From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
6 August =E2=80=93 The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
This feast became widespread in the West in the 11th century and was
introduced into the Roman calendar in 1457 to commemorate the victory
over Islam in Belgrade. Before that, the Transfiguration of the Lord
was celebrated in the Syrian, Byzantine and Coptic rites. The
Transfiguration foretells the glory of the Lord as God and His
Ascension into heaven. It anticipates the glory of heaven, where we
shall see God face to face. Through grace, we already share in the
divine promise of eternal life.
Our divine Redeemer, being in Galilee about a year before His sacred
Passion, took with him St Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, Sts James
and John and led them to a high mountain. Tradition assures us that
this was Mount Tabor, which is exceedingly high and beautiful and was
anciently covered with green trees and shrubs and was very fruitful.
It rises something like a sugar-loaf, in a vast plain in the middle of
Galilee. This was the place in which the Man-God appeared in His
glory.
Whilst Jesus prayed, He suffered that glory which was always due to
His sacred humility and of which, for our sake, He deprived it, to
diffuse a ray over His whole body. His face was altered and shone as
the sun and His garments became white as snow. Moses and Elias were
seen by the three apostles in His company on this occasion and were
heard discoursing with Him of the death which He was to suffer in
Jerusalem.
The three apostles were wonderfully delighted with this glorious
vision and St Peter cried out to Christ, =E2=80=9CLord, it is good for us t=
o
be here. Let us make three tents: one for thee, one for Moses, and one
for Elias=E2=80=9D Whilst St. Peter was speaking, there came, on a sudden, =
a
bright shining cloud from heaven, an emblem of the presence of God'=
s
majesty and from out of this cloud was heard a voice which said, =E2=80=9CT= his
is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him=E2=80=9D=C2 Th=
e
apostles that were present, upon hearing this voice, were seized with
a sudden fear and fell upon the ground;=C2 but Jesus, going to them,
touched them and bade them to rise. They immediately did so and saw no
one but Jesus standing in His ordinary state.
This vision happened in the night. As they went down the mountain
early the next morning, Jesus bade them not to tell anyone what they
had seen till He should be risen from the dead.
Excerpted from Butler's Lives of the Saints, Benziger Bros. ed. [18=
94]
=E2=80=9CIn the Transfiguration Christ enjoyed for a short while that
glorified state which was to be permanently His after His Resurrection
on Easter Sunday. The splendour of His inward Divinity and of the
Beatific Vision of His soul overflowed in His body and permeated His
garments so that Christ stood before Peter, James and John in a
snow-white brightness. The purpose of the Transfiguration was to
encourage and strengthen the Apostles who were depressed by their
Master's prediction of His own Passion and Death. The Apostles were
made to understand that His redeeming work has two phases: The Cross,
and glory=E2=80=94that we shall be glorified with Him only if we first suff=
er
with Him.=E2=80=9D
=E2=80=94Msgr. Rudolph G. Bandas
Saint Quote:
Humility is the mother of many virtues. From it spring obedience,
holy fear, reverence, patience, modesty, mildness, and peace; for,
whoever is humble easily obeys all, fears to offend any, maintains
peace with all, shows himself affable to all, is submissive to all,
does not offend or displease any, and does not feel the insults which
may be inflicted upon him. He lives happy and contented, and in great
peace.
--St. Thomas of Villanova
Bible Quote
And when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure
their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Amen I say to you,
they have received their reward. 17. But thou, when thou fastest
anoint thy head, and wash thy face; 18. That thou appear not to men to
fast, but to thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father who seeth in
secret, will repay thee.=C2 (Matthew 6:16-18)
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St Dominic's Blessing
By St Dominic de Guzman (1170-1221)
May God the Father,
who made us, bless us.
May God the Son,
send His healing among us.
May God the Holy Spirit,
move within us
and give us eyes to see with,
ears to hear with,
and hands, that Your work,
might be done.
May we walk and preach
the word of God to all.
May the angel of peace
watch over us
and lead us at last,
by God's grace,
to the Kingdom. Amen
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)