THE MEMORIAL OF SAINTS CORNELIUS AND CYPRIAN, MARTYRS.
FEAST OF SAINTS CORNELIUS, POPE & CYPRIAN, BISHOP, MARTYRS.
The Amazing Faith of the Roman Centurion.
"When Jesus had finished all his words to the people, he entered Capernaum.
"A centurion there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him.
"When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave.
"They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying, “He deserves to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us.”
"And Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed.
".... For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
"When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him and, turning, said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”
"When the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave in good health." (Luke 7: 1 - 10).
Monday September 16th 2024 in the 24th Week in Ordinary Time.
Do you remember where you hear our key Scripture for today?
"Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed."
Of course at the Mass before Holy Communion. These are the extraordinary affirmation of faith of the Centurion that astonished Jesus. These words are part of the Liturgy of the Holy Eucharist used worldwide.
When Jesus heard the centurion say this, He was amazed at him and, turning, said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” When the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave in good health."
Faith is the key to everything in life. Without faith, you waste your time attending Holy Mass every day, saying hundreds of Rosaries, going on pilgrimages every year.
One atom of faith move mountains. Faith makes you understand that the mighty, merciful and often mysterious designs, plans, purposes and providence is sovereingn and paramount in every situation.
Faith makes you humble.
The two easy ways to obtain strong faith are:
Study the word of God until you are saturated with all the instances of the manifestations of great faith, viz: Abraham, Jacob, David, Elijah, Isaiah, Mary, Joseph, Peter, James and John and Paul. The Gospel of today is a good example.
Ask God in sincere and unrelenting prayer for the gift of Faith: "Father, give me faith or kill me. I can no longer live without faith. I am tired of this dull life without faith."
Battle God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit for the gift of faith. You will win.
Monday 16th September 2024 in the 24th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of Saints Cornelius (Pope and Martyr) and Cyprian (Bishop and Martyr).
Pope Cornelius was martyred under Emperor Gallus in 253. St Cyprian, a Bishop from Carthage (modern Tunisia) was martyred in 258 under Emperor Valerian.
The two saints we honor today were acquainted with one another. They lived under one of the most severe persecutions of the Church. Tens of thousands were martyred. Rome was determined to stamp out once and for all Christianity in the empire.
Many Christians did not have the courage to face martyrdom. So they denied Jesus in order to preserve their lives. When the violent persecution abated, those Christians who denied Jesus wanted to be received back into the Church. Some Bishops said Yes. Other Bishops refused them a second chance. The controversy nearly split the Church asunder.
Pope Cornelius wanted the Christians who apostasized to confess their sins and do appropriate penance and be allowed to rejoin the Church. Many Bishops opposed him.
St Cyprian from the powerful African Church in Carthage came to his support. Their side won and schism was prevented.
In the Prayer over the Gifts for this Mass, the Church affirmed that the Eucharist gave Saints Cornelius and Cyprian the courage to offer their lives for Christ. The same Eucharist can keep us faithful in all our trials, the Church prays. If you can receive the Eucharist more than once a week and do not do so, how can you justify your abstinence from such a Gift? It is simply ridiculous.
[Receive, we pray, O Lord, the offerings of your people in honor of the passion of your holy Martyrs Saints Cornelius and Cyprian, and may the gifts that gave them courage under persecution make us, too, steadfast in all trials.Through Christ our Lord.]
In September, the Church honors the Sorrowful Heart of Mary. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows obtain for us mercies from her Son Jesus.
For Prayers of Consecration to the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, Litany, Promises of Mary to those who say the Holy Rosary, etc click the link below:
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