August 7 2024 - St Sixtus II, Pope, and Companions, Martyrs - Docile in believing the faith

 In the third century, the Roman Emperor Valerian ordered that Christians had to take part in the state religious ceremonies. He also forbade them from assembling for Christian worship, threatening with death anyone who was found to disobey the order.  St. Sixtus II was Pope during this terrible time.  And for nearly a year Sixtus functioned as Pope, administering the Church. He famously worked to resolve a conflict with certain Eastern churches over the rebaptism of converted heretics. 

In August of 258, Emperor Valerian issued a far crueler edict.  It simply and coldly ordered that all bishops, priests, and deacons be put to death. On August 6, 258, Pope Sixtus II and four deacons, were seized while celebrating Mass in the Catacombs of Callistus in Rome.  They were beheaded that same day. 

The opening prayer of today’s mass asked God by the power of the Holy Spirit to make us docile in believing the faith and courageous in confessing it. 

What does it mean to be docile in believing the faith? The words doctor, doctrine, and docility are all etymologically connected. To be docile means to be teachable—to be open to the teaching of the doctrine by the doctor—the learned one. So the opening prayer is asking God to help us to continue to be teachable. We are never too old, or too learned, that we should be unteachable in the matters of the faith—in the way of Christ. 

Two obstacles particularly stand out which make us resistant to being teachable at any age: the first is pride, the second is laziness. Pride says, I have nothing to learn, I know everything, the Church has nothing to teach me. Laziness, says, egh, it’s too much effort to learn anymore, I don’t have the energy to be open to new things, the bible is too heavy. But to be a disciple of Jesus is to be open to lifelong learning of what it means to be good, holy, courageous, wise, and loving.

It is significant that we have this reminder to be open to being taught on the feast of these martyrs. The martyrs are very important teachers. The Church’s prayer is that we learn from their example. 

The martyrs teach us what courage looks like in proclaiming the Gospel in the face of hostile forces, what witness looks like, what trusting in God looks like when the powers of hell are bent against us. They teach us what faith, hope, and love look like. We are to believe in the teachings of Christ with the faith of the martyrs. We are to place our hope in heaven, with the hope of the martyrs. We are to love God enough and love neighbor enough that our lives become a light for others. 

Holy Spirit, make us docile to the lessons of the martyrs, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For the Church: That we may be inspired by the courage of the martyrs, remaining steadfast in our faith even in the face of persecution. 

For docility of faith: That we may remain open to learning and growing in our faith, overcoming pride and laziness and For the grace of witness: That our lives may become a light for others, reflecting the faith, hope, and love exemplified by the saints. Let us pray to the Lord.

That politicians and government officials may protect religious freedom, promote virtue, and look to the law of Christ to guide their work for the good of nations and the human race.

That in facing trials, illness, or suffering of any kind, all people may find strength and consolation in the promises of Christ and the grace of his mercy. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Heavenly Father, hear our prayers, and grant us what we truly need to be docile in faith and courageous in witness, through Christ Our Lord.

14th Week in Ordinary Time - Friday - Sheep, serpents, and Doves...Oh my!

 The Lord tells his followers today that he sends us out as sheep amidst wolves, urging us to be prepared for the hostility we will inevitably face as his disciples.

I think of those Christians of the first few centuries.  The Church underwent open and state-sanctioned persecution longer than America has been a country.  The early Christians could not build Churches and had to gather for Mass in secret.  For professing the Christian faith they were arrested, beaten, and tortured in unspeakable ways.  Sometimes they were even betrayed by close family members.  Some Christians became so frightened of the wolves, that they gave up the faith, left the flock, and began to run with the wolves. We’ve had wolves in sheep’s clothing, sometimes wolves in shepherd’s clothing!

The Lord gives such a strong warning because the threat is serious—persecution is inevitable.  “You will be hated by all because of my name” he says.  There will not be a single age, a single sector of society, where you will be completely safe.  There will always be Wolves who will want to kill us simply because we the Master’s sheep—those who seek to silence us, desire to break the power of the Church, simply because we are Christian.  They conspired to prevent him from spreading His Gospel, they do the same to us. They laughed at him, mocked him, thought he was naïve, thought he was blasphemous, and they do the same to us.

As this country, and really all of Western Civilization, falls into moral decline, it is not surprising that we are called bigots for resisting the perversions and errors of the culture.  But, we are called to be sheep—docile and obedient to God, even when the wolves start closing in.  

I Am sending you as sheep, to follow wherever he leads us, even into wolf-infested territory. We are to be docile in following the Lord, but also like Him we are to “be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.”  We are to be docile to the Lord, not to the wolves. To the wolves we are to be like serpents: cunning, wise, and crafty in handling our enemies.  Anticipate their threats. Out maneuver them in wisdom, like the Lord handling the Pharisees.  The early Christians facing persecution gathered in secret, to worship and study their faith. That’s cunning.  They evangelized the emperor, the imperial courts, the aristocracy. Cunning. They made beautiful music, beautiful art to lift the soul. 

And they were innocent as doves: they showed themselves to be better citizens, more moral citizens than the non-Christians, innovative. Innocence, cunning, docile to the will of God. It’s a winning combination! It’s converted nations and drawn souls to Christ over and over again. May we be faithful to this vocation of ours for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all bishops and clergy will lead the Church in faithfulness to the Gospel mandate and in the practice of every Christian virtue.

For all those who have fallen away from the Church, those who have fallen into serious sin, for non-believers, atheists, and those in error, for their conversion, and the conversion of all hearts.

For Christians experiencing persecution for the faith, that they may hold fast to the Lord in their sufferings.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, for victims of abuse and scandal, for the imprisoned and the addicted, for all those recovering from or undergoing surgery today, and for the consolation of the dying.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord