From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   "Walk and sin no more"   
      
   The lame man that Jesus stopped to speak with had been paralyzed for   
   more than 38 years. He felt helpless because he had no friends to help   
   him bathe in the purifying waters of the pool. Despite his many years   
   of unanswered prayer, he still waited by the pool in the hope that   
   help might come his way. Jesus offered this incurable man not only the   
   prospect of help but total healing as well. Jesus first awakened faith   
   in the paralyzed man when he put a probing question to him, "Do you   
   really want to be healed?" This question awakened a new spark of faith   
   in him. Jesus then ordered him to "get up and walk!" Now the lame man   
   had to put his new found faith into action. He decided to take the   
   Lord Jesus at his word and immediately stood up and began to walk   
   freely. (John 5:1-16)   
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   14 February – Blessed Vicente Vilar David   
      
   Martyr, Layman, Social reformer, Worker for Justice and Peace, Apostle   
   of Charity – born on 28 June 1889 in Manises, Spain and died on 14   
   February 1937 (aged 47) in Manises, by being shot to death. Patronages   
   – Manises, Persecuted Christians, Engineers.  As he was being taken   
   away on the morning of 14 February 14, 1937, his wife called out to   
   him and said, “See you tomorrow.” Vicente replied, “Until tomorrow or   
   in heaven!” Minutes later he was shot to death.   
      
   The youngest of eight children, Blessed Vicente was born to a ceramics   
   manufacturer and his wife on 28 June 1889, in Valencia, Spain. His   
   parents were devoted to their Catholic faith and their children   
   received a good Christian education. After attending a school run by   
   the Piarist Fathers, Blessed Vicente enrolled at a technical school   
   and earned an industrial engineer’s degree.   
      
   At the age of 33, Blessed Vicente married a young woman named Isabel   
   (died 1993) and the two lived a model Christian life together. Blessed   
   Vicente became involved in his Parish, helping the Priests however he   
   could. He spread fundamental Christian morals among his fellow   
   colleagues and was known for his deep commitment to charitable works   
   in the name of the poor. He served as an industrial engineer in his   
   own ceramics farm that he had inherited and oversaw, with three of his   
   brothers, after the premature death of their parents. David also held   
   several important municipal positions where he put the social   
   teachings of the faith into full practice and was renowned for his   
   deep commitment to fundamental values and traditional principles.   
   Youth organisations were also a forum for his work, as well as a range   
   of parish activities.   
      
   He also took over the management of his father’s ceramics factory. His   
   workers saw him, not only as their boss but also as a caring father.   
   He was concerned that they would be treated with the justice and   
   dignity to which all workers have a right.   
      
   In the summer of 1936, the Spanish Civil War was at its peak in   
   Valencia. The persecution of Catholics and of the Church by the   
   governing regime was also very intense. Blessed Vicente, who had been   
   teaching at a ceramics trade school, was fired because of his Catholic   
   beliefs. He bravely continued to encourage other Catholics and to give   
   the Priests whatever support and help he could by protecting their   
   whereabouts and hiding them in his home.   
      
   On 14 February 1937, he was called to appear before a tribunal and   
   commanded to stop his activities on behalf of the Catholic Church.   
   Blessed Vicente replied that being a Catholic was his greatest calling   
   and he would not give up, even if it meant death. He was immediately   
   sentenced to be executed. He was permitted to see his wife and   
   encouraged her with words of faith and conviction. He publicly forgave   
   his persecutors and enemies. Then he was shot to death on the very   
   same day he was arrested.   
      
   The ceramics factory workers were outraged. In protest at Blessed   
   Vicente’s execution, they went on strike for three days. They told the   
   socialist officials who tried to prevent their strike, “You have   
   robbed us of our employer and our father. Because he was prudent, kind   
   and concerned for our working conditions, we not only respected him,   
   we loved him.”   
      
   Blessed Vicente was Beatified on 1 October 1995 by St Pope John Paul   
   II. His death by violent hands was recognised as a true Martyrdom for   
   the faith.   
      
   Our faith applies to every aspect of our lives. In our family and   
   social life, our time at school, our time spent working, we are called   
   to put into practice the values that Jesus taught in the Gospel.   
      
   //https:anastpaul.com/2020/02/14/   
      
      
   “Being Catholic is my greatest calling,   
   I will not give up, even if it means death.”   
   --Blessed Vicente Vilar David (1889-1937) Martyr   
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Alas! we have not as much love as we need! I mean that it would   
   require and infinite amount to have enough to love our God according   
   to His due; and yet, miserable that we are, we throw it away lavishly   
   upon vile and unworthy objects, as if we had a superfluity.   
   --St. Francis de Sales   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Be not overcome by evil: but overcome evil by good.  (Rom. 12:21)  DRB   
      
      
   O Cyril and Methodius, inspired by God,   
      
   You became equal to the Apostles by your life.   
   Since you were teachers of the Slavs,   
   Intercede with the Master of all   
   That He may strengthen all Orthodox peoples in the True Faith,   
   And that He may grant peace to the world   
   And great mercy to our souls.   
      
   <><><><>   
   Prayer To Be Faithful Of Serving God   
      
   Father in Heaven,   
   ever-living source of all that is good,   
   keep me faithful in serving You.   
   Help me to drink of Christ's Truth,   
   and fill my heart with His Love   
   so that I may serve You in faith   
   and love and reach eternal life.   
   In the Sacrament of the Eucharist   
   You give me the joy of sharing Your Life.   
   Keep me in Your presence.   
   Let me never be separated from You   
   and help me to do Your Will.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)