• =?UTF-8?Q?6_August_=E2=80=93_The_Feast_of_the_Transfiguration_of_the?=

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Thu Aug 5 10:19:53 2021
    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)


    <><><><>
    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)