Everyone gladly does whatever he most likes, and likes best those who
think as he does; but if God is to dwell among us we must sometimes
yield our own opinion for the sake of peace. Who is so wise that he
knows all things? So do not place too much reliance on the rightness
of your own view but be ready to consider the views of others. If your
opinion is sound, and you forego it for the love of God and follow
that of another, you will win great merit. I have often heard that is
safer to accept advice than to give it. It may even come about that
each of two opinions is good; but to refuse to come to an agreement
with others when reason or occasion demand it is a sign of pride and
obstinacy.
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 1, Ch 9

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July 30th - St. Julitta

Julitta, a wealthy widow of Caesarea in Cappadocia around the year A.D. 303, possessed farms, livestock and other goods. A ruthless land baron of the town unscrupulously gained possession of a considerable part of her estate. However, when he could not convince the local judge of his claim to the title, the man accused Julitta of being a Christian. The Emperor Diocletian had deprived Christians of citizen's privileges and all protection under the law; therefore this conniving land baron reasoned that the court, finding that Julitta was a Christian, would deny her claim to property.

The judge ordered that incense be brought into the court, and that Julitta offer sacrifice to the gods, as was the standard evidence in a charge of "atheism," synonymous with "Christianity" in the early centuries. Julitta bravely refused to offer sacrifice to pagan gods but remained faithful to her belief in the one, true God. She told the court and her accuser that she was willing to lose all her property, and even her life before she would do anything that might offend the Lord God. "If you take from me a little portion of this earth, I shall gain Heaven for it," she declared.

The judge promptly granted the unjust man's claim to the property, and condemned Julitta to death by fire. She walked courageously into the flames and most likely died of asphyxiation, for her executioners withdrew her dead body before the fire had marred it.

The secret community of Christians in Caesarea buried the body of Julitta. The place of her interment apparently produced a miraculous, curative spring, for St. Basil, speaking of her holy remains, said in one of his homilies about the year 375, "It enriches with blessings both the place and those who come to it." He continued by assuring the faithful that "the earth which received the body of this blessed woman sent forth a spring of most pleasant water, whereas all the neighboring waters are brackish. This water preserves health and relieves the sick."

Saint Quote: On behalf of Christ crucified I tell you: refuse to believe the counsels of the devil, who would hinder your holy and good resolution. Be manly in my sight, and not timorous. Answer God, who calls you to hold and possess the seat of the glorious Shepherd St. Peter, whose vicar you have been. And raise the standard of the holy Cross. --Saint Catherine of Siena to Pope Gregory XI

Bible Quote: Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.  (Revelation 1:7)

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 Thirty Days Prayer in Honor of Saint Joseph:

Ever blessed and glorious Joseph, kind and loving father, and compassionate friend of all in sorrow! Take pity, I beg you on my poverty and necessity, counsel me in my doubts and console me in all my anxieties. You are the good father and protector of orphans, the defender of the defenseless, the patron of those in need and sorrow. Look kindly on my request. My sins have drawn down on me the just displeasure of my God and so I am surrounded with sorrows. To you, loving guardian of the Family of Nazareth, do I go for shelter and protection.

Listen, then, I beg you, with fatherly concern to my earnest prayers and obtain for me the favor I ask.

I ask it by the infinite mercy of the eternal Son of God, which moved Him to take our nature and to be born into this world of sorrow.

I ask it by the weariness and suffering you endured when you found no shelter at the inn of Bethlehem for the holy Virgin, nor a place where the infant God could be born. Then being everywhere refused, you had to allow the Queen of Heaven to give birth to the world's Redeemer in a cave.

I ask it by the loveliness and power of that Sacred name, Jesus, which you conferred on the adorable Infant.

I ask it by that painful torture you felt at the prophecy of holy Simeon, which declared the child Jesus and his holy Mother future victims of our sins and of their great love for us. I ask it through your sorrow and anguish which filled your soul when the Angel declared to you that the life of the child Jesus was sought by His enemies. From their evil plan you had to flee with Him and His Blessed Mother into Egypt.

I ask it by all the suffering, weariness, and labors of that long and dangerous journey. I ask it by all the sorrows you endured in Egypt, when sometimes you could not put food on the table for your family.

I ask it by all your care to protect the Sacred Child and His Immaculate Mother during your second journey, when you were ordered to return to your native country. I ask it by your peaceful life in Nazareth where you met with so many joys and sorrows.

I ask it by your great distress when the adorable Child was lost to you for three days. I ask it by your joy at finding Him in the Temple, and by the comfort you found at Nazareth, while living in the company of the Child Jesus. I ask it by the wonderful submission He showed in His obedience to you.

I ask it by the perfect love and conformity you showed in accepting the Divine order to depart from this life, and from the company of Jesus and Mary. I ask it by that great joy which filled your soul when the Redeemer of the world, triumphant over death and Hell, entered into the possession of His kingdom and led you into it with special honor.

I ask it through Mary's glorious Assumption, and through that endless happiness you share with her by the presence of God.

Oh good father! I beg you by all your sufferings, sorrows, and joys to hear me and obtain for me what I ask. (Here name your petitions or think of them.)

Obtain for all those who have asked my prayers everything that is useful to them in the plan of God. Finally, my dear patron and father, be with me and all who are dear to me in our last moments, that we may eternally sing the praises of JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH.

"A blameless life, St. Joseph, may we lead, by thy kind patronage from danger freed."