Subj : May 3rd - St. Philip and St. James The Less To : All From : rich Date : Fri May 01 2020 10:29:42 From: rich May 3rd - St. Philip and St. James The Less, Apostles by Father Prosper Gueranger 1870 Practical Considerations I. As soon as Philip had come to the knowledge that Christ was the true Messiah, he endeavored to bring others to Him and make them also acquainted with His word. Have you, at any time during your life, brought any one to Christ, or to the knowledge of His word and to His love? Or, have you not on the contrary, led many a one to Satan and persuaded him to serve the Evil One. The first took place when you, by your good example or kind words, converted any one to the true faith, or moved him to repentance, or confession, or to hear holy Mass, and the word of God, or to have patience under adversity, or to any other Christian virtue. The second happened when you, by word or deed, enticed others to evil, or confirmed them in evil doing. If you have been guilty of the last, oh, repent, as long as you live, of the wickedness that you have caused, and leave nothing untried to bring the soul, which you delivered to Satan, back to Christ. Should it, however, be too late, endeavor earnestly to lead other souls to Christ by your pious life, devout conversation, and fervent prayer. You can do nothing more pleasing to God, nothing of greater service to yourself and your neighbor. "If any of you err from the truth, and one convert him, he must know that he who causeth a sinner to be converted from the error of his way shall save his soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins" (James vi.). Thus speaks St. James. But what says the Eternal Truth of those who prevent others from the knowledge of Christ and try to strengthen them in their errors as did the Pharisees? "But woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites: because you shut the kingdom of heaven against men: for you yourselves do not enter in, and those that are going in, you suffer not to enter" (Matt, xxiii.). A still greater woe awaits those who lead others away from Christ and heaven, and bring them to Satan and hell. II. St. James, in imitation of the Saviour, prayed even for his bitterest enemies. Shall the noble example of your Saviour make less impression upon you? Consider it well. Your Saviour prayed aloud upon the holy Cross for those who caused him infinitely more suffering than your enemies have caused you, and will you hesitate to pray for them? Shame on you! Cast at once all hesitation aside, and offer today all your prayers to God for those who have ever done you any harm. At the same time promise your Omniscient God that you will forgive all, without any exception, for anything by which they have wronged you. This is one of the surest means to gain from God remission of your own sins. "If you desire that God would forgive you your sin, forgive your enemies," says St. Chrysostom. Christ our Lord says Himself: "For if you will forgive men their offences, your heavenly Father will forgive you also your offences" (Matt. vi.). Comforting words! But terrible those which he adds: " But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your offences " (Matt. vi.). Now consider. You doubtless wish that God would forgive you, if you forgive others, but He will not forgive you if you do not forgive others: hence you will have to forgive your enemies, or go into everlasting fire. Which is the easier of the two? What do you resolve to do? You daily say, in the Lord's prayer: "Forgive us our trespasses." With these words you beg God to forgive your sins. But you add, following Christ's teaching: "As we forgive them that trespass against us," which means: as you forgive others the wrongs they have done to you, so you wish God may forgive you your sins. Pay attention: if you do not forgive your enemy, you yourself ask that God may also not forgive you your sins, but condemn you to endless punishment; you yourself prevent the forgiveness of your sins, and with it, eternal happiness. Should not your hair stand on end if you consider this rightly? "How can you," says St. Chrysostom, "raise your hands to heaven, and open your lips to ask forgiveness of your sins? Because if God were willing to pardon your offences, you prevent him from doing so, as long as you nourish bitter feeling towards your neighbor." And St. Anastasius says: "If you do not forgive the wrong done to you, you do not say a prayer for yourself, but draw the curse of God on your head when you say : Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us." You will now easily understand your duty on this point. Saint Quote: "Love comes to its perfection in us when we can face the Day of Judgment fearlessly.." 1 John 4:17. Bible Quote: "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."=C2 (John 1:12-13) DRB <><><><> My God, my Life, my Love, To Thee, to Thee, I call; O come to me from heaven above, And be my God my all. My faith beholds Thee, Lord! Conceal'd in human food; My senses fail, but in Thy word, I trust and find my God. Anonymous: Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. (In Caswall's Lyra Catholica) (19th cent.) --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .