-- Romans 2:1 --

-- Romans 2:1 --

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else,
for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning
yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
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Whenever we find ourselves feeling justifiably angry about someone's
sin, we should be careful. We need to speak out against sin, but we
must do so in a spirit of humility. Often the sins we notice most
clearly in others are the ones that have taken root in us. If we look
closely at ourselves, we may find that we are committing the same sins
in more socially acceptable forms. For example, a person who gossips
may be very critical of others who gossip about him or her.

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October 21st - St. Ursula and Her Companions, Virgins

To-day we commemorate the festival of St. Ursula and her companions.
Although her life and martyrdom are variously described by different
historians, we cannot therefore conclude with some heretical writers,
that she never existed, and that all that has been told of her are
fables; for, although historians differ in some points, yet all
unanimously declare that St. Ursula and her companions sacrificed
their lives for their faith, and in defence of their virginity. The
short sketch we give of this Saint is partly taken from the works of
the celebrated Baronius, and partly from the Roman Breviary.

The Roman General, Maximus, surnamed Flavius Magnus Clemens, who
commanded the Imperial armies in Great Britain, caused himself, in
383, to be proclaimed Emperor by his soldiers, while the lawful
Emperor Gratian was still alive. After this, he crossed the sea,
landed on the shores of France, took possession of a large portion of
it, drove the inhabitants away, and occupied the land with his
soldiers, among whom he divided the conquered towns and villages.
Conanus, a tributary king in Great Britain, who commanded one part of
the army of this new Emperor, advised him to bring from England
virgins, who might be given in marriage to the new inhabitants of the
conquered land, in order to keep them in obedience and fidelity to
their master. Maximus, pleased with this advice, sent an embassy to
Great Britain, and stating his reasons, demanded a great number of
maidens. The Britons hesitated not to consent to the new Emperor's
demand, because many of his soldiers were Britons and because Maximus
had given them considerable property. They, therefore, assembled the
desired number of virgins, placed them in several boats, and sent them
to France. The noblest among them was Ursula, daughter of the king of
Wales, who was to become the spouse of Conanus.

The wisdom of the Almighty, however, had decreed otherwise; for,
whilst the ships sailed from England to France, contrary winds arose,
which drove them all to the shores of Germany. It is believed that
they went up the Rhine, and landed in the neighborhood of Cologne. At
that period, the wild Huns happened to be there, whom the Emperor
Gratian had called to his aid against Maximus, who resided for some
time at Treves. When these heathens beheld this large number of
virgins, they forced them to land and would have sacrificed them to
their lust. Ursula, however, the Christian heroine, exhorted all,
rather to suffer the most bitter death than consent to evil. All
followed her admonition, and courageously resisted the savages, who,
in their furious rage, killed the defenceless virgins with swords,
arrows and clubs. Only one of the maidens, Cordula, had escaped and
concealed herself during the massacre; but repenting of her timidity,
she revealed herself on the following day, and last of all, she
received the crown of martyrdom. The bodies of the holy virgins were
buried, with great solemnities, by the inhabitants of Cologne. Their
memory, however, and the veneration with which they were regarded,
were not confined within the walls of this town, but spread over the
whole Christian world.


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Practical Considerations.

St. Ursula encouraged and exhorted her companions to preserve their
purity, and to give up life rather than lose it. Heed it well: the
Saints advise and exhort others to preserve purity. Who, therefore,
are those that tempt others to violate it? St. Bonaventure says: "The
mouth of him who tempts others to impurity, is the mouth of a devil!"
Hence, those who tempt to impurity are incarnate devils, or the devil
speaks through their mouths. How senseless are you, therefore, when
you listen to them and follow their advice. St. Ursula and her
companions did not listen to the savage Huns and followed them not.
Thus must you act, and neither listen to them nor obey them who would
tempt you to the least sin against purity. "Shun and abhor," says St.
Nilus, "all those who would prevent you from the practice of virtue,
and who tempt you to violate the laws of God and to sin against
purity." Detest them as you would the Evil One himself; for, in truth,
"There is no difference between an evil spirit and a human being
tempting you to impurity," says St. Cyril of Alexandria.


Saint Quote:
"...the great movement of apostasy being organized in every country
for the establishment of a One-World Church which shall have neither
dogmas, nor hierarchy, neither discipline for the mind, nor curb for
the passions, and which, under the pretext of freedom and human
dignity, would bring back to the world (if such a Church could
overcome) the reign of legalized cunning and force, and the oppression
of the weak, and of all those who toil and suffer."
=E2=80=94Pope Saint Pius X, "Our Apostolic Mandate," 1910

Bible Quote:
 Be you humbled therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may
exalt you in the time of visitation:  Casting all your care upon him,
for he hath care of you.  [1Pe 5:6-7] DRB


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O Lord Our God

O Lord our God, what sins I have this day committed in word, deed, or
thought, forgive me, for You are gracious, and You love all men. Grant me
peaceful and undisturbed sleep, send me Your guardian angel to protect and
guard me from every evil, for You are the guardian of our souls and bodies,
and to You we ascribe glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost,
now and forever and unto the ages of ages. - Amen