Saints and Scripture Martyrs

"For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it."
--Matthew 16:25

The Church has been persecuted from the beginning. I've blogged before about St Ignatios of Antioch, the disciple of St John the Apostle who was thrown to the lions because of his Christian faith.
We all know about the persecution during by the Roman Empire, but how many us have given any thought to the persecutions suffered under the English, Vietnamese, Japanese and Koreans? How many of us knew that St Thomas was martyred in India?
How many of us have sat down and realized that persecution has been continuous since they crucified Jesus and stoned Stephen? As Christians we've even persecuted other parts of our Church.
In the 20th Century the leading cause of persecution and thus martyrdom was Communism. Today the leading source of persecution is Islamic governments and extremists, followed by Communists, and the third source is Hindu fundamentalists.
Keep the persecuted Church in your prayers. If you want to know what else to do, look here or here.
"Remember them that are in bonds, as if you were bound with them; and them that labour, as being yourselves also in the body."
--Hebrews 13:3

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Vade Retro Satana by Cradle Catholic

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Sunday Snippet

Blogging has been light lately, I only had three posts this week (other than this post).

Saints and Scripture 14AUG: This post is about the union of Heaven and Earth during Mass/Divine Liturgy
One way to Reduce the Deficit: Feds should save money by selling BLM lands.
7 Quick Takes 19AUG: My excitement for the new Doctor Who episode and some of my other randoms thoughts for this week.

Be sure to stop by RAnn's This That and the Other Thing to see the other Sunday Snippets for this week.

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7 Quick Takes 19AUG

1. A clip from the upcoming new episode of Doctor Who, "Let's Kill Hitler"


2. Another clip from the next episode. This clip has an awkward ending. I can't wait to see this episode!


3. Just one more clip about the upcoming episode:


4. I read about St Maximus the Confessor the other day. He wrote the earliest known biography of Mary.

5. I live in Augusta, GA and found out a couple of weeks ago that a priest from here was going to travel to St Gertrude's Monastery in Idaho, just a few miles from where I am from. I was amazed that of all the places, he was going there.
I got a call the other night from my Mom. Father had mentioned to one of the nuns that he knew me and she called my parents and invited them to lunch with Father. It sounds like everyone had a nice time.

6. I've been going to the local Spirit and Truth group here for three weeks. Each week we have adoration. Each week we since Christian pop songs the whole time. I take that back, twice we sang Tantum Ergo and prayed the Divine Praises once. I keep wishing that we could have adoration in silence to contemplate or at least to sing songs about the Eucharist to draw us into a deeper awareness of the majesty and wonder before us. Is this a valid point or am I just being snobbish?

7. Hooray for another weekend with my daughter! I love spending time with my little princess.

Thanks Jen for hosting 7 Quick Takes for another week.

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One Way to Cut Deficit

If the federal government is really serious about saving money they can start selling off land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The federal gov't owns 80+% of most western states. They can start by selling off the land that they lease for next to nothing to ranchers, loggers. Not only would it raise an immediate amount of money, but if we can save millions when enough land is sold that we can start eliminating district offices. Think about the money saved when all that administrative overhead is gone for land that very often just sits there.
Think about all the land that the federal gov't owns and is holding on to for no good reason, and then the money we pay in taxes/deficit to hold onto this land.

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Saints and Scripture 14Aug

And they cried one to another, and said: Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God of hosts, all the earth is full of his glory.

Isaiah 6:3

And the four living creatures had each of them six wings; and round about and within they are full of eyes. And they rested not day and night, saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.

Revelation 4:8

Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will.

Luke 2:14

One of the most beautiful aspects of the Ancient Churches (Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican) is also one of the least taught/talked about, at least in the Western Churches. What I am talking about is the union of Heaven and Earth during the celebration of the Mass/Divine Liturgy.
This union is most evident when we sing praise to Lord of the Heavenly Host just the same way as the angels in Heaven (see above). For those of us who have been Catholic, Orthodox, or Anglican for any amount of time those passages are familiar as part of the liturgy. "Holy, holy, holy" is from prophetic visions of how the angels worship in Heaven and the third is from the Lucan account of the Nativity and the angelic worship around the Baby Jesus.
Certainly here I would like to mention Sts Michael, Raphael and of course our Guardian Angels.
Heavenly Host pray for us to the Lord, Our God.

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Theandric-Adoro Te Devote

I Googled "Thomas Aquinas+heavy metal" (I don't know why I do half of the random things I do.) and found this video:

hat tip to Why I am Catholic
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Let all mortal flesh keep silence

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Dalek Wedding

From Alex's Guide via Byzantine Texas



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Saints and Scripture Unity

That they all may be one, as thou, Father, in me, and I in thee; that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
Gospel of St John 17:21 (Douay-Rheims)

All Christians certainly share in the New Covenant and as such we all have a spiritual communion with one another, but we are called to a much closer unity. Christ prayed at the Mount of Olives that we may be one as He and the Father are one. Christ and the Father don't say two different things about contraception, Eucharist or anything else. They are of One Voice.
St Josaphat the Bishop of Polotsk was martyred for his attempts to reconcile the Eastern Orthodox is his eparchy with the Catholic Church and reestablish unity.
Sts Athanasius and Maximus the Confessor suffered much during their lives because they preached the truth about the nature of Christ and refused to lead others into separate Churches. Much of their suffering could have been eased if they had led some kind of "Reformation", but like the prophets of the Old Testament they remained steadfast through the Holy Spirit and corrected their brothers and maintained the unity of God's people by converting and convincing others away from false ideas about our God.

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Saintly bands...

So I was thinking,... what if the saints had modern bands? What might they be called?

Iggy and the Jesuits
Francis and the Animals
Paul in Chains
Upside Down Crosses
Catherine's Wheel
Puddle of Lourdes

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7 Quick Takes 29July

1. I saw an article this morning that archaeologists in Turkey have found what they believe is St Phillip the Apostle's tomb. I already posted on it, but I wanted to mention it again here. I hope it turns out to be true.
2. I've started seeing ads for the next episode of Doctor Who and it looks amazing! I can't wait to see it in late August!
3. I'm thinking about a vacation. I'm thinking either northern Minnesota or Vicksburg. Why one of those two random places? There both on my list of places to visit someday.
4. I really like this image. I have always liked the Eucharistic symbolism of the bird cutting itself open with its beak, sacrificing itself so it's children may eat and live.

5. I've also thought that it would make for a great new tattoo.
6.Please pray for Father Ly's release. He's still imprisoned by the Communist goverment of Vietnam.
7. "He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" Revelation 22:20

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St Phillip's Tomb Found in Turkey

DENIZLI, Turkey (EWTN News) — An archaeological team working in southwest Turkey says it has uncovered the tomb of St. Philip the Apostle.

Italian professor Francesco D’Andria, head of the excavation team at the ancient city of Hierapolis in the province of Denizli, told reporters on July 26 that experts had reached the apostle’s tomb.

Archaeologists had been working for years to find the tomb, he said. They reached the monument while working on the ruins of a newly unearthed church in Hierapolis, the Turkish news agency Anadolu reports. The city of Hierapolis, whose name means “sacred city,” is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is famous for its historical hot springs and was used as a spa since the second century. It features a mixture of pagan, Roman, Jewish and early Christian influences.

The structure of the tomb and the writings on it prove that it belonged to St. Philip the Apostle, D’Andria said. He characterized the discovery as a major development both for archaeology and the Christian world.

Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/st.-philips-tomb-found/#ixzz1TU6DBYrL

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Saints and Scripture 144

Of David. Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war;

My safe guard and my fortress, my stronghold, my deliverer, My shield, in whom I trust, who subdues peoples under me

Psalm 144:1-2

We all have our own internal battles and the spiritual war rages within and all around us. Fortunately, the Lord of Hosts provides grace, especially through the Sacraments and Mass or the Divine Liturgy (for Eastern Catholics/Orthodox).
St Michael the Archangel is the poster angel for spiritual warfare. After all, in Revelation we see that he was the leader of those angels loyal to the Almighty. He is the one depicted with Satan underfoot about to stab him. His name means "Who is like God?", a stern rebuke to the pride of Satan and his followers.

This week's Saints and Scripture over at The Kennedy Adventure

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Great quote on the Arab Spring

Muslims want the benefits of Christendom without the Christianity of Christendmom.
--Abu Daoud

h/t to Islam and Christianity

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Clouds

Just as the sun's rays are sometimes hidden from the earth by thick cloud, so for a while a person may be deprived of spiritual comfort and of grace's brightness. This is caused by the cloud of the passions. Then, all of a sudden, without that person being aware, it is all given back. Just as the surface of the earth rejoices at the rays of the sun when they break through the clouds, so the words of prayer are able to break through to drive the thick cloud of the passions away from the soul.

St. Isaac the Syrian

hat tip to Word from the Desert

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Memorial Day

This is a video of a friend of mine singing God Bless America.

Long may He bless these United States and continue to give His guidance!

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I found this while wandering around the web. I came across a blog called Ramblings of a Byzantine Catholic. I like the video of various scenes in Byzantine Church life and the singer repeating a common Byzantine prayer called the Jesus Prayer.




H/T to Ramblings of a Byzantine Catholic

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Happy Easter!

Christos anesti! Christ is Risen!

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Saints and Scripture Welcome

‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;--Matthew 25:35 (emphasis mine)

The above quote is from the parable of the sheep and rams in Matthew 25. Everyone remembers that Christ calls on all of us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty and visit the imprisoned, but how many of us remember that He also calls on us to welcome strangers?
Yet, welcoming others, especially strangers, is an important Christian trait. If not because Jesus said so in Matthew, then because the theme of hospitality and welcoming strangers occurs again and again. In Genesis there is the example of the Hospitality of Abraham. Later, in Hebrews, there is teaching:
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:2

St Benedict of Nursia understood this when he wrote his Rule which is still used today by the Benedictines and Cistercians. In it he wrote:
"All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ, who said: 'I was a stranger and you welcomed me'."
-- Rule of St Benedict 53

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