From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   How we must Follow Christ's Way of the Cross in Self-Denial  [IV]   
      
   CHRIST.   
   My son, since you know and have studied these things, blessed are you   
   if you do them. (John 13:17) Whoever truly loves Me knows and obeys My   
   commands. I will love him, and will reveal Myself to him, (John 14:21)   
   and he shall reign with Me in the Kingdom of My Father. (Rev.3:21)   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Book 3  Ch 56   
      
      
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   March 14th – St. Maximilian   
   d. 295   
      
   We have an early, precious, almost unembellished account of the   
   martyrdom of St. Maximilian in modern-day Algeria.  Brought before the   
   proconsul Dion, Maximilian refused enlistment in the Roman army   
   saying, "I cannot serve, I cannot do evil. I am a Christian."   
      
   Dion replied: "You must serve or die." Maximilian: "I will never   
   serve. You can cut off my head, but I will not be a soldier of this   
   world, for I am a soldier of Christ. My army is the army of God, and I   
   cannot fight for this world. I tell you I am a Christian." Dion:   
   "There are Christian soldiers serving our rulers Diocletian and   
   Maximian, Constantius and Galerius." Maximilian: "That is their   
   business. I also am a Christian, and I cannot serve."   
      
   Dion: "But what harm do soldiers do?" Maximilian: "You know well   
   enough." Dion: "If you will not do your service I shall condemn you to   
   death for contempt of the army." Maximilian: "I shall not die. If I go   
   from this earth my soul will live with Christ my Lord."   
      
   Maximilian was 21 years old when he gladly offered his life to God.   
   His father went home from the execution site joyful, thanking God that   
   he had been able to offer heaven such a gift.   
      
   Comment:  Rome’s draft board made no provision for conscientious   
   objectors. Maximilian, wise beyond his years, looked beyond his   
   conquering nation’s pride and saw the horror war inflicted on innocent   
   people. He chose death rather than take an active part in it.   
   Compulsory military service presents few problems to us, but national   
   pride does. Like this martyr, we need to take a hard look at how well   
   our country’s policies serve the rest of the world and act   
   accordingly.   
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Under the influence of fear, we bear the Cross of Christ with   
   patience; under the more inspiring influence of hope, we carry the   
   Cross with a firm and valiant heart; but under the consuming power of   
   love, we embrace the Cross with ardor.   
   --St. Bernard   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   "With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from   
   Your commandments!"  [Psalm 119:10]   
      
      
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   The Prayer for Courage   
      
   Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous,   
   teach me to serve You as You deserve:   
   to give and not count the cost,   
   to fight and not heed the wound,   
   to toil and not seek rest,   
   to labor and not seek reward,   
   save that of feeling that I do Your will. - Amen.   
   --Saint Ignatius of Loyola   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)