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Discourse on the Glory and Victory of the Cross
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Weedy
Feb 6, 2023, 4:11:50 AM2/6/23
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Discourse on the Glory and Victory of the Cross
Therefore, the cross is something wonderfully great and honorable. It
is great because through the cross the many noble acts of Christ found
their consummation--very many indeed, for both his miracles and his
sufferings were fully rewarded with victory. The cross is honorable
because it is both the sign of God’s suffering and the trophy of his
victory. It stands for his suffering because on it he freely suffered
unto death. But it is also his trophy because it was the means by
which the devil was wounded and death conquered; the barred gates of
hell were smashed, and the cross became the one common salvation of
the whole world.
-- St Andrew of Crete from a discourse on the Glory and Victory of the Cross
<<>><<>><<>>
6 February – Saint Vaast of Arras
(c 453-539 or 540)
The First Bishop of Arras, France, Hermit, Ascetic, miracle-worker.,
Advisor to King Clovis. Born in c 453 at Limoges, France and died on 6
February in 539–540 at Arras, France of natural causes. Patronages –
against eye diseases, of the Diocese of Arras, Boulogne and
Saint-Omer, France, of children, of children who late learning to
walk. Also known as – Foster, Gaston, Gastone, Vaat, Vedast, Vedasto,
Vedastus. Additional Memorials – 2 January (discovery of relics), 7
February (enshrinement of relics), 15 July (translation of relics in
Cambrai), 1 October (translation of relics).
The Roman Martyrology reads: “In Arras in Belgian Gaul, today in
France, Saint Vedastus, Bishop, who, sent by Saint Remigius Bishop of
Rheims to the devastated City, catechised King Clovis, re-established
the Church and held it for about forty years and brought to an end,
the need of work for evangelisation among the previously still pagan
peoples of the region.”
Vaast was a native of the Limoges region, born in the second half of
the 5th century. He left his parents as a young man and embarked on a
secluded ascetic life as a Hermit, hidden from the world in the
Diocese of Toul, France. It was there, near Toul, that he accidentally
met King Clovis I who, after defeating the Germans, was returning to
his country.
The traditional account of the conversion of King Clovis by St Vaast,
says while on the road to Rheims, they encountered a blind beggar at
the bridge over the river Aisne. The man besought Vaast’s assistance.
Vaast, in this account had already been Ordained a Priest, was
inspired to pray and blessed the beggar, at which point the man
immediately recovered his sight. The miracle convinced the King to
adopt his wife’s religion. Vaast became and remained an advisor to
King Clovis. until the King’s death.
They continued their journey to Rheims, where Bishop St Remigius
administered Baptism to the King. On his departure, Clovis recommended
his instructor to the Bishop, who, knowing of the Hermit’s moral,
devotional and theological qualities, first Ordained him as a Priest
and then Consecrated him as the Bishop of Arras. (in the year 500).
This City of Arras was initially sacked by the Huns and the
population, already Christian since the Fourth Century, had dispersed
during the invasion. Arras was slowly repopulated but its inhabitants
had practically returned to paganism. The new Bishop courageously
embarked on his missionary work, reorganising his Diocese, converting
numerous inhabitants in his many apostolic journeys in the vast
territory entrusted to him.
He remained a friend of King Clovis and Queen Clotilde throughout his
life and at the same time, he always remained a disciple, as it were,
of St Remigius, who became his adviser, guide and trusted example.
After having ruled the Diocese for 40 years, he died on 6 February 539 or 540.
The news concerning the efficacious nature of prayer to Vaast and the
many and diverse miracles and prodigies worked by God through his
intercession, continued over the centuries. This resulted in three
‘Vitae,’ being written. One of the Vita’s by St Alcuin, recounts that
on one occasion, having spent the day in instructing a nobleman, his
host would see him on his way with a glass of wine to sustain him but
found the cask empty. Vaast bid the servant to bring whatever he
should find in the vessel. The servant then found the barrel
overflowing with excellent wine, just like at Cana! The image below
relates to another miracle for which I cannot find the legend.
His body had many translations, due to the Norman invasion of the City
of Arras in the Ninth Century. In December 880, the City was set on
fire and its inhabitants massacred but the relics were rescued and
hidden at Beauvais which was fortified.
In 667, St Aubert, the Seventh Bishop of Arras, began to build an
Abbey for Benedictine Monks on the site of a little Chapel which Saint
Vaast had erected in honour of Saint Peter. Vaast’s relics were
transferred to the new Abbey, which was completed by Auburt’s
successor and generously endowed by King Theuderic III, who together
with his wife, was afterwards buried there. The relics, in the
following centuries, remained in possession of the Abbey of St Vaast
until the French Revolution, when the Abbey was sacked, however, the
relics miraculously remained intact! They were later transferred to
the Cathedral of Arras, where they still are today.
St Vaast’s cult, since ancient times, is widespread throughout France.
It is reported in the litanies of the Saints and he is considered the
Founder of the Episcopal See of Arras, for which he is the main
Patron. In France he is more widely known as St Gastone.
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/06/
Religion and Devotion
“Religion, should not be a cold, mechanical practice of obedience to
the commandments of God and the precepts of the Church.
Deep spiritual devotion and supernatural charity are necessary, as
well as religion.
In other words, religion should not be merely external but, should
spring from the mind and heart, this is devotion, which is the spirit
of religion...
St Francis de Sales analysed and expanded these ideas.
“True and living devotion,” he writes, “presupposes the love of God –
indeed, it really is a true love of God… but a love… which has reached
that height of perfection at which it not only causes us to act but,
to act zealously, frequently and promptly…” (Introduction to the
Devout Life, Bk I, C 1).
He continues: “Since devotion consists in a unique degree of charity,
it not only makes us prompt, active and zealous in the observance of
all the divine commands but, incites us, furthermore, to perform
readily and lovingly, as many good works as we can… even if they are
only recommended or suggested” (Ibid).
From this solid and sincere devotion flows, that taste for divine
things, that inner gentleness and peace of spirit which the Saints
enjoyed, even in the midst of sorrow and disillusionment.
It is the spontaneous homage of the mind and heart, that God wants most of all.”
--Antonio Cardinal Bacci
Saint Quote:
Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society.
-- Saint Francis of Assisi
Bible Quote:
He that believeth in me, as the scripture saith: Out of his belly
shall flow rivers of living water. [John 7:38] DRB
<><><><>
TO GOD THE FATHER OF ALL LIFE
Eternal God,
You have revealed Yourself as the Father of all Life.
We praise You for the Fatherly care
which You extend to all creation,
and especially to us,
made in Your image and likeness.
Therefore, the cross is something wonderfully great and honorable. It
is great because through the cross the many noble acts of Christ found
their consummation--very many indeed, for both his miracles and his
sufferings were fully rewarded with victory. The cross is honorable
because it is both the sign of God’s suffering and the trophy of his
victory. It stands for his suffering because on it he freely suffered
unto death. But it is also his trophy because it was the means by
which the devil was wounded and death conquered; the barred gates of
hell were smashed, and the cross became the one common salvation of
the whole world.
-- St Andrew of Crete from a discourse on the Glory and Victory of the Cross
<<>><<>><<>>
6 February – Saint Vaast of Arras
(c 453-539 or 540)
The First Bishop of Arras, France, Hermit, Ascetic, miracle-worker.,
Advisor to King Clovis. Born in c 453 at Limoges, France and died on 6
February in 539–540 at Arras, France of natural causes. Patronages –
against eye diseases, of the Diocese of Arras, Boulogne and
Saint-Omer, France, of children, of children who late learning to
walk. Also known as – Foster, Gaston, Gastone, Vaat, Vedast, Vedasto,
Vedastus. Additional Memorials – 2 January (discovery of relics), 7
February (enshrinement of relics), 15 July (translation of relics in
Cambrai), 1 October (translation of relics).
The Roman Martyrology reads: “In Arras in Belgian Gaul, today in
France, Saint Vedastus, Bishop, who, sent by Saint Remigius Bishop of
Rheims to the devastated City, catechised King Clovis, re-established
the Church and held it for about forty years and brought to an end,
the need of work for evangelisation among the previously still pagan
peoples of the region.”
Vaast was a native of the Limoges region, born in the second half of
the 5th century. He left his parents as a young man and embarked on a
secluded ascetic life as a Hermit, hidden from the world in the
Diocese of Toul, France. It was there, near Toul, that he accidentally
met King Clovis I who, after defeating the Germans, was returning to
his country.
The traditional account of the conversion of King Clovis by St Vaast,
says while on the road to Rheims, they encountered a blind beggar at
the bridge over the river Aisne. The man besought Vaast’s assistance.
Vaast, in this account had already been Ordained a Priest, was
inspired to pray and blessed the beggar, at which point the man
immediately recovered his sight. The miracle convinced the King to
adopt his wife’s religion. Vaast became and remained an advisor to
King Clovis. until the King’s death.
They continued their journey to Rheims, where Bishop St Remigius
administered Baptism to the King. On his departure, Clovis recommended
his instructor to the Bishop, who, knowing of the Hermit’s moral,
devotional and theological qualities, first Ordained him as a Priest
and then Consecrated him as the Bishop of Arras. (in the year 500).
This City of Arras was initially sacked by the Huns and the
population, already Christian since the Fourth Century, had dispersed
during the invasion. Arras was slowly repopulated but its inhabitants
had practically returned to paganism. The new Bishop courageously
embarked on his missionary work, reorganising his Diocese, converting
numerous inhabitants in his many apostolic journeys in the vast
territory entrusted to him.
He remained a friend of King Clovis and Queen Clotilde throughout his
life and at the same time, he always remained a disciple, as it were,
of St Remigius, who became his adviser, guide and trusted example.
After having ruled the Diocese for 40 years, he died on 6 February 539 or 540.
The news concerning the efficacious nature of prayer to Vaast and the
many and diverse miracles and prodigies worked by God through his
intercession, continued over the centuries. This resulted in three
‘Vitae,’ being written. One of the Vita’s by St Alcuin, recounts that
on one occasion, having spent the day in instructing a nobleman, his
host would see him on his way with a glass of wine to sustain him but
found the cask empty. Vaast bid the servant to bring whatever he
should find in the vessel. The servant then found the barrel
overflowing with excellent wine, just like at Cana! The image below
relates to another miracle for which I cannot find the legend.
His body had many translations, due to the Norman invasion of the City
of Arras in the Ninth Century. In December 880, the City was set on
fire and its inhabitants massacred but the relics were rescued and
hidden at Beauvais which was fortified.
In 667, St Aubert, the Seventh Bishop of Arras, began to build an
Abbey for Benedictine Monks on the site of a little Chapel which Saint
Vaast had erected in honour of Saint Peter. Vaast’s relics were
transferred to the new Abbey, which was completed by Auburt’s
successor and generously endowed by King Theuderic III, who together
with his wife, was afterwards buried there. The relics, in the
following centuries, remained in possession of the Abbey of St Vaast
until the French Revolution, when the Abbey was sacked, however, the
relics miraculously remained intact! They were later transferred to
the Cathedral of Arras, where they still are today.
St Vaast’s cult, since ancient times, is widespread throughout France.
It is reported in the litanies of the Saints and he is considered the
Founder of the Episcopal See of Arras, for which he is the main
Patron. In France he is more widely known as St Gastone.
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/06/
Religion and Devotion
“Religion, should not be a cold, mechanical practice of obedience to
the commandments of God and the precepts of the Church.
Deep spiritual devotion and supernatural charity are necessary, as
well as religion.
In other words, religion should not be merely external but, should
spring from the mind and heart, this is devotion, which is the spirit
of religion...
St Francis de Sales analysed and expanded these ideas.
“True and living devotion,” he writes, “presupposes the love of God –
indeed, it really is a true love of God… but a love… which has reached
that height of perfection at which it not only causes us to act but,
to act zealously, frequently and promptly…” (Introduction to the
Devout Life, Bk I, C 1).
He continues: “Since devotion consists in a unique degree of charity,
it not only makes us prompt, active and zealous in the observance of
all the divine commands but, incites us, furthermore, to perform
readily and lovingly, as many good works as we can… even if they are
only recommended or suggested” (Ibid).
From this solid and sincere devotion flows, that taste for divine
things, that inner gentleness and peace of spirit which the Saints
enjoyed, even in the midst of sorrow and disillusionment.
It is the spontaneous homage of the mind and heart, that God wants most of all.”
--Antonio Cardinal Bacci
Saint Quote:
Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society.
-- Saint Francis of Assisi
Bible Quote:
He that believeth in me, as the scripture saith: Out of his belly
shall flow rivers of living water. [John 7:38] DRB
<><><><>
TO GOD THE FATHER OF ALL LIFE
Eternal God,
You have revealed Yourself as the Father of all Life.
We praise You for the Fatherly care
which You extend to all creation,
and especially to us,
made in Your image and likeness.
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