Thought for the Day – 7 January – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)
“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5
Introduction I: Of the Essence of Christian Perfection – Of the Struggle Requisite for its Attainment – And of the Four Things Needful in this Conflict
And of the Four Things Needful in this Conflict
“Now that you see wherein Christian perfection consists and that it requires a continual intense warfare against self, you must provide yourself with four most sure and necessary weapons, in order to secure the palm and gain the victory, in this spiritual combat. These are:
Distrust of Self (Diffidence of ourselves)
Trust in God (Confidence in God)
Proper use of the faculties of Body and Mind (Exercise) and
Prayer.
Of all these, we will, with the Divine assistance, treat clearly and concisely in the following Chapters.”
Quote/s of the Day – 7 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family” and tbe Feast of the Holy Family
“He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them”
Luke 2:51
“So, taking Christ’s genealogy from Joseph – a husband in chastity, he was father in the same way. … Are you saying that he did not conceive Jesus through the operation of nature? Well then, what the Holy Spirit operated, He did for them both. For Joseph was “a just man,” Matthew tells us (1:19). Both husband and wife were just. The Holy Spirit dwelt within their mutual justice and gave each of them, a Son!”
St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace
“God, to Whom Angels submit themselves and Who Principalities and Powers obey, was subject to Mary; and not only to Mary but Joseph too, for Mary’s sake [….]. God obeyed a human creature; this is humility without precedent. A human creature commands God! it is sublime beyond measure.”
St Bernard (1090-1153) Father & Mellifluous Doctor of the Church
A pious practice among Catholics, is to write “✝ J M J ✝” often flanked by two Crosses at the top of letters, cards, documents and personal notes as a reference to Jesus, Mary and Joseph as the Holy Family. Where it is written, “✝ J M J ✝” the writer appeals for the blessing and protection of the Holy Family.
One Minute Reflection – 7 January – “The Month of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and of the Holy Family”– Sunday Within the Octave of the Epiphany – Isaias 60:1-6; Matthew 2:1-12 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“… And falling down they worshipped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, Gold and Frankincense and Myrrh.” … Matthew 2:11
REFLECTION – “But if, with careful thought, we wish to see how their threefold kind of gift, is also offered by all who come to Christ, with the foot of faith — is not the same offering repeated in the hearts of true believers? For he who acknowledges ,Christ the King of the universe brings Gold from the treasure of his heart, he who believes the Only-begotten of God to have united man’s true nature to Himself, offers Myrrh and he who confesses Him, in no wise, inferior to the Father’s Majesty, worships Him in a manner, with Incense.” - St Pope Leo the Great (400-461) Father and Doctor of the Church
PRAYER – O God, Thou Who by the guidance of a star this day revealed Thy Only-begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that we, who know Thee now by faith, may come to behold Thee in glory. Through the same 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).
Saint of the Day – 7 January – Saint Lucian of Antioch (Died 312) Confessor, Priest, Martyr, Teacher, Theologian, Writer, Founder of the renowned School of Antioch. Born in Samosata. Syria in the 2nd Century and died after many tortures by the sword in 312 at Nicomedia, Bithynia (modern Izmid, Turkey). Also known as – Lucian of Drepana, Lucian of Nicomedië, Lucian of Nicomedia, Lucian the Martyr, Lucian of Samosata, Luciano… Lucianus… Lucian means ‘the shining one‘ (Latin).
The Roman Martyrology reads: “The birthday of the blessed Lucian. a Priest of the Church of Antioch and Martyr, who was distinguished for his learning and eloquence. He suffered at Nicomedia for the confession of Christ, in the persecution of Galerius Maximian and was buried at Helenopolis, in Bithynia. His praises have been proclaimed by St John Chrysostom.”
Fresco in the Cathedral in Segni. Italy
Lucian came from a respected family, was educated in Edessa – today’s Sanlıurfa – and then worked as a Priest and teacher in Antioch – today’s Antakya/Hatay. He founded the famous Antiochene school – it used literal, grammatical-historical explanations to interpret Scripture which was in contrast to the allegorical interpretation of the Scriptures taught in Alexandria and, therefore, had a reputation for rationalism.
After the condemnation of Bishop Paul of Samosata in 268 and his teaching that Jesus Christ was a normal human being, Lucian, although not subscribing to this view, also found himself increasingly in opposition to the official teaching and soon no longer belonged to the community in Antioch. Arius, the founder of Arianism , was then one of Lucian’s students, whose followers initially called themselves Syllukianists after Lucian – (meaning: “like-minded with Lucian”).
It seems Lucian corrected his errors and in 285 made peace with the Church and was re-admitted into full communion with the community of Antioch
Lucian was in Nicomedia (today Izmid in Turkey), when Emperor Diocletian’s persecutions broke out and he was imprisoned there for nine years. Twice he was interrogated, when he defended himself ably and refused to deny Christ. In the winter of 311/312 Lucian was brought before Emperor Maximinus Daza, where he presumably suffered Martyrdom after making a profession of his faith. His speech before the Emperor has been preserved but its authenticity is disputed. He was either starved to death, or more likely, killed by sword in 312. His body was taken to Drepanum, which was nearby. Emperor Constantine renamed it Helenopolis in memory of his mother – today’s Hersek -.
According to St Jerome’s testimony, a summary of the Sacred Scriptures published by Lucian was used for a long time, from Constantinople – today’s Istanbul – to Antioch. A surviving creed written by Lucian, according to which Jesus Christ was not Consubstantial but only Consubstantial with God, was also widespread. Lucian’s life story, written in the middle of the 4th Century, comes from Arian representatives.
A Greek Icon of St Lucian
Lucian’s grave in Drepanon – today’s Hersek – was first venerated by the followers of Arianism but by the end of the 4th Century, Lucian was included in the Church’s list of Saints.
St John Chrysostom gave him an Eulogy, St Eusebius of Caesarea praised him as a Priest of the community in Antioch who was excellent in all his conduct and as a very excellent man in every respect, of a strict way of life and well versed in the Sacred sciences . St Helena had a Church built in his honour in Antioch which was probably Consecrated on 15 October. In the Russian Orthodox Church, Lucian is incorrectly referred to as a Bishop because of his importance.
Canonisation: – As early as the end of the 4th Century, Lucian was included in the list of Saints despite his earlier critical relationship with the official Church.
Bl Albert of Siena St Aldric of Le Mans Bl Ambrose Fernandez St Anastasius of Sens St Brannock of Braunton St Candida of Greece St Cedd St Clerus of Antioch St Crispin I of Pavia St Cronan Beg St Emilian of Saujon St Felix of Heraclea St Giuliano of Gozzano (c350-c391) Deacon, Missionary St Januarius of Heraclea St Julian of Cagliari St Kentigerna St Lucian of Antioch (Died 312) Confessor, Priest, Martyr
St Pallada of Greece St Polyeuctus of Melitene St Reinhold of Cologne St Spolicostus of Greece St Theodore of Egypt St Tillo of Solignac
St Valentine of Passau (Died 475) Bishop in Passau in the Rhaetia region, Switzerland, an area in the border region of modern Italy, Austria and Switzerland, Monk, Abbot, Missionary, Hermit, Miracle-worker. Died on 7 January 475 at Mais, Tyrol, Austria of natural causes. Patronages – against convulsions, against cramps/stomach pain, against epilepsy, against gout, against plague/epidemics, against demonic possession, of cattle diseases, of pilgrims, poor people, City and Diocese of Passau. Biography: https://anastpaul.com/2023/01/07/saint-of-the-day-7january-st-valentine-of-passau-died-475-bishop/
St Virginia of Ste-Verge Bl Wittikund of Westphalia
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