The Seven Holy Martyrs, the Maccabees, their teacher Eleazar, and their mother, Solomoni

On August 1, the Byzantine Rite commemorates the seven holy Martyrs, the Maccabees, and of their teacher Eleazar and their mother Solomoni and the Procession of the precious and life-giving Cross.

They all suffered for the purity of the faith of Israel under King Antiochus, called by some "Epiphanos," the "enlightened one" and by others "Epimanis" the "insane one." Because of the great sins in Jerusalem and especially the vying over priestly authority and crimes committed during the occasion of this struggle, God permitted a great calamity on the Holy City. After that, Antiochus wanted by any means to impose upon the Jews the idolatry of the Hellenes in place of their faith in the one living God and he did everything toward this goal. Assisting Antiochus in his intention were some treacherous high priests and other elders of Jerusalem. On one occasion, King Antiochus himself came to Jerusalem and ordered that all Jews eat the meat of swine, contrary to the Law of Moses, for eating pork was an apparent sign that one has disowned the faith of Israel. The elder Eleazar, a priest and one of the seventy translators of the Old Testament into the Greek language (the Septuagint) would not partake of pork. Because of that, Eleazar was tortured and burned. Returning to Antioch, the king took with him the seven sons called the Maccabees and their mother Solomonia. The seven Maccabean brothers were called: Avim, Antonius, Eleazar, Gurius, Eusebon, Achim and Marcellus. Before the eyes of their mother, the wicked king tortured the sons, one by one, ripping the skin from their faces and, afterward, casting them into the fire. They all bravely endured torture and death but they did not disown their faith. Finally, when the mother saw her last son, the three-year old in the fire, she leaped into the flames and was consumed in the fire rendering her soul to God. They all suffered honorably for the faith in the one living God about one hundred eighty years before Christ.

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From Vespers

Stichera of the precious Cross.
Tone 4. As noblest of Martyrs.

As general protection, as source of sanctification, let us embrace the precious Cross; for it calms sufferings, brings an end to diseases and delivers sufferers from pains of every kind. More than the great deep it forms a sea with streams of wonders for those who faithfully venerate and reverence its image.
We mortals, who sail among the waves of life and are storm-tossed by a tempest of sufferings, let us with faith take refuge in the precious Tree as a vessel of salvation, and it will silence the waves and the winds and break the passions, and we will reach in joy the haven of salvation without storms.

The all-holy Cross has shone more brightly than the sun, shedding wonders like sunbeams and healings like flashes of lightning. Let us mortals, ever held fast by the darkness of dread dangers, draw near and we shall receive the light-bringing grace of healings as we magnify the God who was nailed to it in the flesh.

Stichera of the Saints.
Tone 1. All-praised Martyrs.

Tyranny did not shake the roof of the Law, supported by seven pillars; for they bravely endured the irrational frenzy of the persecutor, giving up their bodies to the executioners, those noble youths, kinsmen of Moses and guardians of God’s decrees.
Raising their minds on high beyond things visible the most devout and noble Children, with their mother wise in God, strengthened by the highest hopes had their bodily limbs hacked off. These hopes they have now attained as they rest in the bosom of Abraham their own forefather.
Stoutly arming themselves with youth of soul and whetting their courage most holy Eleazar, the all-wise youths with their mother, wise in God, unflinchingly held their ground against the adversary for the sake of true religion and the maintenance of their ancestral Law.

Glory. Tone 8. By Monk John.

The holy Maccabees said to the tyrant, ‘For us, Antiochos, there is one King: God, from whom we came to be and to whom we return. Another world awaits us, higher and more lasting than the one we see. Our native land is Jerusalem, the mighty and indestructible. Our festival is life with the Angels.’ O Lord, at their prayers have mercy and save us.

Both now. The same.

Your precious Cross, O Christ, which Moses of old prefigured in himself when he overthrew and routed Amalek; and of which David in song cried out and decreed that your footstool was to be worshipped, today we sinners worship with unworthy lips, as we sing your praise who deigned to be nailed to it and we beg: O Lord, with the Thief count us worthy of your kingdom.

At the Aposticha, Prosomia of the Cross.
Tone 1. Joy of the heavenly hosts.

As the precious Cross comes forth, come, lovers of festivals, let us celebrate the feast, let us be radiant and cry aloud with unwavering faith: O Cross of Christ, sanctify us with the grace of the One who was lifted up on you, and rescue us from every harm by your power.

Verse: Exalt the Lord, our God; and worship at his footstool, for he is holy.

The precious Cross prepares the paths to heaven for all who worship it with fear and love, and the One who was nailed upon it numbers with the choirs of the immaterial Powers those who with longing sing its praise.

Verse: God, who is our King before the ages, has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.

As we worship in faith the precious Cross, we worship the Master who was nailed upon it, by whose will we purify our lips and souls, by its spiritual illumination we are made radiant as we praise it.

Glory. Tone 8. By Monk Kosmas.

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of the Lord, like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the forefathers before the Law and ancestors of the Maccabees, who are now the objects of our praise. For they, as children of Abraham, were valiant in soul and zealous for the faith of the forefather Abraham, and they struggled even to death for the sake of true religion; for having together lived devoutly and competed lawfully they refuted the impiety if accursed Antiochos, and preferring none of the things of this present life, they offered everything to God: souls, courage, senses, tender bodies and the recompenses of those brought up in purity. O devout root from which you sprang, O Maccabees! O holy mother, who gave birth to a number equal to the days of the week! But we implore you, O Maccabees, with your mother Solomoni and the wise priest Eleazar, when you stand before Christ God, for whose sake you have toiled, as you receive the labours of your fruits, make intercession for mankind. For he does whatever he wills and fulfils the wishes of you that fear him.

Both now. The same.

The saying of your Prophet Moses has been fulfilled, O God, which said, ‘See your life hanging before your eyes.’ Today the Cross is exalted and world is freed from error. Today the Resurrection of Christ is consecrated, and the ends of the earth rejoice as with David’s cymbals they offer you their hymn and say, ‘You have wrought salvation in midst of the earth, O God, good and the lover of mankind: the Cross and Resurrection, through which you have saved us. All-powerful Lord, glory to you.’

Apolytikion of the Saints. Tone 1.

O be entreated by the sufferings which the Saints endured for you, O Lord; and heal all our pains, O Lover of mankind.

Of the Cross. Same Tone.

Lord, save your people and bless your inheritance, granting to faithful Christians victories over their enemies, and protecting your commonwealth by your Cross.

Why we fight

The value of suffering

by Lou Pizzuti

Apostle: 1 Cor 10:12-22

Brethren, let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

 Therefore, my beloved, shun the worship of idols.  I speak as to sensible men; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. Consider the practice of Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar? What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.  Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

Gospel: Matthew 16:20-24

In those days, Jesus strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men.”

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me".

Reflection:

Do you realize that, as Christians, we are called to suffer?  If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  Yes, suffering is itself a sacrifice, and, like all sacrifices, it is something we can offer up to God. But what do we learn from today's scripture about suffering?


1) The very first thing to remember is this: With every hurt, every time we suffer, there is the temptation to give up. But, St. Paul tells us,  God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.  God will never give you a temptation beyond what you can bear.  And, that means that He will never give you suffering that you cannot bear.

Do you remember when Paul and Silas were thrown into jail in Philippi?  They were beaten, yet, at midnight, they were singing and praising God.  They bore their suffering. Jesus bore his suffering. And as Paul is an imitator of Christ, we are to be imitators of him;  we, too, can bear our suffering.

2) Not only will we be tempted because of our own comfort to give up, to avoid suffering, those closest to us will tempt us to give up. And Peter took him and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” How did Jesus respond?  Just as we must.  But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men.”

3) God brings good from our suffering.  From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.   Paul reminds us in Colossians 1, Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.  

Ponder that for a moment.

Our suffering in the flesh completes what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of the church.  What is lacking in his afflictions?  In and of itself, there can be nothing lacking in Christ's afflictions.

So, what does Paul mean?

Think of the Sun.  If you take a magnifying glass and use it to focus sunlight on a piece of paper, the paper catches fire.  Now, the sun is not any stronger because of magnifying glass, but its power is more focused. It's that way with our suffering.  When we offer up our suffering as a sacrifice, the power of Christ's affliction is focused on the needs that WE would address.

God entrusts us with that power.


My friends, don't bemoan the fact that you must suffer.  Rejoice in it, because, through it, God has given you, a Royal Priest (1 Pet 2:9; Ex. 19:6), the authority to focus His grace in the lives of others.

Mary, the New Eve?

We all know that Paul speaks of Christ as the Last Adam; and "the New Adam" or "the Second Adam" have been used interchageably to indicate the same eternal truth, that in Him in the new foundation for the human race - a human race where mortal man can partake of the sinless divine nature, because the human and divine natures are joined in the Incarnation.

But, in the second century, the term "Second Eve" began to be applied to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Why?  Because, just as the First Eve was the Mother of all the physically living, so the Second Eve is the Mother of the spiritually living.  A good analogy, but is it biblical to apply the term, one might ask.

Let us examine a few passages

• Adam referred to Eve as "Woman" - "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman because she was taken out of Man." (Gen 2:23).  Likewise, Jesus referred to Mary as "Woman" (John 2:4)
• At the foot of the Cross, we find only one of the Apostles, John.  And, to John, representing the whole Church, Christ says, "behold your Mother" (John 19:27)
• Mary is present in the Upper Room, praying, awaiting the birth of the Church.  St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort wrote, "... the more [The Holy Spirit] finds Mary his dear and inseparable spouse in a soul the more powerful and effective he becomes in producing Jesus Christ in that soul and that soul in Jesus Christ".  And more so is this true at the very birth of the Church, the Body of Christ.
• Gen 3:15 says (in some translations) - I will put enmity between you and the woman,    and between your seed and her seed; she shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise her heel." Yes, some translations (and most, but not all, Hebrew Masoretic texts) say "he shall bruise", and "his heel".  And, ultimately, "He", referring to Christ, is true - our salvation, our triumph flow from Him. Nevertheless, the she/her tradition is attested to, not only by early Christian authors, but also by Jewish writers such as Philo of Alexandria, Josephus, and Moses Maimonides.  And it is rightful that it should be a woman who crushes the Serpent's head, since it was a woman whom the Serpent deceived.  

Thus, in crushing the Serpent's head - by offering her body to God (Luke 1:38) that God the Word might become flesh and dwell among us (John 1:14), by sharing in His sufferings (Luke 2:35), by being the Mother of the Spiritually alive - Mary, the Theotokos, becomes the Second Eve.

The Priestly-Martyr Polychronius, Bishop of Babylon

Today we celebreation the Priestly-Martyr Polychronius, Bishop of Babylon

When Emperor Decius overran Babylon, he captured Polychronius with three presbyters, two deacons and two baptized princes, Eudin and Senis. Polychronius did not want to respond before the emperor and remained silent, while St.Parmenius, the presbyter, spoke on behalf of all. The emperor took the bishop and priests to Persia, to the city of Kordoba, and there they were beheaded. The princes, Eudin and Senis, were taken with them to Rome and there, at first, they were thrown to the wild beasts and later slain by the sword. They all suffered honorably in the year 251 A.D.

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Will you be ready when persecution comes? Or will you hide your faith?

Muslims are making history, but not in a way of which the world can be proud

Apparently Jews are more interested in exposing Christian genocide than the Western Press.

Christians have lived in Mosul, Iraq for at least over 2,000 years, according to historical documents. That has all changed with the threats that any Christian who stayed would be slaughtered.

ISIS have officially forced the last living Christian in Mosul to leave the city, ending 2 millennia of Christian existence, which began with St. Peter’s scriptural reference to the church in Babylon.

Assyrian International News Agency reports:

The last Christian reportedly left Iraq’s second largest city of Mosul at 12:00pm on Saturday, ending over 6,000 years of Assyrian history in the city. Assyrians have lived in Mosul for over 6,000 years, converting to Christianity over 2,000 years ago. This all came to an end on Saturday, when the last Assyrian Christian left the city. On Thursday, July 17th, the Islamic State (IS)– formerly the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS)– released a statement demanding the Christians in Mosul either to convert to Islam, paying the jizya (tax on non-Muslims), leave the city, or be killed. The threat was to be implemented on Saturday. It is being reported locally that by noon yesterday, every Christian had chosen to leave.

Here in Erbil, about an hour an half [sic] away from Mosul by car, I have spoken with families who were forced to flee. They describe how ISIS invaded their homes, taking whatever they wanted, and threatening to kill them. The estimates are that over 500,000 refugees have fled Mosul after Islamists took control on June 10th, and the few remaining Christians left yesterday.

ISIS made citizens first believe they were there to protect them, but soon began forcefully implementing oppressive Sharia law, with which even Muslim citizens were forced to comply.

The notice of eviction from Mosul came with Muslims marking Christians’ homes to identify where they were living. Christians ultimately decided they could not hide from the Islamic authorities, packing up what they could and leaving within hours of ISIS warning.

Everyone I have spoken with has expressed their frustration with the international community’s lack of response to the crisis facing the people of Iraq. They blamed the United States for creating the current situation and for leaving the country so quickly and so creating the vacuum for IS to exploit. Many also think that it was a serious mistake for the U.S. to “give Iraq to Iran,” allowing Tehran to have a major influence in the Iraqi Parliament.

For more click LINK

Proof that there is a God

Book 1, Chapter 3 of An Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, by St. John Damascene.

That there is a God, then, is no matter of doubt to those who receive the Holy Scriptures, the Old Testament, I mean, and the New; nor indeed to most of the Greeks. For, as we said, the knowledge of the existence of God is implanted in us by nature. But since the wickedness of the Evil One has prevailed so mightily against man’s nature as even to drive some into denying the existence of God, that most foolish and woeful pit of destruction (whose folly David, revealer of the Divine meaning, exposed when he said (Ps 14:1), The fool said in his heart, There is no God), so the disciples of the Lord and His Apostles, made wise by the Holy Spirit and working wonders in His power and grace, took them captive in the net of miracles and drew them up out of the depths of ignorance to the light of the knowledge of God. In like manner also their successors in grace and worth, both pastors and teachers, having received the enlightening grace of the Spirit, were wont, alike by the power of miracles and the word of grace, to enlighten those walking in darkness and to bring back the wanderers into the way. But as for us who are not recipients either of the gift of miracles or the gift of teaching (for indeed we have rendered ourselves unworthy of these by our passion for pleasure), come, let us in connection with this theme discuss a few of those things which have been delivered to us on this subject by the expounders of grace, calling on the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

All things, that exist, are either created or uncreated. If, then, things are created, it follows that they are also wholly mutable. For things, whose existence originated in change, must also be subject to change, whether it be that they perish or that they become other than they are by act of will. But if things are uncreated they must in all consistency be also wholly immutable. For things which are opposed in the nature of their existence must also be opposed in the mode of their existence, that is to say, must have opposite properties: who, then, will refuse to grant that all existing things, not only such as come within the province of the senses, but even the very angels, are subject to change and transformation and movement of various kinds? For the things appertaining to the rational world, I mean angels and spirits and demons, are subject to changes of will, whether it is a progression or a retrogression in goodness, whether a struggle or a surrender; while the others suffer changes of generation and destruction, of increase and decrease, of quality and of movement in space. Things then that are mutable are also wholly created. But things that are created must be the work of some maker, and the maker cannot have been created. For if he had been created, he also must surely have been created by some one, and so on till we arrive at something uncreated. The Creator, then, being uncreated, is also wholly immutable. And what could this be other than Deity?

And even the very continuity of the creation, and its preservation and government, teach us that there does exist a Deity, who supports and maintains and preserves and ever provides for this universe. For how could opposite natures, such as fire and water, air and earth, have combined with each other so as to form one complete world, and continue to abide in indissoluble union, were there not some omnipotent power which bound them together and always is preserving them from dissolution?

What is it that gave order to things of heaven and things of earth, and all those things that move in the air and in the water, or rather to what was in existence before these, viz., to heaven and earth and air and the elements of fire and water? What was it that mingled and distributed these? What was it that set these in motion and keeps them in their unceasing and unhindered course? Was it not the Artificer of these things, and He Who hath implanted in everything the law whereby the universe is carried on and directed? Who then is the Artificer of these things? Is it not He Who created them and brought them into existence. For we shall not attribute such a power to the spontaneous. For, supposing their coming into existence was due to the spontaneous; what of the power that put all in order? And let us grant this, if you please. What of that which has preserved and kept them in harmony with the original laws of their existence? Clearly it is something quite distinct from the spontaneous. And what could this be other than Deity?

Why we must wage spiritual war

Chaldean History

A very interesting article on The History of the Chaldean Catholic Church, which is a part of the Christians being persecuted and martyred today by ISIS.

French Daily Suggests West's Silence Is Persecuting Iraqi Christians

Taken from Zenit.org

Vatican City, July 23, 2014 (Zenit.org) | 319 hits

The silence of world leaders and the media in the face of the ethno-religious cleansing taking place in Iraq is becoming increasingly noticed.

Today, Le Figaro, France's oldest and largest daily, questioned on its front page how long people in the West can ignore the persecutions of Christians taking place there. The editorial ran with the headline: "The Calvary of the Christians of Iraq." 

Its author, Étienne de Montety, called for the West to speak up, to not remain in silence and wondered how Christians and non-Christians can remain indifferent to the "terrifying procession of horrors, expulsions, murders in Mosul."

De Montety pointed out that the Christians of Iraq were 1 million before the American intervention and now there are less than 400,000. "With each wave of vexations, violence, persecutions, they take the path of exodus," he said.

He noted that both Pope Francis and the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, have spoken out against the persecution and foreign ministries are worried and have been raising their tone.

But he pointed out the irony that Europeans are usually "so eager" to have "mobilizations, petitions, demonstrations of every kind, but "in this case, nothing!"

He wondered if the West will only be prompted to act if a massacre takes place outside the summer vacation period.

Through silence, the writer stated, "we are persecuting."

The newspaper article was first cited by the Rorate Caeli blog which said it was to Le Figaro's "greatest honor" that it chose to put the story on its front page. (D.C.L.)

(July 23, 2014) © Innovative Media Inc.

What is a Crusader of the Immaculate?

First - we must ask, what is a Crusader?

The Crusades were started with one purpose - to take back the Holy Land from the Muslim invaders, to make it once again safe for pilgrims to travel there.  
A crusader was a knight who fought under the banner of the Cross.
Yes, there were many missteps, many mistakes, and, in some cases, crusaders committed heinous acts, often ignoring specific papal commands to the contrary.

Militant Islam is rampant today.  

In response to Pope Benedict XVI's speech in Regensburg on September 12, 2006, Muslim reaction erupted on September 14 - The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross! Among the reaction was the following quote from Mujahideen Shura Council, an umbrella group led by Iraq's branch of al Qaeda:
"We shall break the cross and spill the wine. ... God will (help) Muslims to conquer Rome. ... God enable us to slit their throats, and make their money and descendants the bounty of the mujahideen,"

Is there any doubt that Christianity must battle Islam in the spiritual realm?


Yes, we admit that not all Muslims are out to get us.  It's been estimated that 15%-20% of Muslims are militant.  15-20% percent of 1.3 BILLION people.
That's 195 to 260 MILLION who are out to get us, in one way or another.
Not all Germans were Nazis.  But look at what a handful did.

But, of course, this should never be used as an excuse for violence against any Muslim. Lest there be any doubt, the only valid use of force on a personal level is in self-defense
"Our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and power, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places." Eph 6:12
So, how do we combat Islam?  Islam is more than a political movement.  It is a heresy of Christianity.  The Battle is SPIRITUAL.
"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty to God unto the pulling down of fortifications, destroying counsels," - 2 Corinthians 10:4
The Catholic Church has always recognized this fact.  Remember the Battle of Lepanto!

So, as Crusaders we are to wage spiritual battle under the banner of the Cross.
And the point of the battle, the intention of our prayers, is the conversion of the Muslim, through the action of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of Mary Immaculate.
But, why the Immaculata?  St. Maximilian Kolbe said, "The Immaculate will conquer, through us, the whole world, and every single soul".


What are the practices of the Crusaders of the Immaculate?

1. Consecrate oneself to Mary Immaculate.  It can be of any form that one prefers - the consecration of St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort, the Militia Immaculata consecration of St. Maximilian Kolbe, or even something as simple as praying, "Mary, my mother, take me as your slave, mold me, and use me as you see fit, all for the glory of your Son".
   
2. Eucharistic Adoration, Frequent Confession, and Frequent Eucharistic reception (daily, if possible), according to the individual's ability.
   
3. Pray the Chaplet of the Holy Cross on Wednesdays and Fridays. (see under pages section, on the right).
   
4. Use a variation of the Miraculous Medal Prayer as an extra decade prayer in the Rosary: "Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you, and for the conversion of Muslims".
   
5. Seek holiness and knowledge through the study and application of the Church's magisterial documents, the writings of the Church Fathers and Doctors of the Church, and the writings of masters of Catholic and Eastern Orthodox spirituality.
   
6. Be always ready to give an account for the hope that is in you (1 Pet 3:15) and to preach the truth in season and out of season
   

The Crusader wears, as a sign of his adherence to this way, a cross and the Miraculous Medal.