| Topic: |
Religions > Bible |
| User: |
"Hildi" |
| Date: |
30 Oct 2006 10:52:20 AM |
| Object: |
Psalm 103:13-14 |
Bible Verse
- Psalm 103:13-14 -
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
______________________________________________________________________
We are fragile, but God's care is eternal. Too often we focus on God as Judge
and Lawgiver, ignoring his compassion and concern for us. When God examines our
lives, he remembers our human condition. Our weakness should never be used as a
justification for sin. His mercy takes everything into account. God will deal
with you compassionately. Trust him.
<><><><>
October 30th - Saint Marcellus, The Centurion and His Children, Martyrs
(d. 298)
It is believed that Saint Marcellus was born in Arzas of Galicia. A brave
pagan, he entered upon the career of arms, hoping to gain a large fortune.
He married a young lady named Nona and they were blessed with twelve
children. Saint Marcellus was a valorous solider and was promoted to the
charge of centurion; he had no thought for any advancement except the sort
pertaining to his military life, when he heard the fervent preaching of a
holy bishop of the church of Leon. He was converted with his entire family
to the Christian religion. All of them except his wife would soon give their
blood in honor of their Faith.
The birthday of the Emperor Maximian Herculeus was celebrated in the year
298 with extraordinary feasting and solemn rites. Marcellus, as a centurion
of the army, a captain in the legion of Trajan then posted in Mauritania or
Spain, in order not to defile himself in these impious sacrifices, left his
company, throwing down his cincture and his arms and declaring aloud that he
was a soldier of Jesus Christ, the eternal King. He was at once committed to
prison. When the festival was over, he was brought before a judge, and
having reiterated his faith, was sent under a strong guard to a prefect,
Aurelian Agricolaus. This Roman officer passed upon him a sentence of death
by the sword. Marcellus was immediately led to execution and beheaded on the
30th of October of the year 298. Cassian, the secretary or notary of the
court, refused to record the sentence pronounced against the martyr, because
of its injustice. He was immediately hurried to prison, and was beheaded in
his turn on the 3rd of December.
The children of Saint Marcellus imitated his constancy, and all lost their
lives for the defense of the Gospel; three of the boys were hanged and then
decapitated at Leon. Their pious mother bought back their bodies for money
and buried them secretly; they were later transferred to a church built in
their honor in the city of Leon.
Reflection: "We are ready to die rather than to transgress the laws of God!"
exclaimed one of the Maccabees. This sentiment must ever be that of a
Christian in the throes of temptation.
Sources: Les Petits Bollandistes: Vies des Saints, by Msgr. Paul Guérin
(Bloud et Barral: Paris, 1882), Vol. 13; Little Pictorial Lives of the
Saints, a compilation based on Butler's Lives of the Saints and other
sources by John Gilmary Shea (Benziger Brothers: New York, 1894).
Quote:
"So get rid of all malicious behavior and deceit. Don't just pretend to be
good! Be done with hypocrisy and jealousy and backstabbing. You must crave
pure spiritual milk so that you can grow into the fullness of your
salvation. Cry out for this nourishment as a baby cries for milk, now that
you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness." (1 Peter 2:1-3)
<><><><>
GOD
He made the grass green,
Grew the lilies in the fields;
Sent the rain and sun upon you,
For a harvest He bid yield;
Sent the seeds into the garden;
Made it here their earthly home;
Sent His spirit down to guide you,
So in light you'd ever roam.
But you chose to find a new path,
Filled with thorns and stones and
sorrow;
Wandered here to live in pleasure,
Never thinking of tomorrow.
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Prayer to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart:
Remember,
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart,
what ineffable power thy divine Son hath given thee
over His own adorable Heart.
Full of trust in thy merits,
we come before thee and beg thy protection.
O heavenly Treasurer of the Heart of Jesus,
that Heart which is the inexhaustible source
of all graces,
which thou mayest open to us at thy good pleasure,
in order that from it may flow forth upon mankind
the riches of love and mercy,
light and salvation,
that are contained therein;
grant unto us,
we beseech thee,
the favors which we seek. . . .
We can never, never be refused by thee,
and since thou art our Mother,
O our Lady of the Sacred Heart,
graciously hear our prayers and grant our request. Amen.
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