From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
January 13th - St. Hilary of Poiters
(A.D. 368)
Today, January 13, marks the memorial of Saint Hilary of Poiters ,
Church bishop and doctor. Known as a staunch defender of the faith,
Saint Hilary suffered persecution and exile for asserting the truth of
the divinity of Jesus. At that time, the early church was undergoing
attack from outside, but also from within in the form of heresy. Even
church leaders asserted mistruths about the faith in efforts to
justify allegiances to powerful governments or lapses in their own
lives. Saint Hilary orthodoxy and public defense of the faith led to
exile on the coast of then, Phyrgia (now Turkey). While in exile he
penned a 12 volume set of books devoted to exploration of the divinity
of Christ and the Holy Trinity.
Throughout his life, in the midst of strife, Saint Hilary fought to
speak and write the truth. He facilitated meetings and discussions
amongst the various rifts in the church at the time, counseling
patience and understanding, while never compromising the tenets of the
faith. A favorite motto of St. Hilary was, Ministros veritatis decet
vera proferre, "Servants of the truth ought speak the truth."
Speaking the truth is rarely easy when it comes to our Christian
beliefs. Many would choose not to hear it, which oftentimes makes us reluctant=E2=80=94whether we are afraid of argument, condemnation, mockery,=
or
just seeming foolish. How often do we discount, deny, or modify the
truth of Christ to be more accepted in today=E2=80=99s society? Saint Hilar=
y
stands as an example to us=E2=80=94he lost his home, his family (he was bis= hop
prior to church doctrine on celibacy of priests and bishops), his
freedom because he refused to back down from preaching the truth of
the Gospel. Today, I continue to pray for those who are fearful and
afraid, as well as the courage to be truthful.
Saint Quote:
Without fail, [the vice of sodomy] brings death to the body and
destruction to the soul. It pollutes the flesh, extinguishes the light
of the mind, expels the Holy Spirit from the temple of the human
heart, and gives entrance to the devil, the stimulator of lust.
--Saint Peter Damian
Bible Quote:
When Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of
king Herod, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.
Saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen
his star in the east, and are come to adore him. (Matthew 2:1-2) DRB
<><><><>
=E2=80=9CMy soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit rejoice=
s
in God my savior.=E2=80=9D With these words Mary first acknowledges the
special gifts she has been given. Above all other saints, she alone
could truly rejoice in Jesus, her savior, for she knew that he who was
the source of eternal salvation would be born in time in her body, in
one person both her own son and her Lord. =E2=80=9CFor the Almighty has don=
e
great things for me, and holy is his name.=E2=80=9D Mary attributes nothing=
to
her own merits. She refers all her greatness to the gift of one whose
essence is power and whose nature is greatness, for he fills with
greatness and strength the small and the weak who believe in him.
=E2=80=93 Saint Bede the Venerable from a homily
Saint Bede the Venerable's patronage:lectors; English writers;
historians; and Jarrow, England.
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