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Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 12:23 am Post subject: Rule-December 22/Martyrology-December 23 |
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The reading appointed from the Rule of St. Benedict for this day:
CHAPTER LXV
Of the Prior of the Monastery
It often happeneth indeed, that grave scandals arise in monasteries out of the appointment of the Prior; since there are some who, puffed up with the wicked spirit of pride and thinking themselves to be second Abbots, set up a despotic rule, foster scandals, and excite quarrels in the community, and especially in those places where also the Prior is appointed by the same Bishop or the same Abbots who appointeth his Abbot. How foolish this is can easily be seen; because, from the very beginning of his appointment, matter for pride is furnished him, when his thoughts suggest to him that now he is exempt from the authority of the Abbot, because "thou too hast been appointed by those by whom the Abbot was appointed." From this source arise envy, discord, slander, quarrels, jealousy, and disorders. While the Abbot and the Prior are thus at variance with each other, it must follow that their souls are endangered by this discord and that those who are under them, as long as they humor the parties, go to ruin. The fault of this evil resteth on the heads of those who were the authors of such disorders.
Martyrology-December 23rd
Roman Martyrology-December 23rd-on this date in various years-
At Rome, St. Victoria, virgin and martyr, during the persecution of Emperor Decius. She had been promised in marriage to a pagan named Eugene, but because she had refused to marry him and to offer sacrifice to idols, and because by working many miracles she had brought many virgins to the service of God, the executioner thrust a sword into her heart at the request of her spouse.
At Nicomedia, the passion of Saints Migdonius and Mardonius, one of whom was burned alive in the same persecution of Diocletian, and the other died in a pit where he had been thrown. A deacon of St. Anthimus, bishop of Nicomedia, suffered at the same time. He had been arrested by the heathen when he was carrying letters to the martyrs, and being overwhelmed with stones, went to our Lord.
Likewise, the birthday of twenty holy martyrs, whom the persecution of Diocletian made martyrs for the faith of Christ, after subjecting them to the most painful torments.
In Crete, the holy martyrs Theodulus, Saturninus, Euporus, Gelasius, Eunicianus, Zeticus, Leomines, Agathopodes, Basilides, and Everistus, who were beheaded after suffering cruel torments in the persecution of Decius.
At Rome, blessed Servulus of whom St. Gregory writes that from his early years to the end of his life he was a paralytic and had remained lying in a porch near St. Clement's Church, and being invited by the chant of angels, he went to enjoy the glory of Paradise. At his tomb frequent miracles are wrought by God.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
R. Thanks be to God. |
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