DECEMBER 16 – ST. EUSEBIUS, BISHOP.
ST. EUSEBIUS was born of a noble family, in the island of Sardinia, where his father is said to have died in prison for the faith. The Saint’s mother carried him and his sister, both infants, to Rome. Eusebius having been ordained, served the Church of Vercelli with such zeal that on the Episcopal chair becoming vacant, he was unanimously chosen, by both clergy and people, to fill it. The holy bishop saw that the best and first means to labor effectually for the edification and sanctification of his people, was to have a zealous clergy. He was at the same time very careful to instruct his flock, and inspire them with the maxims of the Gospel. The force of the truth which he preached, together with his example, brought many sinners to a change of life. He courageously fought against the heretics who had him banished to Scythopolis, and thence to Upper Thebais in Egypt, where he suffered so grievously as to win, in some of the panegyrics in his praise, the title of martyr. He died in the latter part of the year 371.
REFLECTION: The routine of everyday, commonplace duties is No hindrance to a free intimacy with God. He will disclose His hidden ways to you in proportion as you follow your vocation faithfully, whether in the world or the cloister.
WORD OF THE DAY
RESOLUTION. The firm determination to carry into effect what a person has decided should be done. It includes some decision to use the means for putting resolution into practice. In spiritual theology a resolution implies a conversion of one’s moral life, arrived at after due reflection and prayer.
Modern Catholic Dictionary, Fr. John Hardon SJ (Get the real one at Eternal Life — don’t accept an abridged or edited version of this masterpiece!)
ST. ANDREW NOVENA
Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, o my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.
(It is piously believed that whoever recites the above prayer fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew (Nov. 30th) until Christmas, will obtain what is asked). This formula of the prayer bears an Imprimatur from † Michael Augustine, Archbishop of New York. New York, February 6, 1897.
DAILY ADVENT MEDITATIONS
Deepen your appreciation of the Incarnation and our salvation with The Great Truths Series by Fr. Richard Clarke S.J. Read today’s “The Dangers of the Careless Soul & Death” but consider this:
“Death is the end of our time of trial. After it our destiny will be irrevocably fixed. No more chance of doing penance, no more opportunities of contrition, no more merit, no more grace, no more calls to repentance, no more hope for those who reject God in this life. No wonder, then, that men dread it. Yet death is standing at our very doors; at any moment the King of Terrors may summon us away. Am I prepared for the summons?”
This article, DECEMBER 16 – ST. EUSEBIUS, BISHOP. is a post from The Bellarmine Forum.
https://bellarmineforum.org/december-16-st-eusebius-bishop/
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