From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Of growth of patience, and the struggle against evil desires {1}   
      
   Disciple   
   1 O Lord God, I see that patience is very necessary unto me; for   
   many things in this life fall out contrary. For howsoever I may   
   have contrived for my peace, my life cannot go on without strife   
   and trouble.   
      
   Thou speakest truly, My Son. For I will not that thou seek   
   such a peace as is without trials, and knoweth no adversities;   
   but rather that thou shouldest judge thyself to have found peace,   
   when thou art tried with manifold tribulations, and proved by   
   many adversities.   
   --Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Book 3, Chapter 12   
      
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   October 26th - Saint Evaristus, Pope and Martyr   
      
   (d. 108)   
   Saint Evaristus succeeded Saint Anacletus on the throne of Saint   
   Peter, elected during the second general persecution, under the reign   
   of Domitian. That emperor no doubt did not know that the Christian   
   pontificate was being perpetuated in the shadows of the catacombs. The   
   text of the Liber Pontificalis, says of the new pope:   
      
   “Evaristus, born in Greece of a Jewish father named Juda, originally   
   from the city of Bethlehem, reigned for thirteen years, six months and   
   two days, under the reigns of Domitian, Nerva and Trajan, from the   
   Consulate of Valens and Veter (96) until that of Gallus and Bradua   
   (108). This pontiff divided among the priests the titles of the city   
   of Rome. By a constitution he established seven deacons who were to   
   assist the bishop and serve as authentic witnesses for him. During the   
   three ordinations which he conducted in the month of December, he   
   promoted six priests, two deacons and five bishops, destined for   
   various churches. Evaristus received the crown of martyrdom. He was   
   buried near the body of Blessed Peter in the Vatican, on the sixth day   
   of the Calends of November (October 25, 108). The episcopal throne   
   remained vacant for 19 days.”   
      
   The Bollandists explain two passages of this text as follows: Saint   
   Anacletus had ordained twenty-five priests for the city of Rome; Saint   
   Evaristus completed this institution by settling the boundaries of   
   each of these titles, and filling the vacancies which probably   
   occurred during the persecution of Diocletian. As for the decree by   
   which he ordains that seven deacons make up the cortege of the bishop,   
   we find in the first epistle of Saint Anacletus a text which helps us   
   to grasp and better perceive the discipline of the early Church. There   
   existed amid the diverse elements which composed it in its first   
   years, proud minds, envious souls, ambitious hearts which could not   
   bear the yoke of obedience, and who by their revolts and incessant   
   detraction fatigued the patience of the Apostles. The deacons were to   
   be the Pope’s guards against their ill-intentioned projects.   
      
   It was at the same time as Saint Ignatius, the illustrious bishop of   
   Antioch, that Pope Saint Evaristus gave his life by martyrdom. The   
   acts of his martyrdom are lost, but we perceive that the same faith,   
   heroism and devotion united the churches of the East and of the West.   
   He is often represented with a sword because he was decapitated, or   
   with a crib, because it is believed that he was born in Bethlehem,   
   from which his father migrated.   
      
   Reflection: The disciples of the apostles, by assiduous meditation on   
   heavenly things, were so rapt by foreshadowings of the life to come,   
   that they seemed no longer to inhabit this world. If Christians esteem   
   and set their hearts on earthly goods and lose sight of eternity, they   
   are no longer animated by the spirit of the primitive Saints and have   
   become children of this world, slaves to its vanities and to their own   
   irregular passions. If we do not correct this disorder of our heart   
   and conform our interior life, with its decisions and propensities, to   
   the spirit of Christ, we cannot be heirs to His promises.   
      
   Sources: Les Petits Bollandistes: Vies des Saints, by Msgr. Paul   
   Guérin (Bloud et Barral: Paris, 1882), Vol. 12; Little Pictorial Lives   
   of the Saints.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   Be kindhearted to the poor, the unfortunate and the afflicted. Give   
   them as much help and consolation as you can. Thank God for all the   
   benefits he has bestowed upon you, that you may be worthy to receive   
   greater. Always side with the poor rather than with the rich, until   
   you are certain of the truth.   
   -- Saint Louis IX   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! Seek the Lord and   
   His strength; Seek His face evermore! Remember His marvelous works   
   which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth.   
   [Psalm 105:3-5 ]   
      
      
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   O eternal Shepherd, watch over the peace of Thy flock, and through   
   blessed Evaristus, Thy Martyr and Sovereign Pontiff, whom Thou didst   
   appoint shepherd over the whole Church, keep her under Thy constant   
   protection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and   
   reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world   
   without end.   
      Amen.   
      
   (Roman Breviary)   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)