- Psalm 100:4-5 -
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
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Prayer has a gate. We can best enter prayer by means of the gate. That
gate is
Thanksgiving. Prayer has a court, a ****ch. That court is Praise. We are to
"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise." We do
this
by means of the will. Stop now, and choose at this moment to give thanks
to him
and praise his name. He is good, his love for you is forever, and he is
eternally faithful to you.
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November 27th - St. Maximus of Riez
Born at Decomer (Châteauredon near Digne), Provence, France; died 460.
Saint
Maximus was baptized in infancy and raised in a Christian home, where he
lived a
reclusive life at home in order to mortify his senses and train his will.
Finally he decided to enter religious life in the community of Lérins,
which was
then under the direction of its founder, Saint Honoratus. When Honoratus
was
consecrated archbishop of Arles in 426, Maximus was chosen to be the
second
abbot of Lérins to succeed its founder. Saint Sidonius records that the
monastery acquired a new luster because the prudent conduct and bright
example
of Saint Maximus were such that the monks did not mind the severities of
the
rule; they obeyed him cheerfully and quickly.
Maximus was also favored with the gift of working miracles which
supplemented
his reputation for great sanctity. So many came to consult him that he
eventually had to hide in a forest to escape those seeking to make him
bishop of
Fréjus. Later he was promoted to the see of Riez in Provence and much
against
his will, in 434, received the episcopal consecration from Saint Hilary.
(He had
fled to the coast of Italy in an attempt to shun the dignity.) He was one
of the
most prominent prelates of the church of Gaul in his time. Throughout his
episcopacy, he continued to wear his hair ****rt and habit, and observe the
monastic rule as far as it was compatible with his episcopal functions.
Among the sermons wrongly attributed to Eusebius Emisenus are several now
ascribed to Saint Maximus. He attended the councils of Riez in 439, Orange
I in
441, and Arles in 454. His body now rests in the cathedral of Riez, which
is
dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and Saint Maximus (Attwater 2,
Benedictines,
Coulson, Husenbeth).
Saint Quote:
"It is fitting for the ministers [priests and bishops] of sacraments to be
righteous [absolutely free of mortal sin]; because ministers should be
like unto
their Lord. ... Consequently, there can be no doubt that the wicked
[priests/bishops in mortal sin] sin by exercising the ministry of God and
the
Church, by conferring the sacraments.
"And since this sin pertains to irreverence towards God and the
contamination of
holy things, as far as the man who sins is concerned, although holy things
in
themselves cannot be contaminated; it follows that such a sin is mortal
[deserving of damnation]."
-St. Thomas Aquinas (Doctor, 1225-74) - "Summa Theologica"
Bible Quotes:
"As the judge of the people is Himself, so also are His ministers ... Be
ye
holy, because I am holy" - Ecclesiasticus 10:2; Leviticus 19:2:
"You are of your father the devil" - John 8:44
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Prayer for Priests by the Discalced Carmelite Nuns
Let Us Pray For:
The Holy Father - Fill him with your grace, Lord.
Cardinals, Archbishops, and Bishops - Give them your gifts, Lord.
Diocesan priests - Never leave them, Lord.
Priests in seminary work - Give them constancy, Lord.
Priests who are ill - Heal them, Lord.
Priests in danger - Deliver them, Lord.
Priests who are weak - Strengthen them, Lord.
Priests who are poor - Relieve them, Lord.
Priests who are zealous - Help them, Lord.
Priests who want to love you - Enkindle their hearts, Lord.
Priests who are sad - Console them, Lord.
Priests who are worried - Give them peace, Lord.
Priests who are young - Impel them for your glory, Lord.
Priests who are alone - Accompany them, Lord.
Missionary Priests - Protect them, Lord.
Priests who are preachers - Enlighten them, Lord.
Priests who direct souls - Instruct them, Lord
Parish priests - Give them prudence, Lord.
Religious priests - Make them perfect, Lord.
Priests and religious who have died - Bring them to glory, Lord.
On all the Church, militant and suffering - Lord, have mercy.
For all priests
- Give them your wisdom, Lord.
- Give them virtues.
- Give them patience and charity.
- Give them obedience and kindness.
- Give them a burning zeal for souls.
- Give them an intense love for the Eucharist.
- Give them loyalty to the Holy See and to their Bishops.
- Give them respect for their dignity.
- Give them a great love for Mary.
- Give them rectitude and justice.
- Give them the gift of counsel.
- Give them strength in their labors.
- Give them peace in their sufferings.
- Give them humility and generosity.
- Let them be the light of the souls.
- Let them be the salt of the earth.
- Let them practice sacrifice and self-denial.
- Let them enkindle hearts with the love of Mary.
- Let them be other Christs.
- Let them be holy in body and soul.
- May they be men of prayer.
- May faith ****ne forth in them.
- May they be concerned only for the salvation of souls.
- May their hands know only how to bless.
- May they burn with love for You and for Mary
- May all their steps be for the glory of God.
- May the Holy Spirit possess them, and give them his gifts
- and fruits in abundance.
Let us pray.
O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you are the soul and
the life of the Church. Hear the prayers we offer for priests.
We ask this through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, their
protector and guide. Amen.
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