From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
    Judge from justice, forgive from grace   
      
   "Do not judge, that is, unjustly, so that you may not be judged, with   
   regard to injustice. With the judgment that you judge shall you be   
   judged (Matthew 7:2). This is like the phrase 'Forgive, and it will be   
   forgiven you.' For once someone has judged in accordance with justice,   
   he should forgive in accordance with grace, so that when he himself is   
   judged in accordance with justice, he may be worthy of forgiveness   
   through grace. Alternatively, it was on account of the judges, those   
   who seek vengeance for themselves, that he said, 'Do not condemn.'   
   That is, do not seek vengeance for yourselves. Or, do not judge, from   
   appearances and opinion and then condemn, but admonish and advise."   
   --by Ephrem the Syrian(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 6.18B)   
      
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   August 12th - St Euplius of Catania, Sicily   
   Also known as Euplio, Euplius   
      
   Memorials   
   12 August   
   11 August (Synaxary of Constantinople; Byzantine-rite calendars)   
   27 August on some calendars   
      
   On August 12, 304 A.D., during the persecution of Diocletian at   
   Catania, in Sicily, a deacon named Euplius was arrested for owning and   
   reading a copy of the Gospels. He had been reading and explaining the   
   Gospels to a gathered crowd. He was brought to the governor’s hall.   
   He staunchly professed his faith. Standing on the outside of the   
   curtain of the governor’s audience chamber,  Euplius cried out: “I am   
   a Christian, and shall rejoice to die for the name of Jesus Christ.”   
   The governor, Calvisian, heard him and ordered that he who had made   
   that outcry should be brought in, and presented before him. With the   
   Book of the Gospels, Euplius was led before the governor. Maximus, a   
   friend of the governor’s who was present,  said to Euplius, “You ought   
   not to keep such writings, contrary to the edicts of the emperors.”   
      
   The governor queried Euplius whether he brought the text from his   
   house, or carried them about with him. Euplius replied he had no   
   house and carried the Scripture with him at all times.  “But why,”   
   said the judge, “did you not give up those writings as the emperors   
   have commanded?” “Because I am a Christian. I will sooner die than   
   deliver them. In them is eternal life, which is lost by him who would   
   betray what God has entrusted to his keeping.”   
      
   Euplius was commanded to read from the Scriptures. The saint read the   
   passage: “Blest are they who suffer persecution for justice’s sake,   
   for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Mt 5:10)  Euplius then read the   
   passage: “If anyone will come after Me, let him deny himself and take   
   up his cross and follow Me.” (Mt 16:24/Lk 9:23)   
      
   Questioned by the governor as to what this meant, the youth replied:   
   “It is the law of my Lord, which has been delivered to me.” Calvisian   
   asked: “By whom?” Euplius replied: “By Jesus Christ, the Son of the   
   Living God.” This infuriated the governor, and he ordered that Euplius   
   be led away to be tortured. At the height of his torment Euplius was   
   asked if he still persisted in Christianity. The saintly youth   
   answered: “What I said before, I say again: I am a Christian and I   
   read the Sacred Scriptures.” The martyr said, while he was tormented:   
   “I thank You, O Lord Jesus Christ, that I suffer for Your sake: save   
   me, I beseech You.”   
      
   Calvisianus said: “Lay aside your folly; adore our gods, and you shall   
   be set free.” Euplius answered: “I adore Jesus Christ; I detest the   
   devils. Do what you please; add new torments; for I am a Christian. I   
   have long desired to be in the condition in which I now am.” After the   
   executioners had tormented him a long time, Calvisianus bade them   
   desist, and said: “Wretch, adore the gods; worship Mars, Apollo, and   
   Æsculapius.” Euplius replied: “I adore the Father, Son, and Holy   
   Ghost. I worship the Holy Trinity, besides whom there is no God.”   
   Calvisianus said: “Sacrifice, if you would be delivered.” Euplius   
   answered: “I sacrifice myself now to Jesus Christ, my God. All your   
   efforts to move me are to no purpose. I am a Christian.” Then   
   Calvisianus gave orders for increasing his torments.   
      
   While the executioners were exerting their utmost in tormenting him,   
   Euplius prayed: “I thank You, my God; Jesus Christ, succor me. It is   
   for your name’s sake that I endure these torments.” This he repeated   
   several times. When his strength failed him, his lips were seen still   
   to move, the martyr continuing the same or the like prayer with his   
   lips when he could no longer do it with his voice. The governor   
   realized that he would never give up his faith, and ordered him to be   
   beheaded.   
      
   The executioners hung the book of the Gospels, which the martyr had   
   with him when he was seized, about his neck, and the public crier   
   proclaimed before him: “This is Euplius the Christian, an enemy to the   
   gods and the emperors.” Euplius continued very cheerful, and repeated   
   as he went: “I give thanks to Jesus Christ, my God. Confirm, O Lord,   
   what You have begun in me.” When he had come to the place of   
   execution, he prayed a long time on his knees, and once more returning   
   thanks, presented his neck to the executioner, who cut off his head.   
   The Christians carried off his body, embalmed and buried it.   
      
   St. Euplius died April 29, 305 praising God all the while.   
   --By Matthew   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   “A man who governs his passions is master of his world.   
   We must either command them or be enslaved by them.   
   It is better to be a hammer than an anvil.”   
   --St Dominic   
      
   Bible Quote:n   
   There is one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to   
   destroy. But who are you that you judge your neighbor?  [James 4:12]   
   RSVCE   
      
   Reverse your relation with sickness   
     "Take up your bed. Carry the very mat that once carried you. Change   
   places, so that what was the proof of your sickness may now give   
   testimony to your soundness. Your bed of pain becomes the sign of   
   healing, its very weight the measure of the strength that has been   
   restored to you."   
   by Peter Chrysologus (400-450 AD)(excerpt from HOMILY 50.6)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Almighty, eternal, just and merciful God,   
   grant us in our misery the grace to do for You alone   
   what we know You want us to do   
   and always to desire what pleases You.   
   Thus, inwardly cleansed, interiorly enlightened   
   and inflamed by the fire of the Holy Spirit,   
   may we be able to follow in the footprints   
   of Your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.   
   And, by Your grace alone,   
   may we make our way to You, Most High,   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)