• November 23rd - Bl. Miguel Agustin Pro

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Mon Nov 23 09:05:35 2020
    From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

    November 23rd - Bl. Miguel Agustin Pro
    By Father Shannon M. Collins, CPM

    St. Francis of Assisi could be described in many ways--a simple and
    poor friar--a preacher in word and example--a stigmatist--a lover of
    God's creation or the founder of the largest religious family in the
    history of the Church. But St. Francis of Assisi is best described as
    the herald of the Great King, Christ Jesus. He is first and foremost a
    knight of his Lord and Master. Yes, he is best described as a most
    loyal subject that has sworn complete allegiance to Christ the King
    and to His Kingdom, the Holy Roman Catholic Church. And if Francis
    knew any Spanish in addition to his native Italian and beloved French,
    he would cry out Viva Christo Rey. St. Francis becomes for us, in
    fact, the perfect example of the restoration of fallen man. He is a
    true model of how to end the rebellion in all of us and to become a
    subject in the Empire of Christ. Francis shows us how to correct the
    errors of that sinful revolution that sinful rebellion that began in
    the Garden of Eden at the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. But
    if Francis were to walk the earth today, he would be considered
    rebellious, even revolutionary for he would be going against the
    secular tide. St. Francis would be a mutineer in that he would want to overthrow--peacefully of course--the present order of things. He would
    be considered a rebel in that Francis would wish to cast down the
    mighty secular powers from their thrones, so that Christ's Kingship
    might be recognized by all. And yes, he would be considered a
    revolutionary in his utter obedience and subjection to Christ and His
    Kingdom, while many others continue to deny Christ's Kingship while
    serving worldly kingdoms.

    The modern world has been especially revolutionary toppling kings from
    their thrones and smashing altars. In the year 1917, for example, the Bolsheviks, the Communist revolutionaries in Russia overthrew and
    assassinated the Czar and his royal family. But months before this
    tragedy, a revolution occurred in Mexico. Yes, the 1917 revolution in
    Mexico established the world's first socialist constitution and Holy
    Mother Church suffered greatly. Authorities demolished, desecrated,
    and seized Catholic Churches and religious houses. In a satanic
    rebellion, revolutionaries destroyed sacred vessels, sacramentals, and
    sacred works of art. Priests, religious, and Catholic laity were
    persecuted and killed. In the Mexican province of Tobasco things were especially difficult. The socialist governor of Tobasco named his
    children Lenin, Satan, and Lucifer. He destroyed all churches, forced
    priests to marry, and persecuted any true Christian. Some sought to
    rise up in a bloody counter-revolution. Catholic men seeking to
    protect the Catholic Church and restore her altars took up arms and
    called themselves the Cristeros. But the hierarchy of the Church both
    in Mexico and Rome did not give their support to this violent
    solution. No, the Church which survived Nero and Caligula, the Church
    that survived Frederick Barbarossa, the Church that survived Luther,
    Henry VIII, and Elizabeth, the Church that survived Hitler and Stalin,
    knows that only the blood of martyrs brings peace and an end to
    rebellion. As one Mexican bishop put it, We cannot be responsible
    before God and man for bloodshed. Better that we should die, and that
    out of the martyrs' blood should come new growth. One such martyr was
    the Jesuit priest, Fr. Miguel Pro.

    Born in Guadalupe in the year 1891, Bl. Miguel Pro was more than a
    little rebellious as a youngster. While only a toddler, Miguel managed
    to escape the watchful eye of his nursemaid and crawl out onto a
    window ledge some three stories above a busy street. His horrified
    mother found and rescued him, Another time, when he was a teenager, he
    took a cassock from a Jesuit priest and went out to the neighborhoods
    preaching his own mission. Accepted as a priest by the simple country
    folk, Miguel collected all sorts of gifts, including cigarettes, eggs,
    and cheese. But eventually this practical joker would enter the
    Society of Jesus for real, although he would have to be both educated
    and ordained outside of Mexico because of the persecution connected
    with the Socialist Revolution. After ordination, Fr. Miguel was sent
    back to his beloved Mexico in 1926. Within a month of his arrival
    home, the socialist government suppressed all public worship and any
    priest found would be subject to arrest and prosecution.

    As a result of this difficulty, Fr. Miguel Pro adopted a number of
    disguises so that he could continue to serve the Catholic faithful. He
    once dressed as a mechanic and gave a religious talk to a group of
    chauffeurs. During one narrow escape from his pursuers, Fr. Miguel
    spied a beautiful young girl and linked arms with her whispering, Help
    me, I'm a priest. The girl reacted well and the two pretended to be a
    couple on a date. This good priest raced back and forth on a bicycle
    throughout the city administering Baptism, Holy Communion, and Last
    Rites, and heard many confessions. He also acted as true priest taking
    up a collection from those with funds and giving material help to the
    poor. Just previous to his martyrdom, Fr.Miguel was offering Holy Mass
    at a convent. He revealed to the Mother Superior his thoughts: I
    offered my life for the saving of Mexico some time ago, Sister, and
    this morning at Mass I felt that He had accepted it.

    Fr. Miguel Augustin Pro and two of his brothers would soon be arrested
    and falsely charged with the attempted assassination of the newly
    elected socialist president of Mexico. The young priest received no
    trial. On his way to face the firing squad, the police officer that
    had caught the saintly priest begged forgiveness. Fr. Miguel put his
    arms around the officer saying: You have not only my forgiveness but
    my thanks. After praying for a full two minutes, Fr. Miguel stood with
    his arms stretched out in the form of a cross. In a firm and clear
    voice he shouted, Viva Cristo Rey--Long Live Christ the King. The
    firing squad did not kill the courageous priest--though mortally
    wounded he stilled breathed. A general walked over to him and fired
    his revolver into the head of the martyr. Thinking that this execution
    would place fear in the hearts of the Catholic population, President
    Calles had photographers and reporters cover all the gruesome details.
    His plan backfired, however, as the people grew more faithful, more
    Catholic. In fact, soon the government forbid anyone to have
    possession of the photographs of the martyrdom.

    The rebellion of modern man continues and as a result violence and
    injustice continue in this world. Come, let us break their fetters,
    come, let us cast off their yoke. Seeking to overthrow God's
    established order--plotting against the Lord, His Christ, and the
    Catholic Church--has proved disastrous. As Pius XI wrote in the
    encyclical Quas Primas--on Christ's Kingship--the manifold evils in
    the world are due to the fact that the majority of men have thrust
    Jesus Christ and His Holy Law out of their lives ...and as long as
    individuals and States refuse to submit to the rule of our Savior,
    there will be no hope for lasting peace. The only hope for the reign
    of peace and righteousness is to recognize Christ's reign in our
    hearts and to restore the Empire of Christ in our families--our
    cities--our nation--and yes in the universe--that all men may cry out
    with one accord--Viva Cristo Rey--Long Live Christ the King.


    Saint Quote:
    My Lord and my God, take from me everything that distances me from
    you. My Lord and my God, give me everything that brings me closer to
    you. My Lord and my God, detach me from myself to give my all to you.
    --St. Nicholas of Fl=C3=BCe

    Bible Quote:
    And eating together with them, he commanded them, that they should not
    depart from Jerusalem, but should wait for the promise of the Father,
    which you have heard (saith he) by my mouth. For John indeed baptized
    with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, not many
    days hence. =C2 (Acts 1:4-5)


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    Prayer of the Church
    "God our Father, You gave your servant Miguel Agustin the grace to
    seek ardently Your greater glory and the salvation of Your people.
    Grant that, through his intercession and following his example, we may
    serve You and glorify You by performing our daily duties with fidelity
    and joy and effectively helping our neighbor" (Collect).

    --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
    * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)