FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   699   700   701   702   703   704   705   706   707   708   709   710   711   712   713   714   715   716   717   718   719   720   721   722   723  
724   725   726   727   728   729   730   731   732   733   734   735   736   737   738   739   740   741   742   743   744   745   746   747   748   >>   >|  
other mysteries, challenges our most profound homages and constant devotion. In it hath God displayed, in the most incomprehensible manner, the astonishing immensity of his power, mercy, wisdom, and love, the contemplation of which will be the sweet occupation of angels and saints to all eternity. The servants of God on earth find their greatest delight in meditating on this great mystery, and in profound adoration and transports of love, honoring, praising, and glorifying their divine Saviour, and studying to put on his spirit by the constant union in mind and heart, or of their thoughts and affections, with him. Is it possible that we who believe in this God, who annihilated himself, and died for us most miserable and ungrateful sinners, should not die of love for him? At least, how is it possible we should not always have him present to our minds, and prostrate ourselves at his feet a thousand times a day to return him our most humble thanks, and to pay him the homages of our adoration, love, and praise? The more he is insulted in this mystery of goodness itself, by the blasphemies of unbelievers and heretics, the greater ought to be our zeal and fervor in honoring it. But as the incarnation is the mystery of the unfathomed humility of a God to heal the wound of our pride, it is only by humility, and the annihilation of creatures in our hearts, that we can be disposed to contemplate or honor it with fruit. The dreadful fall and impenitence of Eutyches, after he had renounced the world with a view to give himself to God, were owing to the fatal sin of a secret pride. Footnotes: 1. Evag. l. xi. c. 11. 2. Conc. Calced. act. 4. SS. THEODULUS AND JULIAN, MM. THEY suffered at Caesarea, in Palestine, at the same time with those mentioned yesterday, but are named on this day in the Roman Martyrology. Theodulus was an old man of eminent virtue and wisdom, who enjoyed one of the most honorable posts in the household of Firmilian, the governor of Palestine, and had several sons. His personal merit gained him the love of all that knew him, and the governor had a particular esteem for him. This holy man had seen the invincible courage and patience of the five Egyptian martyrs at Caesarea, and, going to the prisons, made use of their example to encourage the other confessors, and prepare them for the like battles. Firmilian, vexed at this conduct of an old favorite servant, sent for him, reproached him strongly with ingrat
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   699   700   701   702   703   704   705   706   707   708   709   710   711   712   713   714   715   716   717   718   719   720   721   722   723  
724   725   726   727   728   729   730   731   732   733   734   735   736   737   738   739   740   741   742   743   744   745   746   747   748   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

mystery

 

profound

 

honoring

 

governor

 

Firmilian

 

Caesarea

 

adoration

 
Palestine
 
wisdom
 
humility

homages

 

constant

 

suffered

 

yesterday

 

mentioned

 

ingrat

 

secret

 

Footnotes

 
Eutyches
 

renounced


THEODULUS

 

JULIAN

 

Calced

 
prisons
 

martyrs

 

Egyptian

 

invincible

 

courage

 
patience
 

encourage


conduct

 

servant

 

battles

 

confessors

 
prepare
 
reproached
 

enjoyed

 

favorite

 

honorable

 

strongly


virtue

 

Martyrology

 

Theodulus

 

eminent

 
impenitence
 

household

 

esteem

 

gained

 
personal
 

greater