Jmj

Today, March 30, we members of the Catholic Church family honor, in a special way, the following friends of God -- saints whose souls are now in heaven:

Bl. Amadeus IX of Savoy (French, epileptic duke, d. 1472)
St. Clinius of Pontecorvo (Greek, Benedictine abbot in Italy, 5th century?)
Bl. Dodo of Asch (Dutch, Norbertine hermit, d. 1231)
Sts. Domninus, Victor, Philocalus, Achaicus, and Palotinus, and companions (Greek, martyred c. 304)
St. Fergus of Downpatrick (Irish, bishop, 6th century)
St. Irene (Italian, widow, healed arrow wounds of St. Sebastian)
St. John Climacus (Syrian, hermit, abbot, ascetical writer, died on Mt. Sinai c. 650)
St. Leonardo Murialdo (Italian, priest, d. 1900 [canonized 1970])
Bl. Maria Restituta Kafka [baptized Helena] (Czech, salesgirl, surgical nurse, member of Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, martyred [beheaded] by Nazis in Austria in 1943 [beatified 1998])
St. Mamertinus of Auxerre (French, abbot, c. 462)
Bl. Moricus (Italian, fifth follower of St. Francis of Assisi, d. 1236)
St. Osburga (English, abbess, c. 1016)
St. Pastor of Orléans (French, bishop, 6th century)
St. Patto of Werden (German, Benedictine abbot, bishop, c. 788)
St. Quirinus (Roman, jailer of a pope, martyred c. 117)
St. Regulus of Senlis (Greek, bishop in France, c. 260)
St. Regulus (Scottish, abbot, 6th century?)
St. Tola (Irish, abbot, bishop, c. 733)
St. Zosimus of Siracusa (Sicilian, abbot, bishop, c. 660)

If you have anything to share about these holy people, please reply now -- biographical episodes, prayers through their intercession, the fact that one is your patron saint -- whatever moves you. If you are interested in one of these saints and want to find out more about him/her, please ask. Information is sometimes available on the Internet.

All you holy men and women, saints of God, pray for us.
God bless you.
John


-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), March 30, 2002

Answers

[Maxims from St. John Climacus:]

"Without weapons there is no way of killing wild animals. Without humility there is no way of conquering anger."

"It is not without risk that one climbs up a defective ladder. And so with honor, praise, and precedence which are all dangerous for humility."

"A tool which is in good condition may sharpen one which is not in good condition, and a fervent brother may save the person who is only lukewarm about his faith."

-- (_@_._), March 30, 2002.

TAKEN FROM THE CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA:

St. John Climacus has left us two important works: the "Scala [Klimax] Paradisi", from which his surname comes, composed at the request of John, Abbot of Raithu, a monastery situated on the shores of the Red Sea; and the "Liber ad Pastorem". The "Scala", which obtained an immense popularity and has made its author famous in the Church, is addressed to anchorites and cenobites, and treats of the means by which the highest degree of religious perfection may be attained. Divided into thirty parts, or "steps", in memory of the thirty years of the hidden life of Christ, the Divine model of the religious, it presents a picture of all the virtues and contains a. great many parables and historical touches, drawn principally from the monastic life, and exhibiting the practical application of the precepts. At the same time, as the work is mostly written in a concise, sententious form, with the aid of aphorisms, and as the reasonings are not sufficiently closely connected, it is at times somewhat obscure. This explains its having been the subject of various commentaries, even in very early' times. The most ancient of the manuscripts containing the "Scala" is found in the Bibliothèque Rationale in Paris, and was probably brought from Florence by Catharine de' Medici. In some of these manuscripts the work bears the title of "Spiritual Tables" (Plakes pneumatikai). It was translated into Latin by Ambrogio the Camaldolese (Ambrosius Camaldulensis) (Venice, 1531 and 1569; Cologne, 1583, 1593, with a commentary by Denis the Carthusian; and 1601, 8vo). The Greek of the "Scala", with the scholia of Elias, Archbishop of Crete, and also the text of the "Liber ad Pastoem", were published by Matthæus Raderus with a Latin translation (fol., Paris, 1633). The whole is reproduced in P.G., LXXXVIII (Paris, 1860), 5791248. Translations of the "Scala" have been published in Spanish by Louis of Granada (Salamanca, 1551), in Italian (Venice, 1585), in modern Greek by Maximus Margunius, Bishop of Cerigo (Venice, 1590), and in French by Arnauld d'Andilly (12mo, Paris, 1688). The last-named of these translations is preceded by a life of the saint by Le Maistre de Sacy. There is also in existence an ancient life of the saint by a monk named Daniel. Acta SS., III, March, 834-5; CEILLIER Hist. Gén. des auteurs sacrés et ecclés., XVII (Paris, 1750), 569-96; FABRICIUS, Bibl. Græca, VIII (Hamburg, 1717), 615-20; KRUMBACHER, Gesch byz. Litt. (Munich, 1897), 143-4; SURIUS, Vitæ SS., II (Vernice, 1681), 133.

The reason why I'm posting this section from the CE is that the first book printed in Mexico (and in America) was the SCALA of St. John Climacus. The first printing press in America was established in Mexico by Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza and by Bishop Juan de Zumárraga, first Bishop of Mexico.

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), March 31, 2002.

March 30th - Zozimus of Syracuse B (RM) (also known as Zosimus)

Died c. 660. At the tender age of seven, Saint Zosimus was offered to the monastery of Santa Lucia, near Syracuse, Sicily, by his wealthy parents. As a child, he was deputed to watch over the relics of the virgin martyr--anathema to a boisterous country boy. He ran away from the monastery, back to his home. In disgrace, he was returned to Santa Lucia's, where he experienced a vision of the saint who seemed angry with him. She was appeased by Our Lady and accepted the boy's promise to diligently undertake his responsibility.

After that, he settled down and was a good and simple monk for thirty years, then quickly succeeded to the positions of abbot and bishop of Syracuse. The scene of his selection of abbot is reminiscent of the selection of the Old Testament King David: The uncertain monks sought the help of their bishop. After scrutinizing all the monks gathered, he asked if there was no other monk belonging to their number. Then they remembered Zosimus, whom they had left to guard the shrine and answer the door. The bishop sent for the missing monk. Immediately upon seeing him the bishop exclaimed: "Behold him whom the Lord has chosen." He appointed him abbot and ordained him priest.

His reputation as a wise and charitable abbot led him to be elected bishop by the people at the death of Peter in 649. He did not want the position and the clergy had elected another, Vanerius, a vain and ambitious man. Pope Theodore settled the question by appointing and consecrating Zosimus. He faithfully discharged all the duties of a worthy pastor and showed great liberality to the poor until his death at the age of 90. These details are drawn from a reputedly contemporary vita (Attwater2, Benedictines, Farmer, Husenbeth, Walsh).

<><><><> Other Martyrs of the Faith

At Rome, on the Appian Way, the suffering of blessed Quirinus, a tribune, who was the father of the virgin St. Balbina. He, with all his household, was baptized by Pope St. Alexander who was in his custody. When, in the reign of the Emperor Hadrian, this unconquerable soldier of Christ was handed over to the judge Aurelian and remained firm in the confession of his faith, his tongue was cut out; he was stretched on the rack, his hands and feet were cut off, and at last he won the fight for martyrdom, by the sword.

At Thessalonica, the birthday of the holy martyrs Domninus, Victor, and their companions.

At Constantinople, the commemoration of many holy martyrs of the Catholic faith in the time of Constantius. They were killed by Macedonius the heresiarch who subjected them to unheard-of kinds of torture. Among other cruelties, he mutilated faithful women by pressing them between the heavy lids of chests, and burning them with red-hot irons.

In the town of Senlis in Gaul, the death of St. Regulus, Bishop of Arles.

At Orleans in Gaul, St. Pastor, bishop.

At Syracuse in Sicily, St. Zosimus, bishop and confessor.

On Mount Sinai, St. John Climacus, abbot.

At Aquileria in Spain, St. Peter Regalatus, priest and confessor, of the Order of Friars Minor, born in Valladolid. He restored regular discipline in the Spanish monasteries. The Sovereign Pontiff, Benedict XIV, added his name to the list of the saints.

At Aquino, St. Clinius, confessor.

<><><><><><> An offering to the Holy Ghost:

On my knees, before the multitude of heavenly witnesses, I offer myself, soul and body, to Thee, Eternal Spirit of God! I adore Thee, great God, and acknowledge Thy dominion over me.

Thou art the light and the strength of my soul. In Thee I live and move and have my being. I desire never to grieve Thee by unfaithfulness to grace, and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against Thee. Make me faithful in every thought, and grant that I may always listen to Thy voice, watch for Thy light, and follow Thy gracious inspirations. I cling to Thee, and give myself to Thee, and ask Thee, by Thy compassion, to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced feet of Jesus, and looking at His five wounds, trusting in His precious Blood, and adoring His Sacred Heart, lacerated for love of me, I implore Thee, Holy Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, so as to keep me in Thy grace that I may never sin against Thee with the sin which Thou canst not forgive. Give me grace, O Holy Ghost, Spirit of the Father and the Son, to say to Thee, always and everywhere, "Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth."

Imprimatur: + John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York, Sept 19, 1908.

-- Richard Miller (trudie.miller@cox.net), March 30, 2003.

Jmj

On March 30, we members of the Catholic Church family honor, in a special way, the following friends of God -- saints and blesseds whose souls are now in heaven:

Bl. Amadeus IX of Savoy [Amedee] (French, epileptic duke, d. 1472)
St. Clinius of Pontecorvo (Greek, Benedictine abbot in Italy, 5th century?)
Bl. Dodo of Asch (Dutch, Norbertine hermit, d. 1231)
Sts. Domninus, Victor, Philocalus, Achaicus, and Palotinus, and companions, of Thessalonica (Greek, martyred c. 304)
St. Fergus of Downpatrick (Irish, bishop, 6th century)
St. Irene of Rome (Italian, widow, healed arrow wounds of St. Sebastian)
St. John Climacus of Thole ["climacus" means "ladder"] (Syrian, hermit, abbot, ascetical writer, died on Mt. Sinai c. 650)
St. Leonard Murialdo of Turin [Leonardo] (Italian, priest, d. 1900 [canonized 1970])
Bl. Ludwig of Casoria [Ludovico] (Italian, Franciscan friar, d. 1885 [beatified 1993])
Bl. Maria Restituta Kafka of Brno [baptized Helena] (Czech, salesgirl, surgical nurse, member of Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, martyred [beheaded] by Nazis in Austria in 1943 [beatified 1998])
St. Mamertinus of Auxerre (French, abbot, c. 462)
Bl. Morico of Assisi (Italian, fifth follower of St. Francis, d. 1236)
St. Osburga of Coventry (English, abbess, c. 1016)
St. Pastor of Orléans (French, bishop, 6th century)
St. Patto of Werden (German, Benedictine abbot, bishop, c. 788)
St. Quirinus of Rome (Italian, jailer of a pope, martyred c. 117)
St. Regulus of Senlis (Greek, bishop in France, c. 260)
St. Regulus (Scottish, abbot, 6th century?)
St. Tola of Meath (Irish, abbot, bishop, c. 733)
St. Zosimus of Siracusa (Sicilian, abbot, bishop, c. 660)

If you have anything to share about these people, please reply now -- biographical episodes, prayers through their intercession, the fact that one is your patron -- whatever moves you. If you are interested in one of these saints/blesseds and want to find out more about him/her, please ask. Information is sometimes available on the Internet.

All you holy men and women, saints of God, pray for us.
God bless you.
John

[Spiritual maxims from St. John Climacus:]
"Without weapons there is no way of killing wild animals. Without humility there is no way of conquering anger."
"It is not without risk that one climbs up a defective ladder. And so with honor, praise, and precedence which are all dangerous for humility."
"A tool which is in good condition may sharpen one which is not in good condition, and a fervent brother may save the person who is only lukewarm about his faith."

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), March 30, 2003.

I visited the forum today ,(March 31) and did not find the page dedicated to the Saints of the day. It is just a reminder that today's the feast of Blessed Agustín Pro killed during the persecution years in the persecution of 1926 -1929,

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), March 31, 2003.

Beato Miguel Agustín Pro, S.J.

Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez, nació el 13 de enero de 1891 en la población minera de Guadalupe, Zacatecas, tercero de once hermanos e hijo de Miguel Pro y Josefa Juárez. El 19 de agosto de 1911, ingresa al Noviciado de la Compañía de Jesús en El Llano, Michoacán, luego de unos Ejercicios hechos con jesuitas y de haber madurado lentamente la decisión. Ya la familia había dado antes dos vocaciones religiosas en la persona de dos hermanas mayores de Miguel.

Luego del Noviciado, continúa sus estudios en Los Gatos, California, obligados los jesuitas a abandonar Los Llanos a causa de la presencia de fuerzas carrancistas. Estudia después retórica y filosofía en España. Desempeña el oficio de profesor en el colegio de la Compañía en Granada, Nicaragua y hace la teología en Enghien, Bélgica, donde recibe el presbiterado.

Un juicio imparcial sobre la vida de formación del P. Miguel nos inclina a admitir que gozaba en alto grado de talento práctico, pero que carecía de facilidad para los estudios especulativos, quizá debido a la deficiente enseñanza de sus primeros años. Su gloriosa muerte contribuyó además a que se esfumara el recuerdo de la parte negativa de su temperamento jocoso, bromista y agudo.

Una úlcera estomacal, la oclusión del píloro y toda la ruina del organismo hicieron prever un desenlace rápido al final de sus estudios en Bélgica. "Los dolores no cesan -escribe en una carta íntima-. Disminuyo de peso, 200 a 400 gramos cada semana, y a fuerza de embaular porquerías de botica, tengo descarriado el estómago... Las dos operaciones últimas estuvieron mal hechas y otro médico ve probable la cuarta". Luego detalla el insoportable régimen dietético que se le hace sufrir. Su organismo se reduce a tal extremo que sus superiores en Enghien tratan de apresurar el regreso a México, para que la muerte no lo recoja fuera de su patria.

En esta situación realiza su anhelo de viajar a Lourdes, al pie del Pirineo, donde espera una intervención de la Virgen que le devuelva las fuerzas que necesitará en México para ayudar a los católicos entonces vejados por una persecución. La prisión, el fusilamiento y el destierro están a la orden del día.

De la visita a la célebre gruta, escribe: "Ha sido uno de los días más felices de mi vida... No me pregunte lo que hice o qué dije. Sólo sé que estaba a los pies de mi Madre y que yo sentí muy dentro de mí su presencia bendita y su acción". Esa experiencia mística es para leerse entera en su vida. Sabemos por ella que la Virgen le prometió salud para trabajar en México. El exorbitante trabajo que tuvo los meses que vivió en la capital desde su llegada en julio de 1926, realizado además mientras huía de casa en casa para despistar a los sabuesos que seguían sus pasos, no hubiera podido ser ejercido por un individuo de mediana salud, y menos por uno tan maltratado como Miguel Agustín, de no haber sido por la intervención de la Madre de Jesucristo.

Así le sorprende el fracasado intento de Segura Vilchis para acabar con Obregón, el presidente electo. Las bombas de aquel católico exasperado estaban tan mal hechas que ni siquiera causaron desperfectos graves en el coche abierto del prócer. El lng. Segura había procedido con todo sigilo para preparar y ejecutar el acto. Nadie, sino el chofer y dos obreros estaban enterados. La liga de Defensa Religiosa, y por tanto Humberto y Roberto Pro, hermanos del Padre, y el mismo Padre, fueron ajenos al plan magnicida.

El Papa Pío XI había defendido a los católicos mexicanos y había condenado la injusta persecución en tres ocasiones a través de documentos públicos dirigidos al mundo. Calles, el perseguidor, estaba irritadísimo contra él; pero no pudiendo descargar sus iras contra un enemigo tan distante las descargó contra un eclesiástico, el P. Pro, al que la indiscreción de una mujer y un niño hizo caer en las garras de la policía mientras cometía sus cotidianos delitos de llevar la comunión, de confesar o socorrer a los indigentes. Calles se vengaría del Papa en un cura... Y aprovechando que el P. Pro estaba en los sótanos de la Inspección de Policía atribuyó a él y a sus hermanos la responsabilidad de un acto cuyo verdadero autor no había podido ser descubierto.

El autor verdadero, el lng. Segura Vilchis, había ágilmente saltado del automóvil desde el que arrojó la fallida bomba. Luego siguió caminando impertérrito por la banqueta mientras preparaba una coartada admirable. Obregón se dirigía a los toros. Segura Vilchis, sin ser reconocido por los esbirros, entró a la plaza detrás del general, buscó su palco y encontró el modo de hacerse bien visible y reconocible por éste. Así podía citarlo como testigo de que él se hallaba en los toros pocos minutos después del atentado.

No obstante, enterado por las extras de los periódicos de que acusaban al padre Pro y a sus hermanos Humberto y Roberto del lanzamiento de la bomba, Segura Vilchis resolvió su caso de conciencia y corrió a la Inspección de Policía para presentarse al general Roberto Cruz, Inspector General y, previa palabra de honor de que soltaría a los Pro, que nada tenían que ver con el delito, se ofreció a decir quién era el verdadero autor. Se delató a sí mismo y probó con toda facilidad que lo era. Con todo, de la Presidencia de la República llegó la orden directa de fusilar a los Pro y a Segura Vilchis, sin sombra de investigación judicial.

Así el 23 de noviembre de 1927, a la puerta del fatídico sótano, y minutos después de la diez de la mañana, un policía llamo a gritos al preso: "¡Miguel Agustín Pro!" Salió el padre y pudo ver el patio lleno de ropa y de invitados como a un espectáculo de toros, a multitud de gente, a unos seis fotógrafos por lo menos y a varios miembros del Cuerpo Diplomático "para que se enteraran de cómo el gobierno castigaba la rebeldía de los católicos".

El padre Pro caminó sereno y tuvo tiempo de oír a uno de sus aprehensores, que le susurraba:

-Padre, perdóneme.

-No sólo te perdono -le respondió-; te doy las gracias.

-¿Su última voluntad? -le preguntaron ya delante del pelotón de fusilamiento.

-Que me dejen rezar.

Se hincó delante de todos y, con los brazos cruzados, estuvo unos momentos ofreciendo sin duda su vida por México, por el cese de la persecución, y reiterando el ofrecimiento de su vida por Calles, como ya lo solía hacer antes... Se levantó, abrió los brazos en cruz, pronunció claramente, sin gritar.- ¡Viva Cristo Rey! y cayó al suelo para recibir luego el tiro de gracia.

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), March 31, 2003.