-- Romans 2:13 --

-- Romans 2:13 --

13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God,
but the doers of the law who will be justified
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Those who are doers and not only hearers will be justified and made
righteous through the saving power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It
is obvious in this passage that Paul fully embraces the principle of
justification according to one's works--not works alone but
justification through works which are not our works but instead the
works of God working in us as the fruit of a life lived in obedience
of faith to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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February 20th =E2=80=93 St. Sadoth, Visionary & Comp., Martyrs
(Also known as Shahdost, Schadost, Schiadustes)

Died c. 342.
Sadoth, meaning friend of the king in Persian, succeeded Saint Simeon
Barsabbae as bishop of Seleucia-Ctesiphon, the two main cities of
Persia situated on the Tigris River. A new persecution of Christians
by King Shapur II began soon after his election. Sadoth and his clergy
hid, although they remained in close contact with their flock.

During this time, Sadoth had a vision that God was calling him to shed
his blood. He called his clergy together to relate the message: "I saw
in my sleep, a ladder environed with light and reaching from earth to
the heavens. Saint Simeon was at the top of it, and in great glory. He
beheld me at the bottom, and said to me, with a smiling countenance:
'Mount up, Sadoth, fear not. I mounted yesterday, and it is your turn
today': which means, that as he was slain last year, so I am to follow
him thus." He urged them to serve God with increased zeal to ensure
they were ready to take possession of their inheritance. They did not
seek death but were ready to embrace it.

Saint Maruthas, who wrote Sadoth's acta, meditated: "A man that is
guided by the Spirit, fears not death. He loves God, and goes to him
with an incredible ardor; but he who lives according to the desires of
the flesh, trembles, and is in despair at its approach: he loves the
world, and it is with grief that he leaves it."

During the second year of the persecution, Sadoth and 128 others were
arrested. Most of these were martyred immediately after their arrest,
but Sadoth and eight others were detained for five months in a filthy
dungeon at Bei-Lapat and tortured before being executed. Three times
they were racked and questioned. Amid the sound of bones being broken
and urgings to apostatize, Sadoth answered in the name of all, that
the sun was but a creature, the work of God, made for the good of
mankind; that they would pay supreme adoration to none but the Creator
of heaven and earth, and never be unfaithful to him; that it was
indeed in their power to take away their lives, but that this would be
the greatest favor they could do them. And the soldiers urged them to
renounce Christ.

As with one voice the martyrs cried: "We shall not die, but live and
reign eternally with God and his Son Jesus Christ. Kill us as soon as
you please; for we repeat it to you that we will not adore the sun."
The king sentenced them to death. The martyrs thanked God and
encouraged one another. They were chained two and two together, and
led out of the city to execution, singing psalms and canticles of joy
as they went. At the place of their martyrdom they sang louder and
even more joyfully, giving thanks to God for his mercy, and begging
for the grace of perseverance and that by this baptism of their blood
they might enter into his glory. These prayers and praises of God did
not cease until the last of this blessed company was beheaded.

Shapur II ordered that Sadoth be separated from his flock and sent
into the province of the Huzites, where he was beheaded and rejoined
his happy flock in the kingdom of glory. Ancients Chaldaic writers
quoted by Assemani say that Simeon Barsabbae was Sadoth's maternal
uncle (Attwater, Benedictines, Husenbeth).


Saint Quote:
"Inventors of unlawful heresies who indeed refer to the Scriptures,
but do not hold such opinions as the saints have handed down, and
receiving them as the traditions of men, err, because they do not
rightly know them, nor their power. Therefore Paul justly praises the
Corinthians, (1st Cor. 11:2) because their opinions were in accordance
with his traditions."
--St Athanasius the Apostolic. 298-373 AD.

Bible Quote:
For the Son of man also is not come to be ministered unto: but to
minister and to give his life a redemption for many.  (Mark 10:45) DRB


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Prayer of the Handmaids of the Eucharist

"Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, truly present in the Holy Eucharist,
 I consecrate my body and soul to be entirely one with Thy Heart,
 being sacrificed at every instant on all the altars of the world
and giving praise to the Father, pleading for the coming of Thy Kingdom.

Please receive this humble offering of myself. Use me as Thou
willest for the glory of the Father and the salvation of souls.

Most Holy Mother of God,
never let me be separated from Your Divine Son.
Please defend and protect me as Your special child.
Amen."