- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8(a) -
Waldtraud
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it
is
not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,
it
keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with
the
truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love
never fails.
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"A wise lover values not so much the gift of the lover as the love of the
giver."
- Thomas A Kempis
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February 25th - St. Tarasius of Constantinople
(Also known as Tharasius)
Died 806. Tarasius's father, George, was a judge held in high esteem for his
even-handed justice, and his mother, Eucratia, no less celebrated for her
piety.
(He was the uncle or great-uncle of Saint Photius.) He was raised in the
practice of virtue and taught to choose his friends wisely. As a layman, he
was
secretary of state to the ten-year-old Constantine VI. In the midst of the
court
and all its honors, surrounded by all that could flatter pride or gratify
sensuality, Tarasius led a life like that of a professed religious.
Empress Irene, regent for her son, privately a Catholic during her husband's
lifetime, schemed to gain power over the whole government to end the
persecution
of the Catholics by the Iconoclasts. She was an ambitious, artful, and
heartlessly cruel woman, but she was opposed to Iconoclasm. At the same
time,
Paul VI, patriarch of Constantinople, resigned his see in repentance for
conforming to the heresy of the deceased Emperor Leo. As soon as Irene
learned
that he had taken the religious habit of Florus Monastery, she visited him
and
tried to dissuade him. Paul's resolution was unalterable for he wished to
repair
the scandal he had given. He suggested Tarasius as a worthy replacement.
And so Irene named the layman Tarasius, patriarch of Constantinople. There
was
unanimous consent by the court, clergy, and people. Tarasius objected, in
part
because he felt a priest should be chosen, but primarily because he could
not in
conscience accept the government of a see that had been cut off from
Catholic
communion. Finally, he accepted the position upon condition that a general
council should be called to settle the dispute over the use of images. He
was
consecrated on Christmas Day, 784.
Soon after his consecration he wrote letters to Pope Adrian I (as did Irene)
and
the patriarchs of Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem requesting their
attendance
or that of their legates at the seventh ecumenical council. The Holy Father
sent
legates with letters to the emperor, empress, and patriarch that, in the
presence of his legates, the false council of the Iconoclasts should first
be
condemned and efforts made to re-establish holy images throughout the
empire.
(His legates, who assumed the presidency of the council, were Peter,
archpriest
of the Roman church, and Peter, priest and abbot of Saint Sabas in Rome.)
The Eastern patriarchs, being under the yoke of the Islamics, could not come
for
fear of offending their overlords, but they sent their deputies. The council
opened at Constantinople August 1, 786, but was disturbed by the violence of
Iconoclasts; therefore, the empress dispersed the council until the
following
year.
The Second Council of Nicaea at the Church of Hagia Sophia was attended by
the
pope's legates, Tarasius, John (priest and monk representing the patriarchs
of
Antioch and Jerusalem), Thomas (for the patriarch of Alexandria), and 350
bishops, plus many abbots and other holy priests and confessors. The
assembled
agreed that it was the sense of the Church to allow holy pictures and other
images a relative honor, but not, of course, that worship that is due to God
alone. He who reveres the image, it was emphasized, reveres the person it
represents. Once the council was ended, synodal letters were sent to all
churches and, in particular, to the pope for his approval of the council,
which
was forthcoming.
In keeping with the resolutions of the General Council of Nicaea in 787,
Tarasius restored statues and images to the churches and worked to eliminate
simony. He also forbade the use of gold and scarlet among his clergy.
The life of Tarasius was a model of perfection to his clergy and people. He
lived austerely, slept little, and became known for his acts of charity. He
would take the meat from his table to distribute among the poor with his own
hands and assigned them a large, fixed revenue. To ensure that no one would
be
overlooked, he visited all the houses and hospitals in Constantinople.
Reading
and prayer filled all his leisure hours. It was his pleasure, in imitation
of
our Lord, to serve others rather than being served by them. He powerfully
exhorted universal mortification of the senses, and was particularly severe
against all theatrical entertainments.
Constantine turned against him in 795 when Tarasius refused to sanction his
divorce from Empress Mary, whom his mother had pressured him to marry.
Constantine even tried to coerce his support by deceit saying that Mary had
plotted to poison the bishop. Tarasius remained firm, replying, "Tell him I
will
suffer death rather than consent to his design."
Next Constantine tried flattery. He said: "I can conceal nothing from you
whom I
regard as my father. No one can deny that I may divorce one who has
attempted to
take my life. The Empress Mary deserves death or perpetual penance." He
produced
a vial of poison that he pretended she had prepared for him. The patriarch,
convinced that Constantine was trying to hoodwink him, responded that
although
Mary's crime was horrid, his second marriage during her lifetime would still
be
contrary to the law of God.
Constantine wished to marry Theodota, one of Mary's maids, and forced his
wife
into a convent. But Tarasius still refused to perform the marriage ceremony.
This scandalous example led to several governors and other powerful men
divorcing their wives or entering bigamous relationships, and gave
encouragement
to public lewdness. Saints Plato and Theodorus separated themselves from the
emperor's communion to show their abhorrence of his crime. Tarasius did not
think it was prudent to excommunicate the emperor who might restore
iconoclasm
in a resultant rage.
Tarasius was persecuted by Constantine thereafter. No one could speak to the
patriarch without the permission of the emperor. Spies watched his every
move.
Tarasius's servants and relatives were banished. This semi-confinement gave
Tarasius more free time for contemplation. While being persecuted for his
orthodoxy by the emperor, Saint Theodore and his monks of Studium accused
Tarasius of being too lenient. Some days you just can't win!
Irene won over the elite, seized power and had Constantine imprisoned and
blinded (such gentle folks, eh?) with so much violence that he died in 797.
During her five-year reign, she recalled all those who had been banished.
After
Nicephorus seized the throne in 802, Irene was exiled to Lesbos. Tarasius
completed his 21-year reign under Nicephorus tending to his flock and saying
Mass daily. Shortly before his death, Tarasius fell into a trance, as his
biographer, who was present, relates, and he seemed to be disputing with a
number of accusers who were busily scrutinizing all the actions of his life
and
making accusations. The saint appeared to be in great agitation as he
defended
himself against their charges. But a wonderful serenity succeeded, and the
holy
man gave up his soul to God in peace.
God honored the memory of Tarasius with miracles, some of which are related
by
the author of his vita. His feast was first celebrated by his successor.
Fourteen years after Tarasius's death, the iconoclast emperor Leo the
Armenian
dreamed just before his own death that he saw Saint Tarasius highly incensed
against him, and heard him command one named Michael to stab him. Leo,
thinking
this Michael to be a monk in the saint's monastery, ordered him to be
brought
before him and even tortured some of the religious to hand him over, but
there
was no Michael among them. Leo was killed six days later by Michael Balbus
(Benedictines, Husenbeth, Walsh, White)
In art, Saint Tarasius is an Eastern bishop with a picture of saints by him.
He
may also be shown at the time the emperor visited him on his death bed; or
serving the poor at table (Roeder, White).
Saint Quote:
Don't give in to discouragement. If you are discouraged it is a sign of
pride
because
it shows you trust in your own powers. Never bother about people's opinions.
Be obedient to truth. For with humble obedience, you will never be
disturbed.
--Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Bible Quote:
What a man sows, he reaps. If he sows in the field of self-indulgence he
will
get a
harvest of corruption out of it; if he sows in the field of the Spirit he
will
get from
it a harvest of eternal life. (Galatians 6:7-8)
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Heart of Jesus
Heart of Jesus, once in agony, pity the dying. Jesus, I ask You to pour down
your blessing on the dying. Give them grace to bear their sickness, and
strength to conform themselves to Your blessed will. Pity them and help them
by Your mercy, that in the final hour they may not lose courage, but may
have fortitude to fight the good fight for You to the end.
God of power and mercy, You have made death itself the gateway to eternal
life. Look with love on our dying brother (sister), and make him (her) one
with Your Son in His sufferings and death, that sealed with the blood of
Christ, he (she) may come before You free from sin. - Amen.
Into Paradise
May the Angels lead him (her) into Paradise. May the Martyrs receive him
(her) at his (her) coming and take him (her) to Jerusalem, the Holy City.
May the Choirs of Angels receive him (her), and may he (she), with the once
poor Lazarus, have rest everlasting. - Amen.
At Judgment Time
Have pity upon every man, Lord, in that hour when he has finished his task
and stands before Thee like a child, whose hands are being examined. - Amen.
-Paul Claudel