From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
September 13th - St. John Chrysostom
Bishop of Constantinople, Doctor of the Church )
Saint John Chrysostom, born in Antioch in 344, was endowed with a
superior genius strengthened by a brilliant education. In order to
break with a world which admired and courted him, in 374 he retired
for six years to a neighboring mountain, having found Christ through
his friendship with Saint Basil. After acquiring the art of Christian
silence, he returned to Antioch and there labored as a priest under
the direction of its bishop. His eloquence was such that the entire
city, up to a 100,000 listeners, came to hear him, a young man not yet
30 years old. He fled this popularity and adopted the monastic life
for 14 years, until he was taken forcibly to Constantinople, to be
consecrated Patriarch of the imperial city in 398.
The effect of his sermons was everywhere marvelous. He converted a
large number of pagans and heretics by his eloquence, then in its most brilliant luster, and constantly exhorted his Catholic people to
frequent the Holy Sacrifice. In order to remove all excuse for absence
he abbreviated the long liturgy then in use. Saint Nilus relates that
Saint John Chrysostom, when the priest began the Holy Sacrifice, very
often saw "many of the Blessed coming down from heaven in shining
garments, eyes intent, and bowed heads, in utter stillness and
silence, assisting at the consummation of the tremendous mystery."
Beloved as he was in Constantinople, his denunciations of vice made
him numerous enemies. In 403 these procured his banishment; and
although he was almost immediately recalled, it was not more than a
reprieve. In 404 he was banished to Cucusus in the deserts of the
Taurus mountains. His reply to the hostile empress was: "Chrysostom
fears only one thing--not exile, prison, poverty or death--but sin."
In 407, at 63 years old his strength was waning, but his enemies were
impatient and transported him to Pytius on the Euxine, a rough journey
of nearly 400 miles. He was assiduously exposed to every hardship --
cold, wet clothing, and semi-starvation, but nothing could overcome
his cheerfulness and his consideration for others. On the journey his
sickness increased, and he was warned that his end was near.
Thereupon, exchanging his travel-stained clothes for white garments,
he received Viaticum, and with his customary words, "Glory be to God
for all things. Amen," passed to Christ. He does not have the title of martyrdom, but possesses all its merit and all its glory. He is the
author of the famous words characterizing Saint Paul, object of his
admiration and love: "The heart of Paul was the Heart of Christ."
Sources: Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, a compilation based on
Butler's Lives of the Saints
Saint Quotes:
=E2=80=9CWhen you are before the altar where Christ reposes,
you ought no longer to think that you are amongst men;
but believe that there are troops of angels
and archangels standing by you and trembling with respect
before the sovereign Master of Heaven and earth.
Therefore, when you are in church, be there in silence,
fear and veneration.=E2=80=9D
--St John Chrysostom
=E2=80=9CIt is not man that causes the things offered to become
the Body and Blood of Christ but He who was crucified for us,
Christ Himself. The priest, in the role of Christ,
pronounces these words, but their Power and Grace are God's.
This is my body, He says. This word transforms the things offered.=E2=80=9D --St John Chrysostom
=E2=80=9CLet us, then, come back from that table like lions breathing out f= ire,
thus becoming terrifying to the Devil and remaining mindful of our Head
and of the love He has shown for us. . .
This Blood, when worthily received, drives away demons and puts them
at a distance from us, and even summons to us angels and the Lord of angels=
.. . .
This Blood, poured out in abundance, has washed the whole world clean. . .
This is the price of the world;=C2 by it Christ purchased the Church. . =
..
This thought will check in us unruly passions.
How long, in truth, shall we be attached to present things?
How long shall we remain asleep?
How long shall we not take thought for our own salvation?
Let us remember what privileges God has bestowed on us,
let us give thanks,
let us glorify Him,
not only by faith but also by our very works.=E2=80=9D
--St John Chrysostom
=E2=80=9CLet the mouth also fast from disgraceful speeches and railings.
For what does it profit if we abstain from fish and fowl
and yet bite and devour our brothers and sisters?
The evil speaker eats the flesh of his brother
and bites the body of his neighbour!=E2=80=9D
--St John Chrysostom (347-407)
Bible Quote:
For we must all be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ, that
every one may receive the proper things of the body, according as he
hath done, whether it be good or evil.=C2 (2 Cor 5:10) DRB
<><><><>
Prayer for the forgotten dead:
Almighty and merciful God, take pity on those souls who have no
particular friends or intercessors to recommend them to Thee, who
either through the negligence of those that are alive, or through the
length of time are forgotten by their friends and by all. Spare them,
O Lord, and remember Thine own mercy, when others forget to appeal to
it. Let not the souls that Thou hast created be parted from Thee,
their Creator. They are Thy work, and though they have sinned, they
have been redeemed by Thee. Vouchsafe, therefore, to look upon them
and to deliver them from the intolerable pain of absence from Thee,
the light and love of all Thy creatures. Oh! place them in the number
of Thy blessed Saints and citizens through Jesus Christ their Saviour.
Amen.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)