“When I look into my heart, I cannot contain my love. It always wants to pour itself out upon people, embrace them, and give itself to them” (Inner Word).
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Saint Stephen the Younger: Victim of Iconoclasm
Before we delve into the story of today’s saint, we should first ask: what is iconoclasm?
Following the Council of Chalcedon, a controversy arose in the Eastern Church over whether it was permissible to depict Christ in icons. Influenced by the Islamic doctrine of God’s inaccessibility, those who opposed images argued that Christ could not be represented because He was true God, and they considered that icons placed too much emphasis on His humanity. Conversely, defenders of images claimed that the Spirit of God permeated visible representations of the invisible God. In 726, Emperor Leo III banned images and ordered their destruction in all churches and monasteries.
The ‘iconoclasts’, or detractors of images, based their argument on the Old Testament prohibition against making representations of God. This dispute, which raged fiercely for nearly a century, ended when the Church bindingly defined that icons of Christ and the saints could be venerated.
IT IS BETTER TO PRAY A LITTLE WITH ATTENTION THAN A LOT WITHOUT IT
“My daughter, whoever pronounces the four words ‘Jesus, have mercy on me’ with perfect faith and disposition pleases me more than someone who recites thousands of verses without paying attention.” (Words of Jesus to Saint Bridget of Sweden)
THE OFFICE OF GOD THE FATHER
Over the last few days, I have sought to echo the voice of our Heavenly Father through short passages from the Message addressed to Mother Eugenia Ravasio. I believe it is very important that, as far as it depends on us, we strive to fulfill His wishes without delay. In this reflection, I would like to address one of them, which will one day become a reality throughout the Church and the whole world:
Saint Barlaam and Josaphat: The true King
As we approach the end of the liturgical year, I would like to tell you about two saints who are likely unfamiliar to us today, but whose story was so popular in the Middle Ages that it was said some knew it better than the Holy Scriptures.
They are the hermit Saint Barlaam and the Indian prince Josaphat. Saint John Damascene, a Church Father born around 650, is considered the author of their story.
Ancient Indian chronicles recount that some hermits from the desert of Thebaid traveled to the land of the Hindus, where they converted people of all castes to Christianity. Many of them imitated the example of the apostles of Egypt and devoted themselves to contemplation in solitude. Their numbers were considerable, so the “new religion” attracted the attention of kings. Then Abener, a powerful king of India whose kingdom bordered Persia, rose up and began to persecute Christians. He worshiped the god Brahma and indulged in every sensual pleasure. But no matter how rich the treasure of his palace was, and no matter how much his clothes were adorned with gold and precious stones, his soul was poor in wisdom.
LIGHT FOR THE WORLD
“This light will lighten the ways which lead to the true Catholic Church for its poor children who are still victims of superstition” (Message from God the Father to Sister Eugenia Ravasio).
Numbered, weighed, divided
Dan 5:1-6,13-14,16-17,23-28
„King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his lords, with whom he drank. Under the influence of the wine, he ordered the gold and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar, his father, had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, to be brought in so that the king, his lords, his wives and his entertainers might drink from them. When the gold and silver vessels taken from the house of God in Jerusalem had been brought in, and while the king, his lords, his wives and his entertainers were drinking wine from them, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. Suddenly, opposite the lampstand, the fingers of a human hand appeared, writing on the plaster of the wall in the king’s palace. When the king saw the wrist and hand that wrote, his face blanched; his thoughts terrified him, his hip joints shook, and his knees knocked. Then Daniel was brought into the presence of the king.
Memory of Saint Catherine of Alexandria: I myself shall give you eloquence and wisdom
Today we celebrate the memorial of St Catherine of Alexandria, who lived between the 3rd and 4th century. Catherine, being the only daughter of a pagan king named Costus, had received a good education. She had become a Christian.
When she heard that Emperor Maxentius had ordered all the people to come to Alexandria to offer sacrifice to the gods, Catherine hurried to the place where the Christians were, fearful of the death that awaited them if they refused to sacrifice.
OUR FATHER’S REQUEST
“Pray to Me, so that I will be able to accomplish My work of love in all souls” (Message from God the Father to Sister Eugenia Ravasio).
“THAT’S NOT ALL!”
“I cannot tell you more about this abyss yet, because if I revealed the fullness of my love for you, you would find yourselves before the greatest of all mysteries.” (Message from God the Father to Sister Eugenia Ravasio)