Posted on 09/12/2013 9:40:52 PM PDT by Salvation
September 13, 2013
Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Reading 1 1 Tm 1:1-2, 12-14
Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our savior
and of Christ Jesus our hope,
to Timothy, my true child in faith:
grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father
and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord,
because he considered me trustworthy
in appointing me to the ministry.
I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man,
but I have been mercifully treated
because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief.
Indeed, the grace of our Lord has been abundant,
along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Responsorial Psalm PS 16:1b-2a and 5, 7-8, 11
R. (see 5) You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Gospel Lk 6:39-42
Jesus told his disciples a parable:
“Can a blind person guide a blind person?
Will not both fall into a pit?
No disciple is superior to the teacher;
but when fully trained,
every disciple will be like his teacher.
Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye,
but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?
How can you say to your brother,
‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’
when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?
You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first;
then you will see clearly
to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”
Feast Day: September 13
Born: 347, Antioch
Died: Commana in Pontus, 14 September, 407
Patron of: Constantinople, education, epilepsy, lecturers, orators, preachers
St. John Chrysostom
Feast Day: September 13
Born: 344 / Died: 407
St. John Chrysostom was born in Antioch in Greece. His father died when he was a baby and his mother decided not to marry again. She gave all her attention to bringing up her son and daughter.
She made many sacrifices so that John could have the best teachers. He was very intelligent and could have become a great man in the world. When he gave speeches everyone loved to listen to him. In fact, his name, Chrysostom, means, "Golden-mouthed."
Yet John wanted to give himself to God. He became a priest and lived for about 12 years preaching in Syria. Later he was made bishop and then Archbishop of the great city of Constantinople.
St. John was a wonderful bishop. Although he was always sick, he did a great amount of good. He preached once or twice every day, fed the poor and took care of orphans.
He corrected sinful customs and stopped bad plays from being performed. He loved everyone, but was not afraid to tell even the empress when she did wrong.
Because he fought sin, St. John had many enemies - even the empress herself. She had him sent away from Constantinople. On the trip he suffered greatly from fever, without food and sleep. Yet, he was happy to suffer for Jesus. Just before he died, he cried out, "Glory be to God!"
Luke | |||
English: Douay-Rheims | Latin: Vulgata Clementina | Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000) | |
Luke 6 |
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39. | And he spoke also to them a similitude: Can the blind lead the blind? do they not both fall into the ditch? | Dicebat autem illis et similitudinem : Numquid potest cæcus cæcum ducere ? nonne ambo in foveam cadunt ? | ειπεν δε παραβολην αυτοις μητι δυναται τυφλος τυφλον οδηγειν ουχι αμφοτεροι εις βοθυνον πεσουνται |
40. | The disciple is not above his master: but every one shall be perfect, if he be as his master. | Non est discipulus super magistrum : perfectus autem omnis erit, si sit sicut magister ejus. | ουκ εστιν μαθητης υπερ τον διδασκαλον αυτου κατηρτισμενος δε πας εσται ως ο διδασκαλος αυτου |
41. | And why seest thou the mote in thy brother's eye: but the beam that is in thy own eye thou considerest not? | Quid autem vides festucam in oculo fratris tui, trabem autem, quæ in oculo tuo est, non consideras ? | τι δε βλεπεις το καρφος το εν τω οφθαλμω του αδελφου σου την δε δοκον την εν τω ιδιω οφθαλμω ου κατανοεις |
42. | Or how canst thou say to thy brother: Brother, let me pull the mote out of thy eye, when thou thyself seest not the beam in thy own eye? Hypocrite, cast first the beam out of thy own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to take out the mote from thy brother's eye. | aut quomodo potes dicere fratri tuo : Frater, sine ejiciam festucam de oculo tuo : ipse in oculo tuo trabem non videns ? Hypocrita, ejice primum trabem de oculo tuo : et tunc perspicies ut educas festucam de oculo fratris tui. | η πως δυνασαι λεγειν τω αδελφω σου αδελφε αφες εκβαλω το καρφος το εν τω οφθαλμω σου αυτος την εν τω οφθαλμω σου δοκον ου βλεπων υποκριτα εκβαλε πρωτον την δοκον εκ του οφθαλμου σου και τοτε διαβλεψεις εκβαλειν το καρφος το εν τω οφθαλμω του αδελφου σου |
Friday, September 13
Liturgical Color: White
Today is the Memorial of St. John
Chrysostom, bishop and doctor of the
Church. St. John, known as the Golden Mouth,
was a very gifted speaker who gave
many inspiring homilies on the Eucharist and
on Scripture. He died in 407 A.D.
Daily Readings for: September 13, 2013
(Readings on USCCB website)
Collect: O God, strength of those who hope in you, who willed that the Bishop Saint John Chrysostom should be illustrious by his wonderful eloquence and his experience of suffering, grant us, we pray, that, instructed by his teachings, we may be strengthened through the example of his invincible patience. 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.
RECIPES
ACTIVITIES
o Elementary Parent Pedagogy: Difficulties in Reading
o Preschool Parent Pedagogy: Christian Use of Pictures
PRAYERS
o Prayer of St. John Chrysostom
LIBRARY
o Ex Quo (On The Euchologion) | Pope Benedict XIV
o Saint John Chrysostom | Pope Benedict XVI
o St John Chrysostom - 2 | Pope Benedict XVI
o St. John Chrysostom: The Prophet of Charity | Archpriest Georges Florovsky
o The Age of Patrology | Sal Ciresi
Ordinary Time: September 13th
Memorial of St. John Chrysostom, bishop and doctor
St. John Chrysostom, born in Antioch about 347 A.D., was a great genius. His powerful eloquence earned him the surname of Chrysostom, or golden mouthed. With St. Athanasius, St. Gregory Nazianzen and St. Basil, he forms the group of the four great doctors of the Eastern Church. As Archbishop of Constantinople, his courageous stance against the vices of even the wealthy caused him to be exiled several times. As a result he died in 407, still in exile. In 1204 his body was brought to St. Peter's in Rome but was returned to the Orthodox on November 27, 2004 by Pope John Paul II. His silver and jewel-encrusted skull is now kept in the Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos in northern Greece, and is credited by Christians with miraculous healings. His right hand is also preserved on Mount Athos, and numerous smaller relics are scattered throughout the world. His feast in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite is celebrated on January 27.
St. John Chrysostom
John Chrysostom was the son of a Latin father and a Greek mother; his mother, Anthusa, was widowed at the age of twenty, soon after his birth. Putting aside all thought of remarriage, Anthusa gave all of her attention to her son: she gave him the best classical education of the day, and enrolled him as a catechumen when he was eighteen. He came under the influence of Meletius, patriarch of Antioch, who sent him to the monastic school of Diodore, then baptized him and ordained him lector.
At this time, St. John Chrysostom decided to take his future into his own hands and became a monk-hermit, living in a cave, studying the Scriptures, and putting himself under the discipline of an old hermit named Hesychius. However, his health broke under this austere regimen and he returned to Antioch, was ordained a priest, and began his remarkable career as a preacher.
During the next twelve years, he electrified Antioch with his fiery sermons, filled with a knowledge and an eloquence that were astonishing. It was during this period that he received the nickname Chrysostom, or golden mouth, for his words seemed to be pure gold. In 397, when the see of Constantinople became vacant, the Emperor Arcadius appointed John patriarch, and since it was feared that he would refuse the honor, he was lured to Constantinople and consecrated bishop of the city in 398.
John found himself in a nest of political intrigue, fraud, extravagance, and naked ambition. He curbed expenses, gave lavishly to the poor, built hospitals, reformed the clergy, and restored monastic discipline. But his program of reform made him enemies, in particular the Empress Eudoxia and the Patriarch Theophilus of Alexandria. The city in turmoil, his life threatened, John was exiled by the emperor in the year 404.
The papal envoys were imprisoned, and John — defended by the pope and ordered restored to his see — was sent further into exile, six hundred miles from Constantinople, across the Black Sea. Worn out and sick, he died of his hardships at Comana in Pontus. His last words were, "Glory to God for all things."
—Excerpted from The One Year Book of Saints by Rev. Clifford Stevens
Patron: Constantinople; epilepsy; orators; preachers.
Symbols: Beehive; chalice on Bible; white dove; scroll or book; pen and inkhorn; bishop's mitre.
Things to Do:
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St John Chrysostom, 345-407. Doctor of Preachers, Feast, Sept 13th. |
Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
He considered me trustworthy in appointing me to the ministry. (1 Timothy 1:12)
Do you consider yourself trustworthy when it comes to the call to preach the gospel? Jesus does! He didn’t give this job just to St. Paul and the other apostles. He has given it to all of us! Exciting, isn’t it? Jesus, your Savior, Redeemer, Healer, and Friend, has deemed you worthy to carry the responsibility of telling the world about who he is.
In today’s first reading, St. Paul recalls a time when he was “a blasphemer and a persecutor and an arrogant man” (1 Timothy 1:13)—that is, until the Lord revealed himself to Paul and brought him to conversion. Then, filled with gratitude for what he had received, Paul joyfully took up the call to spread the good news far and wide.
Now, if God could use someone with a past as violent as Paul’s, why couldn’t he use you? Remember, Paul didn’t become the great “apostle to the nations” overnight. He had to deal with his old habits, assumptions, sins, and prejudices, but he didn’t wait until he was perfect to begin sharing the gospel. On the contrary, he couldn’t keep his mouth shut about the Lord!
Let Paul’s story be a source of comfort and inspiration to you today. God has entrusted the gospel to you. You don’t have to be a pastor standing in the pulpit each week, a noted theologian, or a religious brother or sister to preach the gospel. He chose you for who you are, for the gifts and talents that only you have. He chose you because of the unique way that you show people what the Christian life is like. Most important, he chose you because he knows you can do it!
So come to Jesus with a grateful heart. He has taken the scales off your eyes and commissioned you to show forth his glory and his love. Let the joy of your salvation rise up in your heart so that it can propel you into the world with the best news possible. Then look for every opportunity he gives you to share the reason for your joy.
“Lord, I am amazed that you have called me to share your good news. By your Spirit, fill me with confidence and courage to be your ambassador.”
Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-8, 11; Luke 6:39-42
Daily Marriage Tip for September 13, 2013:
Psychologically, negative messages are more powerful than positive ones. If youve been hard on yourself lately, list three things you did well today. Itll make you a more pleasant person for your spouse to be around.
God So Loves Me | ||
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Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, bishop and doctor of the Church
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Father Patrick Butler, LC Luke 6: 39-42 He also told them a parable: "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor´s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ´Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,´ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor´s eye. Introductory Prayer: God the Father, thank you for the gift of creation, including my own life. God the Son, thank you for redeeming me at the price of your own Body and Blood. God the Holy Spirit, thank you for being the sweet guest of my soul, enlightening my mind, strengthening my spirit and kindling the fire of your love in my heart. Petition: Lord, help me to grow in humility. 1. Blind Guides: Jesus poses a rhetorical question to the crowd: “Can a blind person guide a blind person?” It is obvious that a guide needs to see. If we are talking about guiding people to the kingdom of God, then Jesus is the way. He is the one who has come from his Father; he knows the way. First, we can reflect on his importance and centrality to our journey to heaven. Second, we can also think about ourselves as guides for others. There should be a certain hesitancy, which is not reluctance, when we consider the task of leading others to God. We should be humble and remain very close to the Church that Christ founded to continue his mission on earth. 2. Disciples: Christ’s next statement emphasizes that while the disciple is not above his teacher, he can learn as much as the teacher. The disciple of Jesus can learn from him the steps which lead to salvation and eternal life. Christ not only founded the Church to continue his teaching, but he also endowed her with the gift of his Spirit to preserve her from error. Our confidence in teaching others should derive from the knowledge that we are in union with the Church and seek to follow her teachings. Learning is a lifelong process, but religious instruction often ceases with First Communion or Confirmation, and many adults have only the religious formation of a child. What are we doing to become fully qualified in our knowledge of the faith? 3. Hypocrites: Evangelization begins with us. It does seem that we are much quicker to detect faults in others than to notice them in ourselves. We can even be really irritated by another person’s faults, even though we ourselves possess them in greater measure than does the person about whom we are complaining. The proud person complains loudly of the conceit and arrogance he sees in his neighbor, but he is blind to his own vice. We need to consider our own condition first – humbly –, and then we need to work on truly becoming more Christ-like. The more we allow God’s grace to transform our lives, the more we can help others. Conversation with Christ: Lord, I am very proud. I so easily get wrapped up in myself, my perspective, my needs and my wants. I put myself before others. Help me to see the faults in myself that you want me to start working on. Give me the courage to address them before I start looking at others. Resolution: I will identify two or three practical things I can do this week to grow in the virtue of humility. |
The first verse of Psalm 1 asks “O Lord, who will dwell in your tent and reside on your holy mount?” In other words, it is asking God “Who deserves to be in your presence?” In the first reading, Paul writes that he certainly did not deserve to be in the presence of the Lord nor be in His service because he was “a blasphemer, a persecutor and a rabid enemy”; but, Jesus had mercy on him and changed his heart on the road to Damascus. Jesus gifted him with faith and love, making him trustworthy to be in his service. The same theme can be seen in today’s gospel. A disciple of Jesus is one “who is not above the master, but when fully trained, he will be like his master.” As true disciples, we are to behave like our Master. We are to conform our hearts to the heart of Jesus who is not critical of us and accepts us as sinners. Jesus encourages us to look into ourselves instead of judging those around us. So that we may follow his teachings more closely, we need his grace and his strength, as Paul says. We cannot do this on our own but only through God’s gracious permission. We pray that one day, our character may mirror that of Jesus.
When was the last time I judged someone? What changes can I make in my behavior today through the help of Jesus? Can I entrust myself to Jesus to shape my character according to his wishes?
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Bless my baby, dear Lord!
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