Subj : =?UTF-8?Q?December_17th_=E2=80=93_Saint_Lazarus_of_Bethany?= To : All From : rich Date : Sun Dec 16 2018 07:48:00 From: rich December 17th =E2=80=93 Saint Lazarus of Bethany =C2 =C2 At Marseilles in France, blessed Lazarus, brother of the Saint= s Mary Magdalene and Martha, of whom we read in the Gospel that our Lord called him his friend and raised him from the dead. Lazarus, the friend of Jesus, the brother of Martha and Mary, was the one of whom the Jews said, "See how much he loved him." In their sight Jesus raised his friend Lazarus from the dead. Legends abound about the life of Lazarus after the death and resurrection of Jesus. He is supposed to have left a written account of what he saw in the next world before he was called back to life. Some say he followed Peter into Syria. Another story is that despite being put into a leaking boat by the Jews at Jaffa, he, his sisters and others landed safely in Cyprus. There he died peacefully after serving as bishop for 30 years. A church was built in his honor in Constantinople and some of his reputed relics were transferred there in 890. A Western legend has the oarless boat arriving in Gaul. There he was bishop of Marseilles, was martyred after making a number of converts and was buried in a cave. His relics were transferred to the new cathedral in Autun in 1146. It is certain there was early devotion to the saint. Around the year 390, the pilgrim lady Etheria talks of the procession that took place on the Saturday before Palm Sunday at the tomb where Lazarus had been raised from the dead. In the West, Passion Sunday was called Dominica de Lazaro, and Augustine tells us that in Africa the Gospel of the raising of Lazarus was read at the office of Palm Sunday. Comment: Many people who had a near-death experience report losing all fear of death. When Lazarus died a second time, perhaps he was without fear. He must have been sure that Jesus, the friend with whom he had shared many meals and conversations, would be waiting to raise him again. We don't share Lazarus' firsthand knowledge of retur= ning from the grave. Nevertheless, we too have shared meals and conversations with Jesus, who waits to raise us, too. Saint Quote: Our Lord's words teach us that though we labour among the many distractions of this world, we should have but one goal. For we are but travellers on a journey without as yet a fixed abode; we are on our way, not yet in our native land; we are in a state of longing, not yet of enjoyment. Do you wish to know what we will have there? The Lord himself tells us when he says of his servants, Amen, I say to you, he will make them recline and passing he will serve them. -- St. Augustine Bible Quote: Fulfil ye my joy, that you be of one mind, having the same charity, being of one accord, agreeing in sentiment.=C2 Let nothing be done through contention: neither by vain glory. But in humility, let each esteem others better than themselves:Each one not considering the things that are his own, but those that are other men's. [Philippians 2:2-4] DRB <><><><> Hymn: The Cross of Christ Gal. vi. 14:--"God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." "When we rise, the cross; when we lie down, the cross; in our studies, the cross; everywhere and at every time, the cross--shining more glorious than the sun." --St. Chrysostom. O Child of God, remember, When thou to Christ wast born, How then across thine infant breast His sacred sign was drawn. And when confirming Chrism Upon thy brow was laid, How in that sign the Holy Ghost His grace upon thee shed. Therefore, when sleep invites thee To take thy needful rest, Be sure that with the sacred cross Thou sign thy brow and breast. The cross hath wondrous virtue All evil to control; To scatter darkness, and to calm The tempest of the soul. What though in sleep this body May helpless seem to lie? I nothing fear, assured that One Stronger than all is nigh. On Him my heart shall ponder, E'en while my rest I take; My shield and shelter while I sleep. My joy when I awake. Music: Crux Fidelis, O Crux Ave and O Sacred Head Surrounded --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .