke 15:5 carried the weary sheep, and did not cast it off. And Solomon says: Be not overmuch righteous; Ecclesiastes 7:17 for restraint should temper righteousness. For how shall he offer himself to you for healing whom you despise, who thinks that he will be an object of contempt, not of compassion, to his physician?

(Source New Advent-Continue reading...)

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF LOURDES

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

Sunday in the Year of Faith

St. Maravillas of Jesus

Discalced Carmelite Nun

Feast Day: December 11

We only have to live by faith and then everything becomes easy.  Who could see Him acting so kindly towards us, so full of love, so attentive to our needs, and then not live for Him alone and love Him madly?

What does it matter if someone does not feel faith, provided they are living every moment by it?

Always live a life full of faith and trust, letting the Lord steer your boat and even sleep in it if He wants.



Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds