Day: February 22, 2025

Posted in CHRIST the JUDGE, The GREAT TRUTHS, The LAST THINGS, The SECOND COMING

Thought for the Day – 22 February – The General Judgement .

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Thought for the Day – 22 February – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

Meditations on “The Great Truths”
From “The Devout Year”
By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

22nd Day – The General Judgement .

Behold He cometh with the clouds
and every eye shall see Him
and they also who pierced Him .
(Apoc i:7)

+1. At the General Judgement, Christ as Man, will be the Judge of men because He is at once God and Man.
He will, therefore, have not only the most intimate knowledge of all our lives but a sympathy with us, an understanding of our nature from experience which will give Him, in the natural order, the highest qualifications for being our Judge.

+2. On that day, what a complete reverse there will be of all the world’s unjust verdicts!
How many, now ridiculed, despised, condemned, will then be glorious and honoured before men and Angels!
What will my sentiments be on that day, when the thoughts of all hearts will be revealed?

+3. On the Right of the Judge will be the sheep, on the Left, the goats – the one overflowing with celestial delights, the other already filled with the despair of hell.
What will distinguish between them? Simply this – whether they have shown charity to others for Christ’s sake. This and nothing else, will be the test –
“Inasmuch as you have done it to one of My least brethren, you have done it to Me.”
How shall I stand this test?
Ask God to teach you how to secure a place on the Right Hand of the Judge.

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on the CHURCH, St PETER!, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 22 February – St Peter, the Gatekeepr of Heaven

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 22 February – The Feast of the Chair of St Peter at Antioch –1 Peter 1:1-7; Matthew 16:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 16:16

“Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona
because flesh and blood
hath not revealed it to thee
but My Father Who is in Heaven.”

Matthew 16:17

“Upon this Rock I will build My Church”

Matthew 16:18

“God is One and Christ is One,
His Church is One,
His See is One,
founded by the Voice of the Lord on Peter.
No other Altar can be set up,
no other Priesthood instituted
apart from that One Altar and that One Priesthood.
Who so gathers elsewhere, scatters!”

St Cyprian of Carthage (c 200-258)
Martyr, Bishop of Carthage,
Father of the Church

“ O blessed gatekeeper of Heaven,
to whom were given the keys of entry to eternity! ”

St Hilary (315-368)
Bishop of Poitiers,
Father & Doctor of the Church

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on MYSTERIES of our FAITH, QUOTES on the CHURCH, St PETER!, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 22 February – ‘ … What a foundation he had the good fortune to give to the Church! …’

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One Minute Reflection – 22 February – The Feast of the Chair of St Peter at Antioch –1 Peter 1:1-7; Matthew 16:13-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.” – Matthew 16:16

REFLECTION – “The Lord had asked: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” To be sure, His bodily appearance made known the Son of Man but, in putting this question, He led people to understand that, there was something else to be discerned, over and above what could be seen … The object of the question was, a mystery towards which the faith of the believer had to tend.

Peter’s confession was fully recompensed, as he deserved for having seen the Son of God within the Man. “Blessed” is he, indeed and praised, for having penetrated beyond merely human sight, not looking to that which comes of flesh and blood but, beholding the Son of God, revealed by His heavenly Father. He was accounted worthy to be the first, to recognise, what it was in Christ which was of God! What a foundation he had the good fortune to give to the Church, on the basis of his new name! He became the Rock worthy of building up the Church, so that it might break the laws of hell … and every prison-house of death. O blessed gatekeeper of Heaven, to whom were given the keys of entry to eternity! His judgement on earth, becomes authoritative, beforehand in Heaven, in such a way that, what has been bound or loosed on earth, becomes so also in Heaven.

Jesus also commands His disciples not to tell anyone He is the Christ, since others, namely the Law and the Prophets, must be the witnesses of His Spirit, while witness to the Resurrection belongs to the Apostles. And, just as the blessedness of those, who know Christ in the Spirit, was made known, so also, was made known, the danger of misunderstanding His humility and passion.” – St Hilary (315-368) Bishop of Poitiers, Father & Doctor of the Church (Commentary on St Matthew’s Gospel 16).

PRAYER – O God, Who when giving blessed Peter, Thine Apostle, the keys of the Heavenly Kingdom, bestowed on him the power of binding and loosing, grant that by the help of his intercession, we may be delivered from the bonds of our sins. 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).

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, DOCTORS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, HYMNS, JESUIT SJ, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, St PETER!, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS

Our Morning Offering – 22 February – O Prince of the Apostolic Senate!

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Our Morning Offering – 22 February – The Chair of St Peter at Antioch

O Prince of the Apostolic Senate!
Hymn to the Prince of the Apostles
By St Peter Damian (1007-1072)
Cardinal Bishop of Ostia
Doctor of the Church

O Prince of the Apostolic Senate!
Herald of our Lord!
First Shepherd of the Faithful!
watch over the Flock intrusted to thee.

Lead us through verdant pastures,
feeding us with the nourishment of the Word
and lead us, thus fed, into the heavenly fold,
whither thou hast already gone.

To thee, Peter, have been delivered
the Keys of heaven’s gate
and all things, both in Heaven and on earth,
acknowledge thy authority.

Tis thou that choosest the City
where is to be established the Rock of the True Faith,
the foundation of the building,
on which the Catholic Church stands immoveable.

Thy shadow, as thou passest by, heals the sick
and Tabitha, who made garments for the poor,
was raised to life
at thy bidding.

Bound with two chains,
thou wast set free by an Angel’s power;
he bids thee put on thy garments and thy sandals
and lo! the prison door is opened.

To the Father unbegotten
and to the Only-Begotten Son
and to the co-equal Spirit of them both,
be praise and kingly highest power.
Amen.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS

Saint of the Day – 22 February – St Abilius (Died c98) the 2nd Bishop of Alexandria

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Saint of the Day – 22 February – St Abilius (Died c98) the 2nd Bishop of Alexandria, Egypt. He was the 2nd Bishop of Alexandria. He was Ordained by Saint Mark the Evangelist and was also the first convert Mark won to Christianity in the region. Also known as – Abilio, Abitius, Abylius, Avilio, Avilius, Anamia, Melyos, Mielo, Milius, Sabellius’

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Alexandria, St Abilius, Bishop, who was the 2nd shepherd of the City after St Mark and administered his charge with eminent piety.”

Relief of St Mark and St Abilius by Pietro Lombardo, 1478

As St Mark was entering Rakotis, a suburb of Alexandria, after his travels from Cyrene, the strap of his sandal detached itself. He found a cobbler, Abilius, to repair it. While he was working on the sandal, the awl slipped in Abilius’ hand, piercing it. Anianus cried out “God is One – Heis ho Theos” in response to the pain. Mark took the opportunity to preach the Gospel to him, at the same time miraculously healing Abilius’ hand of its wound.

Mark was invited to Agilius’ house, where he taught him and his family the Gospel and, thereafter, Baptised them all. A large number of natives of the area were quickly converted by Mark too causing those pagans, who did not convert, to defend their local gods against the new Faith.

Mark, the outsider, decided it might be best if he were to leave the area for a while. He Ordained Abilius and Consecrated him as the Bishop in his absence. He also Ordained three Priests and seven Deacons, charging them with the care of the Church in his absence.

Mark was gone for a period of two years, during which time tradition believes that he attended St Peter in Rome. Abiliuss and his Priests, the meantime, spread the Gospel in the region, performing miracles and winning many to Christ. On Mark’s return, he found the Church in Alexandria had grown significantly and they were able to build a Church at Bucolia on the shore of the Alexandrian eastern harbour.

St Abilius repairing St Mark’s sandal by Cima da Conegliano

Following St Mark’s Martyrdom Abilius took his place in the Church in Alexandria. He would remain in that capacity for over seventeen years. During that time, the number of Christians in the area grew significantly and Abilius Ordained new Priests and Deacons for the growing Church. The extent of the evangelisation they performed is unknown, although it has been thought by some that it was done at least somewhat covertly, given the hostility the pagan population demonstrated to the new Faith.

Abilius died in bed and was buried next to St Mark at the Church in Baucalis. Later, as we know, St Mark’s Relics were translated to Venice.

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY, St PETER!

The Chair of Saint Peter at Antioch, Vigil of St Matthias, Apostle, Notre-Dame de Rennes / Our Lady of Miracles and Virtues, Rennes, France (1357) and the Saints for 22 February

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The Chair of Saint Peter at Antioch – where the disciples were first entitled “Christians.” The Chair/Throne or Cathedra itself is a Relic conserved in St Peter’s Basilica although it seems not to be the original Chair. This Antioch is where the disciples were first called CHRISTIANS.
https://anastpaul.com/2022/02/22/the-feast-of-the-chair-of-saint-peter-at-antioch-22-february/

Vigil of St Matthias, Apostle

Notre-Dame de Rennes / Our Lady of Miracles and Virtues, Rennes, France (1357) – 22 February:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/22/our-lady-of-of-miracles-and-virtues-rennes-france-1357-feast-of-the-chair-of-st-peter-and-memorials-of-the-saints-22-february/

St Abilius (Died c98) Bishop of Alexandria
St Angelus Portasole
St Aristion of Salamis
St Athanasius of Nicomedia
St Baradates of Cyrrhus

Blessed Diego Carvalho SJ (1578-1624) Priest and Martyr of the Society of Jesus, Missionary to Japan. Patronage Japanese miners. Beatified on 7 May 1867 by Pope Blessed Pius IX.
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/22/saint-of-the-day-22-february-blessed-diego-carvalho-sj-1578-1624-priest-and-martyr/

St Elwin

St Isabella of France (1225-1270) Virgin, Founder Nun, Sister of Saint Louis IX; Aunt of Saint Louis of Toulouse.
Previously done on 26 February (post 1969 Feast Day):
https://anastpaul.com/2017/02/26/saint-of-the-day-26-february-blessed-isabellae-of-france/
AND:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/02/22/saint-of-the-day-22-february-saint-isabella-of-france-1225-1270-virgin/

St John the Saxon
St Limnaes
Bl Mohammed Abdalla
St Papias of Heirapolis
St Paschasius of Vienne
St Raynerius of Beaulieu
St Thalassius

Martyrs of Arabia – A memorial for all the unnamed Christians Martyred in the desert and mountainous areas south of the Dead Sea during the persecutions of Emperor Valerius Maximianus Galerius.