SAINT OF THE DAY -- May 18 - Saint John I
May 18
St. John I(d. 526)
'God is gracious'
Pope John I inherited the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of
Christ. Italy had been ruled for 30 years by an emperor who espoused
the heresy, though he treated the empire’s Catholics with toleration.
His policy changed at about the time the young John was elected pope.
When
the eastern emperor began imposing severe measures on the Arians of his
area, the western emperor forced John to head a delegation to the East
to soften the measures against the heretics. Little is known of the
manner or outcome of the negotiations—designed to secure continued
toleration of Catholics in the West.
When John returned to Rome, he found that the emperor had begun to suspect his friendship with his eastern rival.
On
his way home, John was imprisoned when he reached Ravenna because the
emperor suspected a conspiracy against his throne. Shortly after his
imprisonment, John died, apparently from the treatment he had received.
Comment:
We
cannot choose the issues for which we have to suffer and perhaps die.
John I suffered because of a power-conscious emperor. Jesus suffered
because of the suspicions of those who were threatened by his freedom,
openness and powerlessness. “If you find that the world hates you, know
it has hated me before you.”
Quote:“Martyrdom
makes disciples like their Master, who willingly accepted death for the
salvation of the world, and through it they are made like him by the
shedding of blood. Therefore, the Church considers it the highest gift
and supreme test of love. And while it is given to few, all however
must be prepared to confess Christ before humanity and to follow him
along the way of the cross amid the persecutions which the Church never
lacks” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 42, Austin Flannery translation).
Source: American Catholic Organization
Many great miracles have been associated with
the Rosary throughout history. The tremendous power of the Rosary can
overcome any problem, be it small or large, personal or worldwide.
Miracles continue to the present day.
The Rosary is a powerful prayer!
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Learn to pray the Rosary--The Joyful Mysteries
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If you are a victim of domestic or sexual violence, please know that my husband and I pray for you every single night.
If you need immediate assistance, dial 911.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline:
1-800-799-SAFE OR (1-800-799-7233)
SIGNS OF AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP
Do you:
feel afraid of your partner much of the time?
avoid certain topics fear of angering your partner?
feel that you can’t do anything right for your partner?
believe that you deserve to be hurt or mistreated?
wonder if you’re the one who is crazy?
feel emotionally numb or helpless?
Does your partner:
- humiliate, criticize, or yell at you?
- treat you so badly that you’re embarrassed for your friends or family to see?
- ignore or put down your opinions or accomplishments?
- blame you for his own abusive behavior?
- see you as property or a sex object, rather than as a person?
Does your partner:
have a bad and unpredictable temper?
hurt you, or threaten to hurt or kill you?
threaten to take your children away or harm them?
threaten to commit suicide if you leave?
force you to have sex?
destroy your belongings?
Does your partner:
- act excessively jealous and possessive?
- control where you go or what you do?
- keep you from seeing your friends or family?
- limit your access to money, the phone, or the car?
- constantly check up on you?