Posted on 06/26/2015 8:36:04 PM PDT by Salvation
June 27, 2015
Saturday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Reading 1 Gn 18:1-15
The LORD appeared to Abraham by the Terebinth of Mamre, as Abraham sat in the entrance of his tent, while the day was growing hot. Looking up, he saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them; and bowing to the ground, he said: Sir, if I may ask you this favor, please do not go on past your servant. Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet, and then rest yourselves under the tree. Now that you have come this close to your servant, let me bring you a little food, that you may refresh yourselves; and afterward you may go on your way. The men replied, Very well, do as you have said.
Abraham hastened into the tent and told Sarah, Quick, three measures of fine flour! Knead it and make rolls. He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice steer, and gave it to a servant, who quickly prepared it. Then Abraham got some curds and milk, as well as the steer that had been prepared, and set these before them; and he waited on them under the tree while they ate.
They asked him, Where is your wife Sarah? He replied, There in the tent. One of them said, I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah will then have a son. Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent, just behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years, and Sarah had stopped having her womanly periods. So Sarah laughed to herself and said,
Now that I am so withered and my husband is so old, am I still to have sexual pleasure? But the LORD said to Abraham: Why did Sarah laugh and say, Shall I really bear a child, old as I am? Is anything too marvelous for the LORD to do? At the appointed time, about this time next year, I will return to you, and Sarah will have a son. Because she was afraid, Sarah dissembled, saying, I didnt laugh. But he replied, Yes you did.
Responsorial Psalm Luke 1:46-47, 48-49, 50 and 53, 54-55
R. (see 54b) The Lord has remembered his mercy.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
R. The Lord has remembered his mercy.
For he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.
R. The Lord has remembered his mercy.
He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
R. The Lord has remembered his mercy.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, The promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.
R. The Lord has remembered his mercy.
Alleluia Mt 8:17
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Mt 8:5-17
When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached him and appealed to him, saying, Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering dreadfully. He said to him, I will come and cure him. The centurion said in reply, Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed.
For I too am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come here, and he comes; and to my slave, Do this, and he does it.
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, Amen, I say to you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet in the Kingdom of heaven, but the children of the Kingdom will be driven out into the outer darkness, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.
And Jesus said to the centurion, You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you. And at that very hour his servant was healed.
Jesus entered the house of Peter, and saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand, the fever left her, and she rose and waited on him.
When it was evening, they brought him many who were possessed by demons, and he drove out the spirits by a word and cured all the sick, to fulfill what had been said by Isaiah the prophet:
He took away our infirmities and bore our diseases.
June 2015
Pope’s Intentions
Universal: Immigrants and refugees — That immigrants and refugees may find welcome and respect in the countries to which they come.
Evangelization: Vocations — That the personal encounter with Jesus may arouse in many young people the desire to offer their own lives in priesthood or consecrated life
http://dailygospel.org/main.php?language=AM&module=commentary&localdate=20150627Saturday of the Twelfth week in Ordinary Time
Commentary of the day
Basil of Seleucia (?-c.468), Bishop
Homily 19 on the centurion, PG 85, 235f.
“Many will come from the east and the west, and will recline... at the banquet in the kingdom of heaven”
I have seen our Lord in the Gospel accomplish many miracles and, reassured by them, have strengthened my fearful words. I have seen the centurion throw himself at the Lord’s feet, nations send their firstfruits to Christ. The cross has not yet been erected and already pagans hasten towards their master. The words Go, teach all nations have not yet been heard (Mt 28,19) but the nations are already hastening. Their race precedes their call, they are burning with desire for the Lord. The sound of preaching has not yet been heard but they are hurrying towards the one who preaches. Peter... has now been instructed and they gather around the one who is teaching him; the light of Paul has not yet blazed beneath Christ’s standard and nations are coming with incense to adore the king (Mt 2,11).
And now, see how a centurion begs him and says to him: Lord, my servant is lying at home paralysed, suffering dreadfully. Here is a new miracle indeed! The servant whose limbs are paralysed leads his master to the Lord; the slaves’ sickness gives health to his owner. Seeking his servant’s healing, he finds our Lord; and while he is seeking for his slave’s cure he becomes Christ’s conquest.
Saint Augustine of Hippo from The Confessions of Augustine Book III, Chap. 8, no. 15
The Angelus
The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.
Hail Mary . . .
And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary . . .
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray:
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
https://wf-f.org/StCyrilAlexandria.html
Saint Cyril of Alexandria,
Bishop & Doctor of the Church
Optional Memorial
June 27th
https://wf-f.org/WFFResource/StCyrilAlexandria.jpg
unknown artist
Saint Cyril of Alexandria was the Patriarch of Alexandria in Egypt and an able theologian. As bishop and doctor, he became the glory of the Church in Egypt. During the Council of Ephesus, he defined the oneness of person in Jesus Christ and the divine maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary against the heresy of Nestorius.
Source: Daily Roman Missal, Edited by Rev. James Socías, Midwest Theological Forum, Chicago, Illinois ©2003
Collect:
O God, who made the Bishop Saint Cyril of Alexandria
an invincible champion of the divine motherhood
of the most Blessed Virgin Mary,
grant, we pray,
that we, who believe she is truly the Mother of God,
may be saved through the Incarnation of Christ your Son.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. +Amen.
First Reading: 2 Timothy 4:1-5
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus,
To Timothy, my beloved child:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I thank God whom I serve with a clear conscience, as did my fathers, when I remember you constantly in my prayers. As I remember your tears, I long night and day to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 5: 13-19
“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Related Links on the Vatican Website:
ORIENTALIS ECCLESIAE, Encyclical of Pope Pius XII on Saint Cyril, Patriarch of Alexandria, April 9, 1944
Benedict XVI, General Audience, Saint Peter’s Square, Wednesday, October 3, 2007, Saint Cyril of Alexandria
http://www.holyspiritinteractive.net/kids/saints/0627.asp
St. Cyril of Alexandria
Feast Day: June 27
Born: 370 :: Died: 444
Cyril was born at Alexandria in Egypt. His uncle, Theophilus, was the patriarch or archbishop of Alexandria. Although his uncle meant no harm, he had a bad temper and could be very stubborn at times.
Archbishop Theophilus sent the Bishop of Constantinople, St. John Chrysostom into exile in 403. Cyril who was influenced by his uncle’s dislike of John, agreed when John was sent into exile. But the emperor brought the famous bishop back to his archdiocese of Constantinople.
When his uncle died in 412, Cyril became the archbishop of Alexandria. His love for the Church and for Jesus was very strong. He was a brave man in times when the Church was confused and clearly preached the teachings of the Church. He was honest and straightforward and was not interested in praise or high positions.
However, Cyril like his uncle Theophilus, could be impulsive and stubborn at times. He explained the truths of the Church with his preaching and writing. But when he got upset, what he said was sometimes difficult to understand. He did not always bother saying things in a gentle manner and blurted out angrily at times.
His lack of self-control made him sad. Yet Christians were grateful for his many wonderful qualities. For example, he was not afraid to defend the Church and what we believe. He also had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and lovingly defended her from evil people who tried to harm her holy name.
St. Cyril was the representative of Pope St. Celestine I at the Council of Ephesus in 431. This was an official Church meeting of over two hundred bishops. They had to study the teachings of a priest named Nestorius who preached that there were two persons in Christ. The Council explained clearly that Nestorius was wrong.
The pope gave him ten days to say he would stop preaching what was wrong. But Nestorius would not agree. The bishops at the Council clearly explained to the people of God that these were false teachings and the people were convinced. This would never again be a major threat to the Church.
The people were very grateful to St. Cyril of Alexandria who led the Council meetings. Nestorius went quietly back to his monastery and stopped confusing people. Cyril went back to his archdiocese and worked hard for the Church until he died in 444. Pope Leo XIII proclaimed St. Cyril a Doctor of the Church in 1883.
Reflection: “Surely she must be the Mother of God if our Lord Jesus Christ is God, and she gave birth to him.” - St. Cyril
Matthew | |||
English: Douay-Rheims | Latin: Nova Vulgata | Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000) | |
Matthew 8 |
|||
5. | And when he had entered into Capharnaum, there came to him a centurion, beseeching him, | Cum autem introisset Capharnaum, accessit ad eum centurio rogans eum | εισελθοντι δε αυτω εις καπερναουμ προσηλθεν αυτω εκατονταρχος παρακαλων αυτον |
6. | And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, and is grieviously tormented. | et dicens: Domine, puer meus iacet in domo paralyticus et male torquetur . | και λεγων κυριε ο παις μου βεβληται εν τη οικια παραλυτικος δεινως βασανιζομενος |
7. | And Jesus saith to him: I will come and heal him. | Et ait illi: Ego veniam et curabo eum . | και λεγει αυτω ο ιησους εγω ελθων θεραπευσω αυτον |
8. | And the centurion making answer, said: Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst enter under my roof: but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed. | Et respondens centurio ait: Domine, non sum dignus, ut intres sub tectum meum, sed tantum dic verbo, et sanabitur puer meus. | και αποκριθεις ο εκατονταρχος εφη κυριε ουκ ειμι ικανος ινα μου υπο την στεγην εισελθης αλλα μονον ειπε λογω και ιαθησεται ο παις μου |
9. | For I also am a man subject to authority, having under me soldiers; and I say to this, Go, and he goeth, and to another, Come, and he cometh, and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. | Nam et ego homo sum sub potestate, habens sub me milites, et dico huic: Vade, et vadit; et alii: Veni, et venit; et servo meo: Fac hoc, et facit. | και γαρ εγω ανθρωπος ειμι υπο εξουσιαν εχων υπ εμαυτον στρατιωτας και λεγω τουτω πορευθητι και πορευεται και αλλω ερχου και ερχεται και τω δουλω μου ποιησον τουτο και ποιει |
10. | And Jesus hearing this, marvelled; and said to them that followed him: Amen I say to you, I have not found so great faith in Israel. | Audiens autem Iesus, miratus est et sequentibus se dixit: Amen dico vobis: Apud nullum inveni tantam fidem in Israel! | ακουσας δε ο ιησους εθαυμασεν και ειπεν τοις ακολουθουσιν αμην λεγω υμιν ουδε εν τω ισραηλ τοσαυτην πιστιν ευρον |
11. | And I say to you that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven: | Dico autem vobis quod multi ab oriente et occidente venient et recumbent cum Abraham et Isaac et Iacob in regno caelorum; | λεγω δε υμιν οτι πολλοι απο ανατολων και δυσμων ηξουσιν και ανακλιθησονται μετα αβρααμ και ισαακ και ιακωβ εν τη βασιλεια των ουρανων |
12. | But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. | filii autem regni eicientur in tenebras exteriores: ibi erit fletus et stridor dentium . | οι δε υιοι της βασιλειας εκβληθησονται εις το σκοτος το εξωτερον εκει εσται ο κλαυθμος και ο βρυγμος των οδοντων |
13. | And Jesus said to the centurion: Go, and as thou hast believed, so be it done to thee. And the servant was healed at the same hour. | Et dixit Iesus centurioni: Vade; sicut credidisti, fiat tibi . Et sanatus est puer in hora illa. | και ειπεν ο ιησους τω εκατονταρχη υπαγε και ως επιστευσας γενηθητω σοι και ιαθη ο παις αυτου εν τη ωρα εκεινη |
14. | And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother lying, and sick of a fever: | Et cum venisset Iesus in domum Petri, vidit socrum eius iacentem et febricitantem; | και ελθων ο ιησους εις την οικιαν πετρου ειδεν την πενθεραν αυτου βεβλημενην και πυρεσσουσαν |
15. | And he touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she arose and ministered to them. | et tetigit manum eius, et dimisit eam febris; et surrexit et ministrabat ei. | και ηψατο της χειρος αυτης και αφηκεν αυτην ο πυρετος και ηγερθη και διηκονει αυτω |
16. | And when evening was come, they brought to him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word: and all that were sick he healed: | Vespere autem facto, obtulerunt ei multos daemonia habentes; et eiciebat spiritus verbo et omnes male habentes curavit, | οψιας δε γενομενης προσηνεγκαν αυτω δαιμονιζομενους πολλους και εξεβαλεν τα πνευματα λογω και παντας τους κακως εχοντας εθεραπευσεν |
17. | That it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet Isaias, saying: He took our infirmities, and bore our diseases. | ut adimpleretur, quod dictum est per Isaiam prophetam dicentem: Ipse infirmitates nostras accepit et aegrotationes portavit . | οπως πληρωθη το ρηθεν δια ησαιου του προφητου λεγοντος αυτος τας ασθενειας ημων ελαβεν και τας νοσους εβαστασεν |
Saturday, June 27
Liturgical Color: Green
June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of
Jesus. In 1956, Pope Pius XII stated "It is
altogether impossible to enumerate the
heavenly gifts which devotion to the
Sacred Heart of Jesus has poured out on
the souls of the faithful."
http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/pictures/6_27_cyril.jpg
Daily Readings for:June 27, 2015
(Readings on USCCB website)
Collect: O God, who made the Bishop Saint Cyril of Alexandria an invincible champion of the divine motherhood of the most Blessed Virgin Mary, grant, we pray, that we, who believe she is truly the Mother of God, may be saved through the Incarnation of Christ your Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
RECIPES
Greek Homestyle Chicken
Greek Salad
ACTIVITIES
Teaching Your Child to Know God
PRAYERS
St. Cyril of Alexandria’s Litany of Praise of the Mother of God
LIBRARY
Orientalis Ecclesiae (On St. Cyril, Patriarch Of Alexandria) | Pope Pius XII
Saint Cyril of Alexandria | Pope Benedict XVI
Ordinary Time: June 27th
Optional Memorial of St. Cyril of Alexandria, bishop and doctor
Old Calendar: Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Hist)
St. Cyril, Patriarch of Alexandria, one of the metropolitan sees of the Christian Church in the east, was one of the great defenders of the faith against the heresy of Nestorius who denied the oneness of person in Jesus Christ. At the Council of Ephesus in 431, over which he presided in the Pope’s name, and at his instigation, it was defined that Christ, the Son of God, is at the same time God and man, and the Blessed Virgin Mary, His mother, is truly the Mother of God. St. Cyril died in 444. The Church venerates him as one of her great doctors. His commentary on the Gospel of St. John is one of the richest doctrinally of those left us by the Fathers of the Church.
According to the 1962 Missal of St. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, the feast of St. Cyril of Alexandria is celebrated on February 9.
St. Cyril of Alexandria
St. Cyril is one of the great Greek fathers of the Church. He was chosen by divine Providence to be the shield and champion of the Church against Nestorius, who denied the unity of person in Christ. If this heresy had succeeded, Mary would not be called the Mother of God.
Excepting Sts. Athanasius and Augustine, his equal as a defender of orthodoxy, can hardly be found in the Church’s history. His greatest achievement was the successful direction of the ecumenical council at Ephesus (431), of which he was the soul (Pope Celestine had appointed him papal legate). In this council two important dogmas were defined that there is but one person in Christ, and that Mary (in the literal sense of the word) can be called the Mother of God (Theotokos). His successful defense of the latter doctrine is his greatest title to honor.
His writings show such depth and clarity that the Greeks called him the “seal of the fathers.” He died in 444 A.D., after having been bishop for thirty-two years. In Rome, the basilica of St. Mary Major stands as a most venerable monument to the honor paid Mary at the Council of Ephesus. On the arch leading into the sanctuary important incidents in the lives of Jesus and Mary are depicted in mosaic.
Excerpted from The Church’s Year of Grace, Pius Parsch
In 1881, he was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIII, and in 1944, on the fifteenth centenary of Cyril’s death, Pope Pius XII issued his encyclical Orientalis Ecclesiae, commemorating Cyril’s place in the history of the Church.
Excerpted from The One Year Book of Saints by Rev. Clifford Stevens
Patron: Alexandria; Egypt.
Symbols: Shown holding a pen; with the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus.
Things to Do:
Read Pope Pius XII encyclical, Orientalis Ecclesiae (On St. Cyril, Patriarch Of Alexandria).
Read some excerpts from the writings of St. Cyril at the Crossroads Initiative.
St. Cyril lived in the fifth century and combated the heresy of Nestorius, who denied the union between the humanity and divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and thus, the divine motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (See Catechism of the Catholic Church 466) Read what the Catholic Encyclopedia says about Nestorius and Nestorianism.
http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/pictures/6_27_perpetual_help.jpg
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Also known as Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, is celebrated on June 27 by the universal Church.
The devotion to this Marian advocation revolves around the picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, painted on wood, with background of gold. It is Byzantine in style and is supposed to have been painted in the thirteenth century. It represents the Mother of God holding the Divine Child while the Archangels Michael and Gabriel presenting Him the instruments of His Passion. Over the figures in the picture are some Greek letters which form the abbreviated words Mother of God, Jesus Christ, Archangel Michael, and Archangel Gabriel respectively.
The icon was brought to Rome towards the end of the fifteenth century by a pious merchant, who, dying there, ordered by his will that the picture should be exposed in a church for public veneration. It was exposed in the church of San Matteo in the famous Roman street of Via Merulana, which connects the basilicas of Saint Mary Major and Saint John Lateran. Crowds flocked to this church, and for nearly three hundred years many graces were obtained through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin. The picture was then popularly called the Madonna di San Matteo. The church was served for a time by the Hermits of Saint Augustine.
These Augustinians were still in charge when the French invaded Rome (1812) and destroyed the church. The picture disappeared; it remained hidden and neglected for over forty years, but a series of providential circumstances between 1863 and 1865 led to its rediscovery in an oratory of the Augustinian Fathers at Santa Maria in Posterula.
Pope Pius IX, who as a boy had prayed before the picture in San Matteo, became interested in the discovery. But at that time, the ruins of San Matteo were in the grounds of a convent of the Redemptorists -the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer-, founded by St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787).
The Father General of the Redemptorists, Most Rev. Nicholas Mauron, decided to bring the whole matter to the attention of the Pope. The Pope listened attentively and felt sure it was Gods will that the icon should be gain exposed to public veneration and the logical site was their church of St. Alphonsus, standing as it did between the Basilicas of St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran. The Holy Father at once took a piece of paper and wrote a short memorandum ordering the Augustinian Fathers of St. Mary in Posterula to surrender the picture to the Redemptorists, on condition that the Redemptorists supply the Augustinians with another picture of Our Lady or a good copy of the icon of Perpetual Help.
The Icon meant much to the Augustinians, but when the two Redemptorists came armed with the Popes signed memorandum, what could they do but obey? On January 19, 1866, Fathers Marchi and Bresciani brought the miraculous picture to St. Alphonsus church. Preparations were now made to inaugurate the new public reign of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. On April 26th, a great procession was staged in which the picture was carried throughout the Esquiline region of Rome. Upon returning to the church, the picture was enthroned over the high altar, in a resplendent shrine-niche especially constructed for it.
The report of marvelous healings spread rapidly throughout the city of Rome and people came by the hundreds to visit the shrine. Soon the whole area around the altar was filled with abandoned crutches and canes and several whole glass-covered cabinets were filled with gold and silver thanksgiving offerings in the shapes of miniature hearts, arms, legs and other votive offerings. Scarcely two weeks after the solemn exposition of the picture, Pope Pius IX himself came to visit the shrine. He stood quietly before it for a long time and then exclaimed: How beautiful she is!.
Pope Leo XIII, the next pontiff, had a copy of the picture on his desk so that he might see it constantly during his working day. St. Pius X sent a copy of the icon to the Empress of Ethiopia and granted an indulgence of 100 days to anyone who repeated the phrase: Mother of Perpetual Help, pray for us.
Pope Benedict XV had the picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Help placed immediately over his chair of state in the throne room. Here it could be seen by all just over his head, as if to say: Here is your true Queen!.
Pope Pius IX told the Redemptorists, in speaking to them of the treasure he had committed to their care: Make her known! It seems as though they hardly needed the exhortation. In the United States, they built the first Our Lady of Perpetual Help church in the Roxbury section of Boston, and it was eventually raised to the honor of a Papal Basilica by Pope Pius XII.
Symbolism of the icon of Perpetual Help
The influence of Eastern icons in the West, around the XII and XIII centuries brought a class of icons called Cardiotissa, from the Greek word kardia, meaning heart. Cardiotissa means having a heart or showing sympathy and mercy and compassion. In them the face of Our Lady appears full of sorrow, yet supremely dignified in her contemplation of the sufferings of her Son. His passion is represented by angels holding instruments of His passion, most often the cross, the lance, the sponge, and the nails.
The Our Mother of Perpetual Help icon is of this type. The angels holding the instruments of the Passion have their hands covered with a protecting veil as a sign of reverence in handling sacred objects.
The Child Jesus is shown with an adult face and a high brow, indicating His divine Mind of infinite intelligence. As God, He knew that the angelic apparition was prophetic of His future passion. Yet in His human nature as a small child, He is frightened and runs to His Mother for protection. Our Lady hastily picks Him up and clasps Him to her bosom. This action is indicated by the fact that the Lords right foot is nervously curled about the left ankle and in such haste that His right sandal has become loosened and hangs by a single strap. Further action is indicated by the way the Child Jesus clasps His Mothers right hand with both of His, holding tightly to Our Ladys thumb.
Our Lady is clothed in a dress of dark red which was long reserved in the Byzantine world for the Empress alone, indicating the Queenship of Mary.
Some commentators on color claim that bluish purple became the color of penance in the Western Church (during Lent and Advent) because purple is a combination of blue and red. The blue reminds us of heaven, to which we wish to arrive by our penance, and the red recalls martyrdom, because all penance requires a dying to oneself, especially mortifying inordinate desire for food and pleasure. The archangels Gabriel and Michael were tunics of purple since they carry the instruments of the passion and death of Christ. The figures of the icon are identified with abbreviations of their names and Mary is designated by her chief title to glory: Mother of God.
Our Ladys face is of unspeakable majesty and calm and yet her large eyes, partly closed, express ineffable sorrow and sympathy. Our Lady is not looking at Jesus, but rather to us, to express compassion for us in our fears and sorrows.
Excerpted from Catholic News Agency
Things to Do:
Visit the Redemptorists’ site and read the History of the Icon.
Make virtual pilgrimage to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Shrine.
Visit Our Lady of Perpetual Help Radio site to see an explanation of the symbols of the Icon.
See also Women for Faith & Family page on Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
Saint Cyril of Alexandria
http://catholicsaints.info/wp-content/uploads/img-Saint-Cyril-of-Alexandria1.jpg
Memorial
27 June
formerly 28 January
formerly 9 February
Profile
Nephew of Theophilus the Patriarch. Monk. Priest. Bishop and patriarch of Alexandria, Egypt on 18 October 412. Suppressed the Novatians. Worked at the Council of Ephesus. Fought against Nestorius who taught the heresy that there were two persons in Christ. Catechetical writer. Wrote a book opposing Julian the Apostate. Greek Father of the Church. Doctor of the Church.
Born
376 at Alexandria, Egypt
Died
444 at Alexandria, Egypt of natural causes
relics in Alexandria
Canonized
Pre-Congregation
Patronage
Alexandria, Egypt
Representation
book, pen or scroll, indicative of his work as a writer
Blessed Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus, representing his advocacy of the doctrine of Mary as Mother of God
Additional Information
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Letter of Cyril to John of Antioch
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On the Writings of Saint Cyril of Alexandria, by Father Alban Butler
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Pictorial Lives of the Saints
Pope Benedict XVI: General Audience, 3 October 2007
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Saint Cyril: Humble Yourself as Christ Did
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Saint Cyril: Let Your Tears Turn to Joy
Saint Cyril: The Word Stooped Down to Us
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Readings
By nature, each one of us is enclosed in his own personality, but supernaturally, we are all one. We are made one body in Christ, because we are nourished by one flesh. As Christ is indivisible, we are all one in him. Therefore, He asked His Father that they may all be One as We also are one. Saint Cyril of Alexandria
That anyone could doubt the right of the holy Virgin to be called the Mother of God fills with astonishment. Surely she must be the Mother of God if our Lord Jesus Christ is God, and she gave birth to him! Our Lords disciples may not have used those exact words, but they delivered to us the belief those words enshrine, and this has also been taught us by the holy fathers. The divinely inspired Scriptures affirm that the Word of God was made flesh, that is to say, he was united to a human body endowed with a rational soul. He undertook to help the descendants of Abraham, fashioning a body for himself from a woman and sharing our flesh and blood, to enable us to see in him not only God, but also, by reason of this union, a man like ourselves. It is held, therefore, that there is in Emmanuel two entities, divinity and humanity. Yet our Lord Jesus Christ is nonetheless one, the one true Son, both God and man; not a defied man on the same footing as those who share the divine nature by grace, but true God who for our sake appeared in human form. We are assured of this by Saint Pauls declaration: When the fullness of time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law and to enable us to be adopted as sons. from a letter by Saint Cyril of Alexandria
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Meditation: Genesis 18:1-15
Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Sarah laughed. (Genesis 18:12)
Do you remember the last time you had a really good laugh?
In todays readings, we see two different kinds of occasions for laughter. First, Sarah laughs at the idea that she, an old woman, could have a child. It could be the laughter of joy at the news, or it could be the laughter of incredulity at such an outlandish prediction. Either way, Sarahs reaction shows a freedom and lightheartedness that we dont often ascribe to biblical characters. Then in the Gospel, we can well imagine the centurion laughing with joy and gratitude after Jesus cures his servant.
We see people laughing in other places in Scripture, too. The psalmist, upon returning from exile, proclaims, Our mouths were filled with laughter; our tongues sang for joy (Psalm 126:2). As the ark of the covenant is brought into Jerusalem, David is so happy that he dances and shouts for joy (2 Samuel 6:12-14). Jesus has a sense of humor as well. When he and Nathanael first meet, Nathanael quips, Can anything good come from Nazareth? Then Jesus shoots back, Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him! (John 1:46, 47). He seems to be in on Nathanaels joke, and he doesnt mind it at all.
Think about the week that is just coming to an end. Have you laughed much? If not, look back, and see if there were moments for joy that you might have missed. And if you think youve laughed plenty, well, laughter is one thing you cant get too much of! Think about Gods most recent blessings in your life. Think about an embarrassing moment that now brings a smile to your face. And if all else fails, ask someone to tell you a good joke!
Our inconveniences, our challenges, even our happy memories are all a part of our life in Christ. They all present opportunities to laugh with the Lord, even if things arent going as smoothly as wed like. Theres nothing like a good laugh to remind us that no matter what we are experiencing, we still have a lot to smile about. Remember: you are a child of God and an heir to his kingdom.
Jesus, thank you for the gift of laughter. Ignite my joy today. Help me find you in in every situation today so that I can rejoice with you.
(Psalm) Luke 1:46-50, 53-55
Matthew 8:5-17
Does your spouse accuse you of being irresponsible? Sometimes it might just be a different personality style, but dont ignore the criticism. It may hurt, but not addressing any truth that might be behind the charge can build resentment.
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