JUNE 30, 2024 – ST. PAUL.

• Commemoration of St. Paul (67). Apostle, Martyr. (Traditional)
• First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church (64). Martyr. (Current)

ST. PAUL was born at Tarsus, of Jewish parents, and studied at Jerusalem, at the feet of Gamaliel. While still a young man, he held the clothes of those who stoned the proto-martyr Stephen; and in his restless zeal he pressed on to Damascus, “breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of Christ.” But near Damascus a light from heaven struck him to the earth. He heard a voice which said, “Why persecutest thou Me?” He saw the form of Him who had been crucified for his sins, and then for three days he saw nothing more. He awoke from his trance another man-a new creature in Jesus Christ. He left Damascus for a long retreat in Arabia, and then, at the call of God, he carried the Gospel to the uttermost limits of the world, and for years he lived and labored with no thought but the thought of Christ crucified, no desire but to spend and be spent for Him. He became the Apostle of the Gentiles, whom he had been taught to hate, and wished himself anathema for his own countrymen, who sought his life. Perils by land and sea could not damp his courage, nor toil and suffering and age dull the tenderness of his heart. At last he gave blood for blood. In his youth he had imbibed the false zeal of the Pharisees at Jerusalem, the holy city of the former dispensation. With St. Peter, he consecrated Rome, our holy city, by his martyrdom, and poured into its Church all his doctrine with all his blood. He left fourteen Epistles, which have been a fountain head of the Church’s doctrine, the consolation and delight of her greatest Saints. His interior life, so far as words can tell it, lies open before us in these divine writings, the life of one who has died forever to himself and risen again in Jesus Christ. “In what,” says St. Chrysostom, “in what did this blessed one gain an advantage over the other Apostles? How comes it that he lives in all men’s mouths throughout the world? Is it not through the virtue of his Epistles?” Nor will his work cease while the race of man continues. Even now, like a most chivalrous knight, he stands in our midst, and takes captive every thought to the obedience of Christ.

REFLECTION: St. Paul complains that all seek the things which are their own, and not the things which are Christ’s. See if these words apply to you, and resolve to give yourself without reserve to God.

WORD OF THE DAY

BOGOMILES. A dualist, heretical sect and branch of the Catharists. Originally they taught in Bulgaria, in the first half of the tenth century, but in time their influence spread through Asia Minor and the Balkans. Eventually they merged with Islam. They believed in a superior God, the Father, whose son Satanaël revolted and was driven from heaven. Satanaël created the world and Adam, but since the Father gave Adam his soul, man belongs to God as well as Satan. The latter seduced Eve and was punished by being deprived of creative power, yet entrusted with the government of the world. As man fell more and more under Satan’s power, God sent his second son, Jesus, under the appearance of a man. After conquering Satan, Jesus returned to heaven and left on earth his creatures, and the Holy Spirit to carry on his work among the Bogomiles, the only true Christians, who are changed into ethereal bodies at death. Besides rejecting most of the Old Testament, they also opposed infant baptism, baptism of water, marriage, the Real Presence, and all images and prayers except the Our Father.

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!)

June, Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Sacred Heart of Jesus – Short Meditations for June. June 30 — The Best Means of Honoring the Sacred Heart.

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