Humility of John the Baptist

[Weedy]

Humility of John the Baptist

"John the Baptist was regarded by some people as the Messiah but he
told them: "I am not the one whom you think." He refused to accept the
error of someone in order to derive glory from it.

John admitted what he was, declared what he was not, and humbled
himself. He clearly recognized where his salvation came from, for he
understood that he was the lamp, and he feared being extinguished by
pride."
--St. Augustine--Sermon 293, 4

Prayer: Thanks and praise to you, my God, who sound in my ears and who
illuminate my heart. Keep me away from every temptation.
--St. Augustine--Confessions 10, 31

<<>><<>><<>>
June 25th – St. Maximus of Turin B (RM)

Born in Vercelli, Italy; died c. 470. Bishop Saint Maximus of Turin
(Italy) was indefatigable in his preaching. Many of his famous
homilies about the primary feasts, several saints (Stephen, Agnes,
Cyprian, Laurence, and others, especially the martyrs of Turin), and
other associated writings are still available for our study. He
writes: "All the martyrs are to be honored by us, but especially those
whose relics we possess. They assist us by their prayers; they
preserve us as to our bodies in this life, and receive us when we
depart hence."

In his two homilies on thanksgiving, he earnestly inculcates the duty
of praising God daily, especially using the Psalms. He strongly
insists that no one ought ever to neglect morning and evening prayer,
or his thanksgiving before and after every meal. This saintly bishop
exhorts us to make the sign of the cross before every action, saying,
"that by the sign of Jesus Christ (devoutly used) a blessing is
ensured to us in all things." The saint criticizes the abuses of New
Year's Day, especially the then prevalent custom of giving presents to
the rich without at the same time giving alms to the poor, and the
hypocritical formalities of friendship in which the heart has no
share. He also wrote "Against heretics who sell the pardon of sins,"
whose pretended priests exacted money for absolving penitents instead
of bidding them do penance, and weep for their offenses.

Maximus participated in the council of Milan in 451, and at that of
Rome under Pope Saint Hilary, in 465, in which latter he subscribed
just after the pope. He had to endure much during his episcopacy
because of the barbarian incursions into Italy (Benedictines,
Encyclopedia, Husenbeth). In art, Saint Maximus is a bishop with a
hind near him (Roeder).


Saint Quote:
Separate me from myself and from all that is not you, in order to
unite and incorporate me with you. Empty me of myself and of all
things, destroy me utterly, in order to fill  me with yourself and to
form and establish yourself in me. Cause me henceforth to be a
perfect image of yourself; just as you are a most perfect image of
your Father.
--St. John Eudes

Bible Quote:
Save us, O Lord, our God: and gather us from among nations:
That we may give thanks to thy holy name, and may glory
 in thy praise. (Psalms 105:47)


<><><><>
The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Although known most widely in its abbreviated form above,
the entire prayer reads as follows:

Full Original Serenity Prayer
by Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)

God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.