Saint Alexius was born at Rome, towards 350 A.D., of a wealthy family; his father being the Senator Euphemian. Guided by The Holy Ghost, he renounced his patrimony and piously visited, as a Pilgrim, the Sanctuaries of the East. He died in the 5th-Century A.D., under the Pontificate of Pope Innocent I.
His body was buried in the Church which bears his name on Mount Aventine, Rome. He is honoured there with Saint Boniface (Feast Day 14 May), to whom the Church had originally been dedicated.
Mass:Os justi.
English: The Minor Basilica of Saint Alexius,
Rome, Italy.
Italiano: Santi Bonifacio ed Alessio all'Aventino.
The following Text is taken from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia.
Saint Alexius, or Alexis of Rome, or Alexis of Edessa, was an Eastern Saint, whose Veneration was later transplanted to Rome. The relocation of the cult, to Rome, was facilitated by the belief that the Saint was a native of Rome and had died there.
This Roman connection stemmed from an earlier Syriac legend, which recounted that, during the Episcopate of Bishop Rabbula (412 A.D. - 435 A.D.), a "Man of God", who lived in Edessa, Mesopotamia as a beggar, and who shared the alms he received with other poor people, was found to be a native of Rome after his death.
The Greek version of his legend made Alexius the only son of Euphemianus, a wealthy Christian Roman of the Senatorial class. Alexius fled his arranged marriage to follow his Holy Vocation. Disguised as a beggar, he lived near Edessa, in Syria, accepting alms even from his own household slaves, who had been sent to look for him, but did not recognise him, until a miraculous vision of The Blessed Virgin Mary singled him out as a "Man of God."
English: Chapel of Saint Alexius,
the Minor Basilica of Saint Boniface and Saint Alexius, Rome.
Italiano: Chiesa dei santi Bonifacio e Alessio all'Aventino:
Fleeing the resultant notoriety, he returned to Rome, so changed that his parents did not recognise him, but, as good Christians, took him in and sheltered him for seventeen years, which he spent in a dark cubby-hole beneath the stairs, praying and teaching Catechism to children.
After his death, his family found writings on his body, which told them whom he was and how he had lived his life of Penance from the day of his wedding, for the love of God.
Saint Alexius' cult developed in Syria and spread throughout the Eastern Roman Empire by the 9th-Century. Only from the end of the 10th-Century did his name begin to appear in any Liturgical Books in the West.
English: Minor Basilica of Saint Alexius and Saint Boniface,
Since before the 8th-Century, there was, on the Aventine, in Rome, a Church that was dedicated to Saint Boniface. In 972 A.D., Pope Benedict VII transferred this almost-abandoned Church to the exiled Greek Metropolitan, Sergius of Damascus. The latter erected, beside the Church, a Monastery for Greek and Latin Monks, soon made famous for the austere life of its inmates. To the name of Saint Boniface, was now added that of Saint Alexius, as Titular Saint of the Church and Monastery, now known as Santi Bonifacio e Alessio.
It is evidently Sergius and his Monks who brought to Rome the Veneration of Saint Alexius. The Eastern Saint, according to his legend a native of Rome, was soon very popular with the folk of that City, and this Church, being associated with the legend, was considered to be built on the site of the home that Alexius returned to from Edessa.
Saint Alexius is mentioned in the Roman Martyrology, under 17 July, in the following terms: "At Rome, in a Church on the Aventine Hill, a man of God is celebrated under the name of Alexius, who, as reported by tradition, abandoned his wealthy home, for the sake of becoming poor, and to beg for alms unrecognised."
English: Minor Basilica of Saint Boniface and Saint Alexius,
Rome, Italy.
Italiano: Roma - Chiesa dei Ss. Bonifacio e Alessio.
While the Roman Catholic Church continues to recognise Saint Alexius as a Saint, his Feast Day was removed from The General Roman Calendar in 1969. The reason given was the legendary character of the written life of the Saint. The Catholic Encyclopedia article, regarding Saint Alexius, remarked: "Perhaps the only basis for the story is the fact that a certain pious ascetic, at Edessa, lived the life of a beggar and was later Venerated as a Saint."
The Tridentine Calendar gave his Feast Day the Rank of "Simple", but, by 1862, it had become a "Semi-Double" and, in Rome itself, a "Double". It was reduced again to the Rank of "Simple", in 1955, and, in 1960, became a "Commemoration".
English: A 1674 theatre programme for Saint Alexis the Man of God,
According to the Rules in the present-day Roman Missal, The Saint may now be Celebrated everywhere on his Feast Day, with a "Memorial", unless in some locality an obligatory Celebration is assigned to that day.
Thus, His Hermeneuticalness is back in the saddle again after a bit of a hiatus.
His Posts lately have been great. Today he Posted one on how to get something out of even a less than good Sunday Mass Sermon.
Each week I post asking you to Comment on a good point from the Sermon you heard at your Sunday Mass of Obligation. Fr. Finigan gives helpful pointers on listening to Sermons. A taste… HERE
[…]
You may well be right: priests are not always great communicators, [Only Christ is the Perfect Communicator. Cf. Communio et progressio 11] but did you know that a sermon is a sacramental? That is to say that a sermon signifies spiritual effects which may be obtained through the intercession of the Church. By sacramentals, we are disposed to receive the grace of the sacraments.
[…]
It might be one sentence or phrase, it could be a commonplace truth of doctrine, morals or devotional teaching that we really need to hear again and act upon. It might even be a passing thought that seems a distraction from what the priest is saying. One way or another, if we are ready to receive the grace of God, He will give it, often in ways that might surprise us.
[…]
A Sermon is a Sacramental.
So, Fr. Finigan will help you listen to the Sermon better. But he has also just helped a lot of Priests out there better to prepare their Sermons.
FATHERS ! Sermons are Sacramentals. Do you want to treat them the same way now ?
Thanks, Fr. Finigan.
BTW… if there were EVER a time when we need a hermeneutic of continuity… it’s NOW.
According to a pious Tradition authorised by The Liturgy, on The Day of Pentecost a number of men who walked in the footsteps of The Holy Prophets, Elias and Eliseus, and whom John the Baptist had prepared for The Advent of Jesus, embraced The Christian Faith, and erected the first Church to The Blessed Virgin on Mount Carmel, at the very spot where Elias had seen a cloud rise, a figure of the fecundity of The Mother of God (Lesson of Second Nocturn at Matins).
They were called: Brethren of Blessed Mary of Mount Carmel (Collect). These Religious came to Europe in the 13th-Century and, in 1245, Pope Innocent IV gave his approbation to their Rule under the Generalship of Simon Stock, an English Saint.
On 16 July 1251, Mary appeared to this fervent servant [Simon Stock] and placed in his hands the Habit which was to be their distinctive sign. Pope Innocent IV blessed this Habit and attached to it many privileges, not only for The Members of The Order, but also for those who entered The Confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
By wearing the Scapular, which is in smaller form than that of The Carmelite Fathers, they participate in all their merits and may hope to obtain through The Virgin a prompt delivery from Purgatory, if they have Faithfully observed Abstinence, Chastity (according to their state), and said the Prayers prescribed by Pope John XXII, in The Sabbatine Bull, published on 3 March 1322.
The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, at first Celebrated only in the Churches of The Order, was extended to all Christendom by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726.
Prior to 28 March 2006, The Black Watch was an Infantry Regiment – The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) from 1931 to 2006, and The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) from 1881 to 1931. Part of The Scottish Division, it was The Senior Regiment of Highlanders.
These were to be "employed in disarming The Highlanders, preventing depredations, bringing criminals to justice, and hindering rebels and attainted persons from inhabiting that part of The Kingdom." The force was known in Gaelic as Am Freiceadan Dubh, "The Dark", or "Black, Watch".
The first Battle in which The Black Watch took part was The Battle of Fontenoy, in 1745, where The Regiment distinguished themselves with great bravery.
The Regiment was numbered The 43rd Regiment of Foot, in 1747, changing to The 42nd Regiment of Foot, in 1749. In 1751, The Regiment was titled "42nd (Highland) Regiment" and, in 1758, was permitted the honour to add "Royal" to its title. However, it continued to be known colloquially as "The Black Watch".
Jimmy Doig, Piper of The Angus Black Watch Association,
plays The Pipes at The Old and Saint Andrew's Church,
Montrose, Scotland, on 14 September 2008.
Photo: Frank G. Proctor, Glengate.
In 1881, when The 42nd Regiment of Foot amalgamated with The 73rd Regiment of Foot, the new Regiment was named "The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)". The Regiment adopted The Royal Motto of Scotland's Stewart Monarchs, Nemo me impune lacessit ("No-one provokes me with impunity").
The Black Watch was formed as part of The Childers Reforms, in 1881, when The 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot (The Black Watch) was amalgamated with The 73rd (Perthshire) Regiment of Foot, to form two Battalions of the newly-named Black Watch (Royal Highlanders). The 42nd Regiment of Foot became the 1st Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), and the 73rd (Perthshire) Regiment of Foot became the 2nd Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highlanders).
All of The Black Watch Servicemen, listed below, were awarded The Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious Award for Gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth Forces.
The following Text and Illustration is taken from THE BLACK WATCH
THE KIRK OF THE BLACK WATCH
The Black Watch Chaplain
at the Battle of Fontenoy, 1745.
The Kirk of The Black Watch
was set up in 1954, while The Scottish Regiment was based in Kenya
during the Mau Mau Emergency.
It is a Mobile Parish, which travels with
The Regiment, wherever it goes in the World.
The Kirk (Church).
The Black Watch has had an ancient tradition of loyalty to The Church. It's first Chaplain, Dr Adam Ferguson, accompanied it in every Battle and led it in Worship, daily, both in Peace and War. However, it was not until 1952 that this was formalised.
The 1952 General Assembly of The Church of Scotland authorised the formation of Kirk Sessions in Scottish units of Her Majesty's Forces. However, because of The First Battalion's Active Service in Korea and Kenya, it was not until 17 January 1954 that the first "Elders" in The Kirk Session were ordained in Saint Andrew's Church, Nairobi, Kenya. The Reverend Tom Nicol was the first Moderator. From that year, successive Moderators and Elders have carried on their work in every place where The First Battalion has Served.
Successive Chaplains (to The Battalion), who were at the same time Moderators of the Sessi, have commented on the value of the Session in supporting and encouraging them in their work. This active nucleus of a Church in The Battalion is enhanced by the special Black Watch flavour of the Church building, whether it is a Church, a converted Barrack Room, a hut or a tent. Rather like The Ark of the Covenant, everywhere the Battalion has moved, a unique and distinctive Kirk of The Black Watch has been established.
Each year in January, the origins are commemorated on Kirk Session Sunday, conveniently close on the calendar to The Sergeants' Mess Burns Night. In addition, there have been more formal celebrations at the 25th and 50th Anniversaries, both in Saint John's Kirk in Perth. The Kirk Session is part of the Presbytery of Perth. While the Session has never been within the Bounds of the Presbytery, it is entitled to send a representative Elder to the Presbytery.
This Tradition has continued with the formation of The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland.
Many Regiments have their own Prayer, called a "Collect". The Collect of The Black Watch is said during Services involving The Black Watch Regimental family.
The Regimental Collect.
O God, whose strength setteth fast the Mountains,
Lord of The Hills, to whom we lift our eyes:
grant us Grace that we, of The Black Watch,
once chosen to Watch the Mountains of an Earthly
Kingdom, may stand fast in The Faith and be strong,
The mainstream media is forever telling the public that ABORTION is an essential aspect of women’s “healthcare”. They insist that ABORTION be legalised and readily provided by the government. In their eyes, there is no way to stop or slow the steady stream of ABORTIONS and nor do they even wish to.
They would rather that the experience of Poland was not shared, since it demonstrates how faulty their logic is. Poland had been a persistent thorn in the side of the pro-ABORTION lobby as it has made clear that, not only does a modern Nation not need ABORTION, but also that it is possible for a Country to pull itself back from the grip of ABORTION-on-demand and provide better answers for women and their babies.
English: 500.000 signatures !!!
The success of the STOP ABORTION Action 2016.
Polski: 500 tysięcy podpisów! Sukces akcji STOP ABORCJI 2016.
Français: Le succès de l'action ARRET AVORTEMENT en 2016.
Poland is currently known for being a Pro-Life Country with effective and life-saving Pro-Life laws. However, this has not always been the case. Poland was first forced to submit to a policy of legal ABORTION-on-demand when the Country was under the control of Adolf Hitler in 1943. Martin Bormann, Hitler’s private secretary said, “The Slavs are to work for us. In so far as we do not need them, they may die. Slav fertility is not desirable.”
Following the Second World War, legalised ABORTION was once again imposed on the Polish under the Communist rule of Josef Stalin in 1956. By 1960, there were more than 150,000 ABORTIONS a year being performed in Poland.
Sibling snuggles: Ivanka Trump shared this sweet image of her children Arabella, four,
Joseph, two, and two-month-old Theodore James, in May 2016.
Poland saw 123,500 ABORTIONS in 1987, 59,500 in 1990, 11,500 in 1992, 1,200 in 1993, 559 in 1995 and 491 in 1996. Sceptics and ABORTION activists predicted that this would lead to increased maternal death, increased infanticide, and other social ills. However, these predictions have not come true. Poland is a prime example, like Ireland, that it is possible to be both a modern Country and still protect innocent human life.
Now, Poland looks set to completely ban ABORTION, as Pro-Life activists have gathered more than 375,000 signatures for a Petition which should end up in a Parliamentary Vote.
Poland is a powerful reminder of why it is essential to continue to fight to preserve the Pro-Life heart of one’s Country.
