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Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 02-04-13
USCCB.org/RNAB ^ | 02-04-13 | Revised New American Bible

Posted on 02/03/2013 8:38:16 PM PST by Salvation

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To: All


Information:
St. Joseph of Leonessa
Feast Day: February 4
Born:

8 January 1556 at Leonissa, Umbria, Italy

Died: Saturday 4 February 1612 at Umbria, Italy
Canonized: 29 June 1746 by Pope Benedict XIV



21 posted on 02/04/2013 7:26:11 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
Interactive Saints for Kids

St. Jane Valois

 
Feast Day: February 04
Born:1464 :: Died:1505

St. Jane was a princess and the daughter of King Louis XI of France and Charlotte of Savoy. Since the king wanted a son, he was very disappointed when Jane was born deformed. He did not even want his little daughter to live at the palace. When the princess was just five years old, she was sent to live with other people.

Although she was not wanted by her own father, Jane was good and gentle with everyone. She was convinced that Jesus and Mary loved her. Jane also believed that the Lord would use her to do good in his name. And she was right.

When she grew up, Jane decided that she did not want to marry. She had given herself to Jesus and his Blessed Mother. But her father forced her to marry the duke of Orleans for political reasons. Jane accepted God's will and was a devoted wife for twenty-two years.

After the duke became king, however, he sent Jane to live by herself in a far-off town-ship. The queen did not let herself become resentful. Instead, she exclaimed: "God be praised! He has permitted this that I may serve him better than I have up until now."

Jane lived a prayerful life. She practiced penances and acts of kindness. She gave all her money to the poor. She even started an order of sisters called the Sisters of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She spent the rest of her life joyfully for Jesus and his Mother. St. Jane died in 1505.

Reflection: Let us pray for the gift of seeing hardships as opportunities to strengthen our faith in Christ, and may we respond to every hardship by giving it an eternal value.

22 posted on 02/04/2013 7:35:51 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
 
Catholic
Almanac:

Monday, February 4

Liturgical Color: Green


St. Peter Julian Eymard was born on this day in 1811. He was a French priest noted for his preaching and love of the Eucharist. St. Peter founded the Society of the Blessed Sacrament, an order of priests noted for their devotion to the Eucharist.


23 posted on 02/04/2013 3:46:25 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
Catholic Culture

Daily Readings for: February 04, 2013
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: Grant us, Lord our God, that we may honor you with all our mind, and love everyone in truth of heart. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Ordinary Time: February 4th

Monday of the Fourth Week of Ordinary Time

Old Calendar: St. Andrew Corsini, bishop and confessor

According to the 1962 Missal of Bl. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, today is the feast of St. Andrew who was born in the fourteenth century in Florence, Italy. He fell into bad company; but soon, touched by the grief of his mother, the young nobleman entered the Carmelite Order. Having served as prior of his convent, he was chosen to fill the vacant bishopric of Fiesole. He continually helped the poor, doing so in secret in the case of those who were ashamed to make known their distress. By showing his people the true nature of Christian peace, Bishop Andrew put an end to a number of troublesome disturbances in the city. He died on the feast of the Epiphany, 1373.


St. Andrew Corsini
St. Andrew Corsini lived from 1302 to 1373. While still carrying him in her womb, his mother dreamed she had given birth to a wolf that sauntered to the gate of the Carmelite monastery, and entering the vestibule of the church, was changed to a lamb. Andrew was reared as a pious and God-fearing youth, but little by little he succumbed to the pleasures of the world in spite of frequent warnings and reproofs from his mother. After he became aware that his parents had vowed him to the service of Blessed Mary, he mended his ways and at the age of seventeen entered the Carmelite Order. Though persistently tempted and assailed by the devil, he never swerved from his holy decision. A man of austere penance, he fasted continuously, always wore a hair shirt, and prayed the penitential psalms daily. For humility's sake he often washed the feet of the poor and beggars. His special gift from God was the grace to effect the conversion of hardened sinners. In 1360, despite his efforts to the contrary, he was made bishop of Fiesole in Tuscany.

— Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

Patron: Civil disorder; riot.

Symbols: Holding a cross, with a wolf and lamb at his feet, and floating above a battlefield on a cloud or a white palfrey.

Things to Do:

  • Pray to St. Andrew Corsini that your children, especially teenagers, may find their true vocation and follow it faithfully.

  • St. Andrew's fellow Italians often sought his aid in solving the disputes which had split their families and cities — imitate this peacemaker, renowned for his prudence and wisdom, by sowing peace in your own home.

24 posted on 02/04/2013 4:02:45 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
The Word Among Us

Meditation: Mark 5:1-20

4th Week in Ordinary Time

“No one could restrain him.” (Mark 5:3)

If we didn’t know the reason for this man’s behavior—that he was demon possessed—it would make no sense to us. First we read that not even heavy chains and shackles could hold him down. You might even say he was free to do whatever he wanted. But what did he do with this freedom? He cried out and cut himself with stones. That’s not exactly a description of someone enjoying his freedom!

This image of the demoniac gives us some insight into the way the devil tries to attack us as well. First, he tries to convince us that we are free to do whatever we want. He urges us to throw off our restraints and do whatever we want. When we give into his temptation, we experience a brief thrill. But then the devil torments us with guilt and shame. We may search for something to dull the pain, only to feel guilty again. When we get caught in a cycle of sin like this, it can feel as if we’re in a tomb. We’re trapped and can’t escape.

Just as this man felt trapped and couldn’t break free from whatever was tormenting him, we too can feel trapped in a hopeless situation. We too can feel harassed by self-condemning thoughts and anxieties.

But we can be set free! Through the Eucharist, the bread of freedom, we can have a life-changing encounter with Christ. Just as Jesus came to this man and spoke words of freedom, he comes to us in the form of bread and wine to lift our burdens. He comes with authority and power as the Son of God, speaking to the tormenting voices and commanding them to leave us. He comes filled with his Father’s compassion, ready to loose our chains and soothe our hearts.

So the next time you are going to receive Communion, take whatever may be bothering you—all the lies, fears, anxieties, and guilt—and lay them down at the foot of the cross. Try your best to calm your mind so that you can hear Jesus’ words of peace and freedom. And offer him your praise and worship, believing that he has the power to set you free!

“Jesus, thank you for breaking all the chains that held me in bondage. Lord, I know that nothing can ever separate me from your love.”

Hebrews 11:32-40; Psalm 31:20-24


25 posted on 02/04/2013 4:08:20 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
 
Marriage = One Man and One Woman
Til' Death Do Us Part

Daily Marriage Tip for February 4, 2013:

In marriage, arguments are seldom black and white, “I’m right and you’re wrong.” Look for the golden mean when you’re on opposite sides.


26 posted on 02/04/2013 5:41:25 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation
Mark
  English: Douay-Rheims Latin: Vulgata Clementina Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
  Mark 5
1 AND they came over the strait of the sea into the country of the Gerasens. Et venerunt trans fretum maris in regionem Gerasenorum. και ηλθον εις το περαν της θαλασσης εις την χωραν των γαδαρηνων
2 And as he went out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the monuments a man with an unclean spirit, Et exeunti ei de navi, statim occurrit de monumentis homo in spiritu immundo, και εξελθοντι αυτω εκ του πλοιου ευθεως απηντησεν αυτω εκ των μνημειων ανθρωπος εν πνευματι ακαθαρτω
3 Who had his dwelling in the tombs, and no man now could bind him, not even with chains. qui domicilium habebat in monumentis, et neque catenis jam quisquam poterat eum ligare : ος την κατοικησιν ειχεν εν τοις μνημασιν και ουτε αλυσεσιν ουδεις εδυνατο αυτον δησαι
4 For having been often bound with fetters and chains, he had burst the chains, and broken the fetters in pieces, and no one could tame him. quoniam sæpe compedibus et catenis vinctus, dirupisset catenas, et compedes comminuisset, et nemo poterat eum domare : δια το αυτον πολλακις πεδαις και αλυσεσιν δεδεσθαι και διεσπασθαι υπ αυτου τας αλυσεις και τας πεδας συντετριφθαι και ουδεις αυτον ισχυεν δαμασαι
5 And he was always day and night in the monuments and in the mountains, crying and cutting himself with stones. et semper die ac nocte in monumentis, et in montibus erat, clamans, et concidens se lapidibus. και δια παντος νυκτος και ημερας εν τοις ορεσιν και εν τοις μνημασιν ην κραζων και κατακοπτων εαυτον λιθοις
6 And seeing Jesus afar off, he ran and adored him. Videns autem Jesum a longe, cucurrit, et adoravit eum : ιδων δε τον ιησουν απο μακροθεν εδραμεν και προσεκυνησεν αυτω
7 And crying with a loud voice, he said: What have I to do with thee, Jesus the Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God that thou torment me not. et clamans voce magna dixit : Quid mihi et tibi, Jesu Fili Dei altissimi ? adjuro te per Deum, ne me torqueas. και κραξας φωνη μεγαλη ειπεν τι εμοι και σοι ιησου υιε του θεου του υψιστου ορκιζω σε τον θεον μη με βασανισης
8 For he said unto him: Go out of the man, thou unclean spirit. Dicebat enim illi : Exi spiritus immunde ab homine. ελεγεν γαρ αυτω εξελθε το πνευμα το ακαθαρτον εκ του ανθρωπου
9 And he asked him: What is thy name? And he saith to him: My name is Legion, for we are many. Et interrogabat eum : Quod tibi nomen est ? Et dicit ei : Legio mihi nomen est, quia multi sumus. και επηρωτα αυτον τι σοι ονομα και απεκριθη λεγων λεγεων ονομα μοι οτι πολλοι εσμεν
10 And he besought him much, that he would not drive him away out of the country. Et deprecabatur eum multum, ne se expelleret extra regionem. και παρεκαλει αυτον πολλα ινα μη αυτους αποστειλη εξω της χωρας
11 And there was there near the mountain a great herd of swine, feeding. Erat autem ibi circa montem grex porcorum magnus, pascens. ην δε εκει προς τω ορει αγελη χοιρων μεγαλη βοσκομενη
12 And the spirits besought him, saying: Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. Et deprecabantur eum spiritus, dicentes : Mitte nos in porcos ut in eos introëamus. και παρεκαλεσαν αυτον παντες οι δαιμονες λεγοντες πεμψον ημας εις τους χοιρους ινα εις αυτους εισελθωμεν
13 And Jesus immediately gave them leave. And the unclean spirits going out, entered into the swine: and the herd with great violence was carried headlong into the sea, being about two thousand, and were stifled in the sea. Et concessit eis statim Jesus. Et exeuntes spiritus immundi introierunt in porcos : et magno impetu grex præcipitatus est in mare ad duo millia, et suffocati sunt in mari. και επετρεψεν αυτοις ευθεως ο ιησους και εξελθοντα τα πνευματα τα ακαθαρτα εισηλθον εις τους χοιρους και ωρμησεν η αγελη κατα του κρημνου εις την θαλασσαν ησαν δε ως δισχιλιοι και επνιγοντο εν τη θαλασση
14 And they that fed them fled, and told it in the city and in the fields. And they went out to see what was done: Qui autem pascebant eos, fugerunt, et nuntiaverunt in civitatem et in agros. Et egressi sunt videre quid esset factum : οι δε βοσκοντες τους χοιρους εφυγον και ανηγγειλαν εις την πολιν και εις τους αγρους και εξηλθον ιδειν τι εστιν το γεγονος
15 And they came to Jesus, and they see him that was troubled with the devil, sitting, clothed, and well in his wits, and they were afraid. et veniunt ad Jesum : et vident illum qui a dæmonio vexabatur, sedentem, vestitum, et sanæ mentis, et timuerunt. και ερχονται προς τον ιησουν και θεωρουσιν τον δαιμονιζομενον καθημενον και ιματισμενον και σωφρονουντα τον εσχηκοτα τον λεγεωνα και εφοβηθησαν
16 And they that had seen it, told them, in what manner he had been dealt with who had the devil; and concerning the swine. Et narraverunt illis, qui viderant, qualiter factum esset ei qui dæmonium habuerat, et de porcis. διηγησαντο δε αυτοις οι ιδοντες πως εγενετο τω δαιμονιζομενω και περι των χοιρων
17 And they began to pray him that he would depart from their coasts. Et rogare cœperunt eum ut discederet de finibus eorum. και ηρξαντο παρακαλειν αυτον απελθειν απο των οριων αυτων
18 And when he went up into the ship, he that had been troubled with the devil, began to beseech him that he might be with him. Cumque ascenderet navim, cœpit illum deprecari, qui a dæmonio vexatus fuerat, ut esset cum illo, και εμβαντος αυτου εις το πλοιον παρεκαλει αυτον ο δαιμονισθεις ινα η μετ αυτου
19 And he admitted him not, but saith to him: Go into thy house to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had mercy on thee. et non admisit eum, sed ait illi : Vade in domum tuam ad tuos, et annuntia illis quanta tibi Dominus fecerit, et misertus sit tui. ο δε ιησους ουκ αφηκεν αυτον αλλα λεγει αυτω υπαγε εις τον οικον σου προς τους σους και αναγγειλον αυτοις οσα σοι ο κυριος πεποιηκεν και ηλεησεν σε
20 And he went his way, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men wondered. Et abiit, et cœpit prædicare in Decapoli, quanta sibi fecisset Jesus : et omnes mirabantur. και απηλθεν και ηρξατο κηρυσσειν εν τη δεκαπολει οσα εποιησεν αυτω ο ιησους και παντες εθαυμαζον

27 posted on 02/04/2013 5:43:05 PM PST by annalex (fear them not)
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To: annalex
1. And they came over to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
2. And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
3. Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
4. Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
5. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
6. But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,
7. And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the most high God? I adjure you by God, that you torment me not.
8. For he said to him, Come out of the man, you unclean spirit.
9. And he asked him, What is your name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
10. And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
11. Now there was nigh to the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
12. And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
13. And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.
14. And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
15. And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
16. And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.
17. And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.
18. And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.
19. However Jesus suffered him not, but said to him, Go home to your friends, and tell them how great things the Lord has done for you, and has had compassion on you.
20. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

THEOPHYL. Those who were in the ship inquired among themselves, What manner of man is this? and how it is made known Who He is by the testimony of His enemies. For the demoniac came up confessing that He was the Son of God. Proceeding to which circumstance the Evangelist says, And they came over to the other side, &c.

BEDE; Geraza is a noted town of Arabia, across the Jordan, near mount Galaad, which the tribe of Manasseh held, not far from the lake of Tiberias, into which the swine were precipitated.

PSEUD-CHRYS. Nevertheless the exact reading contains neither Gadarenes, nor Gerasines, but Gergesenes. For Gadara is a city of Judea, which has no sea at all about it; and Geraza is a city of Arabia, having neither lake nor sea near it. And that the Evangelists may not be thought to have spoken so manifest a falsehood, well acquainted as they were with the parts around Judea, Gergese, from which come the Gergesenes was an ancient city, now called Tiberias, around which is situated a considerable lake. It continues, And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him, &c.

AUG. Though Matthew says that there were two, Mark and Luke mention one, that you may understand that one of them was a more illustrious person, concerning whose state that country was much afflicted.

CHRYS. Or else, Mark and Luke relate what was most worthy of compassion, and for this reason they put down more at length what had happened to this man; for there follows, no man could bind him, no, not with chains. They therefore simply said, a man possessed of a devil, without taking heed to the number; or else, that he might show the greater virtue in the Worker; for He who had cured one such, might cure many others. Nor is there any discrepancy shown here, for they did not say that there was one alone, for then they would have contradicted Matthew. Now devils dwelt in tombs, wishing to convey a false opinion to many, that the souls of the dead were changed to devils.

GREG. NYSS. Now the assembly of the devils had prepared itself to resist time divine power. But when He was approaching Who had power over all things, they proclaim aloud His eminent virtue.

Wherefore there follows, But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, saying, &c.

CYRIL; See how the devil is divided between two passions, fear amid audacity; he hangs back and prays, as if meditating a question; he wishes to know what he had to do with Jesus, as though be would say, Do you cast me out from men, who are mine?

BEDE; And how great is the impiety of the Jews, to say that He cast out devils by the prince of the devils, when the very devils confess that they have nothing in common with Him.

CHRYS. Then praying to Him, he subjoins, I adjure you by God, that you torment me not. For he considered being cast out to be a torment, or else he was also invisibly tortured. For however bad the devils are, they know that there awaits them at last a punishment for their sins; but that the time of their last punishment was not yet come, they full well knew, especially as they were permitted to mix among men. But because Christ had come upon them as they were doing such dreadful deeds, they thought that, such was the heinousness of their crimes, He would not wait for the last times, to punish them; for this reason they beg that they may not be tormented.

BEDE; For it is a great torment for a devil to cease to hurt a man, and the more severely he possesses him, the more reluctantly he lets him go. For it goes on, For he said to him, Come out of the man, you unclean spirit.

CYRIL; Consider the unconquerable power of Christ; He makes Satan shake, for to him the words of Christ are fire and flame; as the Psalmist says, The mountains melted at the presence of the Lord, that is, great and proud powers.

There fellows, And he asked him, What is your name?

THEOPHYL. The Lord indeed asks, not that He Himself required to know, but that the rest might know that there was a multitude of devils dwelling in him.

PSEUD-CHRYS. Lest he should not be believed, if He affirmed there were many, He wishes that they themselves should confess it; wherefore there follows, And he said to him, Legion, for we are many. He gives not a fixed number, but a multitude, for such accuracy in the number would not help us to understand it.

BEDE; But by the public declaration of the scourge which the madman suffered, the virtue of the Healer appears more gracious. And even the priests of our time, who know how to cast out devils by the grace of exorcism, are wont to say that the sufferers cannot be cured at all, unless they in confession openly declare, as far as they are able to know, what they have suffered from the unclean spirits in sight, in hearing, in taste, in touch, or any other sense of body or soul, whether awake or asleep. It goes on, And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.

PSEUD-CHRYS Luke however says, into the abyss. For the abyss is the separation of this world, for devils observe to be sent into outer darkness, prepared for the devil and his angels. This Christ might have done, but He allows them to remain in this world, lest the absence of a tempter should deprive men of the crown of victory.

THEOPHYL. Also that by fighting with us, they may make us more expert. It goes on, Now there was there about the mountain a great herd of swine feeding.

AUG. What Mark here says, that the herd was about the mountain, and what Luke calls on the mountain, are by no means inconsistent. For the herd of swine was so large, that some part were on the mountain, the rest around it. It goes on: And the devils besought him, saying, send us into the swine, that we may enter in to them.

REMIG. The devils entered not into the swine of their own will, but their asking for this concession, was, that it might be shown that they cannot hurt men without Divine permission. They did not ask to be sent into man, because they saw that He, by whose power they were tortured, bore a human form. Nor did they desire to be sent into the flocks, for they are clean animals offered up in the temple of God. But they desired to be sent into the swine, because no animal is more unclean than a hog, and devils always delight in filthiness. It goes on: And forthwith Jesus gave them leave.

BEDE; And He gave them leave, that by the killing of the swine, the salvation of men might be furthered.

PSEUD-CHRYS. He wished to show publicly the fury which devils entertain against men, and that they would inflict much worse things upon men, if they were not hindered by Divine power because, again, His compassion would not allow this to his shown on men, He permitted them to enter into the swine that on them the fury and power of the devils might be made known. There follows: And the unclean spirits went out.

TITUS; But the herdsmen also took to flight, lest they should perish with the swine, and spread the same fear amongst the inhabitants of the town. Wherefore there follows: And they that fed them, &c. The necessity of their loss, however, brought these men to the Savior; for frequently when God makes men suffer loss in their possessions, he confers a benefit on their souls.

Wherefore it goes on: And they came to Jesus, and see him that was tormented by the devil, &c. that is, at the feet of Him from whom he had obtained health; a man, whom before, not even chains could bind, clothed and in his right mind, though he used to be continually naked; and they were amazed; wherefore it says, And they were afraid. This miracle then they find omit partly by sight, partly by words; wherefore there follows: And they that saw it told them.

THEOPHYL. But amazed at the miracle, which they had heard, they were afraid, and for this reason they beseech Him to depart out of their borders; which is expressed in what follows: And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts; for they feared lest some time or other they should suffer a like thing: for, saddened at the loss of their swine, they reject the presence of the Savior.

BEDE; Or else, conscious of their own frailty, they judged themselves unworthy of the presence of the Lord. It goes on: And when he was going to the ship, he that had been tormented, &c.

THEOPHYL. For he feared lest sometime or other the devils should find him, and enter into him a second time. But the Lord sends him back to his house, intimating to him, that though He himself was not present, yet His power would keep him; at the same time also that he might be of use in the healing of others; where fore it goes on: And he did not suffer him, and said to him, Go home to your friends, &c. See the humility of the Savior. He said not, Proclaim all things which I have done to you, but, all that the Lord has done; do you also, when you have done any good thing, take it not to yourself, but refer it to God.

CHRYS. But although He bade others, whom he healed, to tell it to no one, he nevertheless fitly bids this one proclaim it, since all that region, being possessed by devils, remained without God.

THEOPHYL. He therefore began to proclaim it, and all wonder, which is that which follows: And he began to publish.

BEDE; Mystically, however, Gerasa or Gergese, as some read it, is interpreted casting out a dweller or a stranger approaching, because the people of the Gentiles both expelled the enemy from the heart, and he who was afar off is made near.

PSEUDO-JEROME; Here again the demoniac is the people of the Gentiles, in a most hopeless case, bound neither by the law of nature, nor of God, nor by human fear.

BEDE; Who dwelt in the tombs, because they delighted in dead works, that is, in sins; who were ever raging night and day, because whether in prosperity or in adversity, they were never free from the service of malignant spirits: again, by time foulness of their works, they lay as it were in the tombs, in their lofty pride, they wandered over the mountains, by words of most hardened infidelity, they as it were cut themselves with stones. But he said, My name is Legion, because the Gentile people were enslaved to divers idolatrous forms of worship. Again, that the unclean spirits going out from man enter into swine, which they east headlong into the sea, implies that now that time people of the Gentiles are freed from the empire of demons, they who have not chosen to believe in Christ, work sacrilegious rites in hidden places.

THEOPHYL. Or by this it is signified that devils enter into those men, who live like swine, rolling themselves in the slough of pleasure; they drive them headlong into the sea down the precipice of perdition, into the sea of an evil life where they are choked.

PSEUDO-JEROME; Or they are choked in hell without any touch of mercy by the rushing on of an early death; which evils many persons thus avoid, for by the scourging of the fool, the wise is made more prudent.

BEDE; But that the Lord did not admit him, though He wished to be without Him, signifies, that every one after the remission of his sins should remember that he must work to obtain a good conscience, and serve the Gospel for the salvation of others, that at last he may rest in Christ.

GREG. For when we have perceived ever so little of the Divine knowledge, we are at once unwilling to return to human affairs, and seek for the quiet of contemplation; but the Lord commands that the mind should first toil hard at its work, and afterwards should refresh itself with contemplation.

PSEUDO-JEROME; But the man who is healed preached in Decapolis, where the Jews, who hang on the letter of the Decalogue, are being turned away from the Roman rule.

Catena Aurea Mark 5
28 posted on 02/04/2013 5:43:54 PM PST by annalex (fear them not)
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To: All
Regnum Christi

A Madman for Christ
| SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY
Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time



Father Alex Yeung, LC

Mark 5:1-20

Jesus and his disciples came to the other side of the sea, to the territory of the Gerasenes. When he got out of the boat, at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him. The man had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain. In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains, but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and prostrated himself before him, crying out in a loud voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me!" (He had been saying to him, "Unclean spirit, come out of the man!") He asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "Legion is my name. There are many of us." And he pleaded earnestly with him not to drive them away from that territory. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside. And they pleaded with him, "Send us into the swine. Let us enter them." And he let them, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine. The herd of about two thousand rushed down a steep bank into the sea, where they were drowned. The swineherds ran away and reported the incident in the town and throughout the countryside. And people came out to see what had happened. As they approached Jesus, they caught sight of the man who had been possessed by Legion, sitting there clothed and in his right mind. And they were seized with fear. Those who witnessed the incident explained to them what had happened to the possessed man and to the swine. Then they began to beg him to leave their district. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him. But he would not permit him but told him instead, "Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you." Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed.

Introductory Prayer: Father in heaven, my heart is hungry for your word. I believe that you want to speak a word of hope to me today. How good it would be if I were to see myself and my future as you do, but at least I do trust in you. I wish to take up your challenge to be holy, whatever the cost, and I am confident that you will accompany me closely and help me with your grace.

Petition: Lord Jesus, help me to abandon myself to your healing power.

1. A Hopeless Situation? The man possessed by a legion of demons seemed to the people around—and perhaps to himself—a hopeless case. Living there alone amidst the tombs, he could not help but harm himself, gashing himself against stones. Nobody could help him by restraining him. In our lives with God, some seemingly unsolvable situation may exist, perhaps some sinful state we got ourselves into, but from which we cannot seem to extract ourselves. Or we experience that we are always falling into the same sins, the same biting impatience, the same laziness, the same sensuality. Friends and family seek to help us, but we don’t have the will to change. Instead of rectifying the situation, we just make a pact with a kind of modus vivendi, saying to ourselves, “We can only live as best as we can.” But the result is that that one demon has multiplied in me and become a legion of demons.

2. Jesus Has Power: Jesus encounters the possessed man. The scene is intriguing: the man runs to prostrate himself before Christ, while at the same time the demons show fear and beg Jesus not to be harsh with them. How consoling to know that no situation can escape Christ’s power to straighten it out. It is also consoling to know that Jesus wants to free us from the power of the devil, from any sinful state in which we find ourselves. We can always turn to Christ to ask to be healed because no one is ever so sinful or so possessed to be totally repugnant to God’s love. Certainly, we may fear that Christ’s medicine may hurt, but we need to trust that the spiritual “treatment” is worth it. The treatment may be an honest and thorough confession, a brutally sincere self-examination, or the breaking-up of an unhealthy relationship.

3. Transformation into a Witness: Imagine the cured man, still with the scars of his gashes, but now in his full senses. What an amazing sight! It brings us to our knees in thanks to Christ for his power and mercy. Of course, the cured man is overwhelmed by the transformation. He gives no thought to going back to “ordinary” life. His thankfulness makes him want to accompany Jesus, his friend and savior. However, Jesus gives him a mission, sending him to his family and friends to tell the story of how Jesus cured him. Wherever the cured man goes, he will proclaim the marvels the Lord has done in him. When we experience absolution from our sins in confession, does our thanksgiving cause us to proclaim the power and love of Christ to our family and friends?

Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, you have set me free and kept me from so many vices and demons, addictions and grudges, materialism and indifference. You have given me the grace to know you and choose you. I want to thank you for your power and mercy towards me. I resolve to be a witness to your great love among my family and friends.

Resolution: I will witness to some healing that the Lord has worked in my life with a friend or family member.


29 posted on 02/04/2013 5:46:05 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: annalex


From an unidentified manuscript

30 posted on 02/04/2013 5:46:30 PM PST by annalex (fear them not)
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To: annalex


Second Coming of Christ With Two Gospel Miracles
Detail: Christ and the Gerasene Demoniac

Alexey Pismenny

2007

31 posted on 02/04/2013 5:48:02 PM PST by annalex (fear them not)
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To: All

Admitting Sin

 

by Food For Thought on February 4, 2013 · 

Evil and sin are very real in our society, and people do not like sinners. So when we dwell on our sin, we become outcasts, just like the possessed man. Sin binds us, and prevents us from looking beyond ourselves. We become cut off from society, and worse, cut off from God. Only when we acknowledge our sinfulness can we be healed. Only through the help of Jesus can we truly break free from being “possessed” by sin. And once we are free, we may rejoin our community once more.

The difficult part is acknowledging that we are sinners. It takes a certain courage and humility to admit such a thing. Yet when it does happen, and we do receive God’s healing forgiveness, are we ready to follow Him just like the possessed man did? Do we have the strength to also ask Him: “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?”


32 posted on 02/04/2013 10:18:28 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body


<< Monday, February 4, 2013 >>
 
Hebrews 11:32-40
View Readings
Psalm 31:20-24 Mark 5:1-20
 

THE SCHOOL OF SOFT KNOCKS

 
"The man who had been possessed was pressing to accompany" Jesus. —Mark 5:18
 

Some people will do anything for Jesus. They have "endured mockery, scourging, even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, sawed in two, put to death at sword's point" (Heb 11:36-37). Other people will throw Jesus out of town just because He had something to do with their losing a few thousand pork chops, pounds of bacon, and hams (Mk 5:17).

Most people, even Christians, do not see themselves as extremely in love or in hate with Jesus. They don't see themselves as martyrs because they often put selfish pleasures ahead of the Lord. Conversely, they don't see themselves as throwing Jesus out of town. These people are neither hot nor cold toward Jesus, but lukewarm (Rv 3:16).

Jesus loves us too much to let this lukewarmness continue. He will quietly, respectfully, yet persistently keep calling each of us by name and knocking on each of our doors (Rv 3:20). Eventually, we will no longer be able to brush Jesus off. Each of us will have to give our whole life to Him or crucify Him (see Heb 6:6). Because of Jesus' loving insistence that we abandon ourselves to Him, we eventually love or hate Him (Mt 6:24). We decide to be with Him forever in heaven or without Him forever in hell.

Jesus is knocking again. Answer the door.

 
Prayer: Jesus, may I do anything for You — even live and die for You.
Promise: "Go home to your family and make it clear to them how much the Lord in His mercy has done for you." —Mk 5:19
Praise: Fr. John continually proclaims the truths of the Catholic faith to his congregation, whether or not his people receive the message.

33 posted on 02/04/2013 10:26:08 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
Did you pray in front of a
Planned Parenthood Clinic
today? 
Please pray for an
end to abortion in the United States.
Click to see pro-life march video in Aurora - 1-16-10

34 posted on 02/04/2013 10:28:35 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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