Good deeds done for God

 Good deeds done for God

  "Every good deed that is done for God is universally good for
everything and everyone. Deeds that are not seen to benefit everything
and everyone, however, are done on account of man, as the present
matter itself demonstrates. For example, those who build reliquaries
and adorn churches seem to be doing good. If they imitate the justice
of God, if the poor benefit from their goods and if they do not
acquire their goods through violence against others, it is clear that
they are building for the glory of God. If they fail to observe God’s
justice... and if the poor never benefit from their goods and if they
acquire their goods from others by means of violence or fraud, who is
so foolish not to understand that they are building for human respect
rather than for the glory of God? Those who build reliquaries in a
just manner ensure that the poor do not suffer as a result of it. For
the martyrs do not rejoice when they are honored by gifts for which
the poor paid with their tears. What kind of justice is it to give
gifts to the dead and to despoil the living or to drain blood from the
poor and offer it to God? To do such things is not to offer sacrifice
to God but to attempt to make God an accomplice in violence, since
whoever knowingly accepts a gift which was acquired by sinful means
participates in the sin."
--Author unknown, from the 5th century (excerpt from an incomplete
Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, HOMILY 45)

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September 2nd - St. Castor of Apt

Memorial
2 September
21 September on some calendars
25 September on some calendars

Tradition tells us that Castor was born in France in the latter part
of the 4th century and may have been the brother of St. Leontius of
Fréjus. He apparently was from a good and possibly wealthy family,
because as a young man he was married to the daughter of a very
wealthy widow from Marseilles. Most likely his family were very pious
Christians, because Castor and his bride were both drawn to religious
life.

Castor founded a monastery at Mananque, near Apt in the Provençe
region of France and became its first abbot. He was later appointed
bishop of Apt, an ecclesiastical office he tried to avoid. However
tradition tells us that he was a very able and holy leader. His
greatest emphasis was calling his people to conversion and a deepening
of the love for God and their desire to serve Christ through caring
for the poor and needy.

Despite the arduous demands of his bishopric, Castor kept close
contact with his monks encouraging them in their journey to God. It
was due to his request that John Cassian wrote, "De institutis
coenobiorum," a treatise on the monastic life, which was dedicated to
Castor. Castor died about the year 425. Relics in the cathedral of
Apt, France


Saint Quote:
Do not grieve over the temptations you suffer. When the Lord intends
to bestow a particular virtue on us, He often permits us first to be
tempted by the opposite vice. Therefore, look upon every temptation as
an invitation to grow in a particular virtue and a promise by God that
you will be successful, if only you stand fast.
--St. Philip Neri

Bible Quote:
 “I hate, I despise your feasts,
    and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and
cereal offerings,
    I will not accept them,
and the peace offerings of your fatted beasts
    I will not look upon.
 Take away from me the noise of your songs;
    to the melody of your harps I will not listen.
 But let justice roll down like waters,
    and righteousness like an everflowing stream. [Amos 5:21-24]  RSVCE


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The following is a hymn-prayer from the Precious
Blood Manual of the Sisters of the Precious Blood:

O Sacred Heart of Jesus
I place my trust in Thee
Whatever may befall me, Lord,
Though dark the hour may be.

In all my joys, in all my woes,
Though no such thing but grief I see,
O Sacred Heart of Jesus,
I place my trust in Thee.

When those I love have passed away
And I am achingly distressed,
O Sacred heart of Jesus,
I fly to Thee for rest.

In all my trials great or small,
My confidence shall be
Unshaken as I cry, dear Lord,
"I place my trust in Thee."

This is my one sweet prayer, O Lord!
My faith, my trust, my love
But most of all, in that last hour
When death inclines to Thee above.

Ah, then, sweet Saviour, may Thy face
Smile on my soul set free.
Oh, may I cry with rapturous love,
"I've placed my trust in Thee."