A Christian has many special relationships with God the Incarnate Son. He is Jesus Christ’s brother by his very nature; and by baptism, a member of his mystical body. “Now you are the body of Christ”, says St Paul, “and member of member” (1 Cor 12:27).
But this is not all.
In Holy Communion we become incorporated with him, in his own words: “He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, abides in me, and I in him.” (Jn 6:57) Living with his life, we are, says St Peter, “made partakers of the divine nature” (2 Pet 1:4). What can be more blessed and glorious!
What must we do in return for these great privileges? St John tells us in very memorable words: “He that said he abides in him, ought himself also to walk even as he walked.” (Jn 6:57) Thus, we shall live St Cyprian’s meaningful words: ‘The Christian is another Christ.’
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp311-2
St Anthony of Padua, priest and Doctor of the Church
A Franciscan, renowned for his profound knowledge of theology. The Evangelical Doctor because he based all he said on texts of the Gospels. He died in Padua. (Fr James Socias, ‘et al’ [Eds], “Daily Roman Missal”, p1547)
PAX
St Anthony in a Homily on Christ as our peace said: ‘Pax’, Latin for peace also stands for the Holy Trinity. The letter P is for ‘Pater’ (Father); A, the first letter of the alphabet refers to the First-born Son; and X, a consonant of letters K and S, refers to the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son.
Ref: Bob and Penny Lord, “Miracles of the Eucharist”, Vol 2, p305
St Antony, Preacher of Penance
‘Preaching and Penance’: a great binomen of pure evangelical origin. It is put to you again through the luminous example of Anthony, because it is completely valid and urgent in our days, although they are different from his. Times change. Methods and forms of pastoral action change according to the Church’s sage directives. But the fundamental principles remain.
Likewise unchanged are the nature and problems of man, the apex of divine creation, yet seems to be always exposed to the dramatic possibility of sin. That means there is urgent need to announce the kerygma of salvation, unchanged in its content, ‘to man of today as well’; ie, there is need to preach salvation. There is urgent need as well today to offer the instrument ‘to sinful man’ -- the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Penance and reconciliation. After the great themes of evangelization, of catechesis and family, it has seemed fitting to examine this grave matter under all its aspects. It is a subject which engages a great part of the Church’s life and activity.
Ref: Cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, pp223-4
Fatima: The second apparition
On the morning of this day in 1917, Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco with a few dozen curious people went to the Cova da Iria. Precisely at noon the Lady appeared above the holm oak again. Everyone saw a small white cloud float down from the eastern sky and hover over the tree where the children were kneeling in ecstasy.
‘My Lady’, Lucia began in a fearful voice, ‘what do you want of me?’ “I want you to come here on the 13th day of next month, to pray the rosary every day; and to learn to read.” Lucia asked for the cure of a sick person. The Lady said, “If she is converted, she will be cured within a year”. ‘I want you to take us to Heaven’, Lucia said with childish simplicity.
“Yes”, the Lady replied, “I will take Francisco and Jacinta soon, but you must remain for some time. Jesus wishes to use you to make me better known and loved; to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart.”
Lucia was suddenly sad. ‘Must I stay here alone?’ “No, my child”, the Lady replied gently. “And would that make you suffer? Do not be disheartened. My Immaculate Heart will never abandon you, but will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God.”
As she said these words, the Lady again opened her hands on the three children and communicated to them the same immense light that had overwhelmed them last month. Francisco and Jacinta seemed to be in that part of the light which rose towards Heaven and Lucia in the rays which spread over the world.
In the palm of the Lady’s right hand, they saw a Heart ringed by thorns which seemed to pierce it. They believed it to be the Immaculate Heart of Mary grieved by the sins of humanity and seeking reparation.
As the Lady rose into the sky, Lucia stood up and cried: ‘Look! There she goes!’ The bystanders saw the little cloud of light drift away into the eastern sky. Then they noticed the leaves of the holm oak bent towards the direction the Lady had taken as if her garments had trailed across them. The leaves gradually returned to normal position after some hours.
Ref: Francis W Johnston, “Fatima, The Great Sign”, 1980, p29
Prayer
Ever glorious and blessed Mary, Queen of Virgins, Mother of Mercy, hope and comfort of dejected and desolate souls, through that sword of sorrow which pierced thy tender heart while thine only Son, our Lord suffered death, and ignominy on the Cross:
through that filial tenderness and pure love he had for thee, grieving in thy grief while from His Cross He recommended thee to the care and protection of His beloved disciple, take pity, we beseech Thee, on our poverty and necessities; have compassion on our anxieties and cares; assist and comfort us in all our infirmities and miseries.
Attend with an ear of pity, we beseech thee, to our humble and earnest request. We ask it through the mercy of Jesus Christ, thy Son, the Redeemer of the world. ...
Ref: Very Rev Charles J Callan, OP, STM and Very Rev John A McHugh, OP, STM, “Blessed Be God”, 1925, p198-9
• Dedication of Our Lady of Sichem, near Louvain in the year 1604 by Mathias Hovius, Archbishop of Mechlin. The image of the Blessed Virgin seen in this church, was originally placed in the hollow of an oak-tree. — Justus Lipsius de Virg. Aspricol., c. 4. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Dedication of the church Our Lady of Sichem near Louvain, Belgium 1604. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Dedication of the Church of Our Lady of Sichem, Belgium (1604). (www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
• Our Lady of Sichem, Belgium. 1604. The original Sichem was an Israeli town. Christians built a church dedicated to the Virgin in the 5th Century, but the Christian population was later wiped out by Muslims. In the "Little Office of the V Mary" for Wednesday mornings, one line of prayer states, "I will rejoice, and I will divide Sichem and I will mete out the vale of tabernacles." (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Sichem near Louvain. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
• Our Lady of Fatima (Second Apparition: "I am the Lady of the Rosary"). (http://mariedenazareth.com)
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