THE FEAST OF SAINTS BLAISE AND ANSGAR, BISHOPS.
THE FEAST OF SAINTS BLAISE BISHOP AND MARTYR AND ANSGAR, BISHOP.
THE WORD OF GOD:
"Brothers and sisters: What more shall I say? I have not time to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, did what was righteous, obtained the promises;
they closed the mouths of lions, put out raging fires, escaped the devouring sword;
out of weakness they were made powerful, became strong in battle, and turned back foreign invaders.
Women received back their dead through resurrection. Some were tortured and would not accept deliverance, in order to obtain a better resurrection.
Others endured mockery, scourging, even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, sawed in two, put to death at sword’s point; they went about in skins of sheep or goats, needy, afflicted, tormented.
The world was not worthy of them. They wandered about in deserts and on mountains, in caves and in crevices in the earth.
Yet all these, though approved because of their faith, did not receive what had been promised. God had foreseen something better for us, so that without us they should not be made perfect." (Hebrews 11: 32 - 40).
Monday February 3rd 2025 in the 4th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of two Bishops: Saints Blaise and Ansgar. Blaise (+ 316). Armenian. Martyred under Emperor Licinius. Blaise is known for his cures of throat ailments.
St Ansgar: (801 - 865). French. Worked in Germany, Denmark and Sweden. Known as the Apostle of the North for his great success in evangelizing these nations.
We see the evidence of the power of faith in the first Reading from Hebrews.
All the cited warriors of faith happened in the Old Testament.
In the New Testament, Mary by faith said Yes to become the Mother of God. Simon-Peter, Andrew, James and John left their occupation at once by faith and followed Jesus when Jesus said to them: "Come. Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Saints Paul, Timothy and Titus, and numerous disciples left family and home to embrace the call of Jesus: "Come follow Me." They all responded with the obedience of faith.
In the Christian Era, Angela Merici, Thomas Aquinas, St John Bosco, Francis of Asissi, Dominic, Ignatius Loyola etc, heard the call of Jesus Christ and left everything by faith and followed Jesus.
Brethren, without faith, one can not please God or answer the Call: "Come follow Me." Without faith, one is condemned to a life of mediocrity and accomplish little or nothing in life.
Faith is a supernatural gift of God. The easiest and most direct way of getting faith is to ask for it. God who is faithful and true promises: "Ask and you shall receive."
The Church honors the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the Month of February.
"Holy Family of Nazareth, grant that our families too may be places of communion and prayer, authentic schools of the Gospel". (Pope Francis).
For Devotional prayer and prayer intentions to the Holy Family, click the link below:
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