From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   In thy light do we see light   
      
   See how the words of the Lord accord with the truth of the Psalm:   
   'With thee is the fountain of life; in thy light do we see light'   
   [Psalms 36:10]. The Psalmist connects light with the source of life   
   and the Lord speaks of a 'light of life.' When we are thirsty, we look   
   for a fountain; when we are in darkness we look for light...[...]. Not   
   so with God: he is light and fountain. He who shines for you to enable   
   you to see, flows for you to enable you to drink.   
   --St. Augustine, In. Ioannis Evangelium,34.6   
      
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   February 26th - St. Nestor, Bishop of Magydus, Martyr   
   d. 251   
      
   POLLIO, governor of Pamphylia and Phrygia during the reign of Decius,   
   sought to curry favour with the emperor by the cruelty with which he   
   enforced his edict against the Christians. At that time the bishop of   
   Magydus was Nestor, who was held in great respect by Christians and   
   pagans alike. He realized that he was a marked man, but his only care   
   was for his flock whom he sent to places of safety whilst he remained   
   quietly at home to pray for his people and await his fate. He was   
   actually at prayer when he was told that the officers of justice had   
   come for him. They greeted him respectfully, and he said, “My sons,   
   what brings you here?” They replied, “The irenarch [magistrate] and   
   the curia summon thee”. Thereupon he signed himself with the sign of   
   the cross and, with his head covered by his scarf, he followed them to   
   the forum. As he entered, the whole court rose to its feet as a mark   
   of respect, and he was led to a place apart and seated in a chair   
   whilst the magistrates sat on stools. The irenarch said, “Sir, dost   
   thou not know the order of the emperor?”--“I know the order of the   
   Almighty--not that of the emperor,” was the reply. “Nestor, give way   
   quietly that you may not be condemned,” said the magistrate, but the   
   bishop was inflexible and, when the irenarch warned him of tortures,   
   replied, “The only torments that I fear are those of my God. Be   
   assured that in torture and out of torture Him only will I confess.”   
      
   Regretfully the court recognized that he must be sent to the governor,   
   and the irenarch took him to Perga. Here he was no longer amongst   
   friends, but his reputation had preceded him, and he was at first   
   urged kindly and courteously to abjure his religion. He firmly   
   refused; whereupon Pollio caused him to be extended on an instrument   
   of torture called the little horse, and as the executioner laid bare   
   his sides and tore them with iron hooks, Nestor sang, “I will give   
   thanks unto the Lord at all times: His praise shall be ever in my   
   mouth”. The judge asked if he was not ashamed to put his trust in a   
   man who had died such a death. “Let that be my confusion and that of   
   all who call upon the name of the Lord”, was Nestor’s answer. The   
   crowd began to clamour that he should be put out of his sufferings,   
   and Pollio said, “Wilt thou sacrifice or no? Wilt thou be with us or   
   with thy Christ?” The martyr replied, “With my Christ I have ever   
   been, with Him am I now, and with Him shall I be for evermore.” Pollio   
   then ordered that he should be crucified, and the sentence was carried   
   out. As he hung on the cross, he exhorted and encouraged the   
   Christians who stood round.  His passing was like a triumph for, as he   
   cried out, “My children, let us kneel and pray to God through the same   
   Lord Jesus Christ,” the whole of the crowd-- Christians and pagans   
   alike--knelt down and prayed, whilst he breathed forth his last   
   breath.   
      
   The least unsatisfactory account of the martyrdom of St. Nestor is   
   that presented in a Latin text printed in the Acta Sanctorum,   
   February, vol. iii. We do not possess the original Greek. Pio Franchi   
   de’ Cavalieri, “Note Agiografiche” in Studi e Testi, vol. xxii, p. 97,   
   agrees with Allard in attributing to the document “a flavour of high   
   antiquity”, even if we cannot with confidence pronounce it to be an   
   authentic relation by a contemporary. In the notes referred to,   
   Franchi has published another Greek recension of the story. Cf. also   
   BHG., 2nd ed., n. 1328.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   We should not value much what we have given God, since we shall   
   receive for the little we have bestowed upon Him much more in this   
   life and the next.   
   --St. Teresa   
      
   Bible Quote:   
    Jesus therefore said to them: When you shall have lifted up the Son   
   of man, then shall you know, that I am he, and that I do nothing of   
   myself, but as the Father hath taught me, these things I speak: 29.   
   And he that sent me, is with me, and he hath not left me alone: for I   
   do always the things that please him. 30. When he spoke these things,   
   many believed in him. (John 8:28-30) DRB   
      
      
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   FAMILY PRAYER TO THE HOLY FAMILY   
      
   O Heavenly Father, our loving God,   
   you have given us the Holy Family as our patron   
   to bless and guide our families   
   that the fruit of the Holy Spirit,   
   love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,   
   goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control,   
   shall reign in our homes.   
      
   As husbands and wives,   
   teach us to love our spouses more than ever.   
   As parents, give us wisdom and knowledge   
   in rearing our offsprings to be responsible   
   and successful Christians forever.   
   As brothers and sisters,   
   may we learn to care and support for one another   
   and be of inspiration to each other.   
   As children, teach us to be obedient   
   just as Jesus showed obedience   
   and respect to Mary and Joseph.   
      
   As Christians, melt us, mold us, fill us, and use us,   
   in spreading the good news in our community   
   that they may see Christ in us.   
   When trials come, help us to face them   
   with trusting faith and confidently hope   
   that all things work for good for those who love God.   
   May we have a happy holy family forever through Jesus,   
   Mary, and Joseph, our miraculous patron,   
   the adorable Holy Family.   
      
   Amen.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)