NOVEMBER 9, 2024 – ST. THEODORE TYRO, MARTYR.

• Dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica (324). (Current, Traditional)
• St. Theodore the Recruit (306). Martyr. (Traditional)

ST. THEODORE was born of a noble family in the East, and enrolled while still a youth in the imperial army. Early in 306 the emperor put forth an edict requiring all Christians to offer sacrifice, and Theodore had just joined the legion and marched with them into Pontus, when he had to choose between apostasy and death. He declared before his commander that he was ready to be cut in pieces and offer up every limb to his Creator who had died for him. Wishing to conquer him by gentleness, the commander left him in peace for a while, that he might think over his resolution; but Theodore used his freedom to set on fire the great temple of Isis, and made no secret of this act. Still his judge entreated him to renounce his faith and save his life; but Theodore made the sign of the cross, and answered: “As long as I have breath, I will confess the name of Christ.” After cruel torture, the judge bade him think of the shame to which Christ had brought him. “This shame,” Theodore answered, “I and all who invoke His name take with joy.” He was condemned to be burnt. As the flame rose, a Christian saw his soul rise like a flash of light to heaven.

REFLECTION: We are enlisted in the same service as the holy martyrs, and we too must have courage and constancy if we would be perfect soldiers of Jesus Christ. Let us take our part with them in confessing the faith of Christ and despising the world, that we may have our part with them in Christ’s kingdom.

WORD OF THE DAY

EQUALITY. In general, the state of being equal. There are, however, two divergent interpretations of what this means. Theism, which assumes that there is a personal God, defines equality as the capacity that all men have to reach their eternal destiny, and therefore have the right to the means required for attaining the end for which they were created. Given these postulates, theism recognizes that no two people are completely equal in their possession of anything, that whatever they have is ultimately a gift from God. The nontheistic view of humanity considers man essentially earthbound with no assured destiny beyond the grave. It therefore redefines equality in this-worldly terms, as equal access to the good things of life on earth. Inequality, then, becomes any deviation from this mathematical sameness in sharing the world’s available resources for giving satisfaction to mankind.

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!)

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