Intercessory Prayer
Lou Nunez
handy, thought I'd send it out.
Regarding the use of intercessory prayer, there are several patristic
citations, which God Willing, I will be able to find and post. For now,
I hope this helps.
I've also considered the passage in John's Gospel where our Lord tells us
that he He is the vine and we are the branches to indicate that not even
death separates us. Are we not all part of the vine? :)
Pax,
-Lou
=======
They are taken from the book _The Real Presence Through The Ages_
compiled and edited by Michael L. Gaudoin-Parker and published by
Alba House, New York. [ISBN:0-8189-0662-6] $14.95
Epitaph of Abercius (Late 2nd Century)
The first of the inscriptions in stone is that composed by a certain
Abercius, bishop of Hieropolis in Phrygia, for his own tomb. Fragments
of it were discovered in 1883 by Sir William Ramsey and it was graciously
given by the Sultan of Turkey, Abdul Hamit II, to Pope Leo XIII. It is
kept in the Lateran Museum in Rome. Scholars have been able to recon-
struct the text of the inscription from what was known of it through
a late life of Abercius which is attributed to Metaphrastes.
In the rather cryptic and poetic language, there can be discerned almost
certainly allusions to Christ ("the Chaste Shepherd"), the Church and/or
Virgin Mary ("Queen" and "immaculate Virgin") and the Eucharist ("the
Fish"). The genre and tone bespeak a deep, mystical, faith and reverence
befitting the Presence of Christ in the sacred Gifts shared in the Christian
mysteries.
Citizen of a famous city, I erected this [tomb] in my lifetime,
so that my body might one day repose in it. My name is
Abercius,
and I am a disciple of the Chaste Shepherd
who pastures the flocks of his sheep on the mountains
and in the plains and whose great eyes are far seeing
everywhere. He it is who taught me the scriptures of faith...
He it is who sent me to Rome to contemplate
its majesty, to behold a Queen adorned
in golden apparel and shod with sandals of gold.
I beheld there a people marked with a shining
seal. I also saw the plain of Syria
and all the cities, and Nisibis, beyond
the Euphrates; everywhere I discovered
my companions. With Paul for my guide,
I was led everywhere in faith; everywhere
(faith) served me as food a Fish from the Spring -
large and pure, [it had been] caught by an immaculate
Virgin.
She constantly offers it to her dearest friends
to eat; she likewise possesses the best of wine
which she serves for their drink with the bread.
I, Abercius, dictated this [text]
engraved in my presence; I am seventy-two years old.
Let the brother who understands these lines
pray for Abercius. Let no one place
any other tomb above this one. If he does so,
he shall pay the Roman treasury [a fine of] two thousand
coins
and owe my beloved Hieropolis a thousand. [1]
Epitaph of Pectorius (2nd Century?)
This enigmatic inscrption on seven marble fragments was found in 1838
in an ancient Christian cemetery near Autun, France. The style of the
Greek characters occasioned some scholars to date the epitaph as late
as the fifth or sixth centuries. It has been argued, however, by Cdnl
J.B. Pitra and G.B. de Rossi that it is probably a copy of a second
century original, the imagery and doctrine of its content being reminiscent
of Irenaeus' teaching. This epitaph - like the famous epitaph of Abercius -
is in essence thoroughly ecuharistic, especially because of its identifying
symbolism of the Fish. [2]
O divine race of the celestial Fish,
keep your heart pure in the midst of men, for you have
received
an immortal spring of wondrous waters. Thus
my friend, refresh your soul in the eternal waters
of abundant Wisdom. Receive the honied food
that the Savior gives his saints. Satisfy
your hunger when you receive the Fish in your hands.
Lord and Savior, I beg you to feed us
with the Fish. I beseech you Light of the deceased,
that my mother may sleep in peace. Aschandius, O father
most dear to my heart, together with my [sweet mother]
and my brothers, remember [me]
Pectorius [resting in the peace of the Fish]. [3]
(pages seven through nine, inclusive)
In both the above epitaphs, we see that the deceased is asking those still
on Earth to pray for them, and in one prays for the eternal repose of
those who had gone before him.
But never fear, there are a few more coming up from some early fathers
of the church.
Peace,
-Lou +e-mail lnu...@stevens-tech.edu+
[1] Cf. Michael O' Carroll, C.S. Sp., Corpus Christi, op. cit. p.1;
also Herbert A. Musurillo, The Fathers of the Primitive Church,
Mentor-Omega, The New American Library Inc, New York, 1966, p.260 ff
[2] The symbol of the Fish is well represented in the primitive Christian
art of the catacombs. It is referred to at the end of the second
century. Cf. Tertullian, _De Baptismo_, 1; Clement of Alexandria,
Paedagogus, III 12,101 (end) It is generally thought to be an
acrostic signifying "Jesus Christ Son of God Savior," made from
the Greek letters for "Fish", It became properly a Eucharistic symbol
in the fourth/fifth centuries (cf. St Augustine, _De Civitate Dei_,
XVIII,23).
[3] Cf. O'Carroll, ibid, p.157, Musurillo, ibid, p.262.
Steven Rauch
> In both the above epitaphs, we see that the deceased is asking those still
> on Earth to pray for them, and in one prays for the eternal repose of
> those who had gone before him.
Lou,
I've read them both two times over and I still don't see how you can get
what you think they say. Please give more clear examples.
--Steven Rauch
str...@umich.edu
Lou Nunez
the epitaphs of Abercius and Pectorius.
Before getting into that, though, may I mention that when we Catholics
"pray", we are asking the saints to join us in prayer, much the same
way Christians on this list are asked to intercede for one another with
their prayers.
Well, Steven, here are the lines:
> I, Abercius, dictated this [text]
> engraved in my presence; I am seventy-two years old.
> Let the brother who understands these lines
> pray for Abercius. Let no one place
> any other tomb above this one. If he does so,
> he shall pay the Roman treasury [a fine of] two thousand
> coins
> and owe my beloved Hieropolis a thousand. [1]
Let the brother who understands these lines pray for Abercius.
Since that line was on the Epitaph, above his tomb, it seems
clear to me that Abercius is asking for the prayers of the living.
Epitaph of Pectorius (2nd Century?)
> with the Fish. I beseech you Light of the deceased,
> that my mother may sleep in peace. Aschandius, O father
> most dear to my heart, together with my [sweet mother]
> and my brothers, remember [me]
> Pectorius [resting in the peace of the Fish]. [3]
Pectorius is asking, Jesus (Light of the deceased) that his mother
rest in peace, and is in turn asking his family which has departed
to remember him, ostensibly in their prayers.
I hope this helps. Please let me know if it still isn't clear.
Pax,
-Lou
LNU...@APOLLO.STEVENS-TECH.EDU
Preach The Gospel At All Times, Use Words If Necessary. - St. Francis of Assisi