From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   December 27th - St. Theodore, Martyr & Theophanes, Bishop   
      
   Born in Kerak, Moab (Trans-Jordan), c. 775 and c. 778; died at Apamea,   
   Bithynia,   
   c. 841 and at Nicaea, October 11, 845, respectively. Theodore and Theophanes   
   were blood and spiritual brothers, who were raised in Jerusalem. They both   
   became monks of St. Sabas's laura in Jerusalem, where they were admired for   
   their intelligence and model behavior. For their vehement defense of the   
   veneration of sacred images, the two were cruelly persecuted by the   
   Byzantine   
   emperors. At the urging of the patriarch of Jerusalem Theodore was ordained   
   a   
   priest. The patriarch then sent him as emissary to the court in   
   Constantinople   
   to persuade Emperor Leo the Armenian not to interfere in ecclesiastical   
   matters.   
   Leo ordered the scourging of Theodore and exiled the two brothers on an   
   island   
   in the Black Sea, where they suffered hunger and harsh weather. They   
   returned to   
   their monastery in 820, after Leo's death.   
      
   In 829, Emperor Theophilus took power, denounced the use of images, and   
   tortured   
   and banished the brothers. They were recalled to Constantinople in 831.   
   After   
   they refused discussions with the iconoclasts, a 12-line iambic verse was   
   cut in   
   the flesh of their faces (and for this reason they are called Graptoi or   
   "the   
   written upon"). The verse read: "These men have appeared at Jerusalem as   
   vessels   
   full of the iniquity of superstitious error, and were driven thence for   
   their   
   crimes. Having fled to Constantinople, they forsook not their impiety.   
   Wherefore   
   they have been banished from thence and thus stigmatized on their faces."   
   The   
   operation took two days to cut into the flesh of their foreheads.   
      
   They were then banished to Apamea, Bithynia. Theodore died first, while he   
   was   
   in prison, of the terrible sufferings he endured. Theophanes, according to   
   the   
   Roman Martyrology, survived to become bishop of Nicaea and a poet. He wrote   
   several hymns, including one about his brother (Benedictines, Delaney,   
   White).   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   "I fear the good opinion which my friends have formed of me: they will   
   believe   
   me in Heaven and leave me to suffer."   
   -St. Francis de Sales   
      
   Bible Quote   
    Seek counsel always of a wise man.   (Tobias 4:19)   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   In Time of Suffering   
      
   A thought of Sister Faustina:   
      
   Oh, if only the suffering soul knew how much God loves it, it would die of   
   joy and excess of happiness! Some day, we will know the value of suffering,   
   but then we will no longer be able to suffer. The present moment is ours.   
      
   Jesus, do not leave me alone in suffering. You know, Lord, how weak I am. I   
   am an abyss of wretchedness, I am nothingness itself; so what will be so   
   strange if You leave me alone and I fall? I am an infant, Lord, so I cannot   
   get along by myself. However, beyond all abandonment I trust, and in spite   
   of my own feeling I trust, and I am being completely transformed into   
   trust-often in spite of what I feel. Do not lessen any of my sufferings,   
   only give me strength to bear them. Do with me as You please, Lord, only   
   give me the grace to be able to love You in every event and circumstance.   
   Lord, do not lessen my cup of bitterness, only give me strength that I may   
   be able to drink it all. - Amen.   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   Novena in Honor of Jesus as True King   
   Over a period of 9 consecutive days:   
      
   Pray one Our Father   
   Pray one Hail Mary   
   Pray one Glory Be   
      
   O Lord our God, You alone are the Most Holy King and   
   Ruler of All Nations. We pray to You, Lord, in the great   
   expectation of receiving from You, O Divine King, mercy,   
   peace, justice and all good things.   
      
   Protect, O Lord our King, our families and the land of our   
   birth. Guard us, we pray, Most Faithful One! Protect us from   
   our enemies and from Your Just Judgement.   
      
   Forgive us, O Sovereign King, our sins against You. Jesus,   
   You are a King of Mercy. We have deserved Your Just   
   Judgement. Have mercy on us, Lord, and forgive us. We   
   trust in Your Great Mercy.   
      
   O Most Awe-inspiring King, we bow before You and pray;   
   may Your reign, Your kingdom, be recognized on earth!   
   Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)