Ijournal entry 033015 #13 March, month of St. Joseph. Quotes by St. Augustine, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Peter of Alcantara, St. Bonaventure, and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. “The Hours of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ”, by Servant of God, Luisa Piccarreta. "The Suffering of Saint Julia, Virgin and Martyr", by Theoderic Ruinart. Audio Holy Week Retreat, host: Fr. Pablo Straub
March, month of St. Joseph
"There is much we wish we could know about Joseph -- where and when he was born, how he spent his days, when and how he died. But Scripture has left us with the most important knowledge: who he was -- "a righteous man" (Matthew 1:18).
Info from this site: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=4
The cheese & Crackers
⚫️ "A single tear shed at the remembrance of the Passion of Jesus is worth more than a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, or a year of fasting on bread and water". By St. Augustine
🔴 “My brothers, let us think of the Good Shepherd, who endured the Passion and Cross in order to save his sheep. Our Lord’s sheep have followed him in trouble, persecution and disgrace, in hunger and thirst, in temptation and other hardships, and by so doing have received everlasting life from their Lord. It therefore brings much disgrace on us servants of God that the saints have done great things while we hope to win honor and fame merely by talking and preaching about them.” By St. Francis of Assisi
⚪️ "In the passion of our blessed Saviour, six things chiefly are to be meditated upon. First, the bitterness of his sorrow, that we may compassionate with him. Secondly, the greatness of our sins, which were the cause of his torments, that we may abhor
them. Thirdly, the greatness of the benefit, that we may be grateful for it. Fourthly, the excellency of the divine charity and bounty therein manifested, that we may love him more fervently. Fifthly, the conveniency of the mystery, that we may be drawn to admiration of it. Lastly, the multiplicity of virtues of our blessed Saviour which did shine in this stupendous mystery, that we may partly imitate and
partly admire them; wherefore, in the midst of these meditations, let us sometimes compassionate with our blessed Saviour in the extremity of his sorrows; extreme indeed, both by reason of the tenderness of his body, as also, for the great affection he bore unto our souls. He did suffer them without any manner of consolation, as we shall speak hereafter in its proper place. Sometimes let us stir up in ourselves compunction for our sins, which were the cause of his great sufferings. Sometimes let us kindle in our souls an ardent affection, considering his great affection towards us, which upon the cross he declared and manifested to the whole world. And the benefit which he bestowed upon us in his passion, because he bought us with the inestimable price of his precious blood, of which only, we reap the benefit and commodity". By St. Peter of Alcantara,
🔵 "He who desires to go on advancing from virtue to virtue, from grace to grace, should meditate continually on the Passion of Jesus. There is no practice more profitable for the entire sanctification of the soul than the frequent meditation of the sufferings of Jesus Christ." By St. Bonaventure
⚫️ "The Lord Jesus... took upon Himself the burden of all our mortal anguish. His face is reflected in that of every person who is humiliated and offended, sick and suffering, alone, abandoned, and despised. Pouring out His blood, He has rescued us from the slavery of death, He has broken the solitude of our tears, He has entered into our every grief and our every anxiety". By Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
The Veggies
Standing on a Trinity of legs to support the composed poem being shared. The poem, a quote by St. Francis of Assisi, a Scripture passage, and the recent Medjugorge message, were all encountered on the same day. Much justification is provided for fervent, reverent prayer from the heart. Heeding the voice of God and renouncing the enemy with all his works will really be a game changer in regards to our spiritual life being in prime condition.
1⃣ The St. Francis Quote
“Since spiritual joy springs from the heart’s innocence and the purity of incessant prayer, these are the two virtues we need to acquire and to keep. Then, that joy which I long to see and feel in myself and in others, that inward and outward joy, will be an edification to neighbor and a reproach to the enemy. For sadness is his and those who follow him. Rejoicing and always being happy in the Lord, is ours.”– St Francis of Assisi
2⃣ The Scripture passage
Hebrews 4:7 he once more set a day, “today, ” when long afterwards he spoke through David, as already quoted:“Oh, that today you would hear his voice:‘Harden not your hearts.’”
3⃣ The Medugorge message
"Dear children! Also today the Most High permits me to be with you and to lead you on the way of conversion. Many hearts have shut themselves to grace and have become deaf to my call.
You, little children, pray and fight against temptation and all the evil plans which the devil offers you through modernism. Be strong in prayer and with the cross in your hands pray that evil may not use you and may not conquer in you. I am with you and pray for you.
Thank you for having responded to my call."
4⃣ The Poem
Who are you really giving reverence to?
🔹Go ahead, make my day, just pray fast & bad, real fast & real bad
🔹Let it be constant so under my spell I can say I have you, not you I "had"
🔹Hope this spreads like wildfire & become popular like the latest fad
🔹What I have in mind indeed
🔹It is to sow one after another, back to back, corrupt seed after corrupt seed
🔹That from my store might spring in response bad weed, very bad weed
🔹My goal is that we be joined to the hips
🔹Oh yes, that it not be carefully considered what indicates you're in my grips
🔹Anyone vigilant can tell by the unmindfulness & rapid movement of your lips
🔹With your cooperation, may it always be
🔹That in my pseudo light which is darkness, I forever keep thee
🔹That sits mighty fine, so extremely pleasant to me
🔹For me to get you on the slippery slope, makes so so much sense
🔹Lil by lil praying mindlessly & thinking you're sincere & intense
🔹That brings the type of joy that's truly immense
🔹Da goal regarding prayer isn't always that you 2 completely refrain
🔹Very satisfied if you fast & furiously pray on & on without any gain
🔹Anyone giving proper reverence, glory & praise to God, I so detest & disdain
🔹Want you to be aware and really know
🔹That no doubt, it's a fact for sho
🔹Always looking for chances to be a false friend and not appear as a foe
🔹The obstinate, self assured, & hard hearted I keep in a choke hold
🔹So blindly they betray their God by half baked actions,but thinking Him they truly behold
🔹But unknowingly, what used to be true love is constantly growing cold
🔹Make it easy, and I'll not refrain from railroading your every dream
🔹As you exercise your own will, so right I'll make your every move seem
🔹Will make you think you are a functional part of the best team
🔹Gonna keep you in my sight
🔹To ensure that you're blinded and on my alluring bait do bite
🔹Doing any & everything to keep you from doing what's just with all my might
🔹Since you love being in control and having your own way
🔹Always bent on having the final say
🔹Here to help out, your every unguarded thought, I plan to crookedly sway
🔹The virtuous, vigilant and those on guard
🔹Have the edge cause of abiding & being surrendered to their Lord
🔹I abhor all who are in sync with their God on one accord
🔹People dedicated to holiness and intent on spiritually growing
🔹Awareness & reverence to God in full bloom, it's love in action that they're constantly showing
🔹Led by the Holy Spirit, abiding in sea of love, good deeds they never stop sowing.
🔹Can't get them to cap side & drown, or easily trip & fall
🔹Walking in da light, Spirit guided, they're ready to play hardball
🔹Equipped, by heeding the Lord's voice & attentive to His every call
🔹With eyes continually on Jesus the Christ and the heavenly prize
🔹One is strengthened & enlightened, able to see untruths disguised
🔹The fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit makes one truly holy & wise
🔹No stumbling block or fast pulled trick
🔹Can weaken the will leading to disgust or becoming spiritually sick
🔹Cause grace and mercy drives one on, it's what makes them tick
🔹All that is happening will be seen as just another stepping stone
🔹Leading in the right direction, as per God's will while traveling on
🔹A difference maker is knowing all isn't in vain, & that one is never alone
🔹The tried & true are the ones that don't easily succumb
🔹Trusting in deliverance by The Holy One, it profits not to be spiritually dumb
🔹Alive in God, no experience will lead to being spiritually paralyzed or numb
🔹It is only through heartfelt, fervent true prayer
🔹One can reach da heights, & avoid all paths intended to be a snare
🔹Through, with & in God, changes can be made, do so if you dare to care
3⃣ The Medugorge message
"Dear children! Also today the Most High permits me to be with you and to lead you on the way of conversion. Many hearts have shut themselves to grace and have become deaf to my call.
You, little children, pray and fight against temptation and all the evil plans which the devil offers you through modernism. Be strong in prayer and with the cross in your hands pray that evil may not use you and may not conquer in you. I am with you and pray for you.
Thank you for having responded to my call."
4⃣ The Poem
Who are you really giving reverence to?
🔹Go ahead, make my day, just pray fast & bad, real fast & real bad
🔹Let it be constant so under my spell I can say I have you, not you I "had"
🔹Hope this spreads like wildfire & become popular like the latest fad
🔹What I have in mind indeed
🔹It is to sow one after another, back to back, corrupt seed after corrupt seed
🔹That from my store might spring in response bad weed, very bad weed
🔹My goal is that we be joined to the hips
🔹Oh yes, that it not be carefully considered what indicates you're in my grips
🔹Anyone vigilant can tell by the unmindfulness & rapid movement of your lips
🔹With your cooperation, may it always be
🔹That in my pseudo light which is darkness, I forever keep thee
🔹That sits mighty fine, so extremely pleasant to me
🔹For me to get you on the slippery slope, makes so so much sense
🔹Lil by lil praying mindlessly & thinking you're sincere & intense
🔹That brings the type of joy that's truly immense
🔹Da goal regarding prayer isn't always that you 2 completely refrain
🔹Very satisfied if you fast & furiously pray on & on without any gain
🔹Anyone giving proper reverence, glory & praise to God, I so detest & disdain
🔹Want you to be aware and really know
🔹That no doubt, it's a fact for sho
🔹Always looking for chances to be a false friend and not appear as a foe
🔹The obstinate, self assured, & hard hearted I keep in a choke hold
🔹So blindly they betray their God by half baked actions,but thinking Him they truly behold
🔹But unknowingly, what used to be true love is constantly growing cold
🔹Make it easy, and I'll not refrain from railroading your every dream
🔹As you exercise your own will, so right I'll make your every move seem
🔹Will make you think you are a functional part of the best team
🔹Gonna keep you in my sight
🔹To ensure that you're blinded and on my alluring bait do bite
🔹Doing any & everything to keep you from doing what's just with all my might
🔹Since you love being in control and having your own way
🔹Always bent on having the final say
🔹Here to help out, your every unguarded thought, I plan to crookedly sway
🔹The virtuous, vigilant and those on guard
🔹Have the edge cause of abiding & being surrendered to their Lord
🔹I abhor all who are in sync with their God on one accord
🔹People dedicated to holiness and intent on spiritually growing
🔹Awareness & reverence to God in full bloom, it's love in action that they're constantly showing
🔹Led by the Holy Spirit, abiding in sea of love, good deeds they never stop sowing.
🔹Can't get them to cap side & drown, or easily trip & fall
🔹Walking in da light, Spirit guided, they're ready to play hardball
🔹Equipped, by heeding the Lord's voice & attentive to His every call
🔹With eyes continually on Jesus the Christ and the heavenly prize
🔹One is strengthened & enlightened, able to see untruths disguised
🔹The fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit makes one truly holy & wise
🔹No stumbling block or fast pulled trick
🔹Can weaken the will leading to disgust or becoming spiritually sick
🔹Cause grace and mercy drives one on, it's what makes them tick
🔹All that is happening will be seen as just another stepping stone
🔹Leading in the right direction, as per God's will while traveling on
🔹A difference maker is knowing all isn't in vain, & that one is never alone
🔹The tried & true are the ones that don't easily succumb
🔹Trusting in deliverance by The Holy One, it profits not to be spiritually dumb
🔹Alive in God, no experience will lead to being spiritually paralyzed or numb
🔹It is only through heartfelt, fervent true prayer
🔹One can reach da heights, & avoid all paths intended to be a snare
🔹Through, with & in God, changes can be made, do so if you dare to care
The Potatoes
“The Hours of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ”, by Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta
Info from this site:
http://www.passioiesus.org/en/horasdelapasion/que_son.htm
Link for pdf copy of the chart:
http://www.passioiesus.org/aplic/php/phpfunctions/download.php?df=/downloads/en_distribucion_horas_color.pdf
"Saint Hannibal Maria di Francia, having commanded the Servant of God
Luisa Piccarreta under Obedience to write “The Hours of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ”,
then published them under his name because Luisa did not want her own name to appear.
Following is the transcription of the Preface
to the “The Hours of the Passion” written by Saint Hannibal.
"To "do" an Hour of the Passion means to read it attentively, meditating on it, contemplating it, making it one's own life... It is not just remembering and compassionating the sufferings of Jesus as something that happened many centuries ago in a far away place; but rather, it is, first of all, to enter into the Divine Will, in which everything is present and in act, and to participate in the interior acts and sufferings of Our Lord, which are present and in act at this precise moment, so as to repeat His life within us, to grow in His likeness, and to pour upon everyone the infinite value, merits and effects of His Passion.
One can comprehend, then, how the Hours of the Passion are not just a reading, and not even a devotion, but a formation of life: the interior life of Jesus. In this way, day after day, we will feel more and more that Jesus is truly living in us - not just our life, but His very Divine Life.
It is extremely important to know that there is no saint who has ever reached the heights of the spiritual life without having meditated frequently on the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Many of them attributed to the meditation of the Passion of Our Lord, the beginning of that stage in the spiritual life in which they decided to give themselves entirely to God, to His Most Holy Will. Over and over again we find in their writings that they move faster toward holiness with the help of this meditation than through any other. Obviously, we cannot say that they surpass the great means provided by the Sacraments, but we can say that the sacraments alone cannot reach all their effectiveness without the help of the meditation of the Passion of Our lord. That is because the Sacraments are the most precious fruits of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ"
Luisa Piccarreta under Obedience to write “The Hours of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ”,
then published them under his name because Luisa did not want her own name to appear.
Following is the transcription of the Preface
to the “The Hours of the Passion” written by Saint Hannibal.
"To "do" an Hour of the Passion means to read it attentively, meditating on it, contemplating it, making it one's own life... It is not just remembering and compassionating the sufferings of Jesus as something that happened many centuries ago in a far away place; but rather, it is, first of all, to enter into the Divine Will, in which everything is present and in act, and to participate in the interior acts and sufferings of Our Lord, which are present and in act at this precise moment, so as to repeat His life within us, to grow in His likeness, and to pour upon everyone the infinite value, merits and effects of His Passion.
One can comprehend, then, how the Hours of the Passion are not just a reading, and not even a devotion, but a formation of life: the interior life of Jesus. In this way, day after day, we will feel more and more that Jesus is truly living in us - not just our life, but His very Divine Life.
It is extremely important to know that there is no saint who has ever reached the heights of the spiritual life without having meditated frequently on the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Many of them attributed to the meditation of the Passion of Our Lord, the beginning of that stage in the spiritual life in which they decided to give themselves entirely to God, to His Most Holy Will. Over and over again we find in their writings that they move faster toward holiness with the help of this meditation than through any other. Obviously, we cannot say that they surpass the great means provided by the Sacraments, but we can say that the sacraments alone cannot reach all their effectiveness without the help of the meditation of the Passion of Our lord. That is because the Sacraments are the most precious fruits of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ"
The Seafood
Galatians 3:27-29 "For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise
Very interesting reading, St. Julia was a female martyr who mounted the cross! A great example of a "You go girl!" in action. Male or female, slave or free, Jew or gentile, all are graced, so may all respond to whatever may be the personal call.
"The Suffering of Saint Julia, Virgin and Martyr" by Theoderic Ruinart
Info from this site: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=362
Excerpts from the article:
"The main written evidence of the events for which Julia became venerated as a saint is the account of Victor Vitensis, a bishop of Africa. He wrote one or more works that were or came to be calledHistoria persecutionis Africanae Provinciae, temporibus Geiserici and Hunirici regum Vandalorum, "History of the Persecution of the Province of Africa in the Time of Geiseric and Huniric, Kings of the Vandals." In 429 Geiseric and 80,000 tribesmen, all his people, crossed suddenly from Spain to Africa and in 439 took Carthage by surprise. Attempting to convert Christians to Arianism he committed such acts as the bishops of the church were able neither to forget nor to condone. In the next generation Victor Vitensis set about in a thorough, investigative manner to record them. As his account is contemporaneous and has been found accurate where it is possible to check he is considered a source of good historicity.
Many editions of his work came out but the one considered most authoritative and complete was compiled and edited by the Benedictine monastic, Thierry Ruinart. During his time he had access to manuscripts that do not exist now due to natural attrition by fire, theft or misplacement. Thus his editions of Vitensis containing a section of Part II, the appendix (the historical commentary containing additional material not included in previous editions): Passio Sanctae Juliae virginis & martyris, "the Suffering of Saint Julia, Virgin and Martyr", which he labels Ex cod. ms. Archimonasterii sancti Remigii Remensis.
The storyVitensis states that the story was acquired as the result of an inquiry "in those days" of the "elders" about the life of Julia and what she had done to become a martyr. Evidently at the time of the inquiry she was already popularly known as a martyr. The informants asserted that they had heard of her "from their parents".
Julia was a Carthaginian girl who, after being captured from her city, came into the service of a man named Eusebius. Vitensis does not say how she came into service, but the statement is usually interpreted that she was sold as a slave after Gaiseric captured Carthage in 439. It is known that he disposed of many recalcitrant Christians in this way, especially women. As a young and strong female, Julia would have brought a good price for the Vandals (who later turned to piracy, including slave-dealing.)
Vitensis says that she served "a fleshly master" but she followed Ephesians 6 and Colossians 3.
Very interesting reading, St. Julia was a female martyr who mounted the cross! A great example of a "You go girl!" in action. Male or female, slave or free, Jew or gentile, all are graced, so may all respond to whatever may be the personal call.
"The Suffering of Saint Julia, Virgin and Martyr" by Theoderic Ruinart
Info from this site: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=362
Excerpts from the article:
"The main written evidence of the events for which Julia became venerated as a saint is the account of Victor Vitensis, a bishop of Africa. He wrote one or more works that were or came to be calledHistoria persecutionis Africanae Provinciae, temporibus Geiserici and Hunirici regum Vandalorum, "History of the Persecution of the Province of Africa in the Time of Geiseric and Huniric, Kings of the Vandals." In 429 Geiseric and 80,000 tribesmen, all his people, crossed suddenly from Spain to Africa and in 439 took Carthage by surprise. Attempting to convert Christians to Arianism he committed such acts as the bishops of the church were able neither to forget nor to condone. In the next generation Victor Vitensis set about in a thorough, investigative manner to record them. As his account is contemporaneous and has been found accurate where it is possible to check he is considered a source of good historicity.
Many editions of his work came out but the one considered most authoritative and complete was compiled and edited by the Benedictine monastic, Thierry Ruinart. During his time he had access to manuscripts that do not exist now due to natural attrition by fire, theft or misplacement. Thus his editions of Vitensis containing a section of Part II, the appendix (the historical commentary containing additional material not included in previous editions): Passio Sanctae Juliae virginis & martyris, "the Suffering of Saint Julia, Virgin and Martyr", which he labels Ex cod. ms. Archimonasterii sancti Remigii Remensis.
The storyVitensis states that the story was acquired as the result of an inquiry "in those days" of the "elders" about the life of Julia and what she had done to become a martyr. Evidently at the time of the inquiry she was already popularly known as a martyr. The informants asserted that they had heard of her "from their parents".
Julia was a Carthaginian girl who, after being captured from her city, came into the service of a man named Eusebius. Vitensis does not say how she came into service, but the statement is usually interpreted that she was sold as a slave after Gaiseric captured Carthage in 439. It is known that he disposed of many recalcitrant Christians in this way, especially women. As a young and strong female, Julia would have brought a good price for the Vandals (who later turned to piracy, including slave-dealing.)
Vitensis says that she served "a fleshly master" but she followed Ephesians 6 and Colossians 3.
Ephesians 6:6 "not only when being watched, as currying favor, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart"
Colossians 3:22 "Slaves, obey your human masters in everything, not only when being watched, as currying favor, but in simplicity of heart, fearing The Lord"
Even though he was a pagan he admired so great a virtue in service. When her own duties were done and she was granted the servant's time off, she spent her spare time either in reading or insisting on praying. She grew pale and thin from fasting despite the threats and blandishments of her master, but her mind, intent on Heaven, fed daily on God's words.
Eusebius, a citizen (civis) of Syria in Palestine, rowing hard for Gaul with an expensive cargo, anchored at Cap Corse for the night. From a distance he saw that sacrifices were about to be conducted by the pagans and immediately descended with all his people to attend. On that day they were slaying a bull "to their devils." The use of mercimonia for cargo identifies it as goods for sale, from which it is often inferred that Eusebius was a merchant. The bishop quips that he disagrees, that Eusebius left his precious cargo (Julia) in Corsica. The choice of a bull, Poseidon's animal, suggests that they had intruded on the yearly rites of the sacrum promontorium.
While they were celebrating by becoming intoxicated and Saint Julia was sighing deeply for their error it was announced to Felix by his satellites that there was a girl in the ship who derided the worship of the gods. This "son of the serpent" asked Eusebius, "Why did not all who are with you come down to worship our gods? I heard that there is a girl who derides the names of our gods." Eusebius replied "I was not successful in moving the girl from the superstition of the Christians nor was I able to bring her to our religion by threatening. If she were not necessary because of her most faithful service I would already have had her tortured."
Then Felix Saxo gave him some options: "Either compel her to give offerings to our gods, or give her to me in exchange for whichever four of my handmaidens please you, or for the price that was set for her." Eusebius replied: "If you wanted to give me all your property it would not come to the value of her service."
Felix Saxo was a major, or "magistrate" among the sacrificers, a princeps or "chief man" quod forte praecipuus esset loci illius, "who happened to be in charge of the place", perhaps Cap Corse. Ferrarius in his "Catalog of the Saints of Italy" calls him Felix Tribunus, which is in fact a full explanation. He had the tribunician power, which would have made him a high-level magistrate, perhaps even provincial governor. The "Saxo" part of the name appears out of context, as it is also the Latin for "Saxon." Ruinart suggests Sago for Sagona (or Sagone as it is still sometimes listed on the map), a vanished ancient town of western Corsica.
As to why he did not just take the girl by eminent domain, Vitensis gives the answer by calling Eusebius civis. The penalty for disrespecting the rights of Roman citizens was severe, and the girl was the property of Eusebius. He could do as he liked with her. However, disrespecting the state gods was a crime punishable by death, which the magistrate could only overlook at his own risk. Having gotten counsel the "most poisonous serpent" prepared the banquet, where Eusebius became intoxicated and fell into a deep sleep. Straightway "a raging mob of gentiles" boarded the ship and placed Julia on the shore. Felix said: "Sacrifice to the gods, girl. I will give your master as much as he likes and dissolve the bond of your state." The tribunician power included manumission. However, Julia repled:
'My liberty is the service of Christ, whom I serve every day with a pure mind. As for that error of yours, I not only do not venerate it, I detest it.'
The tribune ordered that she be struck blows to the face. That done, she said that as Christ was struck for her, why should she not be struck for him? Then "the most cruel serpent" ordered that she be "tortured by the hair", later described as mollitia, "diminishment" of her hair. Then she was flogged, to which she repled in the same way, that if Christ was flogged and crowned with thorns for her, why should she not endure this diminishment of the hair, which she calls the vexillum fidei, the "flag of faith?" The "serpent", fearful of being indicted for cruelty, hurried the process along by ordering "the handmaiden of Christ" to be placed on the patibulum of a cross. Eusebius was awakened. As he let go the bonds of sleep, the saint, with mind released from the flesh, victress over suffering, took happy flight with the angels to the stars of heaven. Another manuscript cited by Ruinart has a columba, a "dove", flying from her mouth".
Even though he was a pagan he admired so great a virtue in service. When her own duties were done and she was granted the servant's time off, she spent her spare time either in reading or insisting on praying. She grew pale and thin from fasting despite the threats and blandishments of her master, but her mind, intent on Heaven, fed daily on God's words.
Eusebius, a citizen (civis) of Syria in Palestine, rowing hard for Gaul with an expensive cargo, anchored at Cap Corse for the night. From a distance he saw that sacrifices were about to be conducted by the pagans and immediately descended with all his people to attend. On that day they were slaying a bull "to their devils." The use of mercimonia for cargo identifies it as goods for sale, from which it is often inferred that Eusebius was a merchant. The bishop quips that he disagrees, that Eusebius left his precious cargo (Julia) in Corsica. The choice of a bull, Poseidon's animal, suggests that they had intruded on the yearly rites of the sacrum promontorium.
While they were celebrating by becoming intoxicated and Saint Julia was sighing deeply for their error it was announced to Felix by his satellites that there was a girl in the ship who derided the worship of the gods. This "son of the serpent" asked Eusebius, "Why did not all who are with you come down to worship our gods? I heard that there is a girl who derides the names of our gods." Eusebius replied "I was not successful in moving the girl from the superstition of the Christians nor was I able to bring her to our religion by threatening. If she were not necessary because of her most faithful service I would already have had her tortured."
Then Felix Saxo gave him some options: "Either compel her to give offerings to our gods, or give her to me in exchange for whichever four of my handmaidens please you, or for the price that was set for her." Eusebius replied: "If you wanted to give me all your property it would not come to the value of her service."
Felix Saxo was a major, or "magistrate" among the sacrificers, a princeps or "chief man" quod forte praecipuus esset loci illius, "who happened to be in charge of the place", perhaps Cap Corse. Ferrarius in his "Catalog of the Saints of Italy" calls him Felix Tribunus, which is in fact a full explanation. He had the tribunician power, which would have made him a high-level magistrate, perhaps even provincial governor. The "Saxo" part of the name appears out of context, as it is also the Latin for "Saxon." Ruinart suggests Sago for Sagona (or Sagone as it is still sometimes listed on the map), a vanished ancient town of western Corsica.
As to why he did not just take the girl by eminent domain, Vitensis gives the answer by calling Eusebius civis. The penalty for disrespecting the rights of Roman citizens was severe, and the girl was the property of Eusebius. He could do as he liked with her. However, disrespecting the state gods was a crime punishable by death, which the magistrate could only overlook at his own risk. Having gotten counsel the "most poisonous serpent" prepared the banquet, where Eusebius became intoxicated and fell into a deep sleep. Straightway "a raging mob of gentiles" boarded the ship and placed Julia on the shore. Felix said: "Sacrifice to the gods, girl. I will give your master as much as he likes and dissolve the bond of your state." The tribunician power included manumission. However, Julia repled:
'My liberty is the service of Christ, whom I serve every day with a pure mind. As for that error of yours, I not only do not venerate it, I detest it.'
The tribune ordered that she be struck blows to the face. That done, she said that as Christ was struck for her, why should she not be struck for him? Then "the most cruel serpent" ordered that she be "tortured by the hair", later described as mollitia, "diminishment" of her hair. Then she was flogged, to which she repled in the same way, that if Christ was flogged and crowned with thorns for her, why should she not endure this diminishment of the hair, which she calls the vexillum fidei, the "flag of faith?" The "serpent", fearful of being indicted for cruelty, hurried the process along by ordering "the handmaiden of Christ" to be placed on the patibulum of a cross. Eusebius was awakened. As he let go the bonds of sleep, the saint, with mind released from the flesh, victress over suffering, took happy flight with the angels to the stars of heaven. Another manuscript cited by Ruinart has a columba, a "dove", flying from her mouth".
The Dessert
Audio Holy Week Retreat, host: Fr. Pablo Straub
Holy Week Retreat, Click on link to download
1. Monday
Host - Fr. Pablo Straubhwr01monday.mp3
2. Tuesday
Host - Fr. Pablo Straubhwr02tuesday.mp3
3. Wednesday
Host - Fr. Pablo Straubhwr03wednesday.mp3
4. Thursday
Host - Fr. Pablo Straubhwr04thursday.mp3
5. Friday
Host - Fr. Pablo Straubhwr05friday.mp3
Ⓦⓗⓨ e͜͡l͜͡s͜͡e͜͡ b͜͡ i͜͡n͜͡ i͜͡t͜͡, i͜͡f͜͡ n͜͡o͜͡t͜͡ 2w͜͡i͜͡n͜͡ i͜͡t͜͡?
Ⓦⓘⓣⓗ d͜͡a͜͡ h͜͡e͜͡a͜͡v͜͡e͜͡n͜͡l͜͡y͜͡ p͜͡r͜͡i͜͡z͜͡e͜͡, a͜͡l͜͡w͜͡a͜͡y͜͡s͜͡ i͜͡n͜͡ s͜͡i͜͡g͜͡h͜͡t͜͡ b͜͡4 y͜͡o͜͡u͜͡r͜͡ e͜͡y͜͡e͜͡s͜͡
Ⓛⓔⓣ d͜͡a͜͡i͜͡l͜͡y͜͡ m͜͡e͜͡t͜͡a͜͡n͜͡o͜͡i͜͡a͜͡ & t͜͡r͜͡a͜͡n͜͡s͜͡f͜͡o͜͡r͜͡m͜͡a͜͡t͜͡i͜͡o͜͡n͜͡ c͜͡o͜͡m͜͡e͜͡ 2f͜͡r͜͡u͜͡i͜͡t͜͡i͜͡o͜͡n͜͡
i͜͡n͜͡ Ch͜͡r͜͡i͜͡s͜͡t͜͡Ⓙⓔⓢⓤⓢ, y͜͡o͜͡u͜͡'l͜͡l͜͡ t͜͡h͜͡e͜͡n͜͡ b͜͡ a͜͡b͜͡l͜͡e͜͡ 2c͜͡o͜͡m͜͡p͜͡l͜͡e͜͡t͜͡e͜͡ y͜͡o͜͡u͜͡r͜͡ m͜͡i͜͡s͜͡s͜͡i͜͡o͜͡n͜͡
✞ⓂⓂ/℘✞L̶o̶r̶d̶ \o/
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