Of the love of solitude and silence [I]

[Rich]

Of the love of solitude and silence [I]

Seek a suitable time for thy meditation, and think frequently of the
mercies of God to thee. Leave curious questions. Study such matters
as bring thee sorrow for sin rather than amusement. If thou withdraw
thyself from trifling conversation and idle goings about, as well as
from novelties and gossip, thou shalt find thy time sufficient and apt
for good meditation. The greatest saints used to avoid as far as they
could the company of men, and chose to live in secret with God.
--Thomas à Kempis ---Imitation of Christ Bk 1, Ch 20

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22 October – Saint Mary Salome
Also known as
Salome the Myrophore
Irene (Greek equivalent to Salome)

Memorial
24 April
formerly 22 October
3 August (Orthodox calendar)
9 April (Armenian calendar)
3 August (Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod calendar)

(First Century)

The feast of St. Salome was October 22 but has been transferred by the
new Roman Martyrology to April 24 to be in tune with the Biblical data
and pious tradition of linking the Three Marys together: “Mary of
Cleopas and Salome, who, with Mary Magdalene, came very early on
Easter morning to the Lord’s tomb, to anoint his body, and were the
first who heard the announcement of his resurrection” [Martyrologium
Romanum (Vatican Press, 2001)].

Disciple of Jesus, wife of Zebedee and Mother of Saints James and
John, Apostles. She appears briefly in the canonical gospels and in
apocryphal writings. She is named by Mark as present at the
Crucifixion and as one of the women who found Jesus’s tomb empty.
Interpretation has further identified her with other women who are
mentioned but not named in the canonical gospels. In particular, she
is identified as the wife of Zebedee, the mother of James and John,
two of the Twelve apostles. In medieval tradition Salome (as Mary
Salome) was counted as one of the Three Marys who were daughters of
Saint Anne, so making her the sister or half-sister of Mary, the
Blessed Virgin Mother of Jesus. Patronage – Veroli, Italy.

Like the Jewish greeting “Shalom” and the Arab “Salaam,” Salome is
based on an Aramaic word meaning health and peace. It would be hard to
think of a more fitting name for a mother.

It is quite probable that Salome was the sister of the Blessed Virgin
and it is certain that she was the wife of Zebedee and the mother of
James the Greater and John the Evangelist (Matthew 20:20; 27:56). In
the Gospel of St Matthew (20:20ff) it is written: “Then the mother of
the sons of Zebedee approached Him with her sons and did Him homage,
wishing to ask Him for something. He said to her, ‘What do you wish?’
She answered Him, ‘Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at
Your right and the other at Your left, in Your kingdom.”

Salome was one of the women who followed Jesus and served him (Mark
15:41), witnessed His Crucifixion and death at Calvary (Matt. 27:56;
Mark 15:40) and who brought spices to embalm Him on Easter morning
(Mark 16:1ff) (Delaney, Encyclopedia). Legend says that after the
Resurrection she went to Veroli, Italy and spent the rest of her life
there spreading the Good News.

In art, Mary Salome is shown with her two sainted children (James and
John) in her arms. Occasionally Mary Salome is present at the Nativity
because there is a legend that the doubting Salome was a midwife, who
came, unbelieving, to the stable at Bethlehem and was converted (cf.
Jameson, Legends of the Madonna). Sometimes Mary Salome together with
Mary Cleophas support the Virgin at the Crucifixion or they are
present with Mary Magdalene at the Resurrection.

see
https://anastpaul.com/2019/10/22


Saint Quote:
There would be no need for sermons, if our lives were shining; there
would be no need for words, if we bore witness with our deeds. There
would be no pagans, if we were true Christians.
--Saint John Chrysostom

Bible Quote:
And it came to pass, whilst he was at table with them, he took bread,
and blessed, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened,
and they knew him: and he vanished out of their sight. (Luke 24:30-31) DRV


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Prayer Against Envy

O my God, Thou so lovest the world that Thou gaveth Thy only begotten
Son so that all who believe in Thee might not perish, but may have
eternal life. Thou maketh the sun rise upon the good and the bad, and
Thou raineth upon the just and the unjust. Yet I am filled with
jealousy while others prosper. I want everything to come to me, and I
am saddened by my neighbor's least good fortune! O what inhuman
malice! O infernal poison! Forgive, o most loving Father what up to
this point has been my sin. Gentle is Thy mercy. From the depths of
that mercy, grant that henceforth I may be robed in kindness as a
chosen one of God. May I also, above all, strive to have charity,
which is the bond of perfection. (Col. 3:14)

Ant. Remember not, Lord, my offenses, nor the offenses of my fathers,
nor takest Thou vengeance upon them.