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Hold Fast to the Love of God
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Rich
Feb 5, 2023, 5:02:33 AM2/5/23
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Hold Fast to the Love of God
"Real love of God will not be in you if the love of the world prevails
in you. Hold fast rather to the love of God, so that as God is eternal
you too will live forever. For each of us is such as our love is.
Do you love the world? Then you will be the earth. Do you love God?
What shall I say? That you will be a god? I dare not say this on my
own authority, and so let us hear Holy Scripture: 'I have said: you
are gods and all of you children of the Most High.'"
--St. Augustine--Sermon on John 2, 8
Prayer: Lord, teach me what I should teach, teach me what I should hold fast.
--St. Augustine--Letter 166, 10
<<>><<>><<>>
February 5th – St. Theodula of Anazarbus in Cilicia
St. Theodula lived in the city of Anazarbus (Asia Minor) during the
reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian (284-305) and Maximian
(305-311). The prefect of the city, Pelagius, was very cruel. His
servants sought out Christians throughout the entire region and
brought them to trial, where the imperial edict was read to them, and
they were ordered to worship idols.
Theodula was brought before him, and Pelagius ordered that she worship
the pagan gods, threatening her with torture if she refused. St.
Theodula replied, “I am a Christian. My very name means ‘servant of
God,’ and so people call me Theodula. I worship the One True God and
will not worship a mere stone.”
Pelagius became angry and gave orders to begin the torture. The Lord
granted Theodula His help, and she did not feel any pain. Pelagius,
however, said this was done by the gods, who had spared Theodula in
the hope that she would turn to them.
St. Theodula said to the prefect, “Where are your gods who spare me?
Show them to me, that I might show honor to them.” They brought her
into the temple of the “deified” Roman emperor Hadrian, whom the
pagans regarded as a mighty god. Theodula, in praying to the One True
God, merely blew a breath at the idol, and it crumbled into dust.
Seeing this, Pelagius was terrified. If the idol’s destruction was
reported to the emperor, he himself would be thrown to the wild
beasts. He fell down at St. Theodula’s feet, begging her to restore
the idol, and promising to accept Christianity.
Theodula prayed to the Lord Jesus Christ, and the idol again stood in
its place, whole and intact. Pelagius, however, not only did not keep
his promise to become a Christian, but instead began to torture
Theodula with an even greater fury.
During these torments, a man by the name of Helladius appeared before
Pelagius, and looking at the captive, asked to be given Theodula,
promising to make her worship the pagan gods, because he wanted to
ingratiate himself with Pelagius and receive honors.
Helladius subjected Theodula to harsh torments, exceeding Pelagius in
cruelty. The saint prayed that God would grant her the ability to
persevere. She immediately received help from God and was healed.
Helladius was awestruck, and St. Theodula admonished him. “Become a
Christian,” she said, “and attain eternal honors in the Kingdom of our
Lord Jesus Christ, Who shall judge both the living and the dead and
render to each man according to his deeds.”
By her prayers and her words, St. Theodula led Helladius to the
knowledge of the Truth. He believed in Christ and confessed the True
God before Pelagius. He received the crown of martyrdom when they cut
off his head with a sword and threw his body into the sea.
St. Theodula was thrown into a blazing oven, but remained unharmed.
After this, she was stretched out on a metal plate where boiling tar,
wax and oil were poured on her, but the red-hot plate shattered into
pieces, and the fire scorched many people, including Pelagius, who
died of fright. However, St. Theodula remained unharmed.
Seeing this miracle, many people came to believe in Christ, among whom
were Macarius and Evagrius. The pagans continued to torture the
Christian through the heating of an oven. They threw Sts. Theodula,
Macarius, Evagrius and many others who believed in Christ into it.
They all suffered martyrdom, and were translated into life immortal.
Troparion (Tone 4)
Your holy martyr Theodula, O Lord,
Through her sufferings has received an
incorruptible crown from You, our God.
For having Your strength, she laid low her adversaries,
And shattered the powerless boldness of demons.
Through her intercessions, save our souls!
Saint Quote:
Disengage thyself a while from earthly care, and give thyself for a
time to think of God, and to repose a little in Him. Then, having
closed the door of thy senses, say with the affection of thy soul: O
Lord, behold I am in quest of Thy lovely Countenance; teach Thy poor
servant how to find it.
--St. Augustine
Bible Quote:
"Jesus answered: Amen, amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again
of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God"
(John 3:5)
<><><><>
OFFERING OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD
Eternal Father,
we offer Thee the precious Blood of Jesus,
shed for us through exceeding love,
and with exceeding pain
from the wound of His right hand;
through the merits and virtues of which,
we beseech Thy divine Majesty
to bestow on us Thy sacred benediction,
that by its efficacy
we may be protected from our enemies,
and delivered from every evil.
For this purpose we say:
May the blessing of Almighty God,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
descend upon us,
and remain always with us.
"Real love of God will not be in you if the love of the world prevails
in you. Hold fast rather to the love of God, so that as God is eternal
you too will live forever. For each of us is such as our love is.
Do you love the world? Then you will be the earth. Do you love God?
What shall I say? That you will be a god? I dare not say this on my
own authority, and so let us hear Holy Scripture: 'I have said: you
are gods and all of you children of the Most High.'"
--St. Augustine--Sermon on John 2, 8
Prayer: Lord, teach me what I should teach, teach me what I should hold fast.
--St. Augustine--Letter 166, 10
<<>><<>><<>>
February 5th – St. Theodula of Anazarbus in Cilicia
St. Theodula lived in the city of Anazarbus (Asia Minor) during the
reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian (284-305) and Maximian
(305-311). The prefect of the city, Pelagius, was very cruel. His
servants sought out Christians throughout the entire region and
brought them to trial, where the imperial edict was read to them, and
they were ordered to worship idols.
Theodula was brought before him, and Pelagius ordered that she worship
the pagan gods, threatening her with torture if she refused. St.
Theodula replied, “I am a Christian. My very name means ‘servant of
God,’ and so people call me Theodula. I worship the One True God and
will not worship a mere stone.”
Pelagius became angry and gave orders to begin the torture. The Lord
granted Theodula His help, and she did not feel any pain. Pelagius,
however, said this was done by the gods, who had spared Theodula in
the hope that she would turn to them.
St. Theodula said to the prefect, “Where are your gods who spare me?
Show them to me, that I might show honor to them.” They brought her
into the temple of the “deified” Roman emperor Hadrian, whom the
pagans regarded as a mighty god. Theodula, in praying to the One True
God, merely blew a breath at the idol, and it crumbled into dust.
Seeing this, Pelagius was terrified. If the idol’s destruction was
reported to the emperor, he himself would be thrown to the wild
beasts. He fell down at St. Theodula’s feet, begging her to restore
the idol, and promising to accept Christianity.
Theodula prayed to the Lord Jesus Christ, and the idol again stood in
its place, whole and intact. Pelagius, however, not only did not keep
his promise to become a Christian, but instead began to torture
Theodula with an even greater fury.
During these torments, a man by the name of Helladius appeared before
Pelagius, and looking at the captive, asked to be given Theodula,
promising to make her worship the pagan gods, because he wanted to
ingratiate himself with Pelagius and receive honors.
Helladius subjected Theodula to harsh torments, exceeding Pelagius in
cruelty. The saint prayed that God would grant her the ability to
persevere. She immediately received help from God and was healed.
Helladius was awestruck, and St. Theodula admonished him. “Become a
Christian,” she said, “and attain eternal honors in the Kingdom of our
Lord Jesus Christ, Who shall judge both the living and the dead and
render to each man according to his deeds.”
By her prayers and her words, St. Theodula led Helladius to the
knowledge of the Truth. He believed in Christ and confessed the True
God before Pelagius. He received the crown of martyrdom when they cut
off his head with a sword and threw his body into the sea.
St. Theodula was thrown into a blazing oven, but remained unharmed.
After this, she was stretched out on a metal plate where boiling tar,
wax and oil were poured on her, but the red-hot plate shattered into
pieces, and the fire scorched many people, including Pelagius, who
died of fright. However, St. Theodula remained unharmed.
Seeing this miracle, many people came to believe in Christ, among whom
were Macarius and Evagrius. The pagans continued to torture the
Christian through the heating of an oven. They threw Sts. Theodula,
Macarius, Evagrius and many others who believed in Christ into it.
They all suffered martyrdom, and were translated into life immortal.
Troparion (Tone 4)
Your holy martyr Theodula, O Lord,
Through her sufferings has received an
incorruptible crown from You, our God.
For having Your strength, she laid low her adversaries,
And shattered the powerless boldness of demons.
Through her intercessions, save our souls!
Saint Quote:
Disengage thyself a while from earthly care, and give thyself for a
time to think of God, and to repose a little in Him. Then, having
closed the door of thy senses, say with the affection of thy soul: O
Lord, behold I am in quest of Thy lovely Countenance; teach Thy poor
servant how to find it.
--St. Augustine
Bible Quote:
"Jesus answered: Amen, amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again
of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God"
(John 3:5)
<><><><>
OFFERING OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD
Eternal Father,
we offer Thee the precious Blood of Jesus,
shed for us through exceeding love,
and with exceeding pain
from the wound of His right hand;
through the merits and virtues of which,
we beseech Thy divine Majesty
to bestow on us Thy sacred benediction,
that by its efficacy
we may be protected from our enemies,
and delivered from every evil.
For this purpose we say:
May the blessing of Almighty God,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
descend upon us,
and remain always with us.
Rich
Feb 14, 2023, 4:03:48 AM2/14/23
to
Hold Fast to the Love of God
"Real love of God will not be in you if the love of the world prevails
in you. Hold fast rather to the love of God, so that as God is eternal
you too will live forever. For each of us is such as our love is.
Do you love the world? Then you will be the earth. Do you love God?
What shall I say? That you will be a god? I dare not say this on my
own authority, and so let us hear Holy Scripture: 'I have said: you
are gods and all of you children of the Most High.'"
--St. Augustine--Sermon on John 2, 8
Prayer: Lord, teach me what I should teach, teach me what I should hold fast.
--St. Augustine--Letter 166, 10
<<>><<>><<>>
February 14th - Saints Cyril and Methodius
"Real love of God will not be in you if the love of the world prevails
in you. Hold fast rather to the love of God, so that as God is eternal
you too will live forever. For each of us is such as our love is.
Do you love the world? Then you will be the earth. Do you love God?
What shall I say? That you will be a god? I dare not say this on my
own authority, and so let us hear Holy Scripture: 'I have said: you
are gods and all of you children of the Most High.'"
--St. Augustine--Sermon on John 2, 8
Prayer: Lord, teach me what I should teach, teach me what I should hold fast.
--St. Augustine--Letter 166, 10
<<>><<>><<>>
Saints Cyril (827-869) and Methodius (826-885) were brothers,
bishops, confessors, and Christian missionaries among the Slavic
people. Known as the “Apostles to the Slavs,” these holy brothers
created the Glagolitic and Cyrillic alphabets to translate the
Scriptures into language that could be understood by the Slavic
people. Together with their disciples, they are primarily responsible
for the spread of Christianity through modern-day eastern Europe. For
their work, in 1980, Pope John Paul II declared Saints Cyril and
Methodius co-patrons of Europe, together with Saint Benedict of
Nursia.
Methodius and Cyril (born Constantine) were born into a prominent
Christian family in Thessalonica. As the area in which they were
raised was a popular spot for Slavic people to settle in, traditions
tells us that the holy brothers grew up familiar with the Slavic
language (Slavonic). While we know their father was a prominent
officer in the army, little is known of their young lives. History has
recorded that Methodius, the elder brother, rose to the position of an
important civil authority, who likely dealt in law and trade. His
brother, Cyril, was trained as a scholar, professor, and philosopher
who gained renown in Constantinople.
After some years in public service, Methodius grew tired of worldly
affairs and retired, seeking out solace and contemplation in a
monastery. Eventually, Cyril joined him there, refusing a district to
govern, preferring quiet devotion to the Lord. Together they lived in
peace until the Byzantine emperor, having received a request for
missionaries by the Moravian prince Rastislav, sent the brothers as
missionaries to modern-day Ukraine. Being familiar with the language,
and well-acquainted with administration and politics, they were the
perfect choice for such a mission. And given Rastislav’s desire for
independence from Germany, Eastern missionaries (such as Methodius and
Cyril) could help him gain independence over Church affairs.
Cyril and Methodius firmly believed that the Liturgy should be
celebrated in the native language of the people, for greater inclusion
in the Mass—a tradition which continues today. At that time, many were
committed to only celebrating Mass in Greek or Latin, but these holy
brothers dedicated themselves to proving otherwise. Prior to their
departure for Moravia, they created a script for Slavonic (which had
not previously existed). Known as Glagolithic, this written script is
considered the precursor to Cyrillic (named after Saint Cyril). The
creation of this script would allow the translation of Scripture and
Liturgy into the language of the people.
Upon their arrival, Cyril immediately began translating the Liturgy
into Slavonic. This created anxiety in the German priests, who saw the
use of language as the next step to Slavic independence, and they
actively worked against the translation. As neither Cyril nor
Methodius was ordained a bishop, they traveled to Rome with their
candidates for the priesthood to see the pope. After an audience, the
pope approved the use of the Slavonic language in services, ordaining
the local priests, and securing the presence of Catholicism in the
region.
Sadly, Constantine never returned to Moravia. He entered the
monastery, taking the name Cyril, and not long after died. Methodius
was stricken with grief, and wished for nothing more than live the
remainder of his days in the monastery, but honored a promise made to
his brother and returned to finish their missionary work. Due to the
political upheaval in Moravia, he was forbidden to return there.
However, upon his ordination as bishop, he was invited to modern-day
Serbia and Croatia, where he assumed the bishopric of Sirmium. There
he continued to say Mass and administer baptisms in the native,
Slavonic tongue.
Again, falling victim to the anxiety of the German priests and
bishops, Saint Methodius was imprisoned, and only released following
Moravian independence from German and intervention from the pope.
Again, Methodius traveled to Rome, meeting with the Pope, and
explaining how important it was to celebrate the Liturgy in the tongue
people understood. Instead of condemning him, as the German bishops
had hoped, the pope gave him permission to use Slavonic in the Mass,
in Scripture reading, and in the office. He also made him head of the
hierarchy in Moravia.
Saint Methodius, despite constant criticism and backlash, never
stopped translating. It is said that he had translated the Bible and
the works of the Church Fathers into Slavonic before his death.
Pope Benedict XVI said of Saints Cyril and Methodius: “Cyril and
Methodius are a classic example of what is today referred to with the
term "inculturation": Each people should make the revealed message
penetrate into their own culture, and express the salvific truth with
their own language. This implies a very exacting work of
"translation," as it requires finding adequate terms to propose anew
the richness of the revealed Word, without betraying it. The two
brother saints have left in this sense a particularly significant
testimony that the Church continues looking at today to be inspired
and guided.”
The work of Saints Cyril and Methodius are a powerful reminder of our
role in the celebration of the Liturgy. God speaks to us—to each of
us—in a language that we can understand, and based upon that
understanding we are called to live the Gospel. We pray today for more
active participation, greater comprehension, and the ability to
successfully live the Word of God for all to see!
Almighty and everlasting God, who by the power of the Holy Spirit
moved your servant Cyril and his brother Methodius to bring the light
of the Gospel to a hostile and divided people: Overcome all bitterness
and strife among us by the love of Christ, and make us one united
family under the banner of the Prince of Peace; who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
O Cyril and Methodius, inspired by God,
You became equal to the Apostles by your life.
Since you were teachers of the Slavs,
Intercede with the Master of all
That He may strengthen all Orthodox peoples in the True Faith,
And that He may grant peace to the world
And great mercy to our souls.
Saint Quote:
Alas! we have not as much love as we need! I mean that it would
require and infinite amount to have enough to love our God according
to His due; and yet, miserable that we are, we throw it away lavishly
upon vile and unworthy objects, as if we had a superfluity.
--St. Francis de Sales
Bible Quote:
Be not overcome by evil: but overcome evil by good. (Rom. 12:21) DRB
<><><><>
Prayer To Be Faithful Of Serving God
Father in Heaven,
ever-living source of all that is good,
keep me faithful in serving You.
Help me to drink of Christ's Truth,
and fill my heart with His Love
so that I may serve You in faith
and love and reach eternal life.
In the Sacrament of the Eucharist
You give me the joy of sharing Your Life.
Keep me in Your presence.
Let me never be separated from You
and help me to do Your Will.
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