FEAST OF SAINTS FABIAN, SEBASTIAN AND CYPRIAN.
FEAST OF SAINTS FABIAN, POPE AND MARTYR, SEBASTIAN, MARTYR. AND CYPRIAN MICHAEL, MONK.
Today is also the Anniversary of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.
THE GOSPEL:
"The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast. People came to Jesus and objected, “Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”
"Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast on that day.
"No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth on an old cloak. If he does, its fullness pulls away, the new from the old, and the tear gets worse. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.” (Mark 2: 18 - 22).
Monday 20th January 2025, in the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of: Pope St Fabian (+ 250). Italian.
* Fabian divided the diocese of Rome into seven diaconates. This facilitated aid to the poor. He suffered martyrdom under Emperor Decius.
* St Sebastian (+ 288). Italian from Milan. Officer in the Imperial Guard under Emperor Diocletian. Martyred when he converted to Christianity.
* Blessed Cyprian Michael Tansi (1903 - 1964). Nigerian. Trappist monk and priest. Beatified in Nigeria by Pope St John Paul II in 1998.
Why do we honor the saints? Jesus is glorified when we honor His saints. Their intercession is powerful.
January 20th 2025 is the Remembrance of Dr Martin Luther King Jr in the USA. (January 15th, 1929 to April 4th 1968).
Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. like most of the saints and missionaries in our Catholic tradition was chosen, called and anointed for a specific mission. With his gifts of intellect and personality, he was tempted to ignore the call and go into politics like John Kennedy and the others.
Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. was presented with the choice of fasting or feasting in the present world. He chose fasting for the good of mankind.
His mission: To proclaim that America is God's own beautiful country. America is created by God for all His children. Not for White, Black or Brown. Not for Jews, Moslem or Christians.
Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. proclaimed this truth season out of season. He rejected violence as a means of attaining this objective.
On April 4, 1968, MLK was shot to dead and paid the price Jesus and all the Martyrs paid for their mission. He was 39 years old.
On the Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. anniversary, let us pray and fast that God's Destiny for America will be fulfilled without more bloodshed.
If any Reader knows why Dr Martin Luther King Jr is commemorated by the Catholic Church in America, please share the information in the Comments section.
The Church honors the Most Holy Name of Jesus in January.
“Faith in Jesus and in the power of His Holy Name is the greatest spiritual force in the world today.... " (Blessed Henry Suso - 1290 to 1365).
For the Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and prayer intentions click the link below:
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23-Psalm1to2