Thought for the Day – 7 February – The Spiritual Combat (1589) – Dom Lorenzo Scupoli OSM (c1530-1610)
“None shall be crowned who has not fought well.” 2 Tim 2: 5
XV: … Of the Enemies We Are to Engage and the Courage Necessary to Fight (Part Two)
“Therefore, you must never be dismayed, although at times, your enemy seems to be strengthening his array against you, although the struggle threatens to last your whole lifetime and although, almost certain falls menace you on every side! – for know assuredly, that the whole strength and wisdom of our enemies, is in the Hands of our Divine Captain, in Whose honour the battle is arrayed – Who, prizing us beyond measure, sure and having Himself imperatively called us to the conflict, will never suffer you to be overcome!
Nay more, He will Himself fight on your right hand and will not fail, in His own good time, to subdue your foes before you and this, to your greater reward, if He should delay to give you the victory, until the last day of your life! This alone is your concern, to fight manfully, and never, however numerous your wounds, to lay down your arms or take to flight.
Lastly, that you fail not to fight courageously, bear in mind that this is a conflict whence there is no escape and, that he who will not fight must needs be captured or slain! Moreover, we have to deal with enemies so powerful and so filled with deadly hate, as to leave us no hope of either peace or truce.”
One Minute Reflection – 7 February – “The Month of the Most Holy and Blessed Trinity” – St Romuald (c951-1027) Abbot – Ecclesiasticus 45:1-6, Matthew 19:27-29 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“… Shall receive a hundredfold and shall possess life everlasting.” – Matthew 19:29
REFLECTION – “The possessions which we have, are not our own: God has given them to us to cultivate and He wishes us to render them fruitful and profitable … Always deprive yourself, therefore, of some part of your means, giving them to the poor with a willing heart … It is true that God will return it to you, not only in the next world but also in this, for there is nothing which makes a person prosper, in temporal matters, so much, as almsgiving. But until such time as God shall repay it, you will always be impoverished to that extent. Oh! how holy and rich is the impoverishment which is caused by almsgiving.
Love the poor and poverty, for by this love you will become truly poor, since, as Scripture says: “We become like the things that we love” (cf Hos 9:10). Love makes those who love, equal to one another: “Who is weak and I am not weak?” says St Paul (2 Cor 11:29). He might have said: “Who is poor, with whom I am not poor?” For love made him become, such as those whom he loved. If, then, you love the poor, you will be truly participating in their poverty and poor like them. Now, if you love the poor, be often among them; be pleased to see them in your house and to visit them in theirs; associate willingly with them; be glad that they are near you in the Churches, in the streets and elsewhere. Be poor in speech with them, speaking to them as their equal but be rich in deed, giving them of your goods, as one who possesses more abundantly.
Will you do even more? … Become a servant of the poor; go to serve them … with your own hands … and at your own expense. This service has more glory in it than a throne!” – St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Bishop of Geneva and Doctor of the Church (Introduction to the devout life, Part three Ch 15).
PRAYER – May the intercession of the Blessed Abbot Romuald, commend us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, so that what we do not deserve by any merits of our own, we may obtain by his patronage. 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).
Saint/s of the Day – 7 February – Blessed Jacques or James Salès SJ (1556-1593) Priest Martyr of the Society of Jesus and Blessed William or Guillaume Saultemouche SJ (1555-1593) Martyr, Jesuit Lay Brother. These two young Jesuits died on 6 February 1593, Fr Jacques aged 26 was shot in the back by the protestants and Brother William was stabbed repeatedly until he died, all the while holding the dead body of Fr Jacques. Pope Pius XI Beatified the two Martyrs of the Blessed Sacrament on 6 June 1926.
Jacques Salès and William Saultemouche were Martyred for their defence of belief in the Real Presence in the Most Holy Eucharist during a conflict with Huguenots (French Calvinists) during the height of France’s War of Religion.
Jacques, who already as a child, showed extraordinary piety. His devotion to the Holy Eucharist and regular participation in the Holy Mass, gained him the favour and patronage of the local Priest. He attended the Jesuit school at Billom from 1568-1572 and developed a strong devotion to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. He wanted to join the Jesuits but felt that he was needed at home, since he was his parents’ only son. He moved to Paris to study at Clermont College and found his desire to join the Society stronger than ever. His father, finally gave him permission and he entered the Novitiate at Verdun in 1573.
In 1585, his studies led the young Jesuit to become a Teacher of Theology, at Pont-à-Mousson. He wanted to be a Missionary and wrote Father General, Claudio Acquaviva, to be accepted anywhere America, China or Japan. The response was negative; Father General reminded to him that France itself was a mission territory, given the conflict between Catholics and Huguenots.
Father Salés determined to devote himself to confronting the errors of Huguenots. He remained teaching at the University and gave some missions in nearby towns, including Metz which was a fervent centre of Calvinism. Calvinists sometimes joined the Catholics at his lectures and tried to interrupt the Jesuit Preacher by heckling him. Nevertheless, Salés was successful in confirming Catholics in their faith.
In 1590 Fr Jacques was sent to Tournon to take the Chair of ‘controversial’ Theology. Here, he was responsible for devising a plan of studies to treat the theological issues that divided Catholics and Protestants, showing the truth of Catholicism and responding to the objections of the Protestants. He continued travelling around to give missions and wrote several booklets to aid people in understanding orthodox theology — one of these booklets explained the Holy ucharist.
His final mission came in 1593. The Baron of Montréal had regularly requested a Jesuit to give the Advent and Lenten series of sermons in Aubenas, a Town which the Catholics had regained control of from the Huguenots. The Baron wanted someone who could refute the Calvinist ministers, who were becoming more bold in their attacks on Catholics. Fr Jacques was picked for the mission and accompanying him was Brother William Saultemouche who had served as porter at Pont-à-Mousson and was known for his simplicity and gentle character.
Fr Jacques opened his sermons in Aubenas on 29 November, explaining Catholic belief, without insulting or denigrating the Protestants. He moved onto other Towns in the area after he finished in Aubenas but then returned to Aubenas, with BrotherWilliam on 5 February 1593 because the tension between Catholics and Huguenots was growing more serious.
That evening the Jesuit Teacher was visiting a Calvinist family when he heard the sound of a mob outside so he rushed to the Catholic Church where he found Brother William. They prayed for awhile and then returned to their residence. Early the next morning three soldiers forced their way into the Jesuit residence and found the two Jesuits at prayer. They were taken to Huguenot headquarters and were examined by a few Calvinist ministers who tried, unsuccessfully, to get the Jesuits to deny their faith. Frustrated by their intransigence, the minister in charge of the interrogation decided that the Jesuit Priest must be killed. Soldiers took Fr Jacques outside where they met Brother William who insisted on accompanying his companion. In the square outside the headquarters, Fr Jacques was asked one last time to deny his belief in Christ’s Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament. When he refused, he was shot in the back and fell to the ground. A soldier then drove the bayonet of his rifle through his chest. Brother Saultemouche folded his arms around the Priest and was stabbed by a sword until he too was dead. The Calvinists then had the bodies of the two Jesuits dragged through the streets of Aubenas.
Six days later the bodies were dumped into the ruins of an old Church which was used as a dump. That night two Catholics came and retrieved the bodies and buried them in a nearby garden, where, however, the Calvinists continued to offend them with outrageous acts at their tomb!
After two years, they were exhumed and handed over to Madame de Chaussy, who had requested them and which she then donated to the Church of the new Jesuit College of Aubenas. In 1898, the Relics were moved to the Chapel of Saint-Claire, built on the site of the Martyrdom (I believe that beautiful window above is located there). Praise be to God!
St Romuald (c 951-1027) Monk, Abbot, Ascetic, Founder of the Camaldolese Order and a major figure in the Eleventh-Century “Renaissance of eremitical asceticism.” His Feast Day is today and was thus from 1595. It was changed to 19 June in 1969 after Vatican II. St Romuald’s body is incorrupt. St Romuald’s Life: https://anastpaul.com/2018/06/19/saint-of-the-day-19-june-st-romuald-c-951-1027/
St Scholastica Novena – THE SEVENTH DAYA: CLICK THE LINK BELOW: St Scholastica Novena
St Adaucus of Phrygia St Amulwinus of Lobbes St Anatolius of Cahors Bl Anselmo Polanco Bl Anthony of Stroncone
St Augulus St Chrysolius of Armenia St Fidelis of Merida Blessed Jacques Salès SJ (1556-1593) + Priest Martyr St John of Triora St Juliana of Bologna
St Lorenzo Maiorano (Died 545) Bishop of Siponto, Italy, Miracle-worker gifted with Prophecy and visions. Collaborator with St Michael in the Apparition at Gargano, known as “The Defender of the People.” St Lorenzo is also called the “Patron saint of Foreigners” by the citizens of Siponto, having been a foreigner himself. His Life: https://anastpaul.com/2023/02/07/saint-of-the-day-7-february-saint-lorenzo-maiorano-died-545-bishop/
St Luke the Younger
Blessed Mary of Providence/Eugénie Smet HHS (1825-1871) Nun and Founder of the Society of the Helpers of the Holy Souls. Her apostolate has spread throughout the world – now in 24 countries and continues to minister to the Souls in the Body of Christ — both those on earth and those who have departed this world. Beatified in Rome on 26 May 1957 by Pope Pius XII. Biography: https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/07/saint-of-the-day-7-february-blessed-mary-of-providence-hhs-1825-1871/
St Maximus of Nola St Meldon of Péronne St Moses the Hermit Bishop St Parthenius of Lampsacus
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