Angels--Their Employment

[Weedy]

Angels--Their Employment

To behold the face of God in Heaven is the noblest and happiest
occupation of which His creatures are capable. It is enough and more
than enough to satiate them with unspeakable delight through all
eternity. This is the essential joy of the Holy Angels. Everywhere and
at all times they behold the face of God, and drink in continually
fresh draughts of love as they gaze on His infinite perfections.

They also find unceasing satisfaction in falling on their faces and
adoring the Most High, as if, thereby, to express their
self-annihilation in the presence of God. They forget themselves in
God. He is all in all to them. "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive
glory and honor and power, because Thou hast created all things, and
for Thy will they were and have been created." Is God thus all in all
to me?

They also sing aloud: "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty," and to
this song melody their celestial harmonies. This is to them of all
songs the sweetest, because to publish aloud the holiness of God is
the end of all rational creatures, and therefore the source of all
true happiness. There is always a sweet music going up to the throne
of God from the beautiful harmony of the lives of His saints, and from
their adoration of His Infinite Holiness. Do I love and adore the
holiness of God, and meditate on the contrast of my unholiness?

by the Rev. R.F. Clarke, S.J.
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13 July – Blessed James of Voragine OP

(c 1226 – 13 or 16 July 1298)
Archbishop of Genoa, Author of the ‘Golden Legend’ (a collection of
lives of Saints and treatises on Christian festivals, one of the most
popular religious works of the Middle Ages and is still published and
referred to today – completed 1265), Priest and Friar of the Order of
Preachers of St Dominic, Writer, Scholar of great genius, Prior and
Provincial General of the Order. Born as Giacomo da Varazze in c 1226
at Varazze (modern Voragine), Diocese of Savona, Italy (near Genoa)
and died on either 13 July or 16 1298 in Genoa, Italy of natural
causes. Also known as – James of Varazze, James of Viraggio, James of
Genoa, Giacomo, Jacob, Jacobus, Jacopo.

James of Voragine has been Beatified by the Church for the sanctity of
his life. He lives in secular history for quite a different reason –
he was a creative genius of his age. His Golden Legends, which has
enjoyed a circulation of nearly seven centuries, is only one of
several projects which in his time, as in ours, are a tribute to the
versatility of the man and the zeal of a Saint.

Little is recorded of the childhood of James. He entered the Order of
Preachers in Genoa and soon was known, both for his virtue and for a
singularly alert and practical mind. Tradition says that James was the
first to translate the Bible into Italian. Whether this is true or
not, it is ample evidence that he was a true scholar.

As Prior, provincial, and later Archbishop, James gained a reputation
for strict observance, heroic charity and sound good sense. He was a
builder where war had wrecked, a peace maker where others sowed
trouble. He must of had a contagious zeal, for the wealthy gave to him
as readily as the poor begged from him and under his hand, ruined
Churches and hospitals were restored, the sick and poor were cared
for, and good practices and devotion reignited. He was a genius at
getting things done and, fortunately, his whole heart was bent on
doing good for the glory of God.

Like others of his calling and training, James was first of all a
Preacher. For those many who could not read, one of the chief means of
instruction was via sermons, which took their key note from the feast
of the day. The Saints, the stories of their live and examples of
their virtues became as much part of a Christians life as the people
around him. The collection of stories – later called The Golden Legend
– started as a series of sermons prepared by James for the various
festival of the Saints. Since he preached in Italian, rather than in
Latin, his sermons had immense popular appeal and they were rapidly
copied by other Preachers into all the languages of Europe. The Golden
Legend was , next to the Bible, the most popular book of the Middle
Ages.

James was rigorous in his observance of the Dominican Rule, which, is
of itself, enough to canonise him. He had also the good sense to make
use of changing trends to further the work of God. Today he would be
using the digital world, the press, the movies, and television – then,
he used what his century had to offer – sermons in the vernacular,
religious drama and music. How much present day drama and music owed
to him, it would be impossible to say.

There is an amusing story told of his efforts to fight fire with fire.
He organised a troop of jugglers and acrobats from the student Novices
of San Eustorgio, in Milan, who were to mingle entertainment with
doctrine in staging ‘plays’ to teach and in an effort to combat the
indecency of the secular theatre. This was one scheme which left no
lasting effect but it does serve to show, that James was a man of his
times, alert to the changing needs of a fast-moving world and
wholeheartedly determined to win the world to the truth of the One
Holy Catholic Faith by any honest means that came to hand.

Purity, poverty and charity were the outstanding virtues of this man
whom the Church has seemed fit to enroll among Her blesseds. He will
always be recognised in Dominican history as a man of many and
peculiar gifts, who consecrated his talents to God and, in trading
with them , gained heaven. Blessed James was Beatified on 11 May 1816
by Pope Pius VII.

https://anastpaul.com/2021/07/13/


“Jesus began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had
been done, for their failure to repent.” – Matthew 11:20

Now sin is a wound to the soul. You who are this wounded person, learn
that your Doctor is within you and show Him the wounds of your sins.
May He, to whom every secret thought is known, hear the moaning of
your heart. May your tears move Him and, if you have to seek Him with
some insistence, let deep sighs rise up to Him from the bottom of your
heart. May your pain come to Him and may you also be told, like David:
“The Lord… has forgiven your sin.” (2 Sam 12:13)…
You, Almighty Doctor, correct those who scorn You; You teach those who
do not know their fault and You forgive those who admit it to You.”
– St Pope Gregory the Great (540-604) Father and Doctor of the Church
– Presentation on the seven penitential Psalms

Saint Quote:
The Church teaches us that mercy belongs to God. Let us implore Him to
bestow on us the spirit of mercy and compassion, so that we are filled
with it and may never lose it. Only consider how much we ourselves are
in need of mercy.
-- Saint Vincent de Paul

Bible Quote:
Therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God
for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions
and afflictions which you endure. This is a plain indication of God's
righteous judgment so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom
of God, for which indeed you are suffering." [2 Thes 1:4,5,] DRB


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Prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows
By St. Bridget

O Blessed Virgin Mary, Immaculate Mother of God, who didst endure a
martyrdom of love and grief, beholding the sufferings and sorrows of
Jesus! Thou didst co-operate in the benefit of my redemption by thy
innumerable afflictions and by offering to the Eternal Father His
only-begotten Son as a holocaust and victim of propitiation for my
sins. I thank thee for the unspeakable love which led thee to deprive
thyself of the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus, true God and true Man, to
save me, a sinner. Oh! make use of the unfailing intercession of thy
sorrows with the Father and the Son. that I may steadfastly amend my
life and never again crucify my loving Redeemer by new sins; and that,
persevering till death in His grace, I may obtain eternal life through
the merits of His Cross and Passion. Amen.

Mother of love, of sorrow, and of mercy, pray for us.

[Mark Earnest]

Angels worship God in spirit and in truth. No other way.