Tag: st mark

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, St PAUL!, St PETER!, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 21 September – For I have come to call sinners, not the just.- Matthew 9:13

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 21 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – The Feast of St Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, Martyr – Pentecost XV – Ezekiel 1:10- 14 – Matthew 9:9-13 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“It is not the healthy who need a physician but they who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call sinners, not the just.”- Matthew 9:12-13

REFLECTION – “The Apostles, those who all as one and each in particular, possessed the Good News of God, went to the ends of the earth proclaiming the news of all the blessings God sends us and announcing Heaven’s peace towards men (Lk 2:14). Specifically, Matthew produced a written form of the gospel for the Hebrews in their own language, while Peter and Paul evangelised Rome and founded the Church there. After their deaths, Mark, who was Peter’s disciple and interpreter (1 Pt 5:13), also handed down Peter’s preaching to us in writing. Likewise, Luke, Paul’s companion, set down in a book, the Gospel preached by the latter. And then John, the disciple of the Lord, the one who leaned back on his breast (Jn 13:25), also published the Gospel during his stay at Ephesus.

In his Gospel,Matthew relates the genealogy of Christ as man: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham: now this is how the birth of Christ came about” (Mt 1:1, 18). Thus, this Gospel, presents Christ in human form, which is why it always represents Christ as being moved by sentiments of humility and remaining a man of gentleness … The Apostle Matthew knows none but One and the same God, Who promised Abraham that He would multiply his descendants like the stars in the sky (Gen 15:5) and, Who, through His Son, Jesus Christ, has called us from the worship of stones to knowledge of Him, (Mt 3:9) in such a way, that “those who were no people have become His people and she who was unloved has become beloved” (cf Hos 2:25; Rom 9:25).” – St Irenaeus (130-202) Father of the Church, Bishop of Lyons, Theologian, Martyr (Against the heresies, III, 11,8 ; 9,1 – One of the first historical testimonies to the Evangelists).

PRAYER – We thank You, heavenly Father,
for the witness of Your Apostle
and Evangelist, Matthew,
to the Gospel of Your Son, our Saviour
and we pray, that, after his example,
we may with ready wills and hearts,
obey the calling of our Lord, to follow Him;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect).

Posted in SAINT of the DAY, The APOSTLES & EVANGELISTS

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

Posted on by AnaStpaul

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 SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 19 February – Saint Auxibius (Died c102) the 1st Bishop of Soloi on the Island of Cyprus.

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Saint of the Day – 19 February – Saint Auxibius (Died c102) the 1st Bishop of Soloi on the Island of Cyprus. He was born in Rome and died in Soloi around the year 102. Also known as – Auxibius of Cyprus, … of Soloi, Ausibio…

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Soloi, St Auxibius, Bishop”

Auxibius was born into a wealthy family in Rome and grew up there with his brother, Tempstagoras. He was taught secular sciences.

To avoid his parents’ wish that he should marry, he secretly left Rome and came first to the Island of Rhodes and then, to the Island of Cyprus.

Auxibius lived in the area around Limnitis, near the then important City of Soloi. There he met the Apostle and Evangelist St Mark, who converted him through his preaching and Baptised him.

Auxibius was appointed as the Bishop of the City of Soli by Archbishop St Herakleidius, as a document from the 7th Century reports, although some give this honour to St Paul himself. This St Herakleidius (1st Century), showed the Apostles Paul and Barnabas, the way from Salamis to Paphos on their first missionary journey (45 – 53) in Cyprus and also led them to Tamassos, a City-Kingdom which was then important due to its copper mining. Paul and Barnabas BaptiSed Herakleidos and later Ordained him as Bishop of Tamassos, one of the first in Cyprus.

Auxibius held the Episcopal Seat for about 50 years before he died around the year 102.

The 4th Century Basilica, now in ruins, in Soli is named after St Auxibius.