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Christ's wounds bring healing and life
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Weedy
Mar 17, 2023, 3:55:27 AM3/17/23
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Christ's wounds bring healing and life
"The Lord of hosts was not signaling weakness as he gave sight to
the blind, made the crooked to stand upright, raised the dead to life
(Matthew 11:5), anticipated the effects of medicine at our prayers,
and cured those who sought after him. Those who merely touched the
fringe of his robe were healed (Mark 6:56). Surely you did not think
it was some divine weakness, you speculators, when you saw him
wounded. Indeed there were wounds that pierced his body (Matthew
27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:33; John 19:18, 31-37), but they did not
demonstrate weakness but strength. For from these wounds flowed life
to all, from the One who was the life of all."
by Ambrose of Milan(excerpt from ON THE CHRISTIAN FAITH 4.5.54–55.16)
<<>><<>><<>>
17 March – St Jan Sarkander
Priest and Martyr of the seal of confession, Confessor – born on 20
December 1576 at Skotschau (Skoczow), Austrian Silesia (in modern
Poland) and died by being covered in flammable material and set on
fire on 17 March 1620 at Olomouc, Moravia (in the modern Czech
Republic). Patronages – the Seal of Confession, Confessors, Moravia,
Persecuted Christians. St Jan Sarkander was married for a short period
of time before he became widowed and pursued a path to the Priesthood
where he became active in the defense of the faith during a period of
anti-Catholic sentiment and conflict. He himself was arrested on false
accusations as a means of silencing him and he refused to give in to
his tormentors who tortured him for around a month before he died. His
body is incorrupt.
Jan Sarkander was born on 20 December 1576 in Poland into a Silesian
household as the son of Georg Mathias Sarkander and Helene Górecka. He
had one sister and three other brothers – Nicholas (a priest himself),
Paul and Wenceslas. His father died in 1589 and so he moved alongside
his mother and siblings to Příbor. His mother remarried and he ended
up having a half-brother Matthew as a result. Sarkander believed he
was going to become a Priest but dropped the idea and instead married
and settled in Brno. The marriage was short lived for his wife died
not too long after (in 1607) the couple married, they were childless.
He then decided to resume his studies for the Priesthood.
He studied at the Olomouc college from 1597 until 1600, when due to
the plague, he was forced to transfer to the Charles University in
Prague where he graduated with a master’s in philosophical studies. He
obtained further education from the Jesuits in Prague and received his
doctorate in philosophical studies in 1603. He continued theological
studies in Austria from 1604. He later underwent theological studies
at the Graz University and passed his examinations on 21 December
1607. He was made a sub-deacon on 20 December 1608 and elevated into
the diaconate on 16 March 1609.
On 22 December 1607 he received the minor orders from Cardinal Franz
von Dietrichstein. The Bishop of Olomouc, Jan Křtitel Civalli ordained
him to the Priesthood on 22 March 1609 in Grozin and he was assigned
to work as a parish priest in Olmütz (Olomouc) and later he was sent
to Holešov. Baron von Lobkowitz from Moravia supported Sarkander’s
efforts to re-Christianise the region but the rich anti-Catholic
landowner, Bitowsky von Bistritz opposed him to the extent where he
wanted Sarkander killed.
The Thirty Years War began in 1618 and it saw a bitter conflict
between the Protestants and Christians and this forced him to flee to
Poland on 17 May 1619 for a brief period of time when the Protestants
occupied Hollenschau. He returned that November. Polish forces moved
into the area in 1620 and battle seemed imminent. He visited the field
commander with the Eucharist in a monstrance as a shield – the forces
saw him come and this prevented battle from taking place. The Jesuits
also helped him to reconcile 200 non-Christians to the faith but the
non-Christians were severely angered by this.
In 1620 – during the ongoing Bohemian Revolt – Protestant Moravian
Estates (under von Bistritz) accused Sarkander of being a traitor and
instigator and so he was tortured in the Olomouc prison. He was taken
to Olmütz where he was tortured for a confession (as well as for
revenge) and to also provide them with information on Sarkander’s
friend Lobkowitz. One reason for him being tortured was due to his
refusal to divulge what was said under the seal of confession.
Sarkander was covered in flammable material and was set on fire. He
did not die outright but it took a month until he died of the injuries
he sustained. Lighted candles as well as feathers soaked in oil and
sulfur placed on him and ignited. The rack was used on him on 13
February and again on the 17 and 18th; it would last two to three
hours. In 1720 his remains were exhumed and were deemed to be
incorrupt.
The “Saint Jan Sarkander chapel” stands on the place of his torture at
the top of Michael’s Hill. The original torturing rack and Sarkander’s
gravestone are preserved here as well.
St Jan’s remains reside at the Cathedral of Jan Sarkander at Olomouc
(in modern Czech Republic). The people immediately began to venerate
John Sarkander and to ask for his Beatification. He was Beatified on 6
May 1860, at Saint Peter’s Basilica by Pope Pius IX and Canonised on
21 May 1995 at Olomouc, Czech Republic by St Pope John Paul II.
https://anastpaul.com/2020/03/17/
“I forgave you all that debt because you besought me and should not
you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?”…
Matthew 18:32-33
REFLECTION – “We must wash one another’s feet in the mutual daily
service of love. But we must also wash one another’s feet, in the
sense, that we must forgive one another ever anew. The debt for which
the Lord has pardoned us is always infinitely greater than all the
debts that others can owe us….not to allow resentment toward others to
become a poison in the depths of the soul. It urges us to purify our
memory constantly, forgiving one another whole-heartedly, washing one
another’s feet, to be able to go to God’s banquet together.”…Pope
Benedict XVI (Holy Thursday homily 20 March 2008)
PRAYER – Almighty God, we thank You for Your endless mercy. We are
sinners but trust in Your merciful forgiveness when we turn to You in
sorrow. Open our hearts, make them forgiving to our brother, teach us
Your mercy. May Mary, Mother of Sorrow, pray for us. Grant that the
prayers of St Jan Sarkander may continue to defend us, as he did in
the world. We make our prayer through our forgiving Saviour, who even
to those who killed Him, turned to them in love and mercy and asked
You for their forgiveness. In union with the Holy Spirit, one God, for
all eternity, amen.
Bible Quote:
"Those who love me I also love
and those who seek me find me.
With me are riches and honor,
enduring wealth and prosperity
My fruit is better than gold,
yes, than pure gold,
and my revenue than choice
silver." [Proverbs 8:17-19]
<><><><>
The Most Holy Name of Jesus is our Strength insuperable.
"Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be Saved."--Rom. x. 13:
(Hymn of Thomas a Kempis)
In Christ's dear Name with courage bear
Whatever ills betide;
For worldly good is oft a snare,
And fills the heart with pride.
What seems a loss will often prove
To be our truest gain;
And pains endured with patient love
A jewelled crown obtain.
Brief is this life, and brief its pain,
But long the bliss to come;
And trials borne for Christ attain
A place with martyrdom.
The Christian soul by patience grows
More perfect day by day,
And brighter still and brighter glows
With Heaven's eternal ray.
"The Lord of hosts was not signaling weakness as he gave sight to
the blind, made the crooked to stand upright, raised the dead to life
(Matthew 11:5), anticipated the effects of medicine at our prayers,
and cured those who sought after him. Those who merely touched the
fringe of his robe were healed (Mark 6:56). Surely you did not think
it was some divine weakness, you speculators, when you saw him
wounded. Indeed there were wounds that pierced his body (Matthew
27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:33; John 19:18, 31-37), but they did not
demonstrate weakness but strength. For from these wounds flowed life
to all, from the One who was the life of all."
by Ambrose of Milan(excerpt from ON THE CHRISTIAN FAITH 4.5.54–55.16)
<<>><<>><<>>
17 March – St Jan Sarkander
Priest and Martyr of the seal of confession, Confessor – born on 20
December 1576 at Skotschau (Skoczow), Austrian Silesia (in modern
Poland) and died by being covered in flammable material and set on
fire on 17 March 1620 at Olomouc, Moravia (in the modern Czech
Republic). Patronages – the Seal of Confession, Confessors, Moravia,
Persecuted Christians. St Jan Sarkander was married for a short period
of time before he became widowed and pursued a path to the Priesthood
where he became active in the defense of the faith during a period of
anti-Catholic sentiment and conflict. He himself was arrested on false
accusations as a means of silencing him and he refused to give in to
his tormentors who tortured him for around a month before he died. His
body is incorrupt.
Jan Sarkander was born on 20 December 1576 in Poland into a Silesian
household as the son of Georg Mathias Sarkander and Helene Górecka. He
had one sister and three other brothers – Nicholas (a priest himself),
Paul and Wenceslas. His father died in 1589 and so he moved alongside
his mother and siblings to Příbor. His mother remarried and he ended
up having a half-brother Matthew as a result. Sarkander believed he
was going to become a Priest but dropped the idea and instead married
and settled in Brno. The marriage was short lived for his wife died
not too long after (in 1607) the couple married, they were childless.
He then decided to resume his studies for the Priesthood.
He studied at the Olomouc college from 1597 until 1600, when due to
the plague, he was forced to transfer to the Charles University in
Prague where he graduated with a master’s in philosophical studies. He
obtained further education from the Jesuits in Prague and received his
doctorate in philosophical studies in 1603. He continued theological
studies in Austria from 1604. He later underwent theological studies
at the Graz University and passed his examinations on 21 December
1607. He was made a sub-deacon on 20 December 1608 and elevated into
the diaconate on 16 March 1609.
On 22 December 1607 he received the minor orders from Cardinal Franz
von Dietrichstein. The Bishop of Olomouc, Jan Křtitel Civalli ordained
him to the Priesthood on 22 March 1609 in Grozin and he was assigned
to work as a parish priest in Olmütz (Olomouc) and later he was sent
to Holešov. Baron von Lobkowitz from Moravia supported Sarkander’s
efforts to re-Christianise the region but the rich anti-Catholic
landowner, Bitowsky von Bistritz opposed him to the extent where he
wanted Sarkander killed.
The Thirty Years War began in 1618 and it saw a bitter conflict
between the Protestants and Christians and this forced him to flee to
Poland on 17 May 1619 for a brief period of time when the Protestants
occupied Hollenschau. He returned that November. Polish forces moved
into the area in 1620 and battle seemed imminent. He visited the field
commander with the Eucharist in a monstrance as a shield – the forces
saw him come and this prevented battle from taking place. The Jesuits
also helped him to reconcile 200 non-Christians to the faith but the
non-Christians were severely angered by this.
In 1620 – during the ongoing Bohemian Revolt – Protestant Moravian
Estates (under von Bistritz) accused Sarkander of being a traitor and
instigator and so he was tortured in the Olomouc prison. He was taken
to Olmütz where he was tortured for a confession (as well as for
revenge) and to also provide them with information on Sarkander’s
friend Lobkowitz. One reason for him being tortured was due to his
refusal to divulge what was said under the seal of confession.
Sarkander was covered in flammable material and was set on fire. He
did not die outright but it took a month until he died of the injuries
he sustained. Lighted candles as well as feathers soaked in oil and
sulfur placed on him and ignited. The rack was used on him on 13
February and again on the 17 and 18th; it would last two to three
hours. In 1720 his remains were exhumed and were deemed to be
incorrupt.
The “Saint Jan Sarkander chapel” stands on the place of his torture at
the top of Michael’s Hill. The original torturing rack and Sarkander’s
gravestone are preserved here as well.
St Jan’s remains reside at the Cathedral of Jan Sarkander at Olomouc
(in modern Czech Republic). The people immediately began to venerate
John Sarkander and to ask for his Beatification. He was Beatified on 6
May 1860, at Saint Peter’s Basilica by Pope Pius IX and Canonised on
21 May 1995 at Olomouc, Czech Republic by St Pope John Paul II.
https://anastpaul.com/2020/03/17/
“I forgave you all that debt because you besought me and should not
you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?”…
Matthew 18:32-33
REFLECTION – “We must wash one another’s feet in the mutual daily
service of love. But we must also wash one another’s feet, in the
sense, that we must forgive one another ever anew. The debt for which
the Lord has pardoned us is always infinitely greater than all the
debts that others can owe us….not to allow resentment toward others to
become a poison in the depths of the soul. It urges us to purify our
memory constantly, forgiving one another whole-heartedly, washing one
another’s feet, to be able to go to God’s banquet together.”…Pope
Benedict XVI (Holy Thursday homily 20 March 2008)
PRAYER – Almighty God, we thank You for Your endless mercy. We are
sinners but trust in Your merciful forgiveness when we turn to You in
sorrow. Open our hearts, make them forgiving to our brother, teach us
Your mercy. May Mary, Mother of Sorrow, pray for us. Grant that the
prayers of St Jan Sarkander may continue to defend us, as he did in
the world. We make our prayer through our forgiving Saviour, who even
to those who killed Him, turned to them in love and mercy and asked
You for their forgiveness. In union with the Holy Spirit, one God, for
all eternity, amen.
Bible Quote:
"Those who love me I also love
and those who seek me find me.
With me are riches and honor,
enduring wealth and prosperity
My fruit is better than gold,
yes, than pure gold,
and my revenue than choice
silver." [Proverbs 8:17-19]
<><><><>
The Most Holy Name of Jesus is our Strength insuperable.
"Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be Saved."--Rom. x. 13:
(Hymn of Thomas a Kempis)
In Christ's dear Name with courage bear
Whatever ills betide;
For worldly good is oft a snare,
And fills the heart with pride.
What seems a loss will often prove
To be our truest gain;
And pains endured with patient love
A jewelled crown obtain.
Brief is this life, and brief its pain,
But long the bliss to come;
And trials borne for Christ attain
A place with martyrdom.
The Christian soul by patience grows
More perfect day by day,
And brighter still and brighter glows
With Heaven's eternal ray.
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