~SOLID GOLD TRIALS~
By M.Stanford
"For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through
the
thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God'" (II Cor. 4:15).
Since He is both my God and my Father, and since all of the hardships He
takes
me through are specifically designed to conform me to the image of the
Lord
Jesus, how can I help but trust Him and rejoice in His faithfulness?
"It is well to remember that the deepest and truest spiritual qualities
are not
learnt or established in us by our happy or enjoyable times, but in the
difficult ones! There is nothing wrong in times of great joy and spiritual
blessing; in fact we long for more of them, and look back perhaps to some
days
of much blessing in our lives or in the work of the Lord; but in the
securing of
Christ in greater measure in our lives, we find that it is by the things
which we suffer that we learn most. So let us give thanks for the joyful
days,
and learn all that the Lord intends by the days of waiting and
difficulty." -
C.J.B.H.
"Faith asks for no props from the men and things around it; it finds 'all
its
springs' in God; and hence it is that faith never shines so brightly as
when all
around is dark. It is when nature's horizon is overcast with the blackest
clouds, that faith basks in the sunshine of the divine favor and
faithfulness." - C.H.M.
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far
more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (II Cor. 4:17).
<<>><<>><<>>
February 6th - St. Philip of Jesus, Martyr
(also known as Philip de las Casas)
Born in Mexico City, Mexico, May 1, 1571; died in Nagasaki, Japan, 1597;
beatified by Pope Urban VIII; canonized by Pope Pius IX in 1862; feast day
formerly February 5.
The life of Saint Philip points again to the importance of the domestic
church-the family. Early in life Saint Philip ignored the pious teachings
of
his immigrant Spanish family, but eventually he entered the Reformed
Franciscan Convent of Santa Barbara at Puebla, Mexico-and soon exited the
novitiate in 1589. Grieved at the inconstancy of his son, Philip's father
sent him on a business trip to the Philippines.
Like many of us, Philip sought to escape God's love in worldly pleasures
but
the Hound of Heaven tracked him down. Gaining courage by prayer, Philip
was
again able to follow his vocation, joined the convent of Our Lady of the
Angels in Manila in 1590, and took his vows in 1594. The richest cargo
Philip could have sent back to Mexico couldn't have pleased his father
more
than the message that Philip had been professed a friar. Alonso de las
Casas
obtained directions from the commissary of the order that Philip should be
sent to Mexico to be ordained a priest.
He embarked with other religious on the Saint Philip in July 1596 but
storms
shipwrecked them in Japan. Amid the storm, Philip saw over Japan a white
cross, in the shape used in that country, which after a time became
blood-red, and remained so for some time. It was an omen of his coming
victory.
The ship's captain sent Philip and two others to the emperor to gain
permission for them to continue their voyage, but they could not obtain an
audience. He then continued to the Franciscan house in Macao to see if
they
could apply pressure. In the meantime, the pilot of the Saint Philip had
excited the emperor's fears of Christians, causing him to contemplate
their
extermination.
In December, officers seized a number of the Franciscan fathers, including
Philip, three Jesuits, and several of their young pupils. When Philip had
learned that they were to die, he responded with joy. His left ear was cut
off, and he offered the first fruit of his blood to God for the salvation
of
Japan.
The martyrs were taken to Nagasaki, where crosses had been erected on a
high
hill. When Philip was led to the one on which he was to die, he knelt
down,
clasped it, and exclaimed, "O happy ship! O happy galleon for Philip, lost
for my gain! Loss-no loss for me, but the greatest of all gain!" He was
bound to the cross, but the footrest under him gave way, so that he was
strangled by the cords that bound him. While repeating the name of Jesus,
he
was the first of the group to die. Philip was 25. Miracles attested the
power before God of these first martyrs of Japan (Benedictines, Butler,
Delaney).
Saint Philip is the patron of Mexico City, Mexico.
Saint Quote:
I am hungry for the work and I wish with all my heart to be one of the
chosen Ones, whose privilege it will be, to sacrifice themselves for the
salvation of the souls of the poor Islanders.. I am not afraid of any
disease, hence it would be my greatest delight even to minister to the
abandoned 'lepers.'
--Blessed Mother Marianne Cope
Bible Quote:
If you love those that love you, what reward shall you have? Do not even
the
publicans do that? St. Matthew 5:46
<><><><>
Canticle 1 Chronicles 29
To God alone be honour and glory
Blessed are you, Lord, God of our father Israel, through all the ages.
All power and greatness are yours, O God; glory, splendour, and majesty.
All things are yours, in the heavens and on the earth; you rule over them,
Lord,
you are high above them all.
All riches and glory come from you, you rule over all things.
In your hand lie strength and power, your hand raises all things and sets
them
firm.
So now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
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