On Self-Examination, and the Purpose of Amendment: [I]

 On Self-Examination, and the Purpose of Amendment: [I]

CHRIST.
 It is fitting that a priest be endowed above all else with humility
of heart and profound reverence, and that when he celebrates, handles
or receives this Sacrament, he does so with firm faith and with the
sacred purpose of giving glory to God. Therefore carefully examine
your conscience to the best of your ability, cleansing and purifying
it by true contrition and humble confession. Thus will you retain no
grave matter on it that may keep you from approaching the Sacrament.
Grieve for your sins in general, and for your besetting sins in
particular. And, if time allow, confess to God from the depths of your
heart all the misery of your passions. (Ps.32:5)
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Book 4 Ch.7

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August 7th - BB. Agathangelo and Cassian

(Died 1638)
One of the tragedies of Christian history was the alienation of
several of the great ancient churches of the Mideast from their
original union with the See of St. Peter. Since Vatican II, efforts
towards reconciliation have been ecumenical; i.e., seeking to reunite
whole churches through quiet discussion. The earlier strategy had
mostly been to bring individuals or smaller groups back to unity with
Rome.

In the 17th century, for example, Capuchin Franciscans from France
undertook to establish contacts with the separated churches of the
Middle East. A mission was set up in Cairo in 1630 among the Coptic (=
Egyptian) Christians. These were considered heretical by both the
Catholics and the Orthodox because they had not officially accepted
the condemnation of monophysism, the error that after the incarnation
Christ had not two natures (divine and human) but only one.

In 1633, a Capuchin friar, Father Agathangelo of Vendome, was named
head of this Cairo mission. With him went a Father Cassian of Nantes.

The friars approached the Coptic hierarchy in a most friendly way. As
a result, they were granted permission to preach, discuss theology,
and give spiritual conferences in Coptic church buildings. The
Capuchins also befriended the monks of one of the oldest Coptic
monasteries. Thus they were able to reconcile several Coptic
Christians to the Holy See.

Unfortunately, the good impression made by the friars was largely
offset by the gross immorality of members of the French colony in
Egypt. Father Agathangelo did his best to correct this bad example,
but with little success. Agathangelo and Cassian were almost relieved,
therefore, to be reassigned to Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Christian
Church was closely allied with the Coptic Church, and shared its
supposed approval of the monophysitic heresy.

Nevertheless, the two Franciscans knew that their new assignment was
perilous, for the Ethiopians thought little of Catholics. Furthermore,
there was then living in Ethiopia, as they would learn, a Lutheran
physician named Peter Heyling, who was bitterly anti-Catholic. When he
heard that Capuchins were coming into the country, he at once told the
Ethiopian authorities that these Franciscans were a bad lot. As a
result, the friars had scarcely set foot within the border when they
were arrested, loaded with chains, and forced to march to the
provincial capital of Gondar. Brought before King Basilides, they
stated that they were Catholic religious from France; and they asked
to speak to Abuna Mark, the newly appointed head of the Ethiopian
Church, whom they had met in Cairo, and to whom they had an official
letter of introduction.

Abuna Mark had indeed met them in Cairo, but Dr. Heyling had already
turned him against them. The Abuna not only refused to give them
audience, but recommended that the king hang them both without delay.
Basilides did not want to do that, and a Moslem at court also tried to
persuade Mark to change his mind. But Heyling and Mark and the king’s
mother stirred up a mob against the friars. There was no turning back.

Agathangelo and Cassian were given the option of accepting the
monophysitic error or being executed. They refused to deny their
faith. There was an embarrassing moment before the execution: the
executioners had no rope. “Here,” said Cassian, “take the ropes we
wear around our waists.” The suggestion was accepted. As the two swung
from their own cinctures, Mark commanded all bystanders to throw
stones at them.

But death was not the end. For the next four nights, it is said, a
miraculous light appeared above the bodies. Basilides, terrified,
ordered that they be cut down. Some Catholics buried them in an
unmarked grave. Pope St. Pius X beatified Fathers Agathangelo and
Cassian in 1905.

Ironically, in 1989, after an ecumenical conference between the
Orthodox churches and the “monophysitic” churches, including the
Coptic and the Ethiopian, all agreed that they taught the same
doctrine, that in Christ incarnate there are two natures. Pope
Shenouda, the  patriarch of the Copts, had made the same statement to
Pope John Paul II at an official meeting a few years before. Thus, the
two Capuchins had died in defense of a doctrine that their
executioners themselves held without realizing it! The irony of
violence!
–Father Robert


Saint Quote:
Simply proclaim the Lord Christ holy in your hearts, and always have
your answer ready for people who ask you the reason for the hope that
you have. But give it with courtesy and respect and with a clear
conscience, so that those who slander your good behaviour in Christ
may be ashamed of their accusations.
--Saint Peter from 1 Peter 3: 15-16

Bible Quote:
Put ye on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, the bowels
of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience: Bearing with one
another and forgiving one another, if any have a complaint against
another. Even as the Lord hath forgiven you, so do you also.
(Colossians 3:12-13 ) DRB


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 Prayer to Jesus:

I love You, O my God, and my only desire is to love
 You until the last breath of my life.
I love You, O my infinitely lovable God,
and I would rather die loving You, than live without loving You.
I love You, Lord and the only grace I ask is to love You eternally
My God, if my tongue cannot say in every moment that I love You,
I want my heart to repeat it to You as often as I draw breath.
--Saint John Vianney