From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Closed hearts - prejudiced minds   
      
   The prophet Isaiah had warned that some would hear God's word, but not   
   believe, some would see God's actions and miracles, and remain   
   unconvinced. Ironically some of the greatest skeptics of Jesus'   
   teaching and miracles were the learned scribes and Pharisees who   
   prided themselves on their knowledge of Scripture, especially on the   
   law of Moses. They heard Jesus' parables and saw the great signs and   
   miracles which he performed, but they refused to accept both Jesus and   
   his message. How could they "hear and never understand" and "see but   
   never perceive"? They were spiritually blind and deaf because their   
   hearts were closed and their minds were blocked by pride and   
   prejudice. How could a man from Galilee, the supposed son of a   
   carpenter, know more about God and his word, than these experts who   
   devoted their lives to the study and teaching of the law of Moses?   
   Scripture:  Matthew 13:10-17   
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   August 11th - St. Susanna   
      
   Saint Susanna was a Roman Virgin, who, on the 11th day of August in   
   the year 290, was beheaded by order of her uncle the Emperor   
   Diocletian. She incurred his displeasure by refusing to break her vow   
   of chastity and marry his adopted son, Maximilian Galerius.   
      
   This is the simple story of a Christian martyr of the third century.   
   It is a story of love for Jesus Christ, repeated many times through   
   the centuries, a love so exalted and complete in its dedication that   
   there was no place in it for another. In her consecrated life of   
   virginity Saint Susanna had no thought of marriage. She would marry   
   no one, not even the adopted son of the Emperor.   
      
   If Diocletian knew that Susanna, a staunch believer in Jesus Christ,   
   had consecrated her virginity to Him by vow, he did not let it   
   influence his judgment. It was his order that she marry Galerius.   
   She had led many faltering pagans to the doors of the Church and to   
   the saving waters of Baptism. Now faced with the Emperor's command   
   she had to make a choice of life or death, not an unfamiliar one in   
   those days.  To refuse the offer of marriage might well mean death,   
   but she who had been a source of courage and constancy to others must   
   not falter herself.  It was with fury and disbelief that Diocletian   
   heard Susanna had refused to marry his choice, or for that matter   
   anyone's choice.   
      
   The Empress Serena, herself a Christian, interceded for her during the   
   next several months, every effort was made to persuade Susanna to   
   change her mind.  After repeated failures, Diocletian gave the order   
   which made of his young cousin a martyr to the faith in the home of   
   her father.  She died by beheading.   
      
   On the night of her death, August 11th, 290, the Empress Serena   
   visited the home of our martyred Saint and reverently carried the body   
   away.  At her order the corpse was placed in a tomb next to that of   
   Saint Alexander in the catacombs of Saint Felicitas.  Early next   
   morning Pope Saint Caius said a Mass in her place of martyrdom, the   
   present site of the Church of Santa Susanna.   
      
   Historians say that the Emperor was neither for nor against the   
   Christians personally. His adopted son and military aide, however,   
   was violently opposed to the new faith, nor did Diocletian stay his   
   hand.  When Galerius felt that the tenets of this new religion had   
   denied him a most desirable bride, his anger was boundless. It may   
   well be that the refusal of Saint Susanna to marry the Emperor's   
   choice was the single incident that touched off the bloodiest   
   persecution the Christians had thus far known.  It was to claim many   
   others of Susanna's immediate family including her father, Gabinius,   
   and her uncle, Pope Caius.   
      
   Through her death, and in the very place where her youthful blood   
   spilled on the earth, rises the church which today, and for many   
   centuries, has borne her name--the Church of Santa Susanna.   
      
      
   Reflection:   
   To honor the martyrs and duly celebrate their feasts, we must learn   
   their spirit and study to imitate them according to our state of life.   
   We must, like them, resist evil, subdue our passions, suffer   
   afflictions with patience, and bear with others without murmuring or   
   complaining. The cross is the ladder by which we must ascend to   
   heaven.   
      
   Quote:   
   Depression comes from not having faults but from refusal to face them.   
   There are tens of thousands of persons today suffering from fears   
   which in reality are nothing but the effects of hidden sin. The   
   examination of conscience will cure us of self-deception. It will also   
   cure us of depression!   
   --Bishop Fulton Sheen   
      
   Saint Quote:   
   We cannot be sure whether we are loving God, although we may have good   
   reason that we are. But we can know quite well whether we are loving   
   our neighbor.   
   -- Saint Teresa of Avila   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Prayer to Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Sickness   
      
   Mother of Perpetual Help, you know how much I suffer because of my   
   sickness. Not only my body but my soul is also affected. I do not even have   
   the strength to pray as I should. Nothing gives me any relief. Even the   
   visits and compassion of my friends bring me no comfort. My courage is   
   beginning to fail; impatience and sadness are having their effect on me.   
   Most tender and loving Mother, in my feelings of distress, I put all my   
   trust in you. Your compassionate heart will surely have pity on me.   
   Merciful Mother, do not forget your devoted, afflicted child's (here   
   mention your sickness). Ask your Son, Jesus, to give me the courage and   
   strength to accept my sickness as the will of God and to bear it with   
   patience and resignation. If it is God's will, intercede for me in   
   recovering my former good health; but if it is God's will that I continue   
   to suffer, or, that this sickness should lead me to a better life, I am   
   perfectly resigned. Loving Mother, I am confident you will obtain the   
   grace to do whatever God asks for me. Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)