Quote of the Day – 14 May – Monday of the Seventh Week of Eastertide
This Faith, increased by the Lord’s Ascension and established by the gift of the Holy Ghost, was not terrified by bonds, imprisonments, banishments, hunger, fire, attacks by wild beasts, refined torments of cruel persecutors. For this Faith throughout the world, not only men but even women, not only beardless boys but even tender maids, fought to the shedding of their blood.
This Faith cast out spirits, drove off sicknesses, raised the dead and through it, the blessed Apostles themselves also, who after being confirmed by so many miracles and instructed by so many discourses, had yet been panic-stricken by the horrors of the Lord’s Passion and had not accepted the truth of His resurrection without hesitation, made such progress after the Lord’s Ascension, that everything which had previously filled them with fear was turned into joy.
For they had lifted the whole contemplation of their mind to the Godhead of Him, that sat at the Father’s right hand and were no longer hindered by the barrier of corporeal sight from directing their minds’ gaze to He (That Which) had never left the Father’s side in descending to earth and had not forsaken the disciples in ascending to heaven.
….Let us then, dearly-beloved, resist this pestilential evil and follow after charity, without which no virtue can flourish, that by this path of love whereby Christ came down to us, we too may mount up to Him, to Whom with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, is honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
St Pope Leo the Great (400-461) Doctor of the Church
AnaStpaul 