Thought for the Day – 17 November – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Have We Ever Abandoned Jesus?
“The Apostles did not wish to abandon Jesus in theory but, in practice, they did so. Remember the tragic scene in Gethsemane. One Apostle had gone to betray Jesus as if He were a criminal and, to sell Him, as if He were a slave! The others were asleep. Jesus alone and deserted, was praying for ungrateful humanity. He perspired blood and prepared to drink the bitter chalice of humiliation and of the most ignominious form of death. The hired soldiers arrived and arrested Him, as a seducer of the people.
What was the reaction of the Apostles who had so often promised to be faithful to their Master until death? The Evangelist tells us, “Then all the disciples left Him and fled.” (Mt 26:56).
Let us examine ourselves. Are we faithful to Jesus only when everything is going well, when the cross is not too heavy and when we are not too strongly tempted to sin?”
Quote/s of the Day – 17 November – St Gregory Thaumaturgus (c 213-c 270) “the Wonder-Worker,” Bishop, Confessor
“ By a woman, came the flood of our ills and by a woman too, our blessings, have their spring.”
“The Creed” of Saint Gregory Thaumaturgus
There is one God, the Father of the Living Word, Who is His subsistent Wisdom and Power and Eternal Image, perfect Begetter of the perfect Begotten, Father of the Only-begotten Son. There is one Lord, Only of the Only, God of God, Image and Likeness of Deity, Efficient Word, Wisdom comprehensive of the constitution of all things and Power formative of the whole creation, true Son of true Father, Invisible of Invisible and Incorruptible of Incorruptible and Immortal of Immortal and Eternal of Eternal. And there is One Holy Spirit, having His subsistence from God and being made manifest by the Son, to wit to men, Image of the Son, Perfect Image of the Perfect, Life, the Cause of the living, Holy Fount, Sanctity, the Supplier, or Leader, of Sanctification, in Whom is manifested God the Father, Who is above all and in all and God the Son, Who is through all. There is a perfect Trinity, in glory and eternity and sovereignty, neither divided nor estranged. Wherefore, there is nothing, either created or in servitude in the Trinity, nor anything superinduced, as if at some former period, it was non-existent and at some later period, it was introduced. And thus neither was the Son ever wanting to the Father, nor the Spirit to the Son but, without variation and without change, the same Trinity abideth ever.
St Gregory Thaumaturgus (c 213-c 270) “the Wonder-Worker,” Bishop, Confessor
One Minute Reflection – 17 November – St Gregory Thaumaturgus (c 213-c 270) “the Wonder-Worker,” Bishop, Confessor – Sirach 44:16-27; 45:3-20, Mark 11:22-24 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Therefore, I say to you, all things whatsoever you ask for in prayer, believe that you shall receive and they shall come to you.” – Mark 11:24
REFLECTION – “The one word, faith, can have two meanings. One kind of faith concerns doctrines. It involves, the soul’s ascent to and acceptance of, some particular matter. It also concerns the soul’s good, according to the words of the Lord – Whoever hears My Voice and believes in Him, Who sent Me, has eternal life and will not come to be judged. And again: He who believes in the Son, is not condemned but has passed from death to life.
How great is God’s love for men! Some good men have been found pleasing to God because of years of work. What they achieved by working, for many hours at a task, pleasing to God, is freely given to you by Jesus, in one short hour. For if you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved and taken up to paradise by Him, just as He brought the thief there. Do not doubt that this is possible. After all, He saved the thief on the holy hill of Golgotha because of one hour’s faith; will He not save you too, since you have believed?
The other kind of faith is given by Christ, by means of a special grace. To one wise sayings are given through the Spirit, to another perceptive comments by the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing. Now this kind of faith, given by the Spirit as a special favour, is not confined to doctrinal matters, for it produces effects beyond any human capability. If a man who has this faith says to this mountain move from here to there, it will move. For when anybody says this in faith, believing it will happen and having no doubt in his heart, he then receives that grace.
It is of this kind of faith, moreover, that it is said: If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed. The mustard seed is small in size but it holds an explosive force, although it is sown in a small hole, it produces great branches and when it is grown, birds can nest there. In the same way faith produces great effects in the soul instantaneously. Enlightened by faith, the soul pictures God and sees Him as clearly as any soul can. It circles the earth, even before the end of this world, it sees the judgement and the conferring of promised rewards. So may you have the faith which depends on you and is directed to God, that you may receive from Him, that faith too, which transcends man’s capacity.” – St Cyril of Jerusalem (315-387) Archbishop of Jerusalem, Father and Doctor of the Church (An excerpt from the Catecheses, 5).
PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God that the venerable feast of Thy blessed Gregory Confessor and Bishop may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
May Your Heart Dwell Always in our Hearts! by Saint Francis De Sales (1567-1622) Doctor of Charity
May Your Heart dwell always in our hearts! May Your Blood ever flow in the veins of our souls! O Sun of our hearts, You give life to all things by the rays of Your goodness! I will not go, until Your Heart has strengthened me, O Lord Jesus! May the Heart of Jesus be the King of my heart! Blessed be God. Amen
Saint of the Day – 17 November – St Florinus of Remüs (Died c 856) Priest, Confessor, Miracle-worker. Born in the late 8th Century in Val Venosta, Italy and died in c 856 at Remüs (modern Ramosch), Switzerland of natural causes. His name (from Latin) means “the blooming one.” Patronages – of the Lower Engadine and Vinschgau; from 1288 to 1962 – the Diocese of Chur. Also known as – • Florinus of Chur• Florinus of Finsgowe• Florinus of Matsch• Florinus of Mazia• Florinus of Ramosch• Florinus of Val Venosta• Florinus of Vinschgau• Florinus of Vnuost• Florin, Florian. Additional Memorials – • 7 August (translation of relics to Chur, Switzerland) • 18 December (translation of relics to the Trier, Germany).
Picture at the Parish Church in Matsch in South Tyrol
According to tradition, Florinus was the son of an Anglo-Saxon father and a Christian Jew who had settled in Vinschgau on their return from a pilgrimage to Rome . Florinus was raised by the Priest Alexander of Remüs. His former protégé, Florinus, who had meanwhile become a Priest, followed him in the pastoral apostolit. The activity which the new shepherd carried out by word and example, was so devoted that Florinus quickly won the love and admiration of his flock.
The Church in Ramosch, which used to be dedicated to St Peter and is now to St Florinus
The legend tells of numerous miracles, such as when he fetched the Communion wine, gave it to a poor woman for her ailing husband and, instead refilled the container with water, which turned into wine at the Altar. Hence in art, Florinus is usually depicted holiding a Chalice.
Many miracles also took place at Florinus’ tomb in the Church of Ramosch. As early as 719 there was a Church dedicated to Florinus, presided over by St Othmar of Saint Gallen (feast day yesterday). The Church in Ramosch, was dedicated to Florinus in 930. . Around 950, Duke Hermann of Swabia, brought Florinus’ Relics to the Marienstift in Koblenz, whose Church was then dedicated to Florinus too. After its founding in 1142, the bones came to the Monastery in Schönau near Heidelberg; others are in Regensburg. Because the Founder of the former Monasterywas converted at the grave of Florinus, in Churwalden, he acquired relics for his new foundation.
Stained glass window in the Baptistery in the Chur Cathedral
The Cathedral in Vaduz, built in the 19th Century next to a Chapel dedicated to Florinus and the Parish Church in Matsch is also dedicated to him. Another Chapel, built in 1853 at the end of this village, is dedicated to Florinus and contains a Relic and stands near the courtyard where, according to tradition, Florinus was born. This replaced the Chapel at the place of his birth after it had been destroyed three times by avalanches.
The Miracle of the White Rider: In March 1799 the imperial troops were defeated by the French after a short battle in the Munster valley. The French then scorched, plundered and murdered in Malles and its surroundings. Many residents of Mals grabbed the most necessary belongings and fled hastily. The Matscher people heard, with horror, of the atrocities committed by the French and their fear and concern increased more and more, that the inhuman soldiers might also reach their little village, rob it and burn itto the ground. They gathered in the Parish Church and entreated their Patron, St Florinus to plead for protection and help. Lo and behold, when the enemy found out that the Malser had fled, a detachment of soldiers immediately took up the pursuit and got as far as Rowein before the village of Matsch. Then the Patron Saint of the valley, St Florinus, galloped along on a magnificent white horse and threatened the intruders with his right hand. The white horse, frightening the French so much that they quickly turned and fled down the valley. The village of Mud was saved!
Bust of St. Florinus in Cathedral of Vaduz (Liechtenstein).
St Acisclus St Aignan of Orléans St Alphaeus of Palestine St Eugene of Florence St Eusebio Roldán Vielva St Florinus of Remüs (Died c 856)Priest, Confessor St Giacinto Ansalone St Gregory of Tours
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