Posted on 09/19/2006 6:58:47 AM PDT by Salvation
Saint Januarius, Bishop of Benevento and patron of Naples, was tortured by wild animals (Gentileschi's painting) and then beheaded near Pozzuoli about AD 305. The miraculous blood of St, Januarius was collected by a woman as depicted by Pesce. In the painting by Gordano the executioner stands behind the saint and an angel descends with a palm of martyrdom.
Interesting perspective. I didn't take it that way, but much scripture has that quality -- especially the Old Testament prophesying the New Testament happenings.
Evidently the wild animals would not even attack St. Januarius. A very interesting story.
O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Alleluia.
A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.
| Psalm 136 (137) |
|---|
| By the rivers of Babylon |
| By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept remembering Sion. On the willow-trees of Babylon we hung up our harps. In that place they asked us, those who had captured us, to sing them a song: “Sing us”, they said, “a song of Sion”. They had brought us affliction and asked us for joy. How shall we sing the songs of the Lord in a foreign land? Jerusalem, if I forget you, send my right hand to oblivion; let my tongue stick in my throat if I do not remember – if I do not rank Jerusalem the first of my joys. Remember, Lord, the Edomites on the day of Jerusalem: “Raze it”, they said, “to the ground”. Babylon’s daughter, destroyer – blessed be he that takes his revenge, that smashes your child on a rock. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Psalm 137 (138) |
|---|
| Thanksgiving |
| I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth. In the presence of the angels I will make music to you, worship before your holy temple. I will praise your name because of your mercy and faithfulness: high above all other names is the greatness of your word. Each day that I call on you, Lord, listen to me, strengthen my spirit. All the kings of the earth will proclaim your glory, Lord, when they hear your word. They will sing of the paths of the Lord, so great is his glory. For the Lord is on high but he cares for the humble; and he knows the proud from afar. If I walk in the midst of troubles, you will give me life. If my enemies rise up against me, your right hand will keep me safe. The Lord does all that I need. Lord, your kindness lasts for ever: do not forsake the work of your hands. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Canticle | Apocalypse 4,5 |
|---|---|
| The song of the redeemed | |
| You are worthy, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honour and power; for you made all things, and it is by your will that they existed and were created. You are worthy, Lord, to receive the book and open its seals, for you were killed, and with your blood you have ransomed people from every tribe and language and people and nation, and made them rulers and priests for God; and they will rule over the earth. The Lamb is worthy, who was killed, to receive power and riches and wisdom, strength and honour, glory and blessing. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
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| A short Bible reading and responsory may follow here. |
| Canticle | Magnificat |
|---|---|
| My soul rejoices in the Lord | |
| My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation. For he has shown me such favour – me, his lowly handmaiden. Now all generations will call me blessed, because the mighty one has done great things for me. His name is holy, his mercy lasts for generation after generation for those who revere him. He has put forth his strength: he has scattered the proud and conceited, torn princes from their thrones; but lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
|
| Some short prayers may follow here, to offer up the day's work to God. |
| Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. |
| A concluding prayer may follow here. |
| May the Lord bless us and keep us from all harm; and may he lead us to eternal life. |
| A M E N |
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Tuesday, September 19, 2006 Meditation Luke 7:11-17 “Before my father died, I didn’t know what it was to lose someone close. Now I feel a different kind of sadness when I hear that someone I know has lost a loved one.” Have you ever had an experience like this? If so, you know exactly what this person is talking about: You feel a lot more sympathy for someone who’s suffering if you’ve suffered the same thing. You are able to reach out more easily to that person and to relate to them better than others can. You have a bond with them that you can’t quite put into words. Maybe that’s what happened to Jesus when he met the woman on the way to bury her son. It’s possible that he saw in the grieving widow what he knew his own mother would experience at his death. Both women were widows, both had only one son, and both had to suffer the heartbreak of a child’s untimely death. It was Jesus’ deep compassion, coming from the loving heart of his Father, that raised the widow’s son and restored her joy. It seems that whenever Jesus touches something, he brings so much more than sympathy and understanding—he brings transformation! He wants to reach out to touch the “dead” areas in our lives, too. He knows the deepest pain in our lives. He can see when we are weeping, even if others can’t. Maybe we have lost a loved one through death, illness, or separation. Maybe we have given up on a dream, or lost the inspiration we once had to follow the Lord. Whatever we are suffering, Jesus wants to strengthen us with his gentle touch and give us new hope. Brothers and sisters, Jesus wants to bond with us just as deeply as he did with this grieving widow! He wants to bring life where there is death, to bring light where there is darkness, and to bring love where there is emptiness. As he stretches out his hand and touches different areas in our lives, we will be led into a new way of prayer—a prayer marked by praise, worship, and thanksgiving. All because we have been made sharers in Jesus’ life and his love. “Jesus, I trust in your compassion! Let me know your love in all the broken areas of my life. I give you glory for all the miracles that bring life to me.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-14,27-31 |
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I didn't think he was a real saint.
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