Subj : =?UTF-8?Q?6_December_'_Saint_Peter_Pascual?= To : All From : rich Date : Sat Dec 05 2020 09:21:19 From: rich 6 December ' Saint Peter Pascual =C2 Bishop and Martyr, Theologian ' born in 1227 at Valencia, Spa= in (as Spanish: Pedro Pascual, Valencian: Pere Pasqual) and died by beheading on 6 December 1300 at Granada, Spain. Peter Paschal was born in Valencia on Spain's east coast in the yea= r 1227. Peter's parents were devout Mozarabs (Iberian Christians) who lived under Muslim rule, paying a yearly tax known as a jizyah. The Mozarabs and the Muslim Arabs co-existed and even spoke a similar language known as Mozarabic. The founder of the Mercedarians (The Royal, Celestial and Military Order of Our Lady of Mercy and the Redemption of the Captives), St Peter Nolasco (1189'1256), was very good friends of Peter's= family and he and his Mercedarian companions would often stay at Peter's home when they were on a mission to free Christian captives. This exposure to these pious men helped to instil in young Peter a deep sense of piety. Combined with the virtuous, charitable and caring influence of his parents, Peter Paschal grew into a deeply devoted servant of God. Ironically, the primary influence in Peter's educational journey wa= s a teacher whom Peter's parents had ransomed from the Moors years befo= re. The young man traveled with him to Paris and, under his guidance, studied, preached and taught, developing a fine reputation as a learned and pious man. Peter then returned to Valencia and Peter Nolasco became his spiritual advisor. After another year of preparation, he became a full member of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, the Mercedarians. It was time for him to begin redeeming captive Christians. Peter Paschal had a brilliant mind and James I, the King of Arragon, appointed him as a teacher of his son, Sanchez. Sanchez was so influenced by Peter that he himself became a Mercedarian Priest and, in 1262, was made the Archbishop of Toledo. Since Prince Sanchez was too young to be consecrated, Peter Paschal was appointed to govern the Diocese and was ordained the Bishop of Granada. Granada was under the control of the Muslims. As Bishop of Grenada, Peter Paschal preached tirelessly about Christianity. He became known for his intense determination and zeal in redeeming captive Christian slaves who had been imprisoned by the Moors. His preaching was so potent that many Muslims began to embrace the doctrines of Jesus Christ and convert to Christianity. Besides preaching, Peter not only continually ransomed captive Christians from the Moors, he also comforted those imprisoned and preached the gospel to their captors. His ability to bring the Moors to the Church was the reason he was finally arrested. Orders were given that no-one was allowed to visit or speak to Peter. He was held in prison and constantly treated cruelly and with disdain. But he was given permission to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass every day. And this is where the beautiful miracle, for which St Peter is well-known happened. One morning, the story goes, while Peter was preparing for Mass, a little boy about the age of five appeared before him. The boy was dressed in the clothes of a slave and told the Bishop he would gladly serve Mass for him if he would let him. Peter asked him who he was and the boy said, =E2=80=9CI will tell you who I am when you have finished Mass= ...=E2=80=9D After Mass was finished, Peter asked the boy a few questions and was amazed at the wisdom coming forth from the child. Then he asked the boy, =E2=80=9CTell me, who is Jesus Christ?=E2=80=9D The boy answered: =E2=80=9CI am Jesus Christ.=C2 It is I Who was crucifi= ed for your salvation and for that of the whole world, look at My hands and My feet and My side and you will recognise the wounds I received during My Passion. Because you, have of your own choice, remained prisoner in order to procure freedom for my captive children and because, to obtain their freedom, you spent money sent to procure your own, you have made Me your Prisoner.=E2=80=9D Then the little boy disappear= ed. Peter Paschal was filled with an indescribable joy. His Muslim captors sensed and actually revered the sanctity of their prisoner. They told him if he would never say anything against Mohammad they would give him his freedom. He said he could never make such a promise. Shortly thereafter, as Bishop Peter Paschal was saying his thanksgiving after Mass, an executioner came up from behind him and cut off his head. The date was 6 January 1300. He was Beatified and Canonised by Pope Clement X on 14 August 1670. St Peter was one of the first theologians to proclaim that Mary was Immaculately Conceived. =C2 From Anastpaul 2019 =E2=80=9CFaith lifts the soul. Hope supports it. Experience says it must. And Love says let it be!=E2=80=9D --St Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821) =E2=80=9CPray, hope and don't worry.=E2=80=9D --St Pius of Pietrelcina/Padre Pio (1887-1968) Bible Quote: But what does such contempt of God deserve? Of what is it the sure mark? St. John gives the answer: "He that knoweth God, heareth us. He that is not of God, heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error" (I. John, iv.). <><><><> Each is the Administrator of Their Own Grace =E2=80=9CEach one of us possesses the manifest energy of the Spirit in proportion to the faith within them (cf Rm 12:6). And so, each is the administrator of their own grace. Someone, who is well disposed, could never be envious of anything, in the one who is honoured with graces, provided that the disposition towards receiving God's grace= s, rests upon him. What determines that the gifts of God dwell in us, is the measure of each one's faith. Because it is to the extent that w= e believe, that the enthusiasm to act is given us. And so those who act, reveal the measure of their faith proportionate to their action, they receive their measure of grace according to what they have believed. (=E2=80=A6) By means of the incomplete elevations of the virtues, we make the charisms that have been shared out to us, converge towards their cause, with the help of God, so that, by letting ourselves drift little by little into negligence, we might make our faith blind and sightless, deprived of the lights that the works of the Spirit gives us and may be justly punished for endless ages, for having blinded the divine eyes of faith in ourselves, insofar as it was in our power. (=E2=80= =A6) The person who does not fulfil the divine commands of faith, has a faith that is blind. For if God's Commands are lights (cf Is 26:9), this means, that whoever does not fulfil the Commands of God, is without divine light. He leaves the divine call without an answer. He does not really respond to him.=E2=80=9D Nicholas was loved for one reason. He loved. He loved God and God's people so much that he would do anything for them. He was so grateful for the life God had given him that he just couldn't stop giving jo= y and hope to others=E2=80=94no matter how far he had to travel or how many roofs he had to climb! St Nicholas, Pray for Us! Saint Maximus the Confessor (c 580-662) Monk and Theologian Fifth Century on Theology, nos. 34-35, 42, 45 --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .