-- Isaiah 44:8-10 --

[weedy]

-- Isaiah 44:8-10 --

Fear ye not, neither be ye troubled from that time I have made thee to
hear, and have declared: you are my witnesses. Is there a God besides
me, a maker, whom I have not known? The makers of idols are all of
them nothing, and their best beloved things shall not profit them.
They are their witnesses, that they do not see, nor understand, that
they may be ashamed. Who hath formed a god, and made a graven thing
that is profitable for nothing? [Isaiah 44:8-10] DRB
=======================
Isaiah tells us, "Who shapes a god and casts an idol, which can
profit him nothing?" We think of idols as statues of wood or stone,
but in reality an idol is anything natural that is given sacred value
and power. If your answer to any of the following questions is
anything or anyone other than God, you may need to check out who or
what you are worshipping:
— Who created me?
— Whom do I intimately trust?
— Whom do I look to for ultimate truth?
Who is in charge of my future?

<<>><<>><<>>
November 1st – Bl. Jerome Hermosilla and Comp.
Died 1861; beatified in 1906 by Pope Pius X.

Little is known of the early lives of Bishop Jerome Hermosilla or
Bishop Valentine Berrio-Ochoa. That they were chosen for the Oriental
mission is evidence that they were courageous and resourceful men,
probably adept in language.

Jerome was a native of La Calzada, in Old Castile (Spain), who after
his profession in the Dominican Order, was sent to Manila, where he
was ordained priest and, in 1828, appointed to the mission of East
Tonkin. He succeeded Blessed Ignatius Delgado as vicar-apostolic and
was consecrated bishop in April 1841. Like the early office of
pontiff, this position was practically synonymous with martyrdom;
several of those appointed as bishop of Tonkin did not even live to be
consecrated.

Bishop Hermosilla made it his first task to gather the relics of his
two immediate predecessors. Bishop Delgado had been thrown into the
sea, but some of the relics were recovered by a fisherman. These and
the remains of other martyrs were carefully preserved by Hermosilla,
who also committed to paper their passios according to the accounts of
eye witnesses. This took real courage—to carefully record the terrible
tortures that he well knew were awaiting him.

The 20 years of Bishop Hermosilla's life in Tonkin were comprised of
constant heroism, flight, and unswerving faith. He had to hold his
flock together, while some of his finest assistants fell at his side.
His work had to be accomplished entirely in secret. There was always
the possibility that a recent convert or his pagan family might betray
the hiding place of the priest, perhaps under torture. It was a weak
Christian who finally betrayed Hermosilla and Valentine.

The two bishops had been hidden on board a ship en route to a place
where they were needed to give the sacraments. The betrayer identified
them to the ship's captain, who summoned the soldiers. A group of
Christians almost succeeded in rescuing them, but they were betrayed a
second time and placed in chains. Three hundred men were sent to
escort them to the capital.

When the arrived, they saw that they would be required to step upon a
crucifix laid in the road. Heavily manacled and weak from torture, the
two bishops fought so vigorously against committing this sacrilege
that the soldiers finally relented and removed the cross. Shortly
thereafter the bishops, two other Spanish Dominicans, and a number of
native Christians were led in triumphant procession to the place of
their execution, where they were put in cages. Christian witnesses
reported that the martyrs were so rapt in prayer that they seemed
unaware of the screaming crowds, trumpeting elephants, and other noisy
animals surrounding them. In turn, each of the martyrs was bound, tied
to stakes in the ground, and beheaded. Their remains were guarded for
several days to prevent other Christians from claiming their relics.

Peter Almató, OP, was born at Sassera, diocese of Vich, Spain. He
became a Dominican and was sent to the Philippines then to Ximabara
under Bishop Hermosilla with whom he was beheaded.

Also beheaded with the above beatae was Blessed Valentine, who was
born in 1827 at Ellorio, diocese of Vitoria, Spain. After his
profession as a Dominican also went to the Philippines then to Tonkin
as a bishop titular and vicar-apostolic. Due to a number of miracles
attributed to Bishop Valentine Berrio-Ochoa, his cause has been
separated from the group. He was beatified in 1909, rather than 1906,
and since 1952 canonization has been sought for him (Benedictines,
Dorcy).


Saint Quote:
"It is no small struggle to be freed from self-esteem. Such freedom
is to be attained by the inner practice of the virtues and by more
frequent prayer; and the sign that you have attained it is that you no
longer harbour rancour against anybody who abuses or has abused you."
--St. Maximos the Confessor.

Bible Quote:
8 Blessed is the rich man who is found blameless, and who does not go
after gold.
9 Who is he? And we will call him blessed, for he has done wonderful
things among his people. (Sirach 31:8-9) (RSVCE)


<><><><>
Come, Holy Spirit Replace the tension within us with a holy
relaxation. Replace the turbulence within us with a sacred calm.
Replace the anxiety within us with a quiet confidence. Replace the
fear within us with a strong faith. Replace the bitterness within us
with the sweetness of grace. Replace the darkness within us with a
gentle light. Replace the coldness within us with a loving warmth.
Replace the night within us with your light. Replace the winter within
us with your spring. Straighten our crookedness. Fill our emptiness.
Dull the edge of our pride. Sharpen the edge of our humility. Light
the fires of our love. Quench the flames of our lust. Let us see
ourselves as you see us. That we may see You.
Amen.