EVANGELIO DEL DÍA

miércoles, 12 de enero de 2011

«Se marchó al descampado y allí se puso a orar»

EVANGELIO DEL DÍA: 12/01/2011
¿ Señor, a quién iremos?. Tú tienes palabras de vida eterna. Jn 6, 68


Miércoles de la I Semana del Tiempo Ordinario


Carta a los Hebreos 2,14-18.
Y ya que los hijos tienen una misma sangre y una misma carne, él también debía participar de esa condición, para reducir a la impotencia, mediante su muerte, a aquel que tenía el dominio de la muerte, es decir, al demonio,
y liberar de este modo a todos los que vivían completamente esclavizados por el temor de la muerte.
Porque él no vino para socorrer a los ángeles, sino a los descendientes de Abraham.
En consecuencia, debió hacerse semejante en todo a sus hermanos, para llegar a ser un Sumo Sacerdote misericordioso y fiel en el servicio de Dios, a fin de expiar los pecados del pueblo.
Y por haber experimentado personalmente la prueba y el sufrimiento, él puede ayudar a aquellos que están sometidos a la prueba.

Salmo 105(104),1-2.3-4.6-7.8-9.
¡Den gracias al Señor, invoquen su Nombre, hagan conocer entre los pueblos sus proezas;
canten al Señor con instrumentos musicales, pregonen todas sus maravillas!
¡Gloríense en su santo Nombre, alégrense los que buscan al Señor!
¡Recurran al Señor y a su poder, busquen constantemente su rostro;
Descendientes de Abraham, su servidor, hijos de Jacob, su elegido:
el Señor es nuestro Dios, en toda la tierra rigen sus decretos.
El se acuerda eternamente de su alianza, de la palabra que dio por mil generaciones,
del pacto que selló con Abraham, del juramento que hizo a Isaac:

Evangelio según San Marcos 1,29-39.
Cuando salió de la sinagoga, fue con Santiago y Juan a casa de Simón y Andrés.
La suegra de Simón estaba en cama con fiebre, y se lo dijeron de inmediato.
El se acercó, la tomó de la mano y la hizo levantar. Entonces ella no tuvo más fiebre y se puso a servirlos.
Al atardecer, después de ponerse el sol, le llevaron a todos los enfermos y endemoniados,
y la ciudad entera se reunió delante de la puerta.
Jesús curó a muchos enfermos, que sufrían de diversos males, y expulsó a muchos demonios; pero a estos no los dejaba hablar, porque sabían quién era él.
Por la mañana, antes que amaneciera, Jesús se levantó, salió y fue a un lugar desierto; allí estuvo orando.
Simón salió a buscarlo con sus compañeros,
y cuando lo encontraron, le dijeron: "Todos te andan buscando".
El les respondió: "Vayamos a otra parte, a predicar también en las poblaciones vecinas, porque para eso he salido".
Y fue predicando en las sinagogas de toda la Galilea y expulsando demonios. 
Mc 1,29-39
Leer el comentario del Evangelio por 
Homilía del siglo V sobre la oración
Erróneamente atribuida san Juan Crisóstomo; PG 64, 461
«Se marchó al descampado y allí se puso a orar»
     El sumo bien está en la oración, en el diálogo con Dios... La oración es luz del alma, verdadero conocimiento de Dios, mediadora entre Dios y los hombres. Hace que el alma se eleve hasta el cielo y abrace a Dios con inefables abrazos, apeteciendo la leche divina, como el niño que, llorando, llama a su madre; por la oración el alma expone sus propios deseos y recibe dones mejores que toda la naturaleza invisible. Pues la oración se presenta ante Dios como venerable intermediaria, alegra nuestro espíritu y pacifica el alma.

     Cuando hablo de oración me refiero a la verdadera, no a las simples palabras: la oración que es un deseo de Dios, una inefable piedad, no otorgada por los hombres, sino concedida por la gracia divina, de la que también dice el Apóstol: «Nosotros no sabemos  pedir lo que nos conviene, pero el Espíritu mismo intercede por nosotros con gemidos inefables» (Rm 8,26). Una oración así, cuando Dios la otorga a alguien, es una riqueza inagotable y un alimento celestial que satura el alma; quien la saborea se enciende en un deseo eterno del Señor, como un fuego ardiente que inflama su corazón.


miércoles 12 Enero 2011

San Arcadio



Mártir. Se desconoce la fecha exacta de su martirio, pero parece que tuvo lugar en alguna ciudad de Mauritania, probablemente en Cesarea, la capital. Las persecuciones estaban en todo su furor y miles de cristianos eran torturados por los soldados romanos sin esperar la sentencia del juez.

En tan terribles circunstancias, San Arcadio se retiró a la soledad. Sin embargo, el gobernador de la ciudad al saber que no se había presentado a los sacrificios públicos, capturó a un pariente y lo mantuvo como rehén hasta que el prófugo se presentara. Al saberlo, el mártir volvió a la ciudad y se entregó al juez quien lo obligó a que se sacrificase a los dioses.

Ante su negativa, el juez lo condenó a muerte, cortando cada uno de sus miembros de manera lenta. Al encontrarse totalmente mutilado, el mártir se dirigió a la comunidad pagana, exhortándolos a abandonar a sus dioses falsos y a adorar al único Dios verdadero, el Señor Jesús.- Los paganos se quedaron maravillados de tanto valor y los cristianos recogieron su cadáver y empezaron a honrarlo como a un gran santo.








Oremos
Señor, danos el espíritu de fortaleza, para que, siguiendo el ejemplo del mártir San Arcadio, aprendamos a obedecerte a ti que a los hombres. Por nuestro Señor Jesucristo, tu Hijo.



Calendario de fiestas marianasNuestra Señora de la Calle Ancha, Roma.

"He went off to a deserted place, where he prayed"

DAILY GOSPEL: 12/01/2011
«Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68


Wednesday of the First week in Ordinary Time


Letter to the Hebrews 2:14-18.
Now since the children share in blood and flesh, he likewise shared in them, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
and free those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life.
Surely he did not help angels but rather the descendants of Abraham;
therefore, he had to become like his brothers in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people.
Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

Psalms 105(104):1-2.3-4.6-7.8-9.
Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name; make known among the peoples his deeds!
Sing praise, play music; proclaim all his wondrous deeds!
Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Rely on the mighty LORD; constantly seek his face.
You descendants of Abraham his servant, offspring of Jacob the chosen one!
The LORD is our God who rules the whole earth.
He remembers forever his covenant, the pact imposed for a thousand generations,
Which was made with Abraham, confirmed by oath to Isaac,

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 1:29-39.
On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.
When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
The whole town was gathered at the door.
He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.
Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him
and on finding him said, "Everyone is looking for you."
He told them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come."
So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee. 
Mc 1,29-39
Commentary of the day 
5th century homily on prayer
Wrongly attributed to Saint John Chrysostom ; PG 64, 461
"He went off to a deserted place, where he prayed"
Prayer, familiar intercourse with God, is our greatest good... Prayer is the light of the soul, true knowledge of God, mediator between God and man. Through it the soul is raised to heaven and holds God inexpressibly in tight embrace. Like a child crying out to its mother, it expresses the eagerness of its desire. It gives voice to its deepest longings and receives in return gifts surpassing all visible nature. For prayer presents itself as a powerful ambassador, rejoicing and pacifying the soul.

When I speak of prayer you should not imagine it to be a question of words. It is a reaching out towards God, an indescribable love, not of human origin, of which the apostle Paul speaks when he says: «We do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings» (Rm 8,26). If God grants someone such prayer as this, it becomes for him an everlasting source of wealth and a heavenly food that fills the soul. The one who has tasted it is seized with an eternal longing for our Lord like a devouring fire that sets his heart ablaze.


Wednesday, 12 January 2011

St Marguerite Bourgeoys (1620-1700)



ST MARGUERITE BOURGEOYS
1620-1700
Foundress of the Sisters
of the Congregation of Notre-Dame 

         Marguerite Bourgeoys was born in Troyes, in the province of Champagne (France), on Good Friday, April 17, 1620. She was baptized on the same day in the church of Saint-Jean, a church that was located near her home. Marguerite was the sixth child in a family of twelve. Her parents were Abraham Bourgeoys and Guillemette Gamier, and she was privileged to grow up in a milieu that was middle class and thoroughly Christian.

         Marguerite was nineteen years of age when she lost her mother. In the following year, 1640, in the course of a procession held on October 7 in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary, she had an unforgettable experience. Her eyes rested on a statue of the Blessed Virgin, and at that moment she felt inspired to withdraw from the world and to consecrate herself to the service of God. With that unchanging fidelity to what she believed to be God's will for her, a fidelity that characterized her life thenceforth, she set about to discern her specific vocation.

         She registered, at once, as a member of the extern Congregation of Troyes, an association of young girls devoted to the charitable work of teaching children in the poor districts of the
town. While engaged in this apostolate she learned about the foundation of Ville Marie (Montreal) in Canada. The year was 1642, and at that time she sensed a first call to missionary life. This call was rendered concrete in 1652 when she met Monsieur de Maisonneuve, founder and governor of the settlement begun in New France, who was in search of someone who would volunteer her services for the gratuitous instruction of the French and Indian children. Our Lady confirmed the call addressed to her: "Go, I will not forsake you", she said. Thus assured, Marguerite left Troyes in February, 1653, in a spirit of complete detachment. She arrived in Montreal on the following 16th of November, and without delay she set to work to promote the best interests of the colony. She is rightly considered co-foundress of Montreal, with the nurse, Jeanne Mance, and the master designer, Monsieur de Maisonneuve.

         In order to encourage the colonists in their faith expression, she arranged for the restoration of the Cross on Mount Royal after it has been destroyed by hostile Indians, and she undertook the construction of a chapel dedicated to Notre-Dame de Bon Secours. Convinced of the importance of the family in the building of this new country, and perceiving the significance of the role to be exercised by women, she devoted herself to the task of preparing those whose vocation it would be to preside in a home. In 1658, in a stable which had been given to her by the governor for her use, she opened the first school in Montreal. She also organized an extern Congregation, patterned after the one which she had known in Troyes but adapted to the actual needs. In this way, she could respond to the needs of the women and young girls on whom much depended as far as the instruction of children was concerned. In 1659, she began receiving girls who were recommended by "les cures" in France, or endowed by the King, to come to establish homes in Montreal, and she became a real mother to them. Thus were initiated a school system and a network of social services which gradually extended through the whole country, and which led people to refer to Marguerite as "Mother of the Colony".

         On three occasions, Marguerite Bourgeoys made a trip to France to obtain help. As of
1658, the group of teachers who associated themselves with her in her life of prayer, of heroic poverty, and of untiring devotedness to the service of others, presented the image of a religious institute. The group was inspired by the "vie voyagere" of Our Lady, and desired to remain uncloistered, the concept of an uncloistered community being an innovation at that time. Such a foundation occasioned much suffering and the one who took the initiative was not spared. But the work progressed. The Congregation de Notre-Dame received its civil charter from Louis XIV in 1671, and canonical approbation by decree of the Bishop of Quebec in 1676. The Constitutions of the Community were approved in 1698.

         The foundation having been assured, Sister Bourgeoys could leave the work to others. She died in Montreal on January 12, 1700, acknowledged for her holiness of life. Her last generous act was to offer herself as a sacrifice of prayer for the return to health of a young Sister. Forty memberg of the Congregation de Notre-Dame were there to continue her work.

         The educative and apostolic efforts of Marguerite Bourgeoys continue through the commitment of the members of the community that she founded. More than 2,600 Sisters of the Congregation de Notre-Dame work in fields of action according to the needs of time and place - from school to college or university, in the promotion of family, parish and diocesan endeavours. They are on mission in Canada, in the United States, in Japan, in Latin America, in Cameroon, and most recently they have established a house in France.

         On November 12, 1950 Pope Pius XII beatified Marguerite Bourgeoys. Canonizing her this October 31, 1982, Pope John Paul II gives the Canadian Church its first woman saint.

lunes, 10 de enero de 2011

«¿Has venido a acabar con nosotros?»

EVANGELIO DEL DÍA: 11/01/2011
¿ Señor, a quién iremos?. Tú tienes palabras de vida eterna. Jn 6, 68


Martes de la I Semana del Tiempo Ordinario


Carta a los Hebreos 2,5-12.
Porque Dios no ha sometido a los ángeles el mundo venidero del que nosotros hablamos.
Acerca de esto, hay un testimonio que dice: ¿Qué es el hombre para que te acuerdes de él, el ser humano para que te ocupes de él?
Por poco tiempo lo pusiste debajo de los ángeles y lo coronaste de gloria y esplendor.
Todo lo sometiste bajo sus pies. Si Dios le ha sometido todas las cosas, nada ha quedado fuera de su dominio. De hecho, todavía no vemos que todo le está sometido.
Pero a aquel que fue puesto por poco tiempo debajo de los ángeles, a Jesús, ahora lo vemos coronado de gloria y esplendor, a causa de la muerte que padeció. Así, por la gracia de Dios, él experimentó la muerte en favor de todos.
Convenía, en efecto, que aquel por quien y para quien existen todas las cosas, a fin de llevar a la gloria a un gran número de hijos, perfeccionara, por medio del sufrimiento, al jefe que los conduciría a la salvación.
Porque el que santifica y los que son santificados, tienen todos un mismo origen. Por eso, él no se avergüenza de llamarlos hermanos,
cuando dice: Yo anunciaré tu Nombre a mis hermanos, te alabaré en medio de la asamblea.

Salmo 8,2.5.6-7.8-9.
¡Señor, nuestro Dios, qué admirable es tu Nombre en toda la tierra! Quiero adorar tu majestad sobre el cielo:
¿qué es el hombre para que pienses en él, el ser humano para que lo cuides?
Lo hiciste poco inferior a los ángeles, lo coronaste de gloria y esplendor;
le diste dominio sobre la obra de tus manos, todo lo pusiste bajo sus pies:
todos los rebaños y ganados, y hasta los animales salvajes;
las aves del cielo, los peces del mar y cuanto surca los senderos de las aguas.

Evangelio según San Marcos 1,21-28.
Entraron en Cafarnaún, y cuando llegó el sábado, Jesús fue a la sinagoga y comenzó a enseñar.
Todos estaban asombrados de su enseñanza, porque les enseñaba como quien tiene autoridad y no como los escribas.
Y había en la sinagoga un hombre poseído de un espíritu impuro, que comenzó a gritar:
"¿Qué quieres de nosotros, Jesús Nazareno? ¿Has venido para acabar con nosotros? Ya sé quién eres: el Santo de Dios".
Pero Jesús lo increpó, diciendo: "Cállate y sal de este hombre".
El espíritu impuro lo sacudió violentamente y, dando un gran alarido, salió de ese hombre.
Todos quedaron asombrados y se preguntaban unos a otros: "¿Qué es esto? ¡Enseña de una manera nueva, llena de autoridad; da órdenes a los espíritus impuros, y estos le obedecen!".
Y su fama se extendió rápidamente por todas partes, en toda la región de Galilea. 
Mc 1,21-28
Leer el comentario del Evangelio por 
Catecismo de la Iglesia católica
§ 2851-2854
«¿Has venido a acabar con nosotros?»
     «Y líbranos del mal»: En esta petición del Padrenuestro, el mal no es una abstracción, sino que designa una persona, Satanás, el Maligno, el ángel que se opone a Dios. El «diablo» [dia-bolos] es aquel que «se atraviesa» en el designio de Dios y su obra de salvación cumplida en Cristo. «Homicida desde el principio, mentiroso y padre de la mentira» (Jn 8,44), «Satanás, el seductor del mundo» (Ap 12,9), es aquél por medio del cual el pecado y la muerte entraron en el mundo y, por cuya definitiva derrota, toda la creación entera será «liberada del pecado y de la muerte» (Pleg Eucarística IV). «Sabemos que todo el que ha nacido de Dios no peca, sino que el Engendrado de Dios le guarda y el Maligno no llega a tocarle. Sabemos que somos hijos de Dios y que el mundo entero yace en poder del Maligno» (1Jn 5,18-19)...

     La victoria sobre el «príncipe de este mundo» (Jn 14,30) se adquirió de una vez por todas en la hora en que Jesús se entregó libremente a la muerte por darnos su Vida. Es el juicio de este mundo, y el príncipe de este mundo  ha sido «echado abajo» (Jn 12,31). «El se lanza en persecución de la Mujer» pero no consigue alcanzarla: la nueva Eva, «llena de gracia» del Espíritu Santo es librada del pecado y de la corrupción de la muerte... «Entonces, despechado contra la Mujer, se fue a hacer la guerra al resto de sus hijos» (Ap 12, 13.17). Por eso el Espíritu y la Iglesia oran: «Ven, Señor Jesús» (Ap 22, 17.20), ya que su venida nos librará del Maligno.

     Al pedir ser liberados del Maligno, oramos igualmente para ser liberados de todos los males, presentes, pasados y futuros de los que él es autor o instigador. En esta última petición, la Iglesia presenta al Padre todas las desdichas del mundo. Con la liberación de todos los males que abruman a la humanidad, implora el don precioso de la paz y la gracia de la espera perseverante en el retorno de Cristo. Orando así, anticipa en la humildad de la fe la recapitulación de todos y de todo en Aquel que «tiene las llaves de la Muerte y del Hades», «el Dueño de todo, Aquel que es, que era y que ha de venir» (Ap 1,18.8).


martes 11 Enero 2011

San Teodosio



Nació en Capadocia, Bizancio ( Imperio Romano de Oriente) (hoy Turquía) en el año 423, y desde pequeño, por inculcación paterna, leía con mucho fervor las Sagradas Escrituras. Siguiendo el ejemplo de Abraham, el santo decidió dejar sus riquezas y su familia, para peregrinar a Jerusalén, Belén y Nazaret, y luego convertirse en religioso.

San Teodosio se fue a vivir no muy lejos de Belén, y tuvo como guía espiritual al abad Longinos. Tras ser ordenado como sacerdote, recibió la orden de encargarse del culto de un templo ubicado entre Jerusalén y Belén. El santo desplegó su labor con mucha sabiduría y humildad, y fue testimonio de una vida santa y llena de oración, lo cual motivó que otros jóvenes también desearan convertirse en religiosos, y más adelante, la fundación de tres conventos en las cercanías de Belén.

El santo también construyó, cerca de Belén, tres hospitales para la atención de ancianos, enfermos necesitados y discapacitados. Los monasterios dirigidos por San Teodosio eran como una ciudad de santos en el desierto, pues todo se hacía a su tiempo, con exactitud, oración, trabajo y descanso.

San Teodosio enfermó penosamente, y falleció a los 105 años en el año 529. El Arzobispo de Jerusalén y muchos ciudadanos de Tierra Santa asistieron a su entierro y durante sus funerales se obraron varios milagros.




Oremoshttp://www.erain.es/departamentos/Religion/historia/antigua/sigloI-M_archivos/nisa.jpg


Señor Dios todopoderoso, que nos has revelado que el amor a Dios y al prójimo es el compendio de toda tu ley, haz que, imitando la caridad de San Teodosio seamos contados un día entre los elegidos de tu reino. Por nuestro Señor Jesucristo, tu Hijo.

"Have you come to destroy us?"

DAILY GOSPEL: 11/01/2011
«Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68

Tuesday of the First week in Ordinary Time
Letter to the Hebrews 2:5-12.
For it was not to angels that he subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking.
Instead, someone has testified somewhere: "What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man that you care for him?
You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor,
subjecting all things under his feet." In "subjecting" all things (to him), he left nothing not "subject to him." Yet at present we do not see "all things subject to him,"
but we do see Jesus "crowned with glory and honor" because he suffered death, he who "for a little while" was made "lower than the angels," that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
For it was fitting that he, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering.
He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated all have one origin. Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them "brothers,"
saying: "I will proclaim your name to my brothers, in the midst of the assembly I will praise you";

Psalms 8:2.5.6-7.8-9.
O LORD, our Lord, how awesome is your name through all the earth! You have set your majesty above the heavens!
What are humans that you are mindful of them, mere mortals that you care for them?
Yet you have made them little less than a god, crowned them with glory and honor.
You have given them rule over the works of your hands, put all things at their feet:
All sheep and oxen, even the beasts of the field,
The birds of the air, the fish of the sea, and whatever swims the paths of the seas.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 1:21-28.
Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught.
The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.
In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit;
he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"
Jesus rebuked him and said, "Quiet! Come out of him!"
The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.
All were amazed and asked one another, "What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him."
His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee. 
Mc 1,21-28
Commentary of the day 
Catechism of the Catholic Church
§ 2851-2854
"Have you come to destroy us?"
«But deliver us from evil»: in this petition of the Lord's Prayer, evil is not an abstraction, but refers to a person, Satan, the Evil One, the angel who opposes God. The devil (dia-bolos) is the one who "throws himself across" God's plan and his work of salvation accomplished in Christ. "A murderer from the beginning, . . . a liar and the father of lies," (Jn 8,44) Satan is "the deceiver of the whole world» (Rv 12,9). Through him sin and death entered the world and by his definitive defeat all creation will be "freed from the corruption of sin and death" (EP IV). Now "we know that anyone born of God does not sin, but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world is in the power of the evil one" (1Jn 5,18-19)...

Victory over the "prince of this world" (Jn 14,30) was won once for all at the Hour when Jesus freely gave himself up to death to give us his life. This is the judgment of this world, and the prince of this world is "cast out" (Jn 12,31). "He pursued the woman" but had no hold on her: the new Eve, "full of grace" of the Holy Spirit, is preserved from sin and the corruption of death... "Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring" (Rv 12,13.17). Therefore the Spirit and the Church pray: "Come, Lord Jesus," (Rv 22,17.20) since his coming will deliver us from the Evil One.

When we ask to be delivered from the Evil One, we pray as well to be freed from all evils, present, past, and future, of which he is the author or instigator. In this final petition, the Church brings before the Father all the distress of the world. Along with deliverance from the evils that overwhelm humanity, she implores the precious gift of peace and the grace of perseverance in expectation of Christ's return By praying in this way, she anticipates in humility of faith the gathering together of everyone and everything in him who has "the keys of Death and Hades," who "is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty" (Rv 1,18.8).


Tuesday, 11 January 2011

St. Theodosius, The Cenobiarch (423-529)



SAINT THEODOSIUS, THE CENOBIARCH
(423-529)
        Theodosius was born in Cappadocia in 423. The example of Abraham urged him to leave his country, and his desire to follow Jesus Christ attracted him to the religious life. He placed himself under Longinus, a very holy hermit, who sent him to govern a monastery near Bethlehem. Unable to bring himself to command others, he fled to a cavern, where he lived in penance and prayer. His great charity, however, forbade him to refuse the charge of some disciples, who, few at first, became in time a vast number, and Theodosius built a large monastery and three churches for them. He became eventually Superior of the religious communities of Palestine.
        Theodosius accommodated himself so carefully to the characters of his subjects that his reproofs were loved rather than dreaded. But once he was obliged to separate from the communion of the others a religious guilty of a grave fault. Instead of humbly accepting his sentence, the monk was arrogant enough to pretend to excommunicate Theodosius in revenge. Theodosius thought not of indignation, nor of his own position, but meekly submitted to this false and unjust excommunication. This so touched the heart of his disciple that he submitted at once and acknowledged his fault.
        Theodosius never refused assistance to any in poverty or affliction; on some days the monks laid more than a hundred tables for those in want. In times of famine Theodosius forbade the alms to be diminished, and often miraculously multiplied the provisions. He also built five hospitals, in which he lovingly served the sick, while by assiduous spiritual reading he maintained himself in perfect recollection.
        He successfully opposed the Eutychian heresy in Jerusalem, and for this was banished by the emperor. He suffered a long and painful malady, and refused to pray to be cured, calling it a salutary penance for his former successes.
        He died at the age of a hundred and six.


Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. ed. [1894]

domingo, 9 de enero de 2011

«Se ha cumplido el plazo... Venid conmigo»

EVANGELIO DEL DÍA: 10/01/2011
¿ Señor, a quién iremos?. Tú tienes palabras de vida eterna. Jn 6, 68


Lunes de la I Semana del Tiempo Ordinario


Carta a los Hebreos 1,1-6.
Después de haber hablado antiguamente a nuestros padres por medio de los Profetas, en muchas ocasiones y de diversas maneras,
ahora, en este tiempo final, Dios nos habló por medio de su Hijo, a quien constituyó heredero de todas las cosas y por quien hizo el mundo.
El es el resplandor de su gloria y la impronta de su ser. El sostiene el universo con su Palabra poderosa, y después de realizar la purificación de los pecados, se sentó a la derecha del trono de Dios en lo más alto del cielo.
Así llegó a ser tan superior a los ángeles, cuanto incomparablemente mayor que el de ellos es el Nombre que recibió en herencia.
¿Acaso dijo Dios alguna vez a un ángel: Tú eres mi Hijo, yo te he engendrado hoy? ¿Y de qué ángel dijo: Yo seré un padre para él y él será para mi un hijo?
Y al introducir a su Primogénito en el mundo, Dios dice: Que todos los ángeles de Dios lo adoren.

Salmo 97(96),1-2.6-7.9.
¡El Señor reina! Alégrese la tierra, regocíjense las islas incontables.
Nubes y Tinieblas lo rodean, la Justicia y el Derecho son la base de su trono.
Los cielos proclaman su justicia y todos los pueblos contemplan su gloria.
Se avergüenzan los que sirven a los ídolos, los que se glorían en dioses falsos; todos los dioses se postran ante él.
Porque tú, Señor, eres el Altísimo: estás por encima de toda la tierra, mucho más alto que todos los dioses.

Evangelio según San Marcos 1,14-20.
Después que Juan fue arrestado, Jesús se dirigió a Galilea. Allí proclamaba la Buena Noticia de Dios, diciendo:
"El tiempo se ha cumplido: el Reino de Dios está cerca. Conviértanse y crean en la Buena Noticia".
Mientras iba por la orilla del mar de Galilea, vio a Simón y a su hermano Andrés, que echaban las redes en el agua, porque eran pescadores.
Jesús les dijo: "Síganme, y yo los haré pescadores de hombres".
Inmediatamente, ellos dejaron sus redes y lo siguieron.
Y avanzando un poco, vio a Santiago, hijo de Zebedeo, y a su hermano Juan, que estaban también en su barca arreglando las redes. En seguida los llamó,
y ellos, dejando en la barca a su padre Zebedeo con los jornaleros, lo siguieron. 
Mc 1,14-20
Leer el comentario del Evangelio por 
Santa Teresa-Benedicta de la Cruz Edith Stein] (1891-1942), carmelita descalza, mártir, copatrona de Europa
El pesebre y la cruz
«Se ha cumplido el plazo... Venid conmigo»
     El niño del pesebre es Rey de reyes, el que reina sobre la vida y la muerte. Y dice: «Sígueme», y el que no está con él está contra él (Lc 11,23). Lo dice también por nosotros y nos pone ante la posibilidad de escoger entre la luz y las tinieblas. Desconocemos dónde nos quiere llevar el Niño divino en esta tierra, y no hemos de preguntárselo antes de que sea la hora. Todo lo que sabemos es que para los que aman al Señor todo concurre para su bien (Rm 8,28), y que los caminos trazados por el Señor nos conducen más allá de esta tierra.

     Tomando un cuerpo, el Creador del género humano nos ofrece su divinidad. Dios se ha hecho hombre para que los hombres llegáramos a ser hijos de Dios. «¡Oh admirable intercambio!». Es para esta obra que el Salvador ha venido al mundo. Uno de entre nosotros había roto el lazo de nuestra filiación de Dios; uno de entre nosotros debía atarlo de nuevo y expiar la falta. Ningún retoño del viejo tronco, enfermo y degenerado, hubiera podido hacerlo; era necesario que sobre este tronco se injertara una nueva planta, sana y noble. Y es así que llegó a ser uno de nosotros y al mismo tiempo más que eso: uno con nosotros. Esto es lo que hay de más maravilloso en el género humano: que todos seamos uno... Vino para formar con nosotros un cuerpo misterioso: él el Jefe, la cabeza, y nosotros sus miembros (Ef 5,23.30).

     Si aceptamos poner nuestras manos en las del Niño divino, si respondemos «Sí» a su «Sígueme», entonces somos suyos y el camino está libre para que pase a nosotros su vida divina. Este es el comienzo de la vida eterna en nosotros. No estamos aún en la visión beatífica en la luz de la gloria, estamos todavía en la oscuridad  de la fe; pero no es ya la oscuridad de este mundo –es estar ya en el Reino de Dios.


lunes 10 Enero 2011

Sor Ana de los Ángeles Monteagudo



Nació en Arequipa el 26 de julio de 1602, hija del español Sebastián Monteagudo de la Jara y  Francisca Ponce de León.

Conforme a costumbres de la época, Ana fue internada por sus padres en el monasterio de Santa Catalina. Vuelta al hogar por decisión de sus padres, no le satisfacieron los halagos del mundo ni las perspectivas de un ventajoso matrimonio. Deseaba hacerse religiosa y lo puso en práctica ante la indignada reacción de sus padres. Soportó con paciencia y ánimo invicto las contrariedades y emprendió la senda de la perfección.

En 1618 inicia el noviciado y añade a su nombre el apelativo "de los Ángeles". La aspereza de la vida conventual no la arredra. Vive con entusiasmo el ideal de Domingo de Guzmán y de Catalina de Siena. Con el tiempo llega a ser Maestra de novicias y Priora (1647). Acomete con energía la reforma del monasterio. Amonesta y corrige, anima y promueve.

Además de las profesas, habitaban por esa época en el monasterio cerca de 300 personas, no todas imbuidas del deseo de perfección. La obra de Ana de los Ángeles chocó con oposiciones tenaces. Sor Ana atendió asimismo, abnegada y heroicamente, a las víctimas de una peste que azotó Arequipa. Tuvo altísima oración, esmerada perfección en las virtudes propias de la vida religiosa, serenidad y paciencia en los sufrimientos. Falleció el 10 de enero de 1686.

Beatificada en Arequipa por Juan Pablo II en 1985.





Himno


Finísimo fue el lino con que ella fue tejiendo, a lo largo de su vida, esa historia de amor que la hace bella a los ojos de Dios y bendecida.

Supo trenzar con tino los amores del cielo y de la tierra, y santamente hizo altar del telar de sus labores, oración desgranada lentamente.

Flor virgen, florecida en amor santo, llenó el hogar de paz y joven vida, su dulce fortaleza fue su encanto, la fuerza de su amor, la fe vivida.

Una escuela de fe fue su regazo, todos fueron dichosos à su vera, su muerte en el Señor fue un tierno abrazo, su vida será eterna primavera. Amén



Calendario de fiestas marianasNuestra Señora de los Guías, Constantinopla (1570).

"This is the time of fulfillment... Come after me"

DAILY GOSPEL: 10/01/2011
«Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68


Monday of the First week in Ordinary Time


Letter to the Hebrews 1:1-6.
In times past, God spoke in partial and various ways to our ancestors through the prophets;
in these last days, he spoke to us through a son, whom he made heir of all things and through whom he created the universe,
who is the refulgence of his glory, the very imprint of his being, and who sustains all things by his mighty word. When he had accomplished purification from sins, he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
as far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say: "You are my son; this day I have begotten you"? Or again: "I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me"?
And again, when he leads the first-born into the world, he says: "Let all the angels of God worship him."

Psalms 97(96):1-2.6-7.9.
The LORD is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many islands be glad.
Cloud and darkness surround the Lord; justice and right are the foundation of his throne.
The heavens proclaim God's justice; all peoples see his glory.
All who serve idols are put to shame, who glory in worthless things; all gods bow down before you.
You, LORD, are the Most High over all the earth, exalted far above all gods.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 1:14-20.
After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God:
This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.
As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.
He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets.
Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him. 
Mc 1,14-20
Commentary of the day 
Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross [Edith Stein] (1891-1942), Carmelite, martyr, co-patron of Europe
The Mystery of Christmas (trans. Josephine Rucker, 1985)
"This is the time of fulfillment... Come after me"
The child in the crib is the King of kings and Lord of life and death. He utters his 'follow me' and whoever is not for him is against him (Lc 11,23). He also speaks for us and invites us to choose between light and darkness. Wherever that will lead us on this earth we do not know and should not ask beforehand. Only this do we know: that for those who love the Lord, all things work out for good (Rm 8,28). And in addition: that the paths which the Lord directs lead out beyond this earth.

«O wonderful exchange!» The Creator of mankind, by taking on a human body, imparts to us his divinity. I t is for this wondrous task that the Saviour came into this world. God became a Child of man so that the human race could become children of God. One of our race severed the bon~ of our divine adoption; one of us had to bind it up again and pay for the sin. No one from the ancient, sick and degenerate race could do it. A new, healthy and noble sprout had to be grafted. He became one of us; but even more than that: one with us. That is precisely the wonderful thing about the human race - that we are all one... He came to be a mysterious Body with us: he as head, we as members (Ep 5,23.30).

Let us place our hands in the hands of the divine Child; let us speak our 'yes' to his 'follow me'. Thus we shall be his and the path shall be open for his divine life to pass over upon us. It is still the darkness of faith, but it is no longer of this world: it is already a stance in the kingdom of God.


Monday, 10 January 2011

Bl. María Dolores Rodríguez Sopeña (1848-1918)



Blessed María Dolores Rodríguez Sopeña
(1848-1918)
        Dolores Rodríguez Sopeña was born in Velez Rubio, Almería, Spain, on December 30, 1848, the fourth of seven siblings. Her parents, Tomas Rodríguez Sopeña and Nicolasa Ortega Salomon, had moved from Madrid to Velez Rubio due to employment. Don Tomas had received his law degree at a young age, and because of this, could not work as a lawyer. He was able to find employment as an administrator of the Marqueses de Velez farms.
        She grew up in the Andalucía region where her father began to work as a magistrate, an even though he was transferred often, she defined this time of her life as a "lake of tranquility".
        In 1866, her father was named Judge of Almería. Dolores was 17, and was formally introduced to society, though she did not enjoy the parties or the social life. Her interest was in doing good for others. In Almería, she had her first apostolic experiences: she attended, materially and spiritually, to two sisters who had typhoid fever, and to a leper. She kept this hidden from her parents because she was afraid that they might forbid her from continuing her work. She also visited the poor of Saint Vicent de Paul with her mother. Three years later her father was sent to Puerto Rico. There he traveled with one of his sons while the rest of his family moved to Madrid. Dolores chose a spiritual advisor, and began teaching the Catholic doctrine to women in prison, in the Princess Hospital, and in the Sunday Schools.
        In 1872, the family reunited in Puerto Rico. Dolores was 23 years old and would remain in the Americas' until she was 28. She began her contact with the Jesuits and Father Goicoechea became her spiritual advisor. In Puerto Rico, she founded the Association of the Sodality of the Virgin Mary and the schools for the disadvantaged where she taught reading and writing, as well as catechism.
        In 1873, her father was named state attorney of Santiago de Cuba. These were difficult times, because a religious schism was raging on the island. Because of this, her actions were curtailed to visiting the sick in a military hospital. She requested admission into the Sister of Charity community but was not admitted due to her poor eye sight. At the age of 8, Dolores had an eye operation and this disability remained with her the rest of her life.
        At the conclusion of the schism, she began working in the poor neighborhoods and founded the "Centers of Instruction". There she taught catechism, general instruction, and provided medical assistance to those in need. For these efforts she was able to get much assistance and was able to establish the centers in three different neighborhoods.
        Her mother died in Cuba, and her father requested his retirement. The family returned to Madrid in 1877. In Madrid she organized her life on three fronts: her home and the care of her father, her apostolic work (the same work she did before leaving Spain) and her spiritual life (she chose a spiritual advisor and annually participated in Saint Ignatius Spiritual Retreat). In 1883 her father died, and once again she began to struggle with her vocation.
        At the advice of her spiritual advisor, Father López Soldado, S.I., she entered the convent of the Salesians, even though she had never thought of devoting her whole life to contemplation. After 10 days she left the convent as she came to the realization that this was not her vocation. She then began to give all of her attention to her apostolic work.
        In 1885, Dolores opened a center similar to modern social work centers. There, the poor and the needy were able to take their issues and concerns were addressed and resolved. During one of her visits, to one of the women prisoners that had just being released, she gets to know the neighborhood of the Injurias.
        When she saw the moral, material and spiritual condition of the people, she began visiting this neighborhood every week and invited many of her friends to help her with her work. There she began the organization "Works of the Doctrines", later named "Center for the Workers".
        In 1892, at the suggestion of the Bishop of Madrid, D. Ciríaco Sancha, she founded the Association of the Apostolic Laymen (which today is known as the Sopeña Lay Movement). The following year she received approval from the government which allowed her to expand her work to 8 neighborhoods of Madrid.
In 1896 she began her activities outside Madrid. In 4 years she took 199 trips all over Spain to establish and consolidate the "Works of the Doctrines". At the same time she accompanied Father Tarin to Andalucía to help in the missions.
        In 1900, Dolores participated in a pilgrimage to Rome for the celebration of the Holy Year. There she took part in a retreat at the Saint Peter's tomb and received approval to establish a Religious Institute that would provide continuation of her "Work of Doctrines" and help to sustain spiritually the Sopeña Lay Movement. Cardinal Sancha, then Archbishop of Toledo, proposed founding it there.
        The "Ladies of Catechistical Institute" was founded On September 24, 1901. Dolores with 8 companions had just participated in Spiritual Exercises, in Loyola, where St. Ignatius was born and in the city of Toledo, on October 31 they started living as a religious community.
        One of the greatest inspirations that Dolores had was to establish at the same time, the Civil Association which today is known as OSCUS or Social & Cultural Work Sopeña. In 1902 the Association was officially recognized by the Spanish government.
        In 1905, the Institute received from the Holy See the Degree of Praise. Two years later, on November 21, 1907, Dolores received the approval directly from Pope Pius X. Today the Institute is known as the "Sopeña Catechetical Institute".
        During these years, her "Works of the Doctrines" were slowly changed to Centers for Workers' Instruction. These occurred because many of the workers that participated in the Centers were influenced by the anti-cleric sentiments and the instruction could not be called religious out right. The anti clerical sentiment was an important facet in the decision for the religious community of this Institute not to wear a 'habit' and did not to wear any outward sign of religion. These changes were made with the end result in mind: to get close to the workers who were "alienated from the church", that had been unable to receive any cultural, moral or religious instruction and to unite those socially distant.
        One of the main objectives of the centers were to bring people together to give them an opportunity to learn from each other. These encounters would result in mutual respect and a desire to help each other.
        Her deep faith, rich in spirituality was the reason for her commitment to the service to others. Her commitment to the dignity of people was born through her experience that God the Father of all, who loves us with infinite tenderness and who wishes for us to live as sons and brothers and sisters, was the driving force behind all that she did. From there, she had a great desire to "Make of all, one family in Christ Jesus". Her total immersion in Christ allowed her to see Him in everything and feel Him in everyone, especially in those that were in the most need of dignity and love.
        Towards the end of the 19th century, it was inconceivable to find a woman, who would go out to work in the poor neighborhood. The secret of her fearlessness was her deep faith, her confidence without limit. She recognized this as her greatest treasure, and it made her feel that she had become the instrument of God's work, the instrument of love, hope, dignity, and justice.
        In a few years, she was able to established communities and centers in industrialized cities. In 1910 the community celebrated the first General Chapter and Dolores was reelected Superior General. In 1914 she founded a community in Rome and in 1917 opened their first house in the Americas.
        The following year, on January 10, 1918, Dolores Sopeña died in Madrid. Talk had already began of her being a saint.
        On July 11, 1992, John Paul II declared Dolores' life work heroic and on April 23, 2002 he certified the miracle attributed to Dolores Sopeña which advanced her to beatification status.
        Currently the Sopeña Family which encompasses the three institutions founded by Dolores Sopeña are: the Sopeña Catechetical Institute, The Sopeña Lay Movement and the Sopeña Social and Cultural Work, can be found in Spain, Italy, Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

sábado, 8 de enero de 2011

«En él he puesto todo mi amor»

EVANGELIO DEL DÍA: 09/01/2011
¿ Señor, a quién iremos?. Tú tienes palabras de vida eterna. Jn 6, 68


El Bautismo del Señor – Fiesta A


Libro de Isaías 42,1-4.6-7.
Este es mi Servidor, a quien yo sostengo, mi elegido, en quien se complace mi alma. Yo he puesto mi espíritu sobre él para que lleve el derecho a las naciones.
El no gritará, no levantará la voz ni la hará resonar por las calles.
No romperá la caña quebrada ni apagará la mecha que arde débilmente. Expondrá el derecho con fidelidad;
no desfallecerá ni se desalentará hasta implantar el derecho en la tierra, y las costas lejanas esperarán su Ley.
Yo, el Señor, te llamé en la justicia, te sostuve de la mano, te formé y te destiné a ser la alianza del pueblo, la luz de las naciones,
para abrir los ojos de los ciegos, para hacer salir de la prisión a los cautivos y de la cárcel a los que habitan en las tinieblas.

Salmo 29(28),1-2.3-4.9-10.
Salmo de David. ¡Aclamen al Señor, hijos de Dios! aclamen al gloria y el poder del Señor!
¡Aclamen la gloria del nombre del Señor, adórenlo al manifestarse su santidad!
¡La voz del Señor sobre las aguas! El Dios de la gloria hace oír su trueno: el Señor está sobre las aguas torrenciales.
¡La voz del Señor es potente, la voz del Señor es majestuosa!
La voz del Señor retuerce las encinas, el Señor arrasa las selvas. En su Templo, todos dicen: "¡Gloria!".
El Señor tiene su trono sobre las aguas celestiales, el Señor se sienta en su trono de Rey eterno.

Libro de los Hechos de los Apóstoles 10,34-38.
Entonces Pedro, tomando la palabra, dijo: "Verdaderamente, comprendo que Dios no hace acepción de personas,
y que en cualquier nación, todo el que lo teme y practica la justicia es agradable a él.
El envió su Palabra a los israelitas, anunciándoles la Buena Noticia de la paz por medio de Jesucristo, que es el Señor de todos.
Ustedes ya saben qué ha ocurrido en toda Judea, comenzando por Galilea, después del bautismo que predicaba Juan:
cómo Dios ungió a Jesús de Nazaret con el Espíritu Santo, llenándolo de poder. El pasó haciendo el bien y curando a todos los que habían caído en poder del demonio, porque Dios estaba con él.

Evangelio según San Mateo 3,13-17.
Entonces Jesús fue desde Galilea hasta el Jordán y se presentó a Juan para ser bautizado por él.
Juan se resistía, diciéndole: "Soy yo el que tiene necesidad de ser bautizado por ti, ¡y eres tú el que viene a mi encuentro!".
Pero Jesús le respondió: "Ahora déjame hacer esto, porque conviene que así cumplamos todo lo que es justo". Y Juan se lo permitió.
Apenas fue bautizado, Jesús salió del agua. En ese momento se abrieron los cielos, y vio al Espíritu de Dios descender como una paloma y dirigirse hacia él.
Y se oyó una voz del cielo que decía: "Este es mi Hijo muy querido, en quien tengo puesta toda mi predilección". 
Mt 3,13-17
Leer el comentario del Evangelio por 
Homilía atribuida a san Hipólito de Roma (?-hacia 235)
Homilía del siglo IV para la Epifanía, la santa Teofanía; PG 10, 852
«En él he puesto todo mi amor»
     Cristo, creador de todas las cosas descendió como lluvia, se dio a conocer como fuente, se derramó como río (Os 6,3; Jn 4,14; 7,38) y lo vemos bautizado en el Jordán... La Fuente inasequible, que hace brotar la vida para todos los hombres y que no tiene fin, fue escondido por unas pobres y efímeras aguas. Aquel que está presente en todo, que de ninguna parte está ausente, que es inasequible a los ángeles e invisible a los hombres, viene al bautismo por su propia voluntad...

     «Se abrió el cielo y vio que el Espíritu de Dios bajaba como una paloma y se posaba sobre él. Y vino una voz del cielo que decía: 'Este es mi Hijo, el amado, mi predilecto'.» El Hijo amado engendra amor, y la luz inmaterial engendra «la luz inaccesible» (1Tm 6,16). «Este es mi Hijo amado»... En el arca de Noé la paloma manifestó el amor de Dios para con los hombres (Gn 8,11). Ahora el Espíritu desciende bajo la apariencia de paloma, como la que trajo un ramo de olivo, se posa encima de aquel de quien da testimonio. ¿Por qué? Para que se comprenda con toda certeza que es la voz del Padre...: «La voz del Señor sobre las aguas, el Dios de la gloria ha tronado, el Señor sobre las aguas torrenciales» (Sl 28,3) ¿Qué dice esta voz? «Este es mi Hijo, el amado, mi predilecto. En él he puesto todo mi amor». Es aquel a quien llaman hijo de José, y es mi Hijo único según el ser divino. «Este es mi Hijo, el amado, mi predilecto»: tiene hambre y alimenta a innumerables multitudes, sufre y alivia a los que sufren. No tiene donde reclinar la cabeza y todo lo lleva en su mano, sufre y cura los sufrimientos. Le golpean, mas concede al mundo la libertad; le traspasan el costado mas repara el costado de Adán. 

                    

domingo 09 Enero 2011

San Eulogio de Córdoba



Nació en Córdoba y se le considera el gran Doctor de la Iglesia mozárabe. Muy difícil era la situación de la comunidad cristiana española, sometida al Islam, pero siempre encontró consuelo y aliento en los escritos y en el ejemplo de San Eulogio. Su figura la conocemos bien por sus escritos y por la biografía que escribió su amigo Álvaro Paulo.

Recibió educación cristiana en su familia, y luego fue confiado al piadoso y sabio abad Esperaindeo, que gobernaba el monasterio dé Santa Clara, cerca de Córdoba. «Si quieres que tu oración vuele hacia Dios, le dice su abad, ponle dos alas: el ayuno y la limosna». A los 25 años, Eulogio es ya un destacado sacerdote de la iglesia de San Zoilo.

En el monasterio de Santa Clara tuvo un condiscípulo, Álvaro Paulo. Con él estrechó una amistad que duraría hasta la muerte. «Todas sus obras, escribe Álvaro, estaban llenas de luz. De su bondad, de su humildad y de su caridad podía dar testimonio el amor que todos le tenían. Su afán de cada día era acercarse más y más al cielo, y gemía sin cesar por el peso de la carga de su cuerpo».

Intentó Eulogio peregrinar a Roma. Era un empeño muy difícil y lograron disuadirlo. Poco después emprende otro viaje. Quiere conocer el paradero de dos de sus hermanos dedicados al comercio por tierras del Rin. No puede conseguirlo, pues las guerras que había a ambos lados del Pirineo le cortan el paso.

Estando en Zaragoza recibe noticias tranquilizadoras de sus hermanos. Entonces se dedica a otra tarea muy importante y providencial: recoger en Leyre, Siresa y otros monasterios de Navarra y Aragón preciosos manuscritos de la antigüedad, que se llevó como botín a Córdoba, y sirven para conservar y restaurar la cultura cristiana. Entre los documentos recogidos los había de Horacio, Virgilio y San Agustín.

Una vez en Córdoba y convertido ya en jefe del grupo de sacerdotes de San Zoilo, por su santidad y su sabiduría, se dedica a rezar y a escribir, a instruir y alentar a los cristianos, acosados y perseguidos por el Islam, si no abandonaban el cristianismo. Su actividad era tan intensa como su entusiasmo e intrepidez.

Es ahora cuando escribe sus obras principales: el Memorial de los Mártires, para ejemplo dé los más débiles, el Documento Martirial, para sostener el ánimo de dos vírgenes cristianas, Flora y María, encerradas en un calabozo, y el Apologético, para defender la fe cristiana. Tal había llegado a ser la fama de Eulogio, que en el año 858, al morir el arzobispo de Toledo, el clero y los fieles de la sede primada lo eligieron para sucederle, aunque no pudo llegar a su sede.

Eulogio molestaba a los visires y al cadí por su incansable actividad y su proselitismo, y es también metido en la cárcel. Tenían además contra él que había acogido e instruido a la joven Lucrecia, cristiana acusada de apostasía, por ser hija de musulmán. Un juez amigo pide a Eulogio que disimule en el juicio para librarle de la muerte. Eulogio le contesta con palabras ardientes propias de un soldado de Cristo, e insta a sus jueces a que adoren a Jesucristo, único Dios verdadero.

Estas palabras exacerban más al tribunal. El 11 de marzo del año 859, cuenta su biógrafo, fue decapitado. Lucrecia le seguía pocos días después. Los sagrados restos fueron sepultados en la iglesia de San Zoilo. En el año 883 fueron trasladados de Córdoba a Oviedo. Su urna se conserva todavía en la Cámara Santa de esta ciudad.




Oremoshttp://www.divvol.org/santoral/img/fructuoso01.jpg


Proclamamos, Señor, tu poder y humildemente te pedimos que, así como concediste a San Eulogio de Córdoba ser fiel imitador dela pasión de Cristo, así nos otorgues a nosotros que la fortaleza que manifestó en su martirio sea sostén de nuestra debilidad. Por nuestro Señor Jesucristo.

Calendario de fiestas marianasNuestra Señora de la Clemencia o la Misericordia de Absam, cerca de Innsbruck,  Austria (1797).

"With him I am well pleased"

DAILY GOSPEL: 09/01/2010
«Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.» John 6,68


The Baptism of the Lord - Feast

Book of Isaiah 42:1-4.6-7.
Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, Upon whom I have put my Spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations,
Not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street.
A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,
Until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching.
I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations,
To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.

Psalms 29(28):1-2.3-4.9-10.
A psalm of David. Give to the LORD, you heavenly beings, give to the LORD glory and might;
Give to the LORD the glory due God's name. Bow down before the LORD'S holy splendor!
The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over the mighty waters.
The voice of the LORD is power; the voice of the LORD is splendor.
The voice of the LORD twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. All in his palace say, "Glory!"
The LORD sits enthroned above the flood! The LORD reigns as king forever!

Acts of the Apostles 10:34-38.
Peter proceeded to speak and said:
Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.
You know the word (that) he sent to the Israelites as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all,
what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached,
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 3:13-17.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.
John tried to prevent him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?"
Jesus said to him in reply, "Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed him.
After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened (for him), and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove (and) coming upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
Mt 3,13-17
Commentary of the day 
A sermon attributed to Saint Hippolytus of Rome (?-c.235), priest and martyr
4th century homily for the Epiphany, the Holy Theophany ; PG 10, 852
"With him I am well pleased"
Christ, the creator of all things, descended like the rain, made himself known as a spring, poured himself out like a river (Hos 6,3; Jn 4,14; 7,38) and yet see him being baptized in the Jordan... That unquenchable Spring, which causes life to spring up for all mankind and has no end, was concealed beneath mere transient waters. He who is everywhere present, who is nowhere absent, he whom the angels cannot grasp and who is invisible to mortals, came by his own will to be baptized...

«And behold the heavens opened and a voice said: 'This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased'.» The Beloved one brings forth love and the immaterial light brings forth «inaccessible light» (1Tm 6,16). «This is my beloved Son»... As in Noah's ark a dove revealed God's love for the human race, so now it was in the form of a dove, as though with an olive branch in its beak, that the Spirit descended and rested on him to whom the Father would bear witness. He did so to make sure that the Father's voice would be recognized...: «The Lord's voice resounded over the waters. The God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders across many waters» (Ps 29[28],3). And what does he say? «This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.»... This is he who is called 'son of Joseph' and he is my only Son according to his divine being. «This is my beloved Son»: he is hungry but he feeds great crowds, he is weary but he comforts the weary. He has nowhere to lay his head but he bears all things in his hand; he suffers but he heals suffering. He is struck yet he grants liberty to the world; his side is wounded yet he restores Adam's side.


Sunday, 09 January 2011

Sts. Julian and Basilissa, Martyrs († c. 313)


Sts. JULIAN and BASILISSA
Martyrs
(† c. 313)
        St. Julian and St. Basilissa, though married, lived, by mutual consent, in perpetual chastity; they sanctified themselves by the most perfect exercises of an ascetic life, and employed their revenues in relieving the poor and the sick. For this purpose they converted their house into a kind of hospital, in which they sometimes entertained a thousand poor people. Basilissa attended those of her sex, in separate lodgings from the men; these were taken care of by Julian, who from his charity is named the Hospitalarian. Egypt, where they lived, had then begun to abound with examples of persons who, either in the cities or in the deserts, devoted themselves to the most perfect exercises of charity, penance, and mortification.
        Basilissa, after having stood seven persecutions, died in peace; Julian survived her many years and received the crown of a glorious martyrdom, together with Celsus, a youth, Antony, a priest, Anastasius, and Marcianilla, the mother of Celsus.
        Many churches and hospitals in the East, and especially in the West, bear the name of one or other of these martyrs. Four churches at Rome, and three out of five at Paris, which bear the name of St. Julian, were originally dedicated under the name of St. Julian, the Hospitalarian and martyr.
        In the time of St. Gregory the Great, the skull of St. Julian was brought out of the East into France, and given to Queen Brunehault; she gave it to the nunnery which she founded at Étampes; part of it is at present in the monastery of Morigny, near Étampes, and part in the church of the regular canonesses of St. Basilissa at Paris.