Saint Stephen : The Call To Witness

Yesterday, we celebrated the memorial of Saint Stephen. Saint Stephen was the first of the first deacons of the church. He is described in the Bible as a man filled with the Holy Spirit, faith, grace and power. He defended the faith so strongly that people were bribed to give false testimonies about him. He was dragged before the Council and in their presence his face shone like that of an angel. After a speech and a vision of heaven, he was killed (martyred) by stoning. He is remembered by the Church as the first martyr.

The word “martyr” is gotten from the Greek word “Martus” which means a witness or a person who bears witness based on personal observation. During the era of the 12 apostles (The 1st century), the word “Martus” developed a deeper meaning. It came to mean a witness who lost his or her life because of his testimony. Saint John tells us of Saint Antiphas in Apocalypse 2:13.

The apostles were called by Our Lord Jesus Christ at the beginning of his ministry so as to be able to bear true and proper witness. In Luke 24:48, Our Lord Jesus Christ says to the apostles “Now you shall be witnesses to this.” In verse 49, we are told that this is the reason why the Holy Spirit will be sent to us.

We as Christians are sent on the same mission. We are called and sent to be witnesses to everyone around us. We may not be called upon to witness for Christ at the cost of our lives but we are always called upon to witness with our lives. Every action we take and every decision we take are meant to bear witness to Christ. The way we walk, talk, and dress are meant to bear witness. Our attitude towards life, our attitude towards material things, our attitude towards pleasures and our attitude towards the people around us are meant to bear witness to Christ.

The question is do they bear this witness? Or are our lives pointers to the opposite direction?

I pray that with the help of the grace of God and the intercession of the Saints, we will be bold enough to bear witness to Christ at all times remembering in our hearts his words in Matthew 16:25.

Full Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel by Pope Leo XIII (from the Roman Ritual Rite of Exorcism)

O glorious Prince of the Heavenly host, Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle and fearful warfare that we are waging against the principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the evil spirits. Come thou to the assistance of men, whom Almighty God created immortal, making them in His own image and likeness and redeeming them at a great price from the tyranny of Satan. Fight this day the battle of the Lord with thy legions of holy Angels, even as of old thou didst fight against Lucifer, the leader of the proud spirits and all his rebel angels, who were powerless to stand against thee, neither was their place found any more in heaven. And that great dragon was cast forth, the ancient serpent, who is called the devil and satan, who seduces the whole world; and he was cast forth upon Earth, and his angels were
sent with him.

But behold! the ancient enemy of mankind and a murderer from the beginning has been fiercely aroused. Changing himself into an angel of light, he goes about with the whole multitude of the wicked spirits to invade the earth and blot out the Name of God and of His Christ, to plunder, to slay, and to consign to eternal damnation the souls that have been destined for a crown of everlasting life. This wicked serpent, like an unclean torrent, pours into men of depraved minds and corrupt hearts the poison of his malice, the spirit of lying, impiety and blasphemy, and the deadly breath of impurity and every form of vice and iniquity.

Be favorable to Thy Church, the Bride of the Lamb without spot, whose enemies have filled to overflowing with gall and inebriated with wormwood. They have laid profane hands upon Her most sacred treasures. Where the See of the most blessed Peter and the Chair of Truth has been constituted as a light to the nations, there they have placed a throne of their abomination and impiety; so that with the Pastor struck, they may prevail to disperse the flock.

Therefore, most invincible Leader, be with the people of God against this spiritual wickedness and bring about victory. Thou art venerated by Holy Church as Her guard and patron; Thou art glorified as our defender against the impious powers of earth and of hell. Unto thee the Lord hath handed over the souls of the redeemed to be placed in happiness above. Entreat the God of peace, to obliterate satan beneath our feet, lest he prevail further to hold men captive, and to injure the Church. Offer our prayers in the sight of the Most High, so that the mercy of the Lord may swiftly overtake us, and apprehend the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and satan, and send him bound into the abyss, so that he may seduce the nations no more. Henceforth having been confided to thy escort and protection, we sacred ministers by our authority [if recited by a layman, or cleric who has not yet taken up the order of exorcist, say instead, “by the authority of Holy Mother Church”], do undertake to repel the infestations of diabolical deceit in the Name of Jesus Christ, Our God and Lord.

V. Behold the Cross of the Lord, depart from us, our adversaries.
R. The Lion of the tribe of Juda, root of David, has conquered.
V. Let Thy mercy be upon us Lord.
R. As much as we hope in Thee.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
[If recited by at least a deacon add the following
V. The Lord be with you all.
R. And with thy spirit.]

Let us pray

O God, and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, we invoke Thy Holy Name, and we humbly implore Thy clemency so that, through the intercession of Mary, the Immaculate ever-Virgin Mother of God, of blessed Michael the Archangel, of blessed Joseph, the Spouse of the same blessed Virgin, of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and of all the Saints, Thou may deign to offer us aid against satan, and all the other unclean spirits, who wander through the world to injure the human race and to destroy souls. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

The Immaculate Conception : A Call To Holiness

The Immaculate Conception is the dogma of the Church that states that Mary (mother of Jesus) was conceived and born without original sin. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated/observed on The 8th of December (Exactly 9 months before her birthday on the 8th of September.) This dogma was officially instituted by Pope Pius IX in 1854.

I do not intend to go into Apologetics and begin to prove why this is true. I only want to pass across what I see in The Immaculate Conception. However, I would be happy to answer your questions on the sanity and truthfulness of this dogma (to the best of my little ability/knowledge that is).

What do I see in the Immaculate Conception?

The same thing everyone sees. That Mary was preserved from original sin not because she is (Note my use of is and not was) divine but because she was to give birth to God who is divine and perfect. She was to be the bearer of Christ. She was to be the Christokos. She was to be the Theotokos. She was to be the Mater Dei. [Okay, no more use of titles, 🙂 ]. My point is ‘She was preserved from sin so as to be able to bear Christ.’

Through Mary, a perfect example for us Christians is set. A standard is set for us. A call to holiness is set. We must be separated from sin in order to be true bearers of Christ. In order for anyone of us to be the Christophorus/Theophorus that we are called to be, we need to strive to be immaculate. We need to be able to hear Our Lord Jesus Christ say of/to us “Macula Non Est In Te.”

Brothers and sisters, we are called to be bearers of Christ and his gospel and in order to do this we must be free from sin. And although this seems impossible, let us remember that with God, all things are possible.
Our Lord Jesus Christ says in Matthew 5 vs 48 : Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.

Our 1st Pope, Pope Saint Simon(Simon,son of Jona) Peter(Petra,Petros,Cephas,Keifa) in His Papal Encyclical which we all know as the First Letter Of Peter chapter 1 vs 16 reminds us of our call to holiness “ Because it is written: You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

So let us all strive for holiness and through the grace of God, we will become true bearers Of Christ.

Little Office Of The Immaculate Conception

V. Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful;
R. And enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
V. Send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created;
R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

Let us Pray: O God, Who by the light of the
Holy Ghost, didst instruct the hearts of the
faithful, grant us by that same Holy Ghost that
we may be made truly wise, and ever to
rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ our
Lord. Amen.

MATINS and LAUDS
V. Come, my lips + and loud proclaim,
R. The Blessed Virgin’s spotless fame.
V. O Lady + make speed to befriend me;
R. From the hands of the enemy mightily
defend me.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and
to the Holy Ghost;
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever
shall be, forever, unto ages of ages. Amen.

(Alleluia) From Septuagesima to Easter, Alleluia is replaced by: Praised be to Thee, O Lord, King
of eternal glory.

HYMN
Hail, Queen of the Heavens, hail, Mistress of
earth;
Hail, Virgin most pure of Immaculate Birth.
Clear Star of the morning, in beauty enshrined,
O Lady, make speed to the help of mankind.
Thee God in the depth of eternity chose,
And formed thee all fair as His glorious spouse.
And called thee His Word’s own Mother to be,
By Whom He created the earth, sky and sea.
Amen.

V. God elected her and pre-elected her;
R. He made her to dwell in His tabernacle.
V. O Lady, hear my prayer,
R. And let my cry come unto thee.

Let us Pray
O Holy Mary, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Queen of Heaven and Mistress of the whole
world, who never forsakest or despisest
anyone, look upon us with an eye of pity, and
beg of thy beloved Son the pardon of all our
sins, that we who now devoutly celebrate thy
Immaculate Conception may receive the
reward of eternal joy, through the mercy of
Jesus Christ our Lord, Whom thou, pure Virgin,
didst bring into the world, and Who with the
Father and the Holy Ghost, in perfect Trinity,
liveth and reigneth one God, forever, unto ages
of ages. Amen.

V. O Lady, hear my prayer;
R. And let my cry come unto thee.
V. Let us bless the Lord. (Benedicamus Domino)
R. Thanks be to God. (Deo Gratias)
V. May the souls of the faithful departed
through the mercy of God and the intercession
of Mary rest in peace.
R. Amen.
V. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
R. We love Thee, save souls.

PRIME
V. O Lady + make speed to befriend me.
R. From the hands of the enemy mightily
defend me.
V. Glory be to the Father…

HYMN
Hail, Virgin most wise, hail, Deity’s shrine,
With seven fair pillars, and table Divine.
Preserved from the guilt which hath come on
us all;
Exempt in the womb from the taint of the Fall.
O new Star of Jacob, of Angels the Queen,
O Gate of the saints, O Mother of men,
O Terrible as the embattled array,
Be thou of the faithful the Refuge and Stay.
Amen.

V. The Lord Himself created her in the Holy
Ghost;
R. And poured her out among all His works.
V. O Lady, hear my prayer,
R. And let my cry come unto thee.

Let us Pray:
O Holy Mary, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Queen of Heaven and Mistress of the whole
world, who never forsakest or despisest
anyone, look upon us with an eye of pity, and
beg of thy beloved Son the pardon of all our
sins, that we who now devoutly celebrate thy
Immaculate Conception may receive the
reward of eternal joy, through the mercy of
Jesus Christ our Lord, Whom thou, pure Virgin,
didst bring into the world, and Who with the
Father and the Holy Ghost, in perfect Trinity,
liveth and reigneth one God, forever, unto ages
of ages. Amen.

V. O Lady, hear my prayer;
R. And let my cry come unto thee.
V. Let us bless the Lord. (Benedicamus Domino)
R. Thanks be to God. (Deo Gratias)
V. May the souls of the faithful departed
through the mercy of God and the intercession
of Mary rest in peace.
R. Amen.
V. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
R. We love Thee, save souls.

TIERCE
V. O Lady + make speed to befriend me;
R. From the hands of the enemy mightily
defend me.
V. Glory be to the Father…

HYMN
Hail, Solomon’s throne, pure Ark of the law,
Fair Rainbow and Bush which the patriarch saw.
Hail, Gideon’s Fleece, Hail, Blossoming Rod;
Samson’s Sweet Honeycomb, Portal of God.
Well fitting it was that a Son so Divine
Should preserve from all touch of original sin;
Nor suffer by smallest defect to be stained,
That Mother whom He for Himself had
ordained.
Amen.

V. I dwell in the highest,
R. And my throne is on the pillar of the clouds.
V. O Lady, hear my prayer,
R. And let my cry come unto thee.

Let us Pray
With all my heart, I praise thee, most holy
Virgin Mary, above all the Angels and Saints in
Paradise; Beloved Daughter of the Eternal
Father, I consecrate to thee my soul with all its
faculties. Hail Mary…

V. O Lady, hear my prayer;
R. And let my cry come unto thee.
V. Let us bless the Lord. (Benedicamus Domino)
R. Thanks be to God. (Deo Gratias)
V. May the souls of the faithful departed
through the mercy of God and the intercession
of Mary rest in peace.
R. Amen.
V. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
R. We love Thee, save souls.

SEXT
V. O Lady + make speed to befriend me.
R. From the hands of the enemy mightily
defend me.
V. Glory be to the Father…

HYMN
Hail, Virginal Mother, hail, Purity’s Cell;
Fair shrine where the Trinity loveth to dwell.
Hail, Garden of Pleasure, Celestial Balm,
Cedar of Chastity, martyrdom’s palm.
Thou Land set apart from uses profane,
And free from the curse which in Adam began.
Thou City of God, thou Gate of the East,
In thee is all grace, O Joy of the Blest.
Amen.

V. As the lily among the thorns,
R. So is my Beloved among the daughters of
Adam.
V. O Lady, hear my prayer,
R. And let my cry come unto thee.

Let us Pray
With all my heart, I praise thee, most holy
Virgin Mary, above all the Angels and Saints in
Paradise; admirable Mother of the Son of God,
I consecrate to thee my body with all its
senses.
Hail Mary…

V. O Lady, hear my prayer;
R. And let my cry come unto thee.
V. Let us bless the Lord. (Benedicamus Domino)
R. Thanks be to God. (Deo Gratias)
V. May the souls of the faithful departed
through the mercy of God and the intercession
of Mary rest in peace.
R. Amen.
V. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
R. We love Thee, save souls.

NONE
V. O Lady + make speed to befriend me.
R. From the hands of the enemy mightily
defend me.
V. Glory be to the Father, etc.

HYMN
Hail, City of Refuge, hail, David’s High Tower,
With battlements crowned and girded with
power.
Filled at thy Conception with love and with
light,
The dragon by thee was shorn of his might.
O Woman most valiant, O Judith thrice blest,
As David was nursed in fair Abisag’s breast;
As the Saviour of Egypt upon Rachel’s knee,
So the world’s great Redeemer was cherished
by thee.
Amen.

V. Thou art all fair, my Beloved,
R. And the original stain was never in thee.
V. O Lady, hear my prayer,
R. And let my cry come unto thee.

Let us Pray
With all my heart, I praise thee, most holy
Virgin Mary, above all the Angels and Saints in
Paradise; faithful Spouse of the Holy Ghost, I
consecrate to thee my heart with all its
affections and beseech thee to obtain for me
from the most Holy Trinity all the graces
necessary for salvation.
Hail Mary…

V. O Lady, hear my prayer;
R. And let my cry come unto thee.
V. Let us bless the Lord. (Benedicamus Domino)
R. Thanks be to God. (Deo Gratias)
V. May the souls of the faithful departed
through the mercy of God and the intercession
of Mary rest in peace.
R. Amen.
V. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
R. We love Thee, save souls.

VESPERS
V. O Lady + make speed to befriend me.
R. From the hands of the enemy mightily
defend me.
V. Glory be to the Father…

HYMN
Hail, dial of Achaz, on thee the true Sun
Told backward the course which from old He
had run.
And that man might be raised, submitting to
shame,
A little more low than the Angels became.
Thou wrapt in the blaze of His Infinite Light,
Doth shine as the morn on the confines of
night.
As the moon on the lost through obscurity
dawns,
The serpent’s destroyer, a lily amid thorns.
Amen.

V. I made an unfailing light to arise in Heaven,
R. And as a mist I overspread the whole earth.
V. O Lady, hear my prayer,
R. And let my cry come unto thee.

Let us Pray
O Holy Mary, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Queen of Heaven and Mistress of the whole
world, who never forsakest or despisest
anyone, look upon us with an eye of pity, and
beg of thy beloved Son the pardon of all our
sins, that we who now devoutly celebrate thy
Immaculate Conception may receive the
reward of eternal joy, through the mercy of
Jesus Christ our Lord, Whom thou, pure Virgin,
didst bring into the world, and Who with the
Father and the Holy Ghost, in perfect Trinity,
liveth and reigneth one God, forever, unto ages
of ages. Amen.

V. O Lady, hear my prayer;
R. And let my cry come unto thee.
V. Let us bless the Lord. (Benedicamus Domino)
R. Thanks be to God. (Deo Gratias)
V. May the souls of the faithful departed
through the mercy of God and the intercession
of Mary rest in peace.
R. Amen.
V. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
R. We love Thee, save souls.

COMPLINE
V. May Jesus Christ thy Son, reconciled by thy
prayers, O Lady, + convert our hearts.
R. And turn away His anger from us.
V. O Lady, + make speed to befriend me.
R. From the hands of the enemy mightily
defend me.
V. Glory be to the Father, etc.

HYMN
Hail, Mother most pure, Hail Virgin renowned,
Hail, Queen with the stars as a diadem
crowned.
Above all the Angels in glory untold,
Standing next to the King in a vesture of gold.
O Mother of Mercy, O Star of the Wave, O Hope of the guilty, O Light of the Grave, Through thee may we come to the Haven of rest And see Heaven’s King in the courts of the blest.
Amen.

V. Thy name, O Mary, is as oil poured out.
R. Thy servants have loved thee exceedingly.
V. O Lady, hear my prayer,
R. And let my cry come unto thee.

Let us Pray
O Holy Mary, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Queen of Heaven and Mistress of the whole
world, who never forsakest or despisest
anyone, look upon us with an eye of pity, and
beg of thy beloved Son the pardon of all our
sins, that we who now devoutly celebrate thy
Immaculate Conception may receive the
reward of eternal joy, through the mercy of
Jesus Christ our Lord, Whom thou, pure Virgin,
didst bring into the world, and Who with the
Father and the Holy Ghost, in perfect Trinity,
liveth and reigneth one God, forever, unto ages
of ages. Amen.

V. O Lady, hear my prayer,
R..And let my cry come unto thee.
V. Let us bless the Lord. (Benedicamus Domino)
R. Thanks be to God. (Deo Gratias)
V. May the souls of the faithful departed
through the mercy of God and the intercession
of Mary rest in peace.
R..Amen.
V. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
R..We love Thee, save souls.

COMMENDATION
These praises and prayers I lay at thy feet,
O Virgin of virgins, O Mary most sweet.
Be thou my true Guide through this pilgrimage
here,
And stand by my side when death draweth
near.
V. Deo Gratias.
Antiphon: There is a bough in which no blur of
either kind, original or wrought, hath touched
the Virgin rind.
V. In thy Conception, O Virgin, thou wast Immaculate;
R. Pray for us to the Father, Whose Son thou didst bear.

Let us Pray
O God, Who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary didst prepare a worthy habitation for Thy Son, we beseech Thee, that
as by the foresight of His death Thou didst exempt her from all stain, so we, purified by her intercession, may come to Thee, through
the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who
liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy
Ghost, forever, unto ages of ages. Amen.

Literal Translation Of The Lord’s Prayer

I just found this literal translation of the Lord’s prayer.
One look at it and you will understand why the Church had to re-arrange it. In this form, the prayer seems unorganized.

“Father of-us the in the heavens,
let-be made-holy the name of-you,
let-come the kingdom of-you,
let-come-about the will of-you,
as in heaven also upon earth.
The bread of-us the daily give to-us today
and dismiss to-us the debts of-us,
as also we dismissed to-the debtors of-us.
And not into-bring us into trial,
but deliver us from the evil.”

Saint Felix Of Bologna

Little is actually known about Saint Felix Of Bologna. His year of birth is uncertain.

However, it is known that he was a disciple of Saint Ambrose. He was a deacon of the church of Milan under Saint Ambrose who was the Bishop of Milan.

Saint Felix became the Fifth Bishop of Bologna. He died in the year 429 A.D.