From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Do not judge   
      
   Ephrem the Syrian (306-373 AD), a wise early Christian teacher and   
   writer, comments on Jesus' exhortation to not condemn:   
       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. 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.   
   Ephrem the Syrian (COMMENTARY ON TATIAN'S DIATESSARON 6.18B.)   
      
   ============   
   15 August – St Simplician of Milan   
   Also known as Simpliciano   
      
   Memorial   
   15 August   
   14 August (archdiocese of Milan, Italy)   
   16 August on some calendars   
      
    – Archbishop of Milan, Teacher, Catechist, Writer, Mystic  successor   
   to St Ambrose – (c 320 in Rome, Italy – c 401 in Milan, Liguria,   
   Italy).   
      
   St Simplician was born about 320 probably in Rome, was raised in a   
   Christian family and still young he became a Priest. He became expert   
   in the Holy Scripture and very educated. In about 355 he took an   
   active part in the conversion to Christianity of the philosopher   
   Marius Victorinus. When in 374 Ambrose was elected bishop of Milan and   
   baptised, Simplician became his teacher of doctrine. Ambrose used to   
   call Simplician father, as a sign of spiritual relationship but they   
   were also great friends. St Simplician remained an advisor to and   
   correspondent with Saint Ambrose. Probably in this period Simplician   
   moved to Milan where he remained.   
      
   Simplician took also an active part in the conversions of both Alypius   
   of Thagaste and Augustine of Hippo. The meeting between Augustine and   
   Simplican occurred in Milan in 386 and it is recorded in Augustine’s   
   Confessions. After his conversion, Augustine also called Simplician   
   father and in 397 he dedicated to Simplician two books on the issue of   
   predestination, known as De Diversis Quaestionibus ad Simplicianum. St   
   Augustine, remembered and referred to him with deep gratitude, calling   
   him the “spiritual father of my soul” and would submit his own   
   writings to him to review and comment.   
      
   He also corresponded extensively with Pope Anastasius I and bishops in   
   Africa and Gaul but none of the writings have survived. St Simplician   
   always wore a black leather belt; following a vision of the Blessed   
   Virgin Mary by Saint Monica, the belt became part of the habit of the   
   Augustinians.   
      
   On his deathbed, St Ambrose supported Simplician as his own successor,   
   stating that Simplician was “old but good”. Thus in April 397, the   
   aged Simplician was elected bishop of Milan, at that time capital of   
   the Western Roman Empire. A very important act of his episcopate was   
   the receipt in Milan of the relics of the three martyrs Sisinnius,   
   Martyrius and Alexander, sent from Trento by the bishop Vigilius.   
      
   St Simplician was asked to judge some doctrinal statements by the   
   Council of Carthage (397) and by the First Council of Toledo. He also   
   consecrated Gaudentius of Novara a bishop and according to the   
   13th-century writer Goffredo of Bussero, he organised the texts of the   
   Ambrosian liturgy.   
      
   His feast day was anciently set on 15 August, together with the feast   
   of the translation to Milan of the relics of Sisinnius, Martyrius and   
   Alexander; so his death was deemed to have been on 15 August 400.   
      
   St Simplician was initially buried in the church of Saint Nabor and   
   Felix in Milan and later translated, perhaps on 15 August, to the   
   Basilica Virginum (“Basilica of the Virgins”) which was renamed in his   
   honour; now it is known as Basilica of St Simplician. The images below   
   are the Basilica, with the Main Altar, Stained Glass windows and the   
   Chapel of the Martyrs of Anaunia, in the Crypt of the Basilica.   
      
   St Ambrose began the construction of the Basilica Virginum (“Basilica   
   of the Virgins”), which was finished by his successor Simplician, who   
   is buried there.  A brick with the mark of the Lombard King Agilulf   
   shows that repairs were made between 590 and 615 AD.   
      
   In the ninth century the Cluniac Benedictines took possession of the   
   church. In 1176 the church became famous when, according to the   
   legend, the bodies of the martyrs housed here flew as doves to the   
   field of Legnano, landing on the City’s Carroccio, (a ceremonial war   
   waggon) as a sign of the imminent victory against Frederick   
   Barbarossa’s army.   
      
   When the building was modified between the 12th and the 13th   
   centuries, giving it the present Romanesque appearance, the original   
   walls were preserved to a height of 22 meters. On the night of 6–7   
   April 1252 the body of Peter of Verona (later St. Peter Martyr) lay in   
   state after his assassination. A great multitude came to watch vigil,   
   and the origins of Peter’s cult began, as people started to report   
   miraculous occurrences.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   “Heretics are to be converted by an example of humility   
   and other virtues far more readily than by any external   
   display or verbal battles. So let us arm ourselves with   
   devout prayers and set off showing signs of genuine humility   
   and go barefooted to combat Goliath.”   
   --St Dominic   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   What man of you that hath an hundred sheep: and if he shall lose one   
   of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go after   
   that which was lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it,   
   lay it upon his shoulders, rejoicing: (Luke 15:4-5)  DRB   
      
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   Prayer For Strength   
      
   Lord Jesus Christ,   
   King of kings,   
   You have power over life and death.   
   You know even things that are uncertain and obscure,   
   and our very thoughts and feelings are not hidden from You.   
   Cleanse me from my secret faults,   
   for I have done wrong and You saw it.   
   You know how weak I am,   
   both in soul and in body.   
   Give me strength, O Lord,   
   in my frailty and sustain me in my sufferings.   
   Grant me a prudent judgment, dear Lord,   
   and let me always be mindful of Your blessings.   
   Let me retain until the end, Your grace   
   that has protected me till now.   
   Amen   
   By St EPHREM of Syria (306-373) Doctor of the Church   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)