#Lenten companion

[coraz0ndegranada]

all the fruits that you claim as yours are truly His.

“ We are only tenets or stewards of his grace and, at our very best, we return to him only what his grace has produced within us”

it ain’t us bro, we are only human.

#Lenten companion #lent #todays reflection #God #catholic #mmmm #tru

[stmargaret]

Resolutions: Beginning again

Rev Sue’s February letter to the parish: For various reasons this piece needed to be written on the 2nd January. It was hard to get my head around where we’ll be in February!  Lent is the obvious topic so it got me thinking. What is the difference between New Year’s Resolutions and Lenten disciplines? They can look very similar but delve deeper and there are big differences. New Year’s…

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#Christ #deny #faith #God #hope #Jesus #lent #Lenten discipline #Lenten giving #Lenten sacrifice #love #pray #prayer #spiritual companion #spiritual growth #spiritual journey #trust #truth #Word

[rettatootie]

its is such a juicy and scrumptious juxtaposition of how violence is treated in the Catenan Republic and within its culture -where violence is aestheticised, muted, infantilised in the censorship of its searing pain and grotesqueness- and Vis’ unfiltered relationship with it.

In the first scene the inherent violence of the republic -that which is required to make it function- is shown through the sapper. Ulsicor is horrified because in the Republic violence is distant. It’s a theory of function. In the arena, the prisoners are yanked from view before you can watch them die. In their sword-fighting, your armour is separate from you. The sword a toy you can flail without repercussion. The people you drain the life from to support your own are stowed away in darkness.

To Vis, there is no violence without intimacy. In the loss of his family, in the loss of his home, in the loss of his culture, in his fights in Lenten, in the denial of ceding, in the bowels of the Anguis attack, in the fight against Ianix.

It is so so so good how Islington constantly confronts these relationships. Will not let you forget the sheer horror of it. Because Vis cannot forget the sheer horror of it. Even when whisked to the heart of the republic, where you are most protected from violence’s viscera. No matter the name or the status loaned to him. for Vis, there is no violence without intimacy. Violence is heavy, violence has weight. Violence means something.

To the conqueror violence means nothing. Its a tool they wield without candor. It is cold, it is distant, it is cruel. To the conquered, violence means everything. There is no distance, no numbing, no escape from its devastation. It knows you mother, father, sister, brother, friend, acquaintance, stranger, and you. Violence is survival. Violence is death. It is the only constant. An unwanted lifelong companion.

#the will of the many #read with me #bookblr #james islington

[thecoolblackwaves]

Maemags Week 2024 Feb 20: Himring and the Gap

for @maedhrosmaglorweek day 3

Warnings: This one is light and almost fluffy, no warnings! POV outsider + slight songfic + Gen 

She was gathering firewood in the woods when she heard it. A voice, singing one of the winter hymns the children in her village favored, beautifully tongued words of whimsy floating through the trees towards her. Her feet drifted towards the music before she could stop herself, her small pile of kindling forgotten in a snowdrift. 

When she came upon the river bank, she stared in shock. There at the waterside were two Elven warriors with their backs to her. One sat upon a boulder, cleaning a gutted fish with a skin of water, a broadsword across his back. The other stood behind his - for he sang in the most angelic male tenor she had ever heard - companion, saber set aside, delicately weaving lenten roses into copper hair. 

“I was following the pack all swallowed in their coats, with scarves of red tied round their throats. To keep their little heads from falling in the snow, when I turned ‘round and there you go! And, darling, you would fall, and turn the white snow red as strawberries in the summertime.”

Her eyes drifted shut. She listened for some time as he serenaded both his companion and their secret audience. The song finished and she opened her eyes to see the singer complete his weaving; his long, pale fingers left a perfect crown of white roses atop the ginger head. The adornment was breathtaking in its effect, simple yet strangely compelling in its delicacy on such a large, capable looking warrior. 

The seated Elve spoke - at first, she thought it was the creaking of some tree bough or a gust of wind, his voice was so low and rough - and she could not understand the language he used. He gestured with an arm sans hand and she gasped- 

They leapt to their feet as one, turning to her with weapons drawn before she could blink. 

“My Lords! I wished not to startle you so, I only wished to compliment the music. Your voice is a thing of wonder, My Lord,” she addressed the singer, whom she now saw was possessed of both a much shorter stature and an exceptionally beautiful face to match his voice. 

Her hands were held far apart, foraging basket dangling from her left elbow, the bow across her back clearly meant for hunting small game and not combat. She hoped that her decidedly human ears and rough clothes would discourage them from any anger. 

After lowering their weapons, the shorter Elve gave his thanks and enquired as to her business in the forest. She informed him of her desire to find a suitable yule log, and wished them both a pleasant year, before wandering back to her sad pile of sticks now half buried by the falling snow. 

The walk back to the village was long and quiet. The Elven warriors and their companions had protected their lands from Orc invasions since her grandmother was a child – some small parties made it through their initial defenses, but never as far as the woods on the southern side where the river ran. It was why she had no fighting weapons with her, and, perhaps, why two such fastidious and deadly creatures - processed of superior senses, too, she was sure - had not noticed her lingering some twenty paces from them. 

She had accidentally snuck up on Lord Maedhros of Himring and his brother Lord Maglor of the Perilous Gap! Upon the grace of the land may her grandmother not hit her with a shoe when she returns. 

#tolkien #maemags #fanfic #maedhros x maglor #maemags week #silm fandom #silmarillion #silm fic #maglor #makalaure #maedhros #maitimo #gen fic #songfic

[bettygemma]

In no order, here are my reading highlights for 2023

Best literary page turner (LPT)

This is a tie between 'I have some questions for you' by Rebecca Makkai and 'Birnam Wood' by Eleanor Catton. Both about moral quandaries of some sort, both really well written and extremely readable.

Best fantasy

'Babel' by R. F. Kuang. After I finished Babel I had to stare into the void for a little while to recover. One of the questions the book asks is, is it actually possible for those with power to be truly friends to those without power, and it answers pretty firmly in the negative. Which I remember being sad and sceptical about when I first read the book in August but now, on this side of the Voice to Parliament Referendum, it feels extremely prescient (*laughs bitterly*).

Best Australian fiction

'Love and Virtue' by Diana Reid. Also best campus novel of the year (I read lot of them in 2023 coincidentally!) I was devastated to end this book, not only because parts of this novel are set in my home town #representation but more importantly its genuinely brilliant and empathetic and recognisable. Also has multiple moral quandaries.

Best retelling

'Home Fire' by Kamila Shamsie which is a retelling of Antigone. I knew nothing about Antigone going in so found it super intense and surprising. Just like 'Love and Virtue ' I could have spent a hundred more pages with these characters.

Best Lenten read

'Passage' by Connie Willis. Willis is now probably my second favourite writer after Dorothy Sayers, and this book is up there as one of her greats, along with 'Doomsday Book' and 'To Say Nothing of the Dog'. A book to read to when death is near and you are in need of hope.

Best memoir

'Educated' by Tara Westover. Also wins the prize for being the book that made me the most thankful for my parents and for them sending me to a normal public school (honourable mention for this prize goes to 'I'm glad my mom died' by Jennette McCurdy').

Best feminist read

'Wifedom' by Anna Funder. Part biography of Eileen O'Shaughnessy, part novel, part memoir, this book is possibly the best investigation of the toll domestic inequality has on women I've read for a number of years. Read it if you're interested in biography and women's history and the literary canon. In one of the many passages that jumped out at me, after praising her husband for his modernity and equal mindedness, Funder writes:

"This was not enough to protect me. The patriarchy was too huge, and I was too small or stupid, or just not up for the fight. The individual man can be the loveliest, the system will still benefit him, without him having to lift a finger or a whip or change the sheets. This is the story I tell against myself. And against the system that made this self, as well as my husband's, and the system that put her into his service. Wifedom is a wicked magic trick we have learned to play on ourselves."

I mean??!?!

And finally, Book I recommended the most

'This is not a book about Benedict Cumberbatch' by Tabitha Carvon. I hyped this book to nearly every woman I know. Extremely funny if you were in Tumblr in 2012 or have ever participated in any fandom. A great companion read to 'Wifedom'. May it inspire you to find joy.

#adultbooklr #connie willis #anna funder #tabitha carvon #kamila shamsie #rebecca makkai #eleanor catton #r. f. kuang #diana reid #tara westover

[troybeecham]

Today, the Church remembers Saint Clare of Assisi, Monastic.

Ora pro nobis.

St. Clare (Chiara in Italian) was one of the first followers of Saint Francis of Assisi. She founded the Order of Poor Ladies, a monastic religious order for women in the Franciscan tradition, and wrote their Rule of Life, the first set of monastic guidelines known to have been written by a woman. Following her death, the order she founded was renamed in her honor as the Order of Saint Clare, commonly referred to today as the Poor Clares.

She was born in Assisi (July 16, 1194 – August 11, 1253 AD), and was the eldest daughter of Favorino Sciffi, Count of Sasso-Rosso, and his wife Ortolana. Traditional accounts say that Clare's father was a wealthy representative of an ancient Roman family, who owned a large palace in Assisi and a castle on the slope of Mount Subasio. Ortolana belonged to the noble family of Fiumi, and was a very devout woman who had undertaken pilgrimages to Rome, Santiago de Compostela and the Holy Land. Later in life, Ortolana entered Clare's monastery, as did Clare's sisters, Beatrix and Catarina.

As a child, Clare was devoted to prayer. Although there is no mention of this in any historical record, it is assumed that Clare was to be married in line with the family tradition. However, at the age of 18 she heard Francis preach during a Lenten service in the church of San Giorgio at Assisi and asked him to help her to live after the manner of the Gospel. On the evening of Palm Sunday, March 20, 1212, she left her father's house and accompanied by her aunt Bianca and another companion proceeded to the chapel of the Porziuncula to meet Francis. There, her hair was cut, and she exchanged her rich gown for a plain robe and veil.

Francis placed Clare in the convent of the Benedictine nuns of San Paulo, near Bastia. Her father attempted to force her to return home. She clung to the altar of the church and threw aside her veil to show her cropped hair. She resisted any attempt, professing that she would have no other husband but Jesus Christ. In order to provide the greater solitude Clare desired, a few days later Francis sent her to Sant' Angelo in Panzo, another monastery of the Benedictine nuns on one of the flanks of Subasio. Clare was soon joined by her sister Catarina, who took the name Agnes. They remained with the Benedictines until a small dwelling was built for them next to the church of San Damiano, which Francis had repaired some years earlier.

Other women joined them, and they were known as the "Poor Ladies of San Damiano". They lived a simple life of poverty, austerity and seclusion from the world, according to a Rule which Francis gave them as a Second Order.

San Damiano became the center of Clare's new religious order, which was known in her lifetime as the "Order of Poor Ladies of San Damiano". San Damiano was long thought to be the first house of this order, however, recent scholarship strongly suggests that San Damiano actually joined an existing network of women's religious houses organized by Hugolino (who later became Pope Gregory IX). Hugolino wanted San Damiano as part of the order he founded because of the prestige of Clare's monastery. San Damiano emerged as the most important house in the order, and Clare became its undisputed leader. By 1263, just ten years after Clare's death, the order had become known as the Order of Saint Clare.

In 1228, when Gregory IX offered Clare a dispensation from the vow of strict poverty, she replied: "I need to be absolved from my sins, but not from the obligation of following Christ." Accordingly, the Pope granted them the Privilegium Pauperitatis — that nobody could oblige them to accept any possession.

Unlike the Franciscan friars, whose members moved around the country to preach, Saint Clare's sisters lived in enclosure, since an itinerant life was hardly conceivable at the time for women. Their life consisted of manual labor and prayer. The nuns went barefoot, slept on the ground, ate no meat and observed almost complete silence.

For a short period, the order was directed by Francis himself. Then in 1216, Clare accepted the role of abbess of San Damiano. As abbess, Clare had more authority to lead the order than when she was the prioress and required to follow the orders of a priest heading the community. Clare defended her order from the attempts of prelates to impose a rule on them that more closely resembled the Rule of Saint Benedict than Francis' stricter vows. Clare sought to imitate Francis' virtues and way of life so much so that she was sometimes titled ‘alter Franciscus’, another Francis. She also played a significant role in encouraging and aiding Francis, whom she saw as a spiritual father figure, and she took care of him during his final illness.

After Francis' death, Clare continued to promote the growth of her order, writing letters to abbesses in other parts of Europe and thwarting every attempt by each successive pope to impose a rule on her order which weakened the radical commitment to corporate poverty she had originally embraced. Clare's Franciscan theology of joyous poverty in imitation of Christ is evident in the rule she wrote for her community and in her four letters to Agnes of Prague.

In 1224, the army of Frederick II came to plunder Assisi. Clare went out to meet them with the Blessed Sacrament in her hands. Suddenly a mysterious terror seized the enemies, who fled without harming anybody in the city.

In her later years, Clare endured a long period of poor health. She died on 11 August 1253 at the age of 59. Her last words as reported to have been, "Blessed be You, O God, for having created me."

O God, whose blessed Son became poor that we through his poverty might be rich: Deliver us from an inordinate love of this world, that we, inspired by the devotion of your servant Clare, may serve you with singleness of heart, and attain to the riches of the age to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Amen.

#father troy beecham #christianity #jesus #saints #god #salvation #peace #faith

[puppyexpressions]

Best and Worst Flowers to Plant for a Pet-Friendly Garden

Every pet owner knows their dog or cat will chew on anything it can sink its teeth into, whether that's a toy, shoe, or ball of yarn. And at some point, your furry friend will inevitably gravitate towards plants and flowers for a bite or two. As beautiful as these colorful blooms are, from household plants to flowers grown in the garden, some can be particularly dangerous to our tail-wagging companions. 

Of course, fragrant varieties are especially tempting (and, yes, even deadly), but did you know that your pet simply drinking water from a vase containing poisonous cut flowers can result in vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, lethargy, and lack of appetite? As you will see on this list, sometimes the potency is wrapped in the leaves, whereas in other cases, it could be in the seeds or bulbs.

You can always take extra precautions by placing your indoor containers in inaccessible areas of your home. But, the best (and most obvious) form of recourse is to avoid buying and planting toxic plants altogether, especially if your dog or cat is known for roaming around outside and nibbling on anything out of sheer curiosity. And if you can't possibly part way with your precious wisteria and tulips this season, growing your flowers on fences is another viable alternative.

Although you can't do anything about the neighbors' gardens, you can protect your pup by starting in your own backyard. According to the ASPCA, these are the safest plants to thrill, fill, and spill, as well as the ones to avoid.

Perennials That Are Toxic to Pets

Aloe Vera - For humans, aloe vera works wonders for the skin and for burns. For dogs and cats, not so much. Symptoms from eating include vomiting, diarrhea, and tremors.

Chrysanthemum - Consuming any part of this autumn bloom can cause gastrointestinal issues and loss of coordination for your four-legged friend.

Carnation - They're not as harmful as other perennials but can cause mild gastrointestinal problems for your beloved pet.

Dahlia - Eating this delicate petal may lead to mild gastrointestinal suffering and dermatitis.

Daisy - Even though most consider this flower as the bedrock of the garden, several species carry dangerous toxins. Gerbera daisies and the blue-eyed African daisy are pet-safe options.

Iris - Irises come in many different colors, but that rainbow of hues could come at a price for your pet. Symptoms include mild to moderate vomiting, drooling, lethargy, and diarrhea. Rhizomes are the most toxic part of the plant.

Lily of the Valley - We adore this shady flower, but it can produce serious symptoms in pets and people, including vomiting, heart arrhythmias, seizures, coma, and, ultimately, death.

Monkshood - This one is a dead giveaway, considering its more common moniker "wolfsbane." All parts of the plant are toxic, especially the roots and seeds. Eating it can cause weakness, heart arrhythmias, paralysis, tremors, and seizures.

Peony - The garden and bouquet filler is a favorite among Southerners, but it poses a health hazard to our pets, including vomiting and diarrhea.

Other toxic perennials you should be aware of are Forget-Me-Nots, Peace Lilies, Coleus, Lavender, and Lenten Rose.

Annuals That Are Toxic to Pets

Begonia - The most toxic part of these plants is the tubers, which can cause irritation of the mouth and vomiting.

Geranium - Commonly grown in outdoor gardens, containers, and hanging baskets, Pelargonium species are toxic for pets, causing skin rashes, vomiting, lethargy, and loss of appetite.

Poinsettia - This traditional holiday plant can cause irritation of the mouth and stomach for kittens and puppies.

Shrubs and Trees That Are Toxic to Pets

Azaleas and Rhododendrons - These bright and popular garden shrubs are not only dangerous for cats and dogs, but for horses, goats, and sheep, too. If leaves are ingested by these animals, it can cause digestive problems, excessive drooling, weakness, and loss of appetite.

Boxwood - Evergreen and ever-dangerous when a significant amount of its leaves are ingested by your pet. It mostly causes dehydration, due to severe vomiting and diarrhea.

Gardenia - Unfortunately, the white and fragrant blooms of this shrub can take a toll on your pet's health, causing mild gastrointestinal distress and rashes.

Hydrangea - Summer and fall gift us with hydrangea's large clusters of flowers, but eating this plant can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Lantana - If you've recently planted this small, tropical shrub, look for signs of diarrhea, weakness, or labored breathing in your pet.

Oak trees - The acorns are harmful to dogs, potentially causing gastrointestinal discomfort, a choking hazard, or even kidney failure or death.

Oleander - This popular blooming shrub is highly toxic, potentially leading to drooling, gastrointestinal symptoms, arrhythmia, and even death.

Rose of Sharon - Most hibiscus species are non-toxic, but dogs that eat Rose of Sharon (H. syriacus) flowers can have a lack of appetite and vomiting. Both stems and flowers are toxic to cats.

Yew - This slow-growing, drought-resistant shrub is attractive in the garden, but it's dangerous for pets and livestock and is known to cause sudden death from acute cardiac failure in dogs.

Bulbs That Are Toxic to Pets

Amaryllis - We love these beautiful bulbs, but they're extremely toxic. If consumed, it can cause abdominal pain, tremors, diarrhea, and hypersalivation for both cats and dogs.

Caladium - Their big flamboyant leaves contain dangerous crystals that can penetrate your pet's skin and mouth, causing severe irritation and difficulty breathing and walking.

Crocus - This chalice-shaped bulb is usually the first sign that spring has arrived, but ingestion of the spring crocus can lead to gastrointestinal upset for your pup.

Daffodil and Jonquil - It's a good thing that daffodils are too pretty to eat because if your pets munch on the bulbs, these plants can cause cardiac issues, convulsions, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Gladiola - Here, it's the corms that lead to excessive drooling, lethargy, and vomiting.

Hyacinth - You may be drawn to its sweet scent, but keep your dogs, cats, and cattle away from this bulb, because it can damage the mouth and esophagus and cause violent tremors.

Lily - To put it simply, lilies are definitely not the cat's meow. The verdant and fragrant bulb can cause kidney failure in cats, but doesn't appear to affect dogs.

Tulip - Eating the cup-shaped flower may lead to convulsions, cardiac problems, and gastrointestinal discomfort.

Vines That Are Toxic to Pets

While these climbing growers are useful for sprucing up your landscaping and vertical space, they can also be toxic to dogs and cats, particularly since wisteria contains poisonous seeds and pods.

Clematis

English and Boston Ivy

Morning Glory

Wisteria

Vegetables and Herbs That Are Toxic to Pets

Tomatoes, Potatoes, and Peppers - The stems and leaves of these plants contain solanine, which can cause severe gastrointestinal distress, weakness, and a slow heart rate. However, the fruits are edible if eaten when fully ripe, or, in the case of potatoes, after cooking. Stick to bell peppers, as spicy peppers can be harmful to pets.

Onions, garlic, and chives - When eaten in large quantities, all plants in the Allium genus can cause anemia in pets.

Mint and Oregano - Eating these herbs can result in gastrointestinal issues for pets.

Pet-Safe Plants for Your Garden

These plants are generally considered safe to plant around Felix and Fido. Keep in mind this list is not exhaustive and only includes some of the most common flowers typically grown in the South. If you are uncertain or suspect your pet has ingested harmful plants, contact your veterinarian.

African violet

Alyssum

Aster

Blooming Sally

Cilantro

Snapdragon

Cornflower

Crape myrtle

Creeping zinnia

Daylilies

Feather palm

Marigolds

Hibiscus

Impatiens

Magnolia bush

Mulberry tree

Pansies

Petunias

Purple passion vine

Sage

Spider ivy

Sunflowers

Sweet potato vine

Thyme

Tiger lily

Zinnia

#toxic flowers for dogs #toxic plants for dogs #dogs and flowers #dogs and flower garden

[ainews]

As the Lenten season approaches, farmers and fantasy enthusiasts alike may find themselves pondering the curious connection between heifers and griffins. While these two may seem like unlikely companions, the reason for their association lies in the significance of Lent and its traditions.

Lent is a period of 40 days leading up to Easter, observed by Christians as a time for fasting, prayer, and penance. It commemorates the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert, resisting temptations from Satan. Many believers choose to give up luxuries or make sacrifices during this time as a form of self-discipline and reflection.

One of the traditions observed during Lent is abstaining from meat on certain days, particularly on Fridays. This practice originated from the belief that eating meat was a form of indulgence and went against the spirit of self-denial during Lent. Instead, people turned to eating fish as an alternative, leading to the popular term “fish Friday.”

But why heifers and griffins specifically? Heifers, or young cows, are traditionally seen as symbols of humility and sacrifice in many cultures. In Christian teachings, it is said that Jesus sacrificed his life for the sins of humanity, and heifers were often used as offerings in ancient times to atone for sins. Thus, abstaining from consuming heifers during Lent is seen as a way to honor this sacrifice.

On the other hand, griffins have their roots in ancient Greek mythology, where they were seen as creatures with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. They are often depicted as guardians or protectors, and their association with Lent can be traced back to their role in medieval bestiaries – illustrated books about mythical creatures. In these books, griffins were often portrayed as symbols of Christ’s resurrection, with their bird-like qualities representing the spiritual nature of Easter.

So, while heifers and griffins may not seem to have much in common, their connection to Lent and its traditions runs deeper than one may expect. From the humble sacrifice of heifers to the spiritual symbolism of griffins, these two creatures remind us of the importance of self-discipline, sacrifice, and renewal during the Lenten season.

As we approach Lent, let us remember the significance of these traditions and use this time for reflection, growth, and renewal. And who knows, perhaps giving up meat and turning to fish Fridays can lead to a newfound appreciation for heifers and griffins as well.

#ai generated #fake news

[miltybc]

lenten journal: rain on me

rain on me today was a rainy day to which the rain never fully committed the mist loitered without purpose the showers were scattered unfocused rather than pelting me as i walked the moisture wafted like a parachutist blown off course putting the whether in weather in it all I found companions in the raindrops knowing I was not the only who felt a little off my game there’s more than one way to…

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[orthodoxydaily]

Saints&Reading: Sunday, February 25, 2024

february 12_february 25

Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee: Entering the Lenten preparation period.

SAINT MELETIOS, ARCHBISHOP OF ANTIOCH (381)

Saint Meletius, Archbishop of Antioch, was Bishop of Sebaste in Armenia (ca. 357), and afterwards he was summoned to Antioch by the emperor Constantius to help combat the Arian heresy, and was appointed to that See.

Saint Meletius struggled zealously against the Arian error, but through the intrigues of the heretics he was thrice deposed from his cathedra by the Emperor Constantius who had become surrounded by the Arians and had accepted their position. In all this Saint Meletius was distinguished by an extraordinary gentleness, and he constantly led his flock by the example of his own virtue and kindly disposition, supposing that the seeds of the true teaching sprout more readily on such soil.

Saint Meletius was the one who ordained the future hierarch Saint Basil the Great as deacon. Saint Meletius also baptized and encouraged another of the greatest luminaries of Orthodoxy, Saint John Chrysostom, who later eulogized his former archpastor.

After Constantius, the throne was occupied by Julian the Apostate, and the saint again was expelled, having to hide himself in secret places for his safety. Returning under the emperor Jovian in the year 363, Saint Meletius wrote his theological treatise, “Exposition of the Faith,” which facilitated the conversion of many of the Arians to Orthodoxy.

In the year 381, under the emperor Theodosius the Great (379-395), the Second Ecumenical Council was convened. In the year 380 the saint had set off on his way to the Second Ecumenical Council at Constantinople, and came to preside over it.

Before the start of the Council, Saint Meletius raised his hand displaying three fingers, and then withdrawing two fingers and leaving one extended he blessed the people, proclaiming: “We understand three hypostases, and we speak about a single nature.” With this declaration, a fire surrounded the saint like lightning. During the Council Saint Meletius fell asleep in the Lord. Saint Gregory of Nyssa honored the memory of the deceased with a eulogy.

Saint Meletius has left treatises on the consubstantiality of the Son of God with the Father, and a letter to the emperor Jovian concerning the Holy Trinity. The relics of Saint Meletius were transferred from Constantinople to Antioch.

SAINT ALEXEI, METROPOLITAN OF MOSCOW AND ALL RUSSIA THE WONDERWORKER (1378)

Saint Alexei, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia the Wonderworker (in the world Eleutherios), was born in the year 1292 (or according to another source, 1304) at Moscow into the family of the noble Theodore Byakont, a descendant of the Chernigov princely line.

The Lord revealed to the future Saint his lofty destiny from early childhood. At twelve years of age Eleutherios went to a field and set nets to ensnare birds. He dozed off and suddenly he heard a voice: “Alexei! Why do you labor in vain? You are to be a catcher of men."

From this day on the boy abandoned childish games and spent much time in solitude. He often attended church, and when he was fifteen he decided to become a monk.

In 1320, he entered Moscow’s Theophany Monastery, where he spent more than twelve years in strict monastic struggles. The renowned ascetics of that monastery, the Elders Gerontios and Saint Stephen (July 14), the brother of Saint Sergius of Radonezh, were guides for him and his companions.

Metropolitan Theognostos, who noticed the virtuous life and spiritual gifts of Saint Alexei, bade the future Saint to leave the monastery and manage the ecclesiastical courts. The Saint fulfilled this office for twelve years. Toward the end of 1350, Metropolitan Theognostos had Alexei consecrated as Bishop of Vladimir. Following the Metropolitan's repose in the year 1354, Saint Alexei succeeded him.

During this period the Russian Church was torn by great rifts and quarrels, in part because of the pretensions of Metropolitan Romanos of Lithuania and Volhynia. In 1356, in order to put an end to the troubles and disturbances, the Saint went to Constantinople to see the Ecumenical Patriarch. Patriarch Kallistos gave Saint Alexei the right to be called, and to consider himself, as both Archbishop of Kiev and Great Russia with the title, “Most Venerable Metropolitan and Exarch.”

On his return journey, during a storm at sea, the ship was in danger of sinking. Saint Alexei prayed and vowed to build a temple to the Saint of that day on which the ship should come to shore. The storm subsided, and the ship arrived on August 16.

In spite of problems on every side, Saint Alexei devoted himself to his flock: he appointed bishops, and established cenobitic monasteries (on the model of the Trinity Lavra, founded by Saint Sergius), and he brought order to Russian relations with the Khans of the Horde. Saint Alexei journeyed more than once to the Golden Horde. In 1357 the Khan told the Great Prince that Saint Alexei should come to him and heal the blindness of his wife Taidulla.

“That is beyond my power,” Metropolitan Alexei replied, “but I believe that God, Who gave sight to the blind, will also help me.” By his prayers, and after sprinkling the Khan's wife with holy water, she was healed.

When Great Prince John died, his young son Demetrios (the future saint), then still a minor, was taken under the Saint Alexei's guardianship. The holy Hierarch had much difficulty in reconciling and appeasing the Princes, who obstinately refused to accept Moscow's authority. Nor did Vladyka Metropolitan neglect the work of establishing new monasteries.

In 1361 he founded a Monastery dedicated to the Icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands at the Yauza in Moscow. Andronikos, the disciple of Saint Sergius, was the first Igoumen of the Monastery, thus fulfilling the vow he had made on his return journey from Constantinople, when the ship was in danger.

Metropolitan Alexei also founded the Chudov Monastery1 in the Moscow Kremlin. Ancient monasteries were restored: the Annunciation Monastery at Nizhni-Novgorod, and Saints Constantine and Helen at Vladimir. In 1361 a women’s cenobitic monastery was named for him (Alekse'ev).

Saint Alexei reached the advanced age of seventy-eight, having spent twenty-four years upon the metropolitan cathedra. He reposed on February 12, 1378 and was buried at the Chudov Monastery in accordance with his last wishes. His relics were uncovered in a miraculous manner fifty years later, after which the memory of the great holy Hierarch and intercessor began to be commemorated.

Saint Alexei is also commemorated on May 20 (Recovery of his relics) and on October 5 (Synaxis of the Moscow Hierarchs).

1 The Monastery is dedicated to the Miracle of the Archangel Michael (September 6).

Source: Orthodox Church in America

2 TIMOTHY 3:10-15

10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra-what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

LUKE 18:10-14

10 Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men-extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 'I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

#orthodoxy #orthodoxchristianity #easternorthodoxchurch #originofchristianity #spirituality #holyscriptures #gospel #bible #wisdom #saints

[adrianodiprato]

+ “When our God reveals Himself, His message is always one of freedom,” ~ Pope Francis

Lent Message: Liberation

As we embark on this sacred season of Lent, Pope Francis's Lenten Message on 1 February 2024, echo through the ages, reminding us that our God is a God of freedom. Lent, a time of grace, invites us to traverse the desert of our lives, just as the Israelites did in their exodus from Egypt. The journey toward liberation is not an abstract concept but a demanding pilgrimage that matures through introspection and desire for a promised land.

In the desert of our modern struggles, we often find ourselves clinging to the familiar, yearning for the past, and grumbling against the challenges of the present. Lent calls us to confront our attachments, to open our eyes to the reality of oppression, and to hear the cries of our oppressed brothers and sisters. In his address Pope Francis posed crucial questions: Do we hear their cry? Does it trouble us? Does it move us? The “globalisation of indifference”, the rule of Pharaoh in our lives, keeps us apart, denying the fraternity that binds us together.

Lent is an opportunity to break free from the chains of indifference and to answer the questions posed in the desert: "Where are you?" (Gen 3:9) and "Where is your brother?" (Gen 4:9). Just as God saw the misery of his people in Egypt, he sees the suffering of the oppressed today. Our Lenten journey must be concrete, a realisation that we too remain under the rule of Pharaoh, a rule that wearies and induces indifference.

The journey toward liberation involves struggle, as witnessed in the Exodus account and Jesus' temptations in the desert. The seduction of false idols, the allure of power and control, can hinder our progress. Are we willing to leave behind compromises with the old and embrace a new world? The witness of those who work for peace and justice highlights the need to combat a deficit of hope, reminiscent of the nostalgia for slavery that paralysed Israel in the desert.

God has not grown weary of us. Lent serves as a reminder that God brought us out of the house of slavery. Like Jesus in the desert, we are driven into a space of freedom. Lent is a season of conversion, a time for the contemplative dimension of life as described by Pope Francis:

“In the presence of God, we become brothers and sisters, more sensitive to one another: in place of threats and enemies, we discover companions and fellow travellers.”

Through prayer, almsgiving, and fasting, we cast out the idols that weigh us down, reviving our famished hearts.

The Church's “synodal form” suggests that Lent is also a time for communitarian decisions, countercurrent choices altering daily lives. We are called to rethink our lifestyles, care for creation, and include those who go unseen. This Lent, may our penance be transformative, bringing forth joyful faces, the scent of freedom, and a love that makes all things new.

As Pope Francis encourages in his message for Lent 2024 Through the Desert God Leads us to Freedom, let us seek courage in the face of risks, understanding our world as in a process of giving birth, not its death throes. This Lent, as we journey toward liberation, may our conversion bring forth creativity and a new hope, guided by faith and charity, hand in hand with the small child called hope.

May God bless you abundantly on your Lenten journey.

Adriano Di Prato is a best-selling author, broadcaster and the Academic Operations Manager at LCI Melbourne, a progressive art, design + enterprise private institute of higher education.

#permissionistriumph #courageovercomfort #Lent

[coraz0ndegranada]

Todays Lenten companion says to offer service to someone you love out of pure love 💌 and that’s exactly my plan

#God #Catholicism #Lent #someone you love #mine

[dailychapel]

Lord, Holy One, have mercy on us. We confess our sins to you. We have fallen short of your glory and without your mercy and grace, we would be dust. We repent now. Lord, as we enter into this Lenten season, be near to us. Help us, by your Holy Spirit, to feel right conviction and repentance for our sin. Help us, by your Spirit, to have the strength to overcome the enemy.

Thank you, Lord, that Easter is coming! Death has no sting, no victory, because of Jesus! Glory and honor and praise to His name! Thank you for rescuing us. Help us keep both the weight and the joy of this season in our hearts and we move through the next several weeks. Help us bear the good fruit of your Spirit.

Acts 22:1–30 NLT - 1 "Brothers and esteemed fathers," Paul said, "listen to me as I offer my defense." 2 When they heard him speaking in their own language, the silence was even greater. 3 Then Paul said, "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today. 4 And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison. 5 The high priest and the whole council of elders can testify that this is so. For I received letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the Christians from there to Jerusalem, in chains, to be punished. 6 "As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' 8 "'Who are you, lord?' I asked. "And the voice replied, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, the one you are persecuting.' 9 The people with me saw the light but didn't understand the voice speaking to me. 10 "I asked, 'What should I do, Lord?' "And the Lord told me, 'Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are to do.' 11 "I was blinded by the intense light and had to be led by the hand to Damascus by my companions. 12 A man named Ananias lived there. He was a godly man, deeply devoted to the law, and well regarded by all the Jews of Damascus. 13 He came and stood beside me and said, 'Brother Saul, regain your sight.' And that very moment I could see him! 14 "Then he told me, 'The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and hear him speak. 15 For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard. 16 What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.' 17 "After I returned to Jerusalem, I was praying in the Temple and fell into a trance. 18 I saw a vision of Jesus saying to me, 'Hurry! Leave Jerusalem, for the people here won't accept your testimony about me.' 19 "'But Lord,' I argued, 'they certainly know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 And I was in complete agreement when your witness Stephen was killed. I stood by and kept the coats they took off when they stoned him.' 21 "But the Lord said to me, 'Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!'" 22 The crowd listened until Paul said that word. Then they all began to shout, "Away with such a fellow! He isn't fit to live!" 23 They yelled, threw off their coats, and tossed handfuls of dust into the air. 24 The commander brought Paul inside and ordered him lashed with whips to make him confess his crime. He wanted to find out why the crowd had become so furious. 25 When they tied Paul down to lash him, Paul said to the officer standing there, "Is it legal for you to whip a Roman citizen who hasn't even been tried?" 26 When the officer heard this, he went to the commander and asked, "What are you doing? This man is a Roman citizen!" 27 So the commander went over and asked Paul, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?" "Yes, I certainly am," Paul replied. 28 "I am, too," the commander muttered, "and it cost me plenty!" Paul answered, "But I am a citizen by birth!" 29 The soldiers who were about to interrogate Paul quickly withdrew when they heard he was a Roman citizen, and the commander was frightened because he had ordered him bound and whipped. 30 The next day the commander ordered the leading priests into session with the Jewish high council. He wanted to find out what the trouble was all about, so he released Paul to have him stand before them.

[surrexi]

"There is naught that you can do, other than to resist, with hope or without it. But you do not stand alone." (Elrond, Fellowship of the Ring, p. 271 del ray mass market paperback 2018)

this feels like an important companion to the conversation between frodo and gandalf about wishing a particular dark time had not come to them.

also it's a quote i'm going to hold close to my heart in this particular time, with fascism on the rise in my country and antifascists deemed as dangerous or moreso than the fascists. with or without hope, we must continue to resist. but no matter how much we feel that we are standing alone, we are not alone. we are never alone.

in the context of lenten reflection, this reminds me that if nothing else, God is always with me. and while that doesn't give me leave to do nothing, it does mean that even when it feels like i am only able to contribute a small amount, or that my contributions don't matter, they are not unseen or unmarked. and if we all make our small contributions, our small stands, together we can have mighty effects.

#lenten lord of the rings #lord of the rings #jrr tolkien #ppl: jrr tolkien #series: lord of the rings #faith #catholicism #lent

[fathersoc]

THE PRIEST

A new prayer booklet was launched recently in time for our Lenten spiritual exercises. It is the “The Way of the Cross for Priests as Prayed by Lay People.” It is an inspiring prayer companion for Lent, written by two seminary professors, Fr. Mylo Vergara, and Fr. Stud Santos. The title of the booklet itself carries a message for the soul. It is the way of the cross of Jesus. Every station along…

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#fathersoc #JesusOurLight

[troybeecham]

Today, the Church remembers Saint Clare of Assisi (July 16, 1194 – August 11, 1253 AD). She was born as Chiara (Clara or Clare in English) Offreduccio, is an Italian saint and one of the first followers of Saint Francis of Assisi. She founded the Order of Poor Ladies, a monastic religious order for women in the Franciscan tradition, and wrote their Rule of Life, the first set of monastic guidelines known to have been written by a woman. Following her death, the order she founded was renamed in her honor as the Order of Saint Clare, commonly referred to today as the Poor Clares.

Ora pro nobis.

St. Clare was born in Assisi, the eldest daughter of Favorino Sciffi, Count of Sasso-Rosso, and his wife Ortolana. Traditional accounts say that Clare's father was a wealthy representative of an ancient Roman family, who owned a large palace in Assisi and a castle on the slope of Mount Subasio. Ortolana belonged to the noble family of Fiumi, and was a very devout woman who had undertaken pilgrimages to Rome, Santiago de Compostela and the Holy Land. Later in life, Ortolana entered Clare's monastery, as did Clare's sisters, Beatrix and Catarina (who took the name Agnes).

As a child, Clare was devoted to prayer. Although there is no mention of this in any historical record, it is assumed that Clare was to be married in line with the family tradition. However, at the age of 18 she heard Francis preach during a Lenten service in the church of San Giorgio at Assisi and asked him to help her to live after the manner of the Gospel. On the evening of Palm Sunday, March 20, 1212, she left her father's house and accompanied by her aunt Bianca and another companion proceeded to the chapel of the Porziuncula to meet Francis. There, her hair was cut, and she exchanged her rich gown for a plain robe and veil.

Francis placed Clare in the convent of the Benedictine nuns of San Paulo, near Bastia. Her father attempted to force her to return home. She clung to the altar of the church and threw aside her veil to show her cropped hair. She resisted any attempt, professing that she would have no other husband but Jesus Christ. In order to provide the greater solitude Clare desired, a few days later Francis sent her to Sant' Angelo in Panzo, another monastery of the Benedictine nuns on one of the flanks of Subasio. Clare was soon joined by her sister Catarina, who took the name Agnes. They remained with the Benedictines until a small dwelling was built for them next to the church of San Damiano, which Francis had repaired some years earlier.

Other women joined them, and they were known as the "Poor Ladies of San Damiano". They lived a simple life of poverty, austerity and seclusion from the world, according to a Rule which Francis gave them as a Second Order (Poor Clares).

San Damiano became the center of Clare's new religious order, which was known in her lifetime as the "Order of Poor Ladies of San Damiano". San Damiano was long thought to be the first house of this order, however, recent scholarship strongly suggests that San Damiano actually joined an existing network of women's religious houses organized by Hugolino (who later became Pope Gregory IX). Hugolino wanted San Damiano as part of the order he founded because of the prestige of Clare's monastery. San Damiano emerged as the most important house in the order, and Clare became its undisputed leader. By 1263, just ten years after Clare's death, the order had become known as the Order of Saint Clare.

In 1228, when Gregory IX offered Clare a dispensation from the vow of strict poverty, she replied: "I need to be absolved from my sins, but not from the obligation of following Christ." Accordingly, the Pope granted them the Privilegium Pauperitatis — that nobody could oblige them to accept any possession.

Unlike the Franciscan friars, whose members moved around the country to preach, Saint Clare's sisters lived in enclosure, since an itinerant life was hardly conceivable at the time for women. Their life consisted of manual labor and prayer. The nuns went barefoot, slept on the ground, ate no meat and observed almost complete silence.

For a short period, the order was directed by Francis himself. Then in 1216, Clare accepted the role of abbess of San Damiano. As abbess, Clare had more authority to lead the order than when she was the prioress and required to follow the orders of a priest heading the community. Clare defended her order from the attempts of prelates to impose a rule on them that more closely resembled the Rule of Saint Benedict than Francis' stricter vows. Clare sought to imitate Francis' virtues and way of life so much so that she was sometimes titled ‘alter Franciscus’, another Francis. She also played a significant role in encouraging and aiding Francis, whom she saw as a spiritual father figure, and she took care of him during his final illness.

After Francis's death, Clare continued to promote the growth of her order, writing letters to abbesses in other parts of Europe and thwarting every attempt by each successive pope to impose a rule on her order which weakened the radical commitment to corporate poverty she had originally embraced. Clare's Franciscan theology of joyous poverty in imitation of Christ is evident in the rule she wrote for her community and in her four letters to Agnes of Prague.

In 1224, the army of Frederick II came to plunder Assisi. Clare went out to meet them with the Blessed Sacrament in her hands. Suddenly a mysterious terror seized the enemies, who fled without harming anybody in the city.

In her later years, Clare endured a long period of poor health. She died on August 11, 1253 at the age of 59. Her last words as reported to have been, "Blessed be You, O God, for having created me."

O God, whose blessed Son became poor that we through his poverty might be rich: Deliver us from an inordinate love of this world, that we, inspired by the devotion of your servant Clare, may serve you with singleness of heart, and attain to the riches of the age to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

#christianity #jesus #saints #god #salvation #peace #faith #monasticism #father troy beecham