A deaconess of advanced age and noted sanctity, she died a martyr about the year 248. A mob venting its fury on any Christians it could find was enraged at her courageous refusal to sacrifice to idols. Somebody in the mob struck her and knocked out all her teeth.
Threatened with being burnt alive, the fire already raging, she asked for a few moments to think it over. Anxious to embrace martyrdom, she struggled free from her tormentors and, prompted by the Holy Spirit, leapt into the fire. The pagans were amazed to see a weak very old woman eager to die for Christ. Invoked against toothaches and diseases of the mouth.
Ref: Cf H Hoever, “Lives of the Saints”, 1989, 65-6
On pride and its fatal effects
Pride is the inordinate love of self. Vainglory and ambition follow which in turn produce intrigues, hypocrisy, human respect. From these proceed lying, falsification, disobedience, obstinacy, contentions, divisions. The consequences are selfishness and jealousy which lead to numerous sins against charity.
Does the success of others annoy us? Do we rejoice at their misfortunes; hurt them by rash judgments -- by detraction, calumny, malicious insinuations?
To be secure against the attacks of envy and other unruly passions, we must trace them to their source, pride, the result of original sin. As the Holy Spirit teaches: ‘Never suffer pride to reign in thy mind or in thy words, for from it all perdition took its beginning.’
The desire for personal glory is directly opposed to the cardinal virtue of justice: To every one his due. God alone, the sole author of all that is good and excellent in his creatures, deserves the glory. But the proud man exalts himself because of his gifts, either of nature or grace. He uses them to exact the praise and esteem of others thereby putting himself in the place of God.
‘Every proud man is an abomination to the Lord. ... God resists the proud, but to the humble he gives grace.’
To clearly understand the sin of pride in God’s sight and to develop a horror of it, recall -- 1) what happened to the angels who refused to serve God; and 2) how our first parents were banished from Paradise.
The proud is wretched because he is perpetually tormented by the desire to increase his reputation and the fear of losing it; always agitated by dark suspicions or vain apprehensions. His labors and struggles will have no reward in heaven.
“They have already received their reward” (Mt 6:2), as Jesus told the proud Pharisees. “Learn of me because I am meek and humble of heart.” (Mt 11:29) Need we say more?
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations”, by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp370-72
Pride perverts all
Jesus was speaking to men who considered themselves to be just and despised others. He, therefore, related this parable: “... two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a publican. ...” (Lk 18:10)
The Pharisees considered themselves who fulfilled the Law to perfection. They looked down on publicans for exacting taxes imposed by the occupying power [Romans], and were regarded to love their detested profession more than fulfilling the Law.
“O God, I give you thanks because I am not like other men, thieves, unjust, adulterers; not one such as this publican here. I fast twice a week; I contribute a tenth of all I possess ...” (Lk 18:11-14)
Instead of praising God he begins to praise himself. Everything he did was good; but pride defeated the goodness. He claimed merit for himself and had contempt for others. Devoid of humility and charity there can be neither good works nor virtue.
The Pharisee stood where he could be seen with an attitude of self-complacency, a great deal of ‘self-satisfaction’. He compares himself with others and feels superior in fulfilling the Law better.
Pride is the greatest obstacle we can put in the way of divine grace. Deeply rooted in man (in his disordered self-love), there is nothing more difficult than to uproot pride or even to recognize it for what it is.
Ref: Cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:151-5
The Family as a Domestic Church
The Church prays for the Christian family and educates it to live in generous understanding of the priestly gift and task, which are received from Christ the high Priest.
In reality, the baptismal priesthood of the faithful, when lived in the sacrament of matrimony, constitutes the foundation of a priestly vocation and mission for the spouses and for the family. Their daily existence is thereby transformed into ‘spiritual sacrifices pleasing to God through Jesus Christ’. ...
The dignity and responsibility of the Christian family as a Domestic Church can be lived only with incessant aid from God. This will be unfailingly granted if it be implored with humility and trust in prayer.
Ref: Cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, p381
Family prayer
Jesus frequently teaches that salvation and consequent union with God is a personal matter. But He also desires that we support and help one another towards our final goal.
“I say to you ... if two of you shall agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst.” (cf Mt 18:19-20)
Prayer in common (cf Acts 12:5) has been practised in the Church since time immemorial. It is not opposed to, nor can it be substituted for, by private prayer which intimately unites the Christian to Christ.
Family prayer is in a special way very pleasing to Our Lord. It communicates a special fortitude to the whole family.
We love Our Lord’s holy Will, and with Him, families instead of disintegrating are united more strongly together and with God. Our Blessed Mother will bring us closer to the Holy Family, the Holy Trinity on earth.
Ref: Cf Francis Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 4:555-7
• Octave of the Purification of Our Lady, instituted in the Cathedral of Saintes, on account, it is said, of the bells having been heard to ring most sweetly of themselves. The sacristans having run to the church, saw several unknown men holding lighted tapers and melodiously chanting hymns in honor of the Blessed Virgin, who is venerated in a chapel of this church under the title of 'Our Lady of Miracles', and approaching softly, they besought one of the last of that august number to give them his taper, in proof of the miracle. This taper is religiously preserved in that church.— Saussey, Martyrologium Qallicum, Feb. 9. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Octave of the Purification of Our Lady. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Octave of the Purification of Our Lady. (End of the 8-day festival beginning on February. 2). (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of the Bells, Cathedral of Saintes (France). (www.divine will.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
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