Immaculate Conception Church

Old Roman Catholic Church, Hudson Florida

Saints

St. Paul of the Cross

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Sermon via YouTube Here
Sermon on .mp3 for your player

Lesson
Lesson from the first letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians
1 Cor 1:17-25.
Brothers: Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of speech, lest the cross of Christ should be made void. For the word of the cross, to them indeed that perish, is foolishness; but to them that are saved, that is, to us, it is the power of God. For it is written: I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the prudence of the prudent I will reject. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world, by wisdom, knew not God, it pleased God, by the foolishness of our preaching, to save them that believe. For both the Jews require signs, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews indeed a stumbling-block, and unto the Gentiles foolishness: But unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Continuation ✠ of the Holy Gospel according to Luke
R. Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
Luke 10:1-9
In that time: the Lord appointed also other seventy-two: and he sent them two and two before his face into every city and place whither he himself was to come. And he said to them: The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send labourers into his harvest. Go: Behold I send you as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes; and salute no man by the way. Into whatsoever house you enter, first say: Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you. And in the same house, remain, eating and drinking such things as they have: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Remove not from house to house. And into what city soever you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick that are therein, and say to them: The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

Commentary

Today’s reflection touches on a few matters:

Very brief intro to St. Paul of the Cross.

What is our responsibility to seek God’s will?

Two different non-believer attitudes to people of Faith.
Will buying the padre a beer secure heaven?


Islam in the Lex Orandi of the Old Roman Martyrology

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An important article by Peter Kwasniewski that speaks of the clarity of Traditional Catholicism as to our relationship with islam.

“Unlike Pope Francis, who co-signed with a Moslem leader a declaration that asserts, inter alia, that God wills a plurality of religions, St Peter Mavimenus spoke the truth with simplicity and fortitude.”


Read it here.

Reflection on the Body after death (remains) and Relics

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“Venerating the remains of saints is seen by many as a bizarre throwback, impossible to justify to modern people. For while the tradition spans millennia, times and beliefs have shifted. In a world where science, we’re told, has explained everything, bodies hold neither mystery nor importance. They are modified and commodified, changeable and interchangeable, something to be transcended and replaced.”

Read more here.

St.Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows

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St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows

Born Francis Possenti in Assisi, Italy, on March 1, 1838; died on February 27, 1862 and canonized in 1920.

After an adolescence focused on debauchery, he fell ill and vowed to enter religious life if he was healed.  He was restored and entered the Passionist Order in 1856.

He lived his religious life faithfully including penances, daily prayer and a joyfulness of spirit.  He was ordained to the priesthood but immediately afterward contracted tuberculosis and died at age 24.

Through his intercession St. Gemma Galgani was cured of spinal tuberculosis.

Gabriel is the patron saint of students and we celebrate his feast day on February 27th.


St. Valentine

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St Valentine Kneeling in Supplication  (David Teniers III, 1600s)

St. Valentine of Terni (a city also known as Interamna) was a young noble who converted to Christianity. He became a bishop at a young age, and died a martyr at the age of 97. Born in Terni in 176, he was martyred in Rome on February 14, 273.

He was persecuted for having encouraged marriages between Romans and Christians.

During his trial he discussed his faith with his judge. The judge Asterius put his Faith to the test. The judge presented Valentine with his blind daughter, who was healed. Asterius destroyed the idols in his house and had his whole family and household of 44 members baptized. He then freed all Christian inmates under his charge.

Valentine was arrested again for attempting to convert the heathen. He was tortured and martyred.

From the Sermons of St Austin, Bishop of Hippo:

“The illustrious day whereon the blessed Martyr Valentin conquered, doth this day come round to us again and as the Church doth rejoice with him in his glory, so doth she set before us his footsteps to be followed. For if we suffer, we shall also reign with him. In his glorious battle we have two things chiefly to consider the hardened cruelty of the tormentor, and the unconquered patience of the Martyr the cruelty of the tormentor, that we may abhor it; the patience of the Martyr, that we may imitate it. Hear what the Psalmist saith, complaining against sin: “Fret not thyself because of the evil-doers, for they shall soon dry up like the grass.” But touching the patience which is to be shown against the evil-doers, hear the word wherewith the Apostle moveth us Ye have need of patience, that ye may receive the promise.”

Archaeologists have unearthed both Roman catacombs and an ancient church dedicated to St. Valentine. In 496 AD Pope Gelasius marked February 14th as a celebration in honor of his martyrdom.
The connection between the secular celebrations and his day probably have two contributing factors.

St. Valentine’s feast day coincides with the Lupercalia, an ancient Roman festival dedicated to fertility, which Pope Gelasius abolished in 496.

This connection also got a boost in the Middle Ages when it was believed that birds paired couples half way through the second month of the year.
In Chaucer’s Parliament of Foules we read:
For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne’s day
Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.

St. Valentine is the Patron Saint of bee keepers, engaged couples, epilepsy, fainting, greetings, happy marriages, love, lovers, and young people.


Prayer

Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God, that we who keep the birthday of thy blessed Martyr Valentine may be delivered by his prayers from all the ills that hang over us.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
Amen.