Subj : =?UTF-8?Q?March_9th_=E2=80=93_St=2E_Pacian=2C_Bishop_of_Barcelona?= To : All From : rich Date : Fri Mar 08 2019 08:48:42 From: rich March 9th =E2=80=93 St. Pacian, Bishop of Barcelona =C2 =C2 There are many saints whose lives and works inspire us, but ab= out whom we can't learn as much as we would like, because the records are missing. One of these is St. Pacian. He had an impressive career as bishop of Barcelona, Spain, in the last two decades of the 4th century. He has left three letters and two sermons, but these are so good we hanker for more. Pacian was outstanding enough to merit inclusion in the =E2=80=9Cwho's who= =E2=80=9D called On Men of Distinction, written by the great 4th-century scholar, St. Jerome. Jerome did not know the bishop personally, but he did know Pacian's son, Flavius Dexter, an officer who served Emperors Theodosius and Honorius. It was to Flavius that Jerome dedicated =E2=80=9CO= n Men of Distinction=E2=80=9D. The author was well informed on the bishop. He praised his personal integrity and simple eloquence, and declared that his way of life was even more illustrious than his works. One of Pacian's writings that was not preserved, but about which we know, was his Cervellus. Cervellus (=E2=80=9CThe Little Stag=E2=80=9D) deal= t with an immoral pagan New Year's celebration. It was a sort of Mardi Gras centering around a little deer. The pagan participants would wear masks, dress up like animals, and then act like animals (or worse). Since this was an ancient and popular observance, Christians sometimes yielded to the temptation to take part. Bishop Pacian was faced with a dilemma that bishops still face today. Should he publicly denounce this immoral rite or not? It was his duty to warn the faithful, but denunciation also gave a =E2=80=9Cbox office=E2=80=9D publicity to the Cerv= ellus. If he warned the faithful, he would be fulfilling his duty to save their souls. But the very warning would prompt others, out of curiosity or defiance, to join in the pagan rite, and their souls might thus be lost. Well, he did give public warning, and the practice eventually died out. As for the danger of publicity, he simply left this, I suppose, in God's hands. Sometimes we have to tolerate the bad side effects of our good actions. Pacian preached clearly on the need to ask God's forgiveness for all our sins. He reminded his flock that when Jesus gave the authority to bind and loose sins to his apostles - and through them to their successors - this authority extended to every sin, slight or serious: =E2=80=9CWhether it be great or whether it be small.=E2=80=9D Yes, there are smaller sins, he said. These, too, can be forgiven in confession. But the venial sins can also be forgiven or atoned for by other means. He doubtless meant prayer, self-denial, etc. This is good for us to remember, especially in Lent: Our Lenten prayers, acts of self-denial (like fasting and abstinence) and almsgiving make up to God for our lesser sins. (Indeed, they can be applied to the sins of the faithfully departed, too, towards the release of their souls in purgatory.) On the other hand, mortal sins (like idolatry, irreverence towards the Blessed Sacrament, murder and illicit sex) can be forgiven only through the sacrament of reconciliation (penance). Pacian sensed that some would object (as they do today) to confessing their sins to a priest: =E2=80=9CI am embarrassed to confess these grave sins.=E2=80=9D The saint answered pointedly, =E2=80=9CYou were not ashamed = to commit the sin, but now are ashamed to confess it?=E2=80=9D A good comment! We should be embarrassed to confess serious sins. Embarrassment is itself an appropriate act of penance. By undergoing it, we prove to God that we are humble enough to deserve his forgiveness. Pacian is best remembered, however, for adopting and clarifying the word =E2=80=9CCatholic=E2=80=9D. A heretic once rebuked the bishop for his = use of the term =E2=80=9Cthe Catholic Church=E2=80=9D. St. Pacian replied, =E2=80=9CCh= ristian is my name, Catholic my surname. The one name puts me in a class; the other gives me a character. The second is a testimonial; the first is a label.=E2=80=9D= A Catholic Christian, he went on to explain, is a Christian who follows the correct teaching of the Catholic (i.e. universal) Church. This, like much else that Pacian said 17 centuries ago, is still true today= ... Saint Quote: Prudence must precede every action which we undertake; for, if prudence be wanting, there is nothing, however good it may seem, which is not turned into evil. -- St. Basil <><><><> PIOUS INVOCATIONS O saving Victim, opening wide The gate of heaven to man below, Our foes press on from every side; Thine aid supply, Thy strength bestow. To Thy great Name be endless praise, Immortal Godhead, one in three; Oh, grant us endless length of days In our true native land with Thee. Amen. Blessed is He Who cometh in the Name of the Lord: =C2 Hosanna in the highest. --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .