How we may not Inquire into the Unsearchable Judgments of God [I]

How we may not Inquire into the Unsearchable Judgments of God [I]

CHRIST.
My son, avoid controversy over high things and the judgements of God.
Do not argue why this person is so forsaken while another is endowed
with great graces; or why one person is so grievously afflicted, while
another is so richly rewarded. These things are above human
understanding, and neither reasoning nor argument is competent to
explain the judgements of God. Therefore, when the enemy suggests
these things to your mind, or when inquisitive people ask about them,
answer with the prophet, 'Thou are just, 0 Lord, and Thy judgements
are right. (Ps. 119:137) My judgements are to be respected, not
discussed, for they are beyond the comprehension of the human mind'.
(Rom.11:33)
--Thomas =C3=A0 Kempis --Imitation of Christ Book 3 Ch. 58

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July 9th - St. Valeriano

Ariadne, daughter of Eastern Roman Emperor Leo I (ruled 457=E2=80=93474),
married Zeno the Isaurian, and gave him a son. The birth of this boy
pleased the Emperor, and since he had no son he considered this
grandson as heir to the throne. However, the small Prince was attacked
by a strange illness that had characteristics of a diabolical
possession. All the remedies applied to cure the child were useless.

At that time a young man called Valeriano was living in Armenia. His
reputation for sanctity was great, for through his prayers God worked
great miracles. Leo I heard of him and sent a messenger asking him to
come to Constantinople. Valeriano agreed. While visiting the child, he
made a Sign of the Cross over him and the illness left without any
trace. As a reward for this action, Leo I treated Valeriano in a truly
imperial way. Since he was intelligent and wise, the Emperor offered
him a position as one of his first palace officials.

This sudden rise of status did not change the habits of Valeriano, who
amidst the worldly court, always gave the best example. His pleasing
appearance also contributed to the general esteem he won. The Emperor
had such confidence in him that he would not make any serious
decisions without first asking his opinion. Valeriano took advantage
of this situation to defend the Church, his homeland (Armenia), and
the poor.

At the time, the Western Roman Empire was falling apart. Italy itself
was the theater of barbarian invasions and the entire country was
upset by the Arian heresy. Valeriano was sent to Italy to pacify the
region of Emilia Romagna.To insure his safety and success, the Emperor
chose 80 of his best soldiers to be the personal escort of Valeriano.
In combat he was very courageous and his subordinates were encouraged
to see his ardent zeal in fighting the Arians, the enemies of the
Catholic Religion. St. Valeriano led his troops to Forli and
surrounded the city, which was under the control of Leobard, an Arian
tyrant.

Every night of the siege, St. Valeriano used to leave the camp to pray
alone and meditate on divine things. Leobard was informed of this by
his spies in the camp. He took advantage of this weak point, surprised
Valeriano at prayer, and killed him. The heretic thought that without
their leader, the troops would become discouraged and lift the siege.
Precisely the opposite happened. Eager to avenge Valeriano=E2=80=99 death, =
the
soldiers quickly took the city, punished the guilty and re-established
the Catholics in their proper places. The inhabitants of Forli chose
him as their Patron Saint and placed his effigy on the seal of the
city. He is mounted on his horse, with this caption underneath: St.
Valeriano martyr, protector of the city of Forli.


Comments of the late Prof. Plinio Corr=C3=AAa de Oliveira: (died 1995)

This is a most beautiful selection. To be properly understood, a short
historic overview of that time is necessary.

In that epoch, the most civilized part of the world was the
Mediterranean basin. Two Empires had capital importance: the Eastern
Roman Empire and the Western Roman Empire. Both empires surrounded the
Mediterranean Sea, which the Romans proudly called mare nostrum--our
sea.

The fates of these two Roman Empires were quite different. The Western
Roman Empire centered on the Italian Peninsula and encompassed all the
European territory from the west of the Rhine to England and Scotland.
This immense territory had suffered invasions of the barbarian German
tribes, which had adopted the Arianism introduced by a heretic bishop
called Ulfilas. Therefore, these barbarians invaded the Western Roman
Empire with a true hatred against the Catholic Church.

To simplify things, the Arians at that time were more or less what the
Protestants are today, but they had a great strength and capacity to
expand, characteristics that the Protestants lost. Thus you should
imagine a powerful, active heresy at the apex of its strength entering
the Western Roman Empire riding double behind the barbarians on their
horses.

This Western Roman Empire was tremendously decadent. St. Augustine
pointed to the tepidity of Catholics as one the determining factors of
this decadence. He also predicted that, given this general tepidity,
there would be no resistance against powerful and efficacious enemies.
In fact, there was no serious resistance when the barbarians invaded.

So, the Arian-barbarian hordes poured over all of Italy, destroying
churches, killing Bishops and priests, profaning the Sacraments, and
also destroying great masterpieces of Roman Civilization. This
enormous earthquake, so to speak, shook the imposing Roman structure
of the Western Roman Empire.

To understand the extent of those invasions, you need to realize that
the barbarians did not just enter Europe to loot and then return to
their places. They entered with the clear intent of staying. Thus,
with these new, ignorant and heretical populations, they took over
whole cities that until then had been governed by Catholics. On the
other hand, the Eastern Roman Empire shone brilliantly with all the
charms of the East. Its capital, Constantinople=E2=80=94on the borders of t=
he
Bosphorus Strait=E2=80=94was considered the most beautiful city of both
Empires. It was famous for its ornate churches, palaces and
institutions, all set in a magnificent maritime panorama.

The emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire was titled Basileus, and lived
in a magnificent court, at which many saints played important roles.
There were also heresies in the Eastern Empire. Actually, most of the
heresies of the time were born in the Eastern Roman Empire, including
Arianism. The Catholic Religion blossomed in the Eastern Empire,
principally eremitism, that is, the holy men who abandoned the cities
and retired to the deserts to live completely solitary lives.

Now then, in the court of the Eastern Roman Empire lived this young
Valeriano, who was, as the selection remarks, an Armenian. The Emperor
invited him to assume a very important position a kind of government
minister, and he came to exert considerable influence over this entire
Empire....The Arians of Forli, sought an opportunity to kill him. One
night, they fell upon him in prayer and took his life.

The Scripture says: =E2=80=9CStrike the Shepherd that the sheep may be
scattered=E2=80=9D (Zech 4:9). The enemies expected that with the death of =
St.
Valeriano, the army raising the siege would disperse. However, the
opposite happened. St. Valeriano was prepared for Heaven and God
permitted his life to be taken. Then, instead of commanding his
soldiers on earth, he went to Heaven and from there, ignited an
unexpected fervor in his soldiers, who took the entire city. His
warriors returned the Catholics to their positions of command and
influence, and Our Lady returned to honor in Forli....

See More at:
http://www.traditioninaction.org/SOD/j221sd_Valeriano_07_09.html


Saint Quote:
Hence, I tearfully beg you to refrain from seeking the favors of the
world and to renounce all that is carnal. It is impossible to follow
both the world and Jesus. Let us live a life of renunciation, for our
bodies will soon be dust and nothing else will last any longer.
-- Saint Jerome

Bible Quote:
In thy sight are all they that afflict me; my heart hath expected
reproach and misery. And I looked for one that would grieve together
with me, but there was none: and for one that would comfort me, and I
found none. And they gave me gall for my food, and in my thirst they
gave me vinegar to drink."  (Ps. 68:21-22)


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TRAVELLER'S PRAYER # 2 (Before starting a Journey)

O Almighty and merciful God, who hast commissioned Thy angels to guide
and protect us, command them to be our assiduous companions from our
setting out until our return; to clothe us with their invisible
protection; to keep from us all danger of collision, of fire, of
explosion, of fall and bruises, and finally, having preserved us from
all evil, and especially from sin, to guide us to our heavenly home.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.