Crucifixion Icon ----- c 2009 Joann Nelander
St. Justin Martyr: First Apology: chapters 36-47
Day 15 Lite Version
St. Justin Martyr: First Apology:46-53
Printer-Friendly Version of Outline: Church Fathers Lenten Reading Plan PDF
The Anchoress gave new hope for Judgment Day saying:
Well…be not afraid. If that day comes, everyone else will be looking at the records of their own lives being exposed. It may well have the effect of bringing us – finally – together, as we realize that we are all faulty, flawed, capable of great good and great evil, creatures of lightness and dark. It will emphasize that “none are perfect save Christ.” Remember what Michel Montaigne said:
There is no man so good, who, were he to submit all his thoughts and actions to the laws would not deserve hanging ten times in his life.
Phew!!!!!!!!!!…… It’s great to imagine everyone being so distracted.
I heard one rendition of the Day in which everyone is trying to outdo each other with the greatness of God’s Mercy for what He’d forgiven them. Actually, I remember some prayer meetings which made me feel as though no one would be interested in my story after hearing the soul-curdling tales of conversion of some of our bunch.
The good news is that people took action. There is no sleeping for Connecticut Catholics.
FIC Action President Peter Wolfgang will be on the Laura Ingraham show at 10:35 March 12th to discuss the anti-Catholic bill S.B. 1098, the two legislators–Lawlor and McDonald–who were behind it, and the incredible response by outraged citizens of all faiths at the state Capitol on March 11th. You can listen to Laura’s program here
“There were about 5,000 people at the state capitol yesterday– a weekday!–to protest this blatantly unconstitutional attack on religious liberty. Legislators of both parties are suddenly showing a greater level of deference and respect toward the Catholic Church and other faiths than FIC Action has ever seen.”
“Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your follow believers throughout the world undergo the same suffering.” 1 Peter 5: 8-9
Connecticut Catholic and the bishops of the Catholic Church had better get their ducks in order for the next volley.
Ed Morrissey writes that Connecticut lawmakers “finally got around to reading the founding documents”
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
As a result of the mass outcry,the bill that would have deprived bishops of legitimate power in their parishes was cancelled on the grounds of it being clearly unconstitutional.
As soon as word spread about the bill, the Legislative Office Building was flooded with telephone calls and e-mails on Monday. The bill, virtually overnight, became the hottest issue at the state Capitol.
The cancellation came less than 24 hours after Senate Republican John McKinney of Fairfield called for the cancellation, saying that his caucus was unanimously against the bill because they believe it is clearly unconstitutional.
The bill itself according to Morrissey, and the agreeing protesters, was “a piece of work”
(a) A corporation may be organized in connection with any Roman Catholic Church or congregation in this state, by filing in the office of the Secretary of the State a certificate signed by the archbishop or bishop and the vicar-general of the archdiocese or of the diocese in which such congregation is located and the pastor and two laymen belonging to such congregation, stating that they have so organized for the purposes hereinafter mentioned. [Such archbishop or bishop, vicar-general and pastor of such congregation and, in case of the death or other disability of the archbishop or bishop, the administrator of the archdiocese or diocese for the time being, the chancellor of the archdiocese or diocese and the pastor of such congregation shall be members, ex officio, of such corporation, and, upon their death, resignation, removal or preferment, their successors in office shall become such members in their stead. The two lay members shall be appointed annually, in writing, during the month of January from the lay members of the congregation by a majority of the ex-officio members of the corporation; and three members of the corporation, of whom one shall be a layman, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.]
(b) The corporation shall have a board of directors consisting of not less than seven nor more than thirteen lay members. The archbishop or bishop of the diocese or his designee shall serve as an ex-officio member of the board of directors without the right to vote.
We do live in interesting times. Sleep only with one eye open!
From the Office of the Day – St Hilary, Early Church Father & Doctor of the Church:
“Fear” is not to be taken in the sense that common usage gives it. Fear in this ordinary sense is the trepidation our weak humanity feels when it is afraid of suffering something it does not want to happen. We are afraid, or made afraid, because of a guilty conscience, the rights of someone more powerful, an attack from one who is stronger, sickness, encountering a wild beast, suffering evil in any form. This kind of fear is not taught: it happens because we are weak. We do not have to learn what we should fear: objects of fear bring their own terror with them.
From the Office of the Day – But of the fear of the Lord this is what is written: Come, my children, listen to me, I shall teach you the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord has then to be learned because it can be taught. It does not lie in terror, but in something that can be taught. It does not arise from the fearfulness of our nature; it has to be acquired by obedience to the commandments, by holiness of life and by knowledge of the truth.
For us the fear of God consists wholly in love, and perfect love of God brings our fear of him to its perfection. Our love for God is entrusted with its own responsibility: to observe his counsels, to obey his laws, to trust his promises.
Day 14 Church Fathers Lenten Reading Plan 3/12/09
St. Justin Martyr: First Apology: chapters 24-35
Day 14 Lite Version
St. Justin Martyr: First Apology: 38-45
Printer-Friendly Version of Outline: Church Fathers Lenten Reading Plan PDF
Be Holy! 