Lead Us Not into Temptation
Some persons think we receive no divine aid to avoid sins,
since free choice of the will has been granted to our nature. Hence,
according
to them, it is
not necessary to pray that we may not enter into temptation.
Their opinion is a harmful error, contrary and prejudicial to our
salvation,
which is in Christ.
-Augustine-- On Merit and Forgiveness 2
<<>><<>><<>>
May 4th - Saint Pelagia of Tarsus
Born in the town of Tarsus of pagan but noble and wealthy parents, she
heard
about Christ and the salvation of the soul from Christians, became
inflamed
with
love for the Savior and was a Christian in her soul. There was at that
time
a
terrible persecution of Christians. It happened that the Emperor
Diocletian
himself stopped in Tarsus and that, during the time of his stay in the
town,
his
son, the heir, fell deeply in love with Pelagia and wanted to make her his
wife.
Pelagia replied through her mother - a wicked woman - that she was already
promised to her betrothed husband, Christ the Lord.
Fleeing from the foul heir and her wicked mother, Pelagia sought and found
Bishop Linus, a man renowned for his holiness. He instructed her in the
Faith
and baptized her. Then Pelagia gave away her luxurious clothing and great
wealth, returned home and confessed to her mother that she was already
baptized.
Hearing of this, the Emperor's son, losing all hope of getting this holy
maiden
as his wife, ran himself through with a sword and died. Then the wicked
mother
denounced her daughter to the Emperor and she was taken for trial. The
Emperor
marveled at the girl's beauty and, forgetting his son, burned with an
impure
passion for her. But when Pelagia remained unfaltering in her faith, the
Emperor
condemned her to be burned in a metal ox heated by fire. When they
stripped
the
martyr, she signed herself with the sign of the Cross and, with prayers of
thanksgiving to God on her lips, went into the ox, where, in the twinkling
of an
eye, she melted like wax. She suffered with honor in 287.
Bishop Linus hunted for the remains of her bones and buried them on a hill
under
a stone. In the time of the Emperor Constantine Copronymos (741-775), a
beautiful church was built on that site in honor of this holy virgin and
martyr
Pelagia, who was sacrificed for Christ to reign eternally with Him.
<><><><><>
Troparion Tone 3
Thou didst abandon dark ignorance through knowledge of the Faith,
/ O Pelagia, fair virgin of Christ.
/ Thou wast refreshed by His dew and didst finish thy contest by fire.
/ O glorious Martyr,
/ entreat Christ our God to grant us His great mercy.
Kontakion Tone 2
Abandoning thy mortal betrothed
/ to be wedded to the Immortal,
/ thou didst offer thy dowry of chastity and contest.
/ Wherefore, O Pelagia, we acclaim thee.
<><><><>
Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth. -Matt. 5:4
"Meekness and mildness of heart is a virtue rarer than chastity, and yet
it
is
more excellent than that and all other virtues, for it is the end of
charity,
which, as St. Bernard says, is in its perfection when we are not only
patient,
but also kind. It is necessary, however, to have a great esteem for this
virtue,
and to use every effort to acquire it"
-St. Francis de Sales
St. Francis de Sales himself had the very highest regard for this virtue.
He
spoke of it so frequently and with so much love, as to show clearly it was
his
chosen one among all. So, though he excelled in all the virtues, he was
singular
and remarkable in this. He always wore a serene countenance, and there was
a
special grace upon his lips, so that he generally appeared to be smiling,
and
his face breathed a sweetness which charmed everyone. Though he usually
showed
great recollection, he sometimes thought it desirable to give proof of
amiability, and then he consoled all who met him, and won the love and
regard of
whoever looked upon him. His words, gestures and actions were never
without
great suavity and gentleness, so that it seemed that this virtue had taken
in
him the form of man, and that he was rather meekness itself than a man
endowed
with that quality. He, too, justly merited the praise bestowed by the Holy
Spirit upon Moses, "that he was the meekest man of his time upon earth"
And
so
St. Jane Frances de Chantal was able to say that there was never known a
heart
so sweet, so gentle, so kind, so gracious and affable, as his. St. Vincent
de
Paul expressed the same sentiment, saying that he was the kindest man he
had
ever known, and the first time he saw him, he noticed in the serenity of
his
countenance and in his manner of conversing such a close resemblance to
the
meekness of Christ our Lord as instantly won his heart.
(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". May - Meekness)
Bible Quote
29 Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and
humble
of
heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. (Matthew 11:29)
<><><><>
Litany of Humility
O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being loved, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being honored, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being praised, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being approved, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated, deliver me, O Jesus
From the fear of being despised, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected, deliver me, O Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire
it.
That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to
desire
it.
That in the opinion of the world, others may increase, and I may decrease,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus, grant me the grace to
desire
it.
That others may be praised and I unnoticed, Jesus, grant me the grace to
desire
it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus
grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I,
provided that I may become as holy as I should, Jesus
grant me the grace to desire it.
..
|
