Monday, 28 July 2014
Love, Mercy, Justice
Because of the misunderstanding of justice, many Catholics cannot understand either mercy or love.
We all deserves just sentences for sin. None of us deserve mercy. That is the whole point about mercy. It is freely given. It is completely based on overlooking sin, not on denying sin.
A person who has received the mercy of God does so because of the salvific work of Christ on the Cross, not because of merit or good works.
Mercy is gratuitous. Justice is righteousness.
God is so pure, so good, so innocent, so holy that sin is a great injustice against Him. When He is merciful, it is simply because He loves us.
So, why cannot some people forgive?
We are forgiven.
We all deserves just sentences for sin. None of us deserve mercy. That is the whole point about mercy. It is freely given. It is completely based on overlooking sin, not on denying sin.
A person who has received the mercy of God does so because of the salvific work of Christ on the Cross, not because of merit or good works.
Mercy is gratuitous. Justice is righteousness.
God is so pure, so good, so innocent, so holy that sin is a great injustice against Him. When He is merciful, it is simply because He loves us.
So, why cannot some people forgive?
We are forgiven.
Teaching People to Read
Notice, words like "all", "none", "never" etc. usually lead to logical fallacies. The problem with so many liberals, is that they have not learned how to read.
I use words like "some", "many", "few"--meaning such.
One of the tragedies of American and British education is that the schools stopped requiring logic, debate, argumentation, Aristotelian modes of writing, and objective criteria for literature or writing.
I do not think we shall ever see a rational public again in the United States.
American and European History, as courses, began to be dropped from requirements in high school as earlier as 1980. It shows.
I would tell some of my commentators, learn to read, please, without knee-jerk reactions and without agendas.
I use words like "some", "many", "few"--meaning such.
One of the tragedies of American and British education is that the schools stopped requiring logic, debate, argumentation, Aristotelian modes of writing, and objective criteria for literature or writing.
I do not think we shall ever see a rational public again in the United States.
American and European History, as courses, began to be dropped from requirements in high school as earlier as 1980. It shows.
I would tell some of my commentators, learn to read, please, without knee-jerk reactions and without agendas.
My computer died
I have suspected for months the mother board was crumbling...now I know. Can anyone help me with a new one? Poor thing--it has been to Ireland, Malta, England, Iowa, Illinois, New York, Michigan....I guess it just got tired.
Help would be very appreciated, as I am borrowing one temporarily.
Sigh...there are many kinds of spiritual warfare...
Help would be very appreciated, as I am borrowing one temporarily.
Sigh...there are many kinds of spiritual warfare...
Why I cannot get a job in my own diocese....
An Invitation to Attend the
Award Presentation by Bishop Martin Amos
Sunday, September 21, 2014
3:00 P.M.
St. Ambrose University
Christ the King Chapel
518 W. Locust Street, Davenport, Iowa
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Sister Simone Campbell, SSS
Executive Director of NETWORK
Sister Simone Campbell, Executive Director of NETWORK, a nonprofit
Catholic social justice lobby based in Washington, D.C., organized the
“Nuns on the Bus” campaign in 2012 that riveted the nation’s
attention.
A member of the Sisters of Social Services, an international Roman
Catholic religious community rooted in the Benedictine tradition, she
has devoted her ministry to advocate for social and economic justice.
She is a driving force for programs and policies that support faith,
families and fairness.
Following the first “Nuns on the Bus“ tour of nine states, Sister Simone
followed up a year later with a tour dedicated to bringing about
immigration reform.
See here for the rest of the scandals...Remember my post from June, 2013? A few good ones only...
For a review, just look at the tags on Marxism in the Catholic Church and the tags Gramsci or Marxism or Marxists.
The Davenport Diocese for years has given what is called the Pacem in Terris Award sometimes with other groups.
Here is the list for your perusal again. I had it on the blog last year. Notice how many of these people are Marxists. This list is from the diocesan website. By clicking on the names, one reads a small blurb on the person. As one can see, the infiltration of Marxism in the Church is as old as some of my readers....
Award Presentation by Bishop Martin Amos
Sunday, September 21, 2014
3:00 P.M.
St. Ambrose University
Christ the King Chapel
518 W. Locust Street, Davenport, Iowa
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Sister Simone Campbell, SSS
Executive Director of NETWORK
Sister Simone Campbell, Executive Director of NETWORK, a nonprofit
Catholic social justice lobby based in Washington, D.C., organized the
“Nuns on the Bus” campaign in 2012 that riveted the nation’s
attention.
A member of the Sisters of Social Services, an international Roman
Catholic religious community rooted in the Benedictine tradition, she
has devoted her ministry to advocate for social and economic justice.
She is a driving force for programs and policies that support faith,
families and fairness.
Following the first “Nuns on the Bus“ tour of nine states, Sister Simone
followed up a year later with a tour dedicated to bringing about
immigration reform.
See here for the rest of the scandals...Remember my post from June, 2013? A few good ones only...
For a review, just look at the tags on Marxism in the Catholic Church and the tags Gramsci or Marxism or Marxists.
The Davenport Diocese for years has given what is called the Pacem in Terris Award sometimes with other groups.
Here is the list for your perusal again. I had it on the blog last year. Notice how many of these people are Marxists. This list is from the diocesan website. By clicking on the names, one reads a small blurb on the person. As one can see, the infiltration of Marxism in the Church is as old as some of my readers....
All Catholics Must Read This
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2014/07/uk-jihadist-we-are-in-iraq-sham-but-our-eyes-are-upon-rome
Men of the West, where are you?
Read this as well: “Hamas and North Korea in secret arms deal,” by Con Coughlin, the Telegraph, July 26, 2014
The reason there is confusion regarding Israel and Palestine is that people do not know history. They do not know the original accords or treaties, they do not know Christianity.This is what happens when we have weak Western leadership, men and women who do not follow Christ and do not understand spiritual warfare.
Those Catholics who have not voted for Christian or Catholic leaders will only have themselves to blame when chaos comes, and it will.
There is no safe middle ground. Either one is for Christ and His Church or against Christ and His Church.
Who are the anti-Catholics?
Men of the West, where are you?
Read this as well: “Hamas and North Korea in secret arms deal,” by Con Coughlin, the Telegraph, July 26, 2014
The reason there is confusion regarding Israel and Palestine is that people do not know history. They do not know the original accords or treaties, they do not know Christianity.This is what happens when we have weak Western leadership, men and women who do not follow Christ and do not understand spiritual warfare.
Those Catholics who have not voted for Christian or Catholic leaders will only have themselves to blame when chaos comes, and it will.
There is no safe middle ground. Either one is for Christ and His Church or against Christ and His Church.
Who are the anti-Catholics?
The Civilization of Love
Now, his answer to suffering of this sort is my answer to the question a reader asked me as to how those who are disabled are to see their suffering. Gpd gives us the disabled to love. The boldface type is my addition.
Here is what then Pope Benedict XVI said in Madrid:
VISIT TO THE SAN JOSÉ FOUNDATION
GREETING OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
Madrid
Saturday, 20 August 2011
Saturday, 20 August 2011
[Video]
Your Eminence,
Dear Brother Bishops,
Dear Priests and Religious of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God,
Distinguished Authorities,
Dear Young People, Family Members and Volunteers,
Dear Brother Bishops,
Dear Priests and Religious of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God,
Distinguished Authorities,
Dear Young People, Family Members and Volunteers,
I thank you most sincerely for your kind greeting and heartfelt welcome.
This evening, just before the Prayer Vigil with the young people from
throughout the world gathered in Madrid for
this World Youth Day, we have this
chance to spend time together as a way of showing the Pope’s closeness and
esteem for each of you, for your families and for all those who help and care
for you in this Foundation of Saint Joseph’s Institute.
Youth, as I have said more than once, is the age when life discloses
itself to us with all its rich possibilities, inspiring us to seek the lofty
goals which give it meaning. So when suffering appears on the horizon of a
young life, we are shaken; perhaps we ask ourselves: “Can life still be
something grand, even when suffering unexpectedly enters it?” In my Encyclical
on Christian Hope, I observed that “the true measure of humanity is essentially
determined in relationship to suffering and to the sufferer … A society unable
to accept its suffering members and incapable of helping to share their
suffering and to bear it inwardly through ‘com-passion’ is a cruel and inhuman
society” (Spe Salvi, 38). These words reflect a long tradition of
humanity which arises from Christ’s own self-offering on the Cross for us and
for our redemption. Jesus and, in his footsteps, his Sorrowful Mother and the
saints, are witnesses who shows us how to experience the tragedy of suffering
for our own good and for the salvation of the world.
These witnesses speak to us, first and foremost, of the dignity of all
human life, created in the image of God. No suffering can efface this divine
image imprinted in the depths of our humanity. But there is more: because the
Son of God wanted freely to embrace suffering and death, we are also capable of
seeing God’s image in the face of those who suffer. This preferential love of
the Lord for the suffering helps us to see others more clearly and to give them,
above and beyond their material demands, the look of love which they need. But
this can only happen as the fruit of a personal encounter with Christ. You
yourselves – as religious, family members, health care professionals and
volunteers who daily live and work with these young people – know this well.
Your lives and your committed service proclaim the greatness to which every
human being is called: to show compassion and loving concern to the suffering,
just as God himself did. In your noble work we hear an echo of the words found
in the Gospel: “just as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you
did it to me” (Mt 25:40).
At the same time, you are also witnesses of the immense goodness which
the lives of these young people represent for those who love them, and for
humanity as a whole. In a mysterious yet real way, their presence awakens in
our often hardened hearts a tenderness which opens us to salvation. The lives
of these young people surely touch human hearts and for that reason we are
grateful to the Lord for having known them.
Dear friends, our society, which all too often questions the inestimable
value of life, of every life, needs you: in a decisive way you help to build the
civilization of love. What is more, you play a leading role in that
civilization. As sons and daughters of the Church, you offer the Lord your
lives, with all their ups and downs, cooperating with him and somehow becoming
“part of the treasury of compassion so greatly needed by the human race” (Spe
Salvi, 40).
With great affection, and through the intercession of Saint Joseph, Saint
John of God and Saint Benito Menni, I commend you to God our Lord: may he be
your strength and your reward. As a pledge of his love, I cordially impart to
you, and to your families and friends, my Apostolic Blessing. Thank you very much.
© Copyright 2011 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana
All The Canonized Saints Died, Well Almost
One of the biggest problems with people in the West is the ignoring of the inevitability of death. When I grew up, children were taken to funeral parlors, to wakes, to funerals. In my mother's childhood days, wakes took place in the home. She remembers her grandfather laid out in his home and people coming to pay their respects.
Fear was not an issue. Now, especially Americans, do not want to think about death at all. The television is full of really intrusive advertisements on every type of medication, some with long testimonies from people who had cancer and so on. This preoccupation with medicine and treatments masks a fear of death.
Death is not to be feared, but our particular judgment is. That is a difference worth considering. Everyone has died, except for Moses and Elijah. Perhaps Enoch did not die either. But, even Adam and Eve died, as did Our Lady, although she did not "see corruption" as she was too pure, the new, real Eve.
Joseph died, David died, Padre Pio died, John Paul II died. Someday, the wonderful and loved Pope Emeritus will die. Someday, I shall die.
These are facts. The fact of death is fearful only is one is not prepared. Yes, satan does tempt people at death, even saints, but praying for a happy, holy death is something we should do daily.
This prayer is part of the Hail Mary.
I am concerned about people who fear death. If one does not face death, one will pretend one is immortal. So many young people think they are immortal. This idea is dangerous.
It is time for priests to begin to preach about death and the four last things again. We all need to hear and be reminded of death.
For those who are holy and die in holiness, death is the beginning of eternal life.
Fear was not an issue. Now, especially Americans, do not want to think about death at all. The television is full of really intrusive advertisements on every type of medication, some with long testimonies from people who had cancer and so on. This preoccupation with medicine and treatments masks a fear of death.
Death is not to be feared, but our particular judgment is. That is a difference worth considering. Everyone has died, except for Moses and Elijah. Perhaps Enoch did not die either. But, even Adam and Eve died, as did Our Lady, although she did not "see corruption" as she was too pure, the new, real Eve.
Joseph died, David died, Padre Pio died, John Paul II died. Someday, the wonderful and loved Pope Emeritus will die. Someday, I shall die.
These are facts. The fact of death is fearful only is one is not prepared. Yes, satan does tempt people at death, even saints, but praying for a happy, holy death is something we should do daily.
This prayer is part of the Hail Mary.
I am concerned about people who fear death. If one does not face death, one will pretend one is immortal. So many young people think they are immortal. This idea is dangerous.
It is time for priests to begin to preach about death and the four last things again. We all need to hear and be reminded of death.
For those who are holy and die in holiness, death is the beginning of eternal life.
We Do Not Have Much Time
God led Paul into troubles. But, he was ready. Some theologians state that after his conversion, he was in the desert for ten years. If so, that was his time of purification.
The power of his life came from his pure state, his union with Christ, his life of the virtues.
We need to make time for purification and not waste time.
Too often, and I did this for years and years, we put off walking on the road to perfection. I wasted so much time on trivial things and on worrying. Stop!
We have been given a short time to be made ready for the persecution to come. Look at St. Paul's epistles. These are full of exhortations on being made perfect because of the times of persecution. There is always an urgency in the writings of St. Paul.
A few references:
2 Timothy 3 Douay-Rheims
3 Know also this, that, in the last days, shall come dangerous times.
2 Men shall be lovers of themselves, covetous, haughty, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, wicked,
3 Without affection, without peace, slanderers, incontinent, unmerciful, without kindness,
4 Traitors, stubborn, puffed up, and lovers of pleasures more than of God:
5 Having an appearance indeed of godliness, but denying the power thereof. Now these avoid.
6 For
of these sort are they who creep into houses, and lead captive silly
women laden with sins, who are led away with divers desires:
7 Ever learning, and never attaining to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Mambres resisted Moses, so these also resist the truth, men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith.
9 But they shall proceed no farther; for their folly shall be manifest to all men, as theirs also was.
10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience,
11 Persecutions,
afflictions: such as came upon me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at
Lystra: what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord
delivered me.
12 And all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers shall grow worse and worse: erring, and driving into error.
14 But
continue thou in those things which thou hast learned, and which have
been committed to thee: knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And
because from thy infancy thou hast known the holy scriptures, which can
instruct thee to salvation, by the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture, inspired of God, is profitable to teach, to reprove, to correct, to instruct in justice,
17 That the man of God may be perfect, furnished to every good work.
and from Romans 1 DR:
17 For the justice of God is revealed therein, from faith unto faith, as it is written: The just man liveth by faith.
18 For
the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
injustice of those men that detain the truth of God in injustice:
19 Because that which is known of God is manifest in them. For God hath manifested it unto them.
20 For
the invisible things of him, from the creation of the world, are
clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made; his eternal
power also, and divinity: so that they are inexcusable.
21 Because
that, when they knew God, they have not glorified him as God, or given
thanks; but became vain in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was
darkened.
22 For professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.
23 And
they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of
the image of a corruptible man, and of birds, and of fourfooted beasts,
and of creeping things.
24 Wherefore God gave them up to the desires of their heart, unto uncleanness, to dishonour their own bodies among themselves.
25 Who
changed the truth of God into a lie; and worshipped and served the
creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For
this cause God delivered them up to shameful affections. For their
women have changed the natural use into that use which is against
nature.
27 And,
in like manner, the men also, leaving the natural use of the women,
have burned in their lusts one towards another, men with men working
that which is filthy, and receiving in themselves the recompense which
was due to their error.
28 And
as they liked not to have God in their knowledge, God delivered them up
to a reprobate sense, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being
filled with all iniquity, malice, fornication, avarice, wickedness,
full of envy, murder, contention, deceit, malignity, whisperers,
30 Detractors, hateful to God, contumelious, proud, haughty, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Foolish, dissolute, without affection, without fidelity, without mercy.
32 Who,
having known the justice of God, did not understand that they who do
such things, are worthy of death; and not only they that do them, but
they also that consent to them that do them.
Partial Answer to Another Reader
Here is some insights I have learned over the years, especially from good priests.
First, the reader's questions: I would like to hear more about the mechanics of prayer intentions. Should I write them down in a notebook? Should I make an explicit list? How do I choose an intention for Mass? How do I choose an intention for the Rosary? How often should I explicitly pray for certain intentions, and in what form? This INTJ wants... well, a system. ;-)
First of all, let me start with serious intentions. For example, I know a family which has Masonry in the past for several generations. This type of bondage is serious and takes much prayer. She was told by priests to have Masses said, especially TLMs. And, she has made the Thirty Day Mass Novena for this intention. However, she must prayer for years against these negative influences, and she must, as she does, do mortifications, penances.
Second, TLMs are more powerful for intentions than the NO. See my post link to Fr. Chad Ripperger on this.
Third, going from serious to less serious, read my posts on "code breakers". Some people are called to great intercessory prayer in their families to break negative codes. This type of prayer may continue throughout one's entire life. Masses, rosaries, novenas and so on are helpful.
Fourth, I pray the same thing on the Rosary daily. For example, I pray for all the fallen away Catholics in my family, I pray for fallen away friends, I pray for specific seminarians, I pray for the Third Order to which I belong and for two people to find their vocations. I also pray every fifth decade for the souls in purgatory, or one special one.
For example, I am praying for those people in purgatory on the fifth decade now in the area where I am currently staying. I pray specifically for those in the ........Catholic Cemetery who may still be in purgatory.
If someone asks me to say a decade for them, that is extra, or if I offer a decade, that could be extra.
Fifth, BE SPECIFIC in all intentions. Again, I have just finished several months of novenas for a specific intention.
Sixth, yes, write things down. If I am praying for someone's healing, for example, I write that down in a list in a little book I use. (I need a new one if someone wants to buy me a new moleskin).
Lists are good. I also make lists for my own intentions.
Seven, one should pray daily for a happy death. One must love one's self enough to pray for final perseverance. Recently, I asked a priest to say a TLM for me for this intention. Why not? My salvation is not assured until I die.
I have more time than most to pray as my day is writing and praying. I believe I am called to this. Sometimes, I have prayed for hours for one person who is in great need.
Eight, one should pray for the removal of one's predominant faults, daily. This can be a small prayer.
Nine, you have children. Pray for them and over them daily. I use to bless my son and pray over him frequently. I wish I had done it more often. Pray for your children and also dedicate them to Mary. Have them do the Consecration of Mary via St. Louis de Montfort with you. I did this with my son when he was ten.
Ten, ask others to join you in prayer for hard things. For example, I have several friends praying for another friend of mine who is experiencing great difficulties in her life. Again, be specific.
Eleven, some people take intercessions to Adoration. I use to do that. Now, I just sit and look at Jesus. I have learned to do what Blessed Mother Teresa said to do-just look at Him and let Him look at you. But, if you want to bring hard situations to Adoration, I know many people who do this, especially if they go more than once a week.
I have not exhausted this subject, but I hope this helps. By the way, point Twelve is this.
Twelve, THANK GOD for answering your prayers, even if you cannot always see the answers. And, remember, the fact that you are praying for someone is a sign of God wanting you to do that-yes, there is both Providence and Predestination in our continual prayers.
One more point. I am beginning to realize just how powerful Mary is--Pray to her under the name of Virgo Potens, and pray to your patron saints. I have a list of chosen patrons to whom I pray for various things or people.
I guess that is number Thirteen!
The Mass is, of course, the most perfect form of prayer.
Suffering Again
To continue with the answer to the reader, I want to add that if we are invited by Christ to suffer with him, this means voluntary mortifications, prayers, fastings and so on.
Now, God can give physical pain and mental pain to us and if we do not complain, if we joyfully accept these pains as redemptive, we are joining in His invitation to suffering.
But, to know what is a consequence of sin is not that difficult. If I am running down a hill in high hells and break several toes, those injuries are a direct result of a lack of prudence and carelessness about my body. Vainglory may even be part of this accident.
Likewise, is someone has a fender-bender because they are on a cell phone, that accident is a consequence of the sin of irresponsibility and so on.
However, some physical and mental pain is given by God for our purification, for the removal of the predominant fault. Too often I hear people say, "Oh, she is a suffering soul, or a victim soul" when in reality, the person is suffering her own pain of purification.
The purified person who freely accepts extra pain, such as the great saints and mystics who received the stigmata, have been joined to Christ in His suffering. They are true suffering servants, or even victim souls.
Few are so pure as to suffer with Christ like that.
Those martyrs who suffer in the name of Christ and His Church share voluntarily in the Passion. Again, this is redemptive suffering. Therese, the Little Flower, suffered terribly in her last two years of life in pain, both physical and spiritual pain. She was joined to the Cross.
If we fight suffering and complain, if we do not accept it graciously, we are NOT joined with Christ and we merit nothing.
Divine Providence determines our suffering.
I hope this is helpful to the reader who asked.
Now, God can give physical pain and mental pain to us and if we do not complain, if we joyfully accept these pains as redemptive, we are joining in His invitation to suffering.
But, to know what is a consequence of sin is not that difficult. If I am running down a hill in high hells and break several toes, those injuries are a direct result of a lack of prudence and carelessness about my body. Vainglory may even be part of this accident.
Likewise, is someone has a fender-bender because they are on a cell phone, that accident is a consequence of the sin of irresponsibility and so on.
However, some physical and mental pain is given by God for our purification, for the removal of the predominant fault. Too often I hear people say, "Oh, she is a suffering soul, or a victim soul" when in reality, the person is suffering her own pain of purification.
The purified person who freely accepts extra pain, such as the great saints and mystics who received the stigmata, have been joined to Christ in His suffering. They are true suffering servants, or even victim souls.
Few are so pure as to suffer with Christ like that.
Those martyrs who suffer in the name of Christ and His Church share voluntarily in the Passion. Again, this is redemptive suffering. Therese, the Little Flower, suffered terribly in her last two years of life in pain, both physical and spiritual pain. She was joined to the Cross.
If we fight suffering and complain, if we do not accept it graciously, we are NOT joined with Christ and we merit nothing.
Divine Providence determines our suffering.
I hope this is helpful to the reader who asked.
On Suffering, Continued
A reader asked me about suffering in response to another posting. I want to clarify the types of suffering.
First of all, there is the obvious suffering which is a result of our own sins and failings. Natural and supernatural consequences which are types of suffering follow from sin. For example, a man commits adultery, which may lead to him leaving his family. The wife experiences the suffering of being abandoned, and so on.
The man may repent and come back to his wife, but the forgiveness on her part must be accompanied by a rebuilding of the trust which was destroyed. So, the two suffer from consequences of sin.
Now, we all have experienced this type of suffering. In Salvifici Doloris, St. John Paul II writes this:
The point of reference in this case is the doctrine expressed in other Old
Testament writings which show us suffering as punishment inflicted by God for
human sins. The God of Revelation is the Lawgiver and Judge to a degree
that no temporal authority can see. For the God of Revelation is first of all
the Creator, from whom comes, together with existence, the essential good of
creation. Therefore, the conscious and free violation of this good by man is not
only a transgression of the law but at the same time an offence against the
Creator, who is the first Lawgiver. Such a transgression has the character of
sin, according to the exact meaning of this word, namely the biblical and
theological one. Corresponding to the moral evil of sin is punishment, which
guarantees the moral order in the same transcendent sense in which this order is
laid down by the will of the Creator and Supreme Lawgiver. From this there also
derives one of the fundamental truths of religious faith, equally based upon
Revelation, namely that God is a just judge, who rewards good and punishes evil:
"For thou art just in all that thou hast done to us, and all thy
works are true and thy ways right, and all thy judgments are truth. Thou hast
executed true judgments in all that thou hast brought upon us... for in truth
and justice thou hast brought all this upon us because of our sins"(23)
However, there is also redemptive suffering, which can only be experienced after purification. In other words, Christ asks us to complete His Own redemptive suffering on the Cross. This type of suffering is for those who are suffering for the sake of Christ and not for their own sake.
The martyrs are the obvious ones.
Again, here is St. John Paul:
- In bringing about the Redemption through suffering, Christ
raised human suffering to the level of the Redemption. Thus each man, in
his sufferings, can also become a sharer in the redemptive suffering of
Christ.
- Here is a longer passage.
With these and similar words the witnesses of the New Covenant speak of the greatness of the Redemption, accomplished through the suffering of Christ. The Redeemer suffered in place of man and for man. Every man has his own share in the Redemption. Each one is also called to share in that suffering through which the Redemption was accomplished. He is called to share in that suffering through which all human suffering has also been redeemed. In bringing about the Redemption through suffering, Christ has also raised human suffering to the level of the Redemption. Thus each man, in his suffering, can also become a sharer in the redemptive suffering of Christ.
20. The texts of the New Testament express this concept in many places. In the Second Letter to the Corinthians the Apostle writes: "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh .... knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus"(58).
Saint Paul speaks of various sufferings and, in particular, of those in which the first Christians became sharers "for the sake of Christ ". These sufferings enable the recipients of that Letter to share in the work of the Redemption, accomplished through the suffering and death of the Redeemer. The eloquence of the Cross and death is, however, completed by the eloquence of the Resurrection. Man finds in the Resurrection a completely new light, which helps him to go forward through the thick darkness of humiliations, doubts, hopelessness and persecution. Therefore the Apostle will also write in the Second Letter to the Corinthians: "For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too"(59). Elsewhere he addresses to his recipients words of encouragement: "May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ"(60). And in the Letter to the Romans he writes: "I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship"(61).
I highly recommend this document for the beginning of the understanding of suffering. Also, St. Thomas Aquinas is excellent on suffering, but that is for another posting.
2 Corinthians 1 Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
1 Paul,
an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother:
to the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints that are
in all Achaia:
2 Grace unto you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.
4 Who
comforteth us in all our tribulation; that we also may be able to
comfort them who are in all distress, by the exhortation wherewith we
also are exhorted by God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us: so also by Christ doth our comfort abound.
6 Now
whether we be in tribulation, it is for your exhortation and salvation:
or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation: or whether we
be exhorted, it is for your exhortation and salvation, which worketh the
enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer.
7 That
our hope for you may be steadfast: knowing that as you are partakers of
the sufferings, so shall you be also of the consolation.
8 For
we would not have you ignorant, brethren, of our tribulation, which
came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure above our
strength, so that we were weary even of life.
9 But we had in ourselves the answer of death, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead.
10 Who hath delivered and doth deliver us out of so great dangers: in whom we trust that he will yet also deliver us.
11 You
helping withal in prayer for us: that for this gift obtained for us, by
the means of many persons, thanks may be given by many in our behalf.
12 For
our glory is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity
of heart and sincerity of God, and not in carnal wisdom, but in the
grace of God, we have conversed in this world: and more abundantly
towards you.
13 For we write no other things to you than what you have read and known. And I hope that you shall know unto the end:
14 As also you have known us in part, that we are your glory, as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 And in this confidence I had a mind to come to you before, that you might have a second grace:
16 And to pass by you into Macedonia, and again from Macedonia to come to you, and by you to be brought on my way towards Judea.
17 Whereas
then I was thus minded, did I use lightness? Or, the things that I
purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that there should be with
me, It is, and It is not?
18 But God is faithful, for our preaching which was to you, was not, It is, and It is not.
19 For
the Son of God, Jesus Christ who was preached among you by us, by me,
and Sylvanus, and Timothy, was not, It is and It is not, but, It is, was
in him.
20 For all the promises of God are in him, It is; therefore also by him, amen to God, unto our glory.
21 Now he that confirmeth us with you in Christ, and that hath anointed us, is God:
22 Who also hath sealed us, and given the pledge of the Spirit in our hearts.
23 But
I call God to witness upon my soul, that to spare you, I came not any
more to Corinth: not because we exercise dominion over your faith: but
we are helpers of your joy: for in faith you stand.
Martyr for Today-Jaime Hilario Barbal Cosan
 |
| http://lasalle.edu.mx/2014/01/30-san-jaime-ilario-barbal-cosan-martir/ |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaime_Hilario_Barbal
This young man, murdered for the Faith in the horrible Spanish Civil War, said this:
“To die for Christ, my young friends, is to live.”
Please pray to him for all our new priests and seminarians, that they prepare for these days in our times.
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I am a bit brain-dead just from being tired. I am interested in the topics YOU READERS want to read.
The combox is wide-open for suggestions.