August 2 2024 - St. Eusebius of Vercelli - The truth shall set you free

 In the year 355, a council was called by Pope Liberius in Milan to address the continuing problem of Arianism. As his personal representative, the Pope sent a bishop, to defend the apostolic faith, the bishop of a place called Vercelli, bishop Eusebius, a native Sardinian.  

During the Council, the Arians were vicious in arguing that the Son of God did not always exist—that he was inferior in divinity to God the Father. Additionally, they called for the condemnation of the writings and teachings of St. Athanasius who defended the true faith at the First Council of Nicaea. On top of it all, the Roman Emperor was an Arian Heretic and placed greater pressure on Eusebius and the other loyal bishops to relent to his side. 

But Eusebius did not relent, in fact he confronted the emperor for attempting to use secular force to influence Church decisions. Eusebius laid the Nicene Creed on the table and insisted that all sign it before taking up any other matter.  

And you’d like to think Eusebius’ courage and constancy changed the emperor’s mind and converted the Arians…well, no. The emperor had Eusebius, like Athanasius before him, exiled. And in exile, the Arians continued to harass the faithful bishop, even dragging him through the streets and imprisoning him. 

Many of the saints experience tremendous suffering for the truth and integrity of the Christian faith. They experience suffering like so many of the Old Testament prophets, like our Lord himself, who in the Gospel today was rejected in his hometown. 

Wherever the truth is spoken, the devil is often right around the corner seeking to twist and pervert and incite hostility to the truth because the devil hates the truth, he is the father of lies.

In John’s Gospel, Jesus says, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” The devil hates the truth because he wants us enslaved to error and sin. 

Thanks be to God for prophets and saints and martyrs who defend the truth from the devil’s lies, who help us to have courage when the world pressures us to compromise our relationship with God. 

There the Arians dragged Eusebius through the streets, imprisoned him, and continue to harass him.

We do well to pray for our bishops, that they may defend the Church’s teaching against those who seek to destroy her.  Many people would not necessarily deny the divinity of Christ formally, by becoming card-carrying Arian heretics.  But, the danger in our modern day is more subtle.  The danger is that we affirm the divinity of Christ in one breath, but ignore his divine teaching in our actions.  Our conduct, our choices, our attitudes need to all point to our faith that Christ is God.  Christ is the only way to salvation, he is the only road to the freedom and peace that the human race longs for.  

And we pray this day, through the intercession of St. Eusebius and all the saints, that the truth of Christ will permeate every dimension of our society and every human heart, that his joy and truth might be in us, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For our Holy Father, bishops, and clergy: That they may have the courage and wisdom to confront falsehoods and lead the faithful in accordance with the teachings of Christ and His Church. 

For those who struggle with doubt or are led astray by false teachings: That they may encounter the truth of Christ and find their way back to the fullness of faith. And for all Christians: That our actions may consistently reflect our belief in Christ's divinity, and that we may live out our faith in every aspect of our lives. 

For our society: That it may be permeated by the truth of Christ, leading to greater justice, peace, and respect for human dignity, and that those in positions of secular authority may respect religious freedom and refrain from interfering in matters of faith and conscience. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of human trafficking, natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for the unborn, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

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

Priest: Heavenly Father, graciously hear the prayers we bring before you. Through the intercession of St. Eusebius, grant us courage and integrity of faith in order to serve you more faithfully on earth so win a greater share of glory in heaven. Through Christ our Lord.

June 22 2020 - Sts. John Fisher and Thomas More - Highest Expression of True Faith

In the course of his ministry, our Lord took up the task of forming his disciples to continue the Gospel mission—sending them out through Galilee to heal and preach. And he was very clear that just as he would be rejected, his truth would be rejected, so they would be rejected. While he came to gather the divided peoples of the earth into one kingdom, through one faith and one baptism, that unity would be rejected. Responses to the Gospel would range from full reception to hostile rejection—so much so that in our passage from Matthew today, we hear how the Gospel’s rejection would cause discord, even hostility, within families.

The stories of the thousands of Christian martyrs throughout the centuries has been a repetition of that dynamic—though the Gospel is meant to unify—the prideful, those unwilling to bend the knee and to change their hearts—will lash out against Christ and seek to silence him.

Such was the case of the two martyrs we honor today, the bishop St. John Fisher, and the statesman, St. Thomas More. When King Henry VIII claimed headship over the Church in England and sought to rewrite the doctrines passed on by Christ to the apostles, he enacted law forcing all bishops and government officials to sign their names to his lies.

Bishop John Fisher was the only bishop in England who had the courage to oppose the king’s lies and usurpation of religious authority, and Sir Thomas More, former chancellor of England and close friend of the King’s was the highest-ranking layman to not take this oath acknowledging the king’s claims. Both were imprisoned in the Tower of London and eventually beheaded.

Yes, there will be pressure, worldly pressure, pressure from coworkers, neighbors, political groups, even members of our families, the Lord warns. You will be tempted to give in, to compromise the Gospel, to become silent when we should speak.

John Fisher and Thomas More experienced tremendous pressure from other bishops, statesman, and family, not to mention the threat of death. But they allowed the courage of Christ to flow within them. Their lives of holiness prepared them, as the Collect says, “to bring the true faith to its highest expression.”

These men are our great heroes, and we do well to honor them, emulate them, and invoke their heavenly intercession, that we like them might have the courage to remain faithful to Christ, to preach and live His Gospel, despite all temptations and pressures, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That our bishops and clergy may be zealous in preaching and teaching the truth of the Gospel, and that our future bishop of the diocese of Cleveland may be a man of true faith and the Holy Spirit.

That through the intercession of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More, people of faith may remain vigilant in defending religious liberty and preaching the Gospel courageously.

That our young people on summer vacation may be kept safe from the poisonous errors of our culture, and that their families may be places where the faith is practiced and cherished.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and for Paul Becker for whom this Mass is offered.
Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy. Through Christ our Lord.