POPE RECEIVES THE
COMMISSION OF CARDINALS INVESTIGATING LEAKING OF DOCUMENTS
Vatican City, 27 July 2012 (VIS) - "Yesterday morning 26 July, the Holy Father received in audience the Commission of Cardinals which is undertaking the administrative investigation into the leaking of reserved information: Cardinal Julian Herranz, Cardinal Jozef Tomko and Cardinal Salvatore De Giorgi. The cardinals were accompanied by Fr. Luigi Martignani O.F.M. Cap., secretary of the Commission; Examining Magistrate Piero Antonio Bonnet, and Promoter of Justice Nicola Picardi of the Tribunal of Vatican City State", according to a communique released this morning by the Holy See Press Office.
"The Holy Father was informed about the conclusions reached by the Commission of Cardinals, and about the progress of the criminal procedures currently underway. He thanked them for the information he had received and invited the Vatican magistrates to proceed expeditiously.
"The meeting was also attended by Archbishop Angelo Becciu, substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State; Msgr. Georg Gaenswein, private secretary to the Holy Father; Domenico Giani, director of the Vatican Gendarmerie, and Gregory Burke, communications consultant of the Secretariat of State".
ST. PIUS X AND THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Vatican City, 27 July 2012 (VIS) - It was 1908 when, in the wake of a serious economic crisis, Rome renounced hosting the Olympic Games which were eventually celebrated in London, England. In the same year Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, sought help from the Vatican to support the Games, and Pope St. Pius X in person offered him his support.
More than one hundred years later, the British capital is hosting the Olympic Games for the third time. The event is due to open this evening.
That moment at the beginning of the twentieth century is described in a book entitled "Pio X e lo sport" by Antonella Stelitano. At that time "less than one per cent of the population practised any sporting activity, ... and sport was used only as a form of military training or as a pastime for the upper classes", the author explained in an interview with Vatican Radio.
However "St. Pius X ... was aware of the educational potential of sport". He saw it as a way "to approach young people, and to bring them together while following certain rules and showing respect for adversaries. I believe", the author explained, "that he understood that it was possible to bring people together simply, without any problems of race, religion or differing political ideas".
At that time in history many people did not understand the importance of exercise, said Antonella Stelitano who concluded her interview by recalling an anecdote whereby Pius X told one of his cardinals: "All right, if it is impossible to understand that this can be done, then I myself will do exercise in front of everyone so that they may see that, if the Pope can do it, anyone can do it".
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 27 July 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father:
- Appointed Bishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of Oakland, U.S.A., as archbishop of San Francisco (area 6,023, population 1,866,000, Catholics 448,000, priests 408, permanent deacons 78, religious 854), U.S.A. He succeeds Archbishop George H. Niederauer, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.
- Appointed Bishop Jesus Murgui Soriano of Mallorca, Spain, as bishop of Orihuela-Alicante (area 4,415, population 1,653,786, Catholics 1,405,718, priests 407, permanent deacons 7, religious 778), Spain. He succeeds Bishop Rafael Palmero Ramos, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.
Vatican City, 27 July 2012 (VIS) - "Yesterday morning 26 July, the Holy Father received in audience the Commission of Cardinals which is undertaking the administrative investigation into the leaking of reserved information: Cardinal Julian Herranz, Cardinal Jozef Tomko and Cardinal Salvatore De Giorgi. The cardinals were accompanied by Fr. Luigi Martignani O.F.M. Cap., secretary of the Commission; Examining Magistrate Piero Antonio Bonnet, and Promoter of Justice Nicola Picardi of the Tribunal of Vatican City State", according to a communique released this morning by the Holy See Press Office.
"The Holy Father was informed about the conclusions reached by the Commission of Cardinals, and about the progress of the criminal procedures currently underway. He thanked them for the information he had received and invited the Vatican magistrates to proceed expeditiously.
"The meeting was also attended by Archbishop Angelo Becciu, substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State; Msgr. Georg Gaenswein, private secretary to the Holy Father; Domenico Giani, director of the Vatican Gendarmerie, and Gregory Burke, communications consultant of the Secretariat of State".
ST. PIUS X AND THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Vatican City, 27 July 2012 (VIS) - It was 1908 when, in the wake of a serious economic crisis, Rome renounced hosting the Olympic Games which were eventually celebrated in London, England. In the same year Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, sought help from the Vatican to support the Games, and Pope St. Pius X in person offered him his support.
More than one hundred years later, the British capital is hosting the Olympic Games for the third time. The event is due to open this evening.
That moment at the beginning of the twentieth century is described in a book entitled "Pio X e lo sport" by Antonella Stelitano. At that time "less than one per cent of the population practised any sporting activity, ... and sport was used only as a form of military training or as a pastime for the upper classes", the author explained in an interview with Vatican Radio.
However "St. Pius X ... was aware of the educational potential of sport". He saw it as a way "to approach young people, and to bring them together while following certain rules and showing respect for adversaries. I believe", the author explained, "that he understood that it was possible to bring people together simply, without any problems of race, religion or differing political ideas".
At that time in history many people did not understand the importance of exercise, said Antonella Stelitano who concluded her interview by recalling an anecdote whereby Pius X told one of his cardinals: "All right, if it is impossible to understand that this can be done, then I myself will do exercise in front of everyone so that they may see that, if the Pope can do it, anyone can do it".
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 27 July 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father:
- Appointed Bishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of Oakland, U.S.A., as archbishop of San Francisco (area 6,023, population 1,866,000, Catholics 448,000, priests 408, permanent deacons 78, religious 854), U.S.A. He succeeds Archbishop George H. Niederauer, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.
- Appointed Bishop Jesus Murgui Soriano of Mallorca, Spain, as bishop of Orihuela-Alicante (area 4,415, population 1,653,786, Catholics 1,405,718, priests 407, permanent deacons 7, religious 778), Spain. He succeeds Bishop Rafael Palmero Ramos, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.
EUROPE : AUSTRIA : BILLBOARD CAMPAIGN TO RECRUIT PRIESTS - RELIGIOUS
UCAN NEWS REPORT:
The Austrian
Church is taking unusual steps to arrest the declining number of entrants into
the priesthood.
European men take note. While unemployment is
growing in much of the continent, a powerful international organization is now
advertising vacancies in Austria for hundreds of white-collar
jobs.
Requirements: a sense of religious mission and a commitment to celibacy. Benefits: a possible inside track to Heaven.
Seeking to repopulate its thinning clerical ranks, the Roman Catholic diocese of Austria’s largest province launched a province-wide billboard campaign Tuesday meant to recruit priests.
Nuns are welcome as well. And the posters are also looking for part-time help — laymen and women prepared to dedicate at least part of their life to Catholic religious and social service.
Such mass advertising for priests is rare anywhere — and the decision of the Lower Austrian diocese to turn to it now reflects fears that the Catholic Church in this country many soon not be able to carry out its mission due to the lack of clergy.
Austria formally remains an overwhelmingly Catholic nation, with more than 64 percent of its people declaring themselves as church members. But many are Catholics in name only.
Like elsewhere in much of Europe, Masses are poorly populated in Vienna and other bigger cities and the number of declared Catholics is shrinking — in Austria by 13 percent since 1960 — as former believers fed up with church scandals and a perceived sense of the Vatican’s disconnect with the world flee in droves.
At the same time, however, the number of priests has dropped even more sharply — in Austria by 26 percent. In St. Poelten, Lower Austria’s provincial capital, 244 priests are administering to the needs of believers in 423 parishes. Country-wide, the overwhelming majority of priests are over 60, and young replacements are scarce.
Launching the billboard campaign Tuesday, Klaus Kueng, St. Polten’s bishop, described the lack of interest in the priesthood as “a huge problem.” But Lukas Leitner, whose advertising agency developed the project, was optimistic that his strategy would bear fruit.
SHARED FROM UCAN NEWS
Requirements: a sense of religious mission and a commitment to celibacy. Benefits: a possible inside track to Heaven.
Seeking to repopulate its thinning clerical ranks, the Roman Catholic diocese of Austria’s largest province launched a province-wide billboard campaign Tuesday meant to recruit priests.
Nuns are welcome as well. And the posters are also looking for part-time help — laymen and women prepared to dedicate at least part of their life to Catholic religious and social service.
Such mass advertising for priests is rare anywhere — and the decision of the Lower Austrian diocese to turn to it now reflects fears that the Catholic Church in this country many soon not be able to carry out its mission due to the lack of clergy.
Austria formally remains an overwhelmingly Catholic nation, with more than 64 percent of its people declaring themselves as church members. But many are Catholics in name only.
Like elsewhere in much of Europe, Masses are poorly populated in Vienna and other bigger cities and the number of declared Catholics is shrinking — in Austria by 13 percent since 1960 — as former believers fed up with church scandals and a perceived sense of the Vatican’s disconnect with the world flee in droves.
At the same time, however, the number of priests has dropped even more sharply — in Austria by 26 percent. In St. Poelten, Lower Austria’s provincial capital, 244 priests are administering to the needs of believers in 423 parishes. Country-wide, the overwhelming majority of priests are over 60, and young replacements are scarce.
Launching the billboard campaign Tuesday, Klaus Kueng, St. Polten’s bishop, described the lack of interest in the priesthood as “a huge problem.” But Lukas Leitner, whose advertising agency developed the project, was optimistic that his strategy would bear fruit.
SHARED FROM UCAN NEWS
ASIA : SYRIA : FINAL SHOWDOWN WITH REBELS
ASIA NEWS REPORT:
Regular Syrian forces have begun to pound Aleppo again with helicopters and tanks. Syrian opposition controls about 40 per cent of the city. More bloodshed is likely. A pro-Assad lawmaker defects to Qatar.
Aleppo (AsiaNews/ Agencies) - The Syrian military is getting ready for a showdown with rebels who have been under siege in the northern and south-western districts of Aleppo, where at least 34 people were killed in the city on Thursday.
This morning, combat helicopters, tanks and armoured personnel carrier from Idlib province (on the Turkish border) began shelling districts under the control of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and other rebel groups.
Experts say opposition leaders, including in the FSA, are working to set up a united anti-Assad front to confront what pro-government al-Watan newspaper has warned would be the mother of all battles.
It is expected that foreign paramilitary groups like al-Qaeda and Hizbollah will join their respective allies for the fight.
Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday accused Syria of recruiting members of the PKK, a nationalist Kurdish party operating in Turkish Kurdistan. He warned that Turkish forces would respond to any crime on its territory.
With a population of 1.9 million, Aleppo is Syrian's main commercial and industrial hub. It also has the third largest Christian community (300,000) in the Arab world after Beirut and Cairo.
Local sources report that thousands of civilians are fleeing the city for the Turkish border.
Signs of a coming slaughter come from the Syrian government, which has warned its officials still in the city to leave for Damascus by plane.
Other officials have taken advantage of the situation to escape abroad. They include Ikhlas Badawi, who represents the city of Aleppo in Syria's recently elected parliament. After crossing into Turkey, she is expected to fly to Qatar where other top defectors have found refuge. She is the fourth Syrian lawmaker to break with the regime.
UN Human Rights Chief Navy Pillay said she is concerned about the conflict escalating, especially in Aleppo, where clashes have been reported in the Citadel, which is part of the Ancient City of Aleppo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.
She called on the government and the armed opposition to protect civilians, and respect international conversions on human rights. In case of violations, both parties would be liable for sanctions.
SHARED FROM ASIA NEWS IT
Regular Syrian forces have begun to pound Aleppo again with helicopters and tanks. Syrian opposition controls about 40 per cent of the city. More bloodshed is likely. A pro-Assad lawmaker defects to Qatar.
_0727_-_Aleppo_battaglia.jpg)
Aleppo (AsiaNews/ Agencies) - The Syrian military is getting ready for a showdown with rebels who have been under siege in the northern and south-western districts of Aleppo, where at least 34 people were killed in the city on Thursday.
This morning, combat helicopters, tanks and armoured personnel carrier from Idlib province (on the Turkish border) began shelling districts under the control of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and other rebel groups.
Experts say opposition leaders, including in the FSA, are working to set up a united anti-Assad front to confront what pro-government al-Watan newspaper has warned would be the mother of all battles.
It is expected that foreign paramilitary groups like al-Qaeda and Hizbollah will join their respective allies for the fight.
Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday accused Syria of recruiting members of the PKK, a nationalist Kurdish party operating in Turkish Kurdistan. He warned that Turkish forces would respond to any crime on its territory.
With a population of 1.9 million, Aleppo is Syrian's main commercial and industrial hub. It also has the third largest Christian community (300,000) in the Arab world after Beirut and Cairo.
Local sources report that thousands of civilians are fleeing the city for the Turkish border.
Signs of a coming slaughter come from the Syrian government, which has warned its officials still in the city to leave for Damascus by plane.
Other officials have taken advantage of the situation to escape abroad. They include Ikhlas Badawi, who represents the city of Aleppo in Syria's recently elected parliament. After crossing into Turkey, she is expected to fly to Qatar where other top defectors have found refuge. She is the fourth Syrian lawmaker to break with the regime.
UN Human Rights Chief Navy Pillay said she is concerned about the conflict escalating, especially in Aleppo, where clashes have been reported in the Citadel, which is part of the Ancient City of Aleppo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.
She called on the government and the armed opposition to protect civilians, and respect international conversions on human rights. In case of violations, both parties would be liable for sanctions.
SHARED FROM ASIA NEWS IT
AMERICA : NEW ARCHBISHOP OF SAN FRANCISCO - CORDILEONE
USCCB REPORT—Pope Benedict XVI has named Bishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of Oakland, California, 56, archbishop of San Francisco, and accepted the resignation of Archbishop George H. Niederauer, 76, from the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
The appointment and resignation were publicized in Washington, July 27, by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
Salvatore Joseph Cordileone was born June 5, 1956, in San Diego. He studied at St. Francis Seminary, San Diego, and North American College and Gregorian University, Rome. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of San Diego on July 9, 1982 and pursued doctoral studies in canon law in Rome from 1985-1989. From 1985-1991, he served as an official of the Tribunal of the Diocese of San Diego. From 1989-1991, he served a secretary to the diocesan bishop, and from 1991-1995, he served as pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Calexico, California.
From 1995-2002, he served as an official of the Supreme Tribunal of the Signatura, Rome, the Church's highest juridical body under the pope. In 1999, he was named a monsignor.
On July 5, 2002, Pope John Paul II appointed him auxiliary bishop of San Diego. He was ordained a bishop on August 21 of that year. On March 23, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him bishop of Oakland. Archbishop-designate Cordileone is currently chairman of the Subcommittee on the Promotion and Defense of Marriage of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), a post he has held since January 2011.
George Hugh Niederauer was born June 14, 1936, in Los Angeles. He studied at St. John's Seminary in Camarillo, California, and The Catholic University of America in Washington. He earned advanced degrees in English literature from Loyola University of Los Angeles and the University of Southern California. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles on April 30, 1962, and ordained bishop of Salt Lake City on January 25, 1995. On December 15, 2005, he was appointed archbishop of San Francisco.
The Archdiocese of San Francisco has 1,761,000 persons, with 432,163, or 25 percent, of them Catholic. It covers 1,012 square miles in California.
SHARED FROM USCCB
AUSTRALIA : MARRIAGE MASS CELEBRATING 50 COUPLES
Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese
REPORT
27 Jul 2012
More than 50 couples
will renew their vows at a special Marriage Mass at St Mary's Cathedral this
Sunday, 29 July.
Sunday has been proclaimed Marriage and Family Sunday and the 10.30 am Solemn Mass at St Mary's Cathedral marks the first of what will become an important annual event. But it is not only the couples who will gather at the Cathedral to celebrate important milestones and to renew their love and commitment to one another. At parishes across the city, couples of all ages and from all walks of life will also be celebrating Marriage and Family Sunday and renewing their vows.
"The Marriage Mass whether in the Cathedral or at local churches across the city is an opportunity for couples to stop and give thanks to God for the great blessings of the gift of marriage and family which remain the building blocks of society," says Chris Meney, Director of the Archdiocese of Sydney's Life, Marriage and Family Centre.
He points out that marriage and the birth and care of children is fundamental to the world's many diverse cultures.
"When a man and woman publically commit to one another in the shared hope of being blessed with children they provide a wonderful sigh of hope for the future," he says.
"We only asked those couples celebrating special milestones to register but we have 54 couples totalling 1636 years of marriage. Quite an achievement," Chris said.
Seven of these couples are celebrating half a century
or more of marital life and each will be presented with a special commemoration
certificate.
One of these couples is Bernard and Helen Moses who met one another at a youth function organised by St Patrick's Church, Church Hill in 1962 and married a few months later at the same church on 12 May 1962. Now devoted parents of two and proud grandparents of four, for the past 28 years they have been active volunteers taking communion to the sick at their local nursing home each week.
The pair show no signs of slowing down and insist they have not only had a wonderful 50 years together, but are eager for "at least another 50 more!"
While John and Sylvia Newman haven't yet made the half century, they are well on their way and two weeks ago on 13 July celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary. Now they are looking forward to 2013 and their Golden Wedding anniversary when their large and loving family will join them for a very special celebration.
Married at Holy Cross Church, Woollahra in July 1963, their marriage was celebrated by Bishop James Carroll, auxiliary bishop to the Archdiocese in 1963 and assisted by Father David Cremin who later became Bishop Cremin.
John and Sylvia still attend Mass each Sunday at Holy Cross,
Woollahra often accompanied by their extended family which now includes four
adult children and 10 lively grandchildren.
Asked the secret of their long and happy marriage, John's advice is simple and straight to the point. "Just love each other," he says.
The Marriage Mass and renewal of Vows at St Mary's Cathedral will take place at 10.30 am on Sunday, 29 July. Whether newly-weds or long-term married couples, all are welcome.
27 Jul 2012
The Marriage Mass will be
at St Mary's Cathedral at 10.30am
this Sunday, 29 July.
at St Mary's Cathedral at 10.30am
this Sunday, 29 July.
Sunday has been proclaimed Marriage and Family Sunday and the 10.30 am Solemn Mass at St Mary's Cathedral marks the first of what will become an important annual event. But it is not only the couples who will gather at the Cathedral to celebrate important milestones and to renew their love and commitment to one another. At parishes across the city, couples of all ages and from all walks of life will also be celebrating Marriage and Family Sunday and renewing their vows.
"The Marriage Mass whether in the Cathedral or at local churches across the city is an opportunity for couples to stop and give thanks to God for the great blessings of the gift of marriage and family which remain the building blocks of society," says Chris Meney, Director of the Archdiocese of Sydney's Life, Marriage and Family Centre.
He points out that marriage and the birth and care of children is fundamental to the world's many diverse cultures.
"When a man and woman publically commit to one another in the shared hope of being blessed with children they provide a wonderful sigh of hope for the future," he says.
"We only asked those couples celebrating special milestones to register but we have 54 couples totalling 1636 years of marriage. Quite an achievement," Chris said.
Chris Meney, Director of Life,
Marriage and Family Centre
Marriage and Family Centre
One of these couples is Bernard and Helen Moses who met one another at a youth function organised by St Patrick's Church, Church Hill in 1962 and married a few months later at the same church on 12 May 1962. Now devoted parents of two and proud grandparents of four, for the past 28 years they have been active volunteers taking communion to the sick at their local nursing home each week.
The pair show no signs of slowing down and insist they have not only had a wonderful 50 years together, but are eager for "at least another 50 more!"
While John and Sylvia Newman haven't yet made the half century, they are well on their way and two weeks ago on 13 July celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary. Now they are looking forward to 2013 and their Golden Wedding anniversary when their large and loving family will join them for a very special celebration.
Married at Holy Cross Church, Woollahra in July 1963, their marriage was celebrated by Bishop James Carroll, auxiliary bishop to the Archdiocese in 1963 and assisted by Father David Cremin who later became Bishop Cremin.
Marriage and Family Celebrated
this Sunday
this Sunday
Asked the secret of their long and happy marriage, John's advice is simple and straight to the point. "Just love each other," he says.
The Marriage Mass and renewal of Vows at St Mary's Cathedral will take place at 10.30 am on Sunday, 29 July. Whether newly-weds or long-term married couples, all are welcome.
Marriage is a vocation and needs
prayer and God's help when
making this important decision
prayer and God's help when
making this important decision
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
AFRICA : ETHIOPIA : MEDICAL AID LACKING FOR POPULATION
Agenzia Fides REPORT - In the province of West Arsi, 245
kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, the Missionaries
of the Consolata manage the general rural Hospital in Gambo. Founded in 1922 by
the Capuchin friars, in 1975 it went to the Missionaries of the Consolata, who
care for patients who have AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, malnourished children,
women with the consequences of genital mutilation, and also deal with many other
diseases so-called forgotten of which a billion people worldwide suffer. One
hospital for 100,000 inhabitants of the district where almost exclusively local
medical personnel work. This is one of the centers selected by the Ethiopian
Ministry of Health which is involved in all health programs that are launched in
the African country, among these the control of tuberculosis and leprosy,
prevention and diagnosis of AIDS, treatment for malnutrition, childhood
vaccinations and pregnancy.
The hospital, before being what it is today, was a leper colony. As the last vestiges of its origin, in the neighborhood adjacent land it is still reserved for lepers, that the Consolata missionaries had built to accommodate all those who were marginalized because of the disease and that, because of extreme poverty in which they lived, did not have the opportunity to be treated in time. The health center works with the help of international organizations like the Catholic Spanish Manos Unidas which also here promotes its campaign "La Salud derecho de todos: ¡Actua." According to the World Health Organization the pandemic is present in 114 countries. Each year, it continues to make more than 2 million disabled people. If diagnosed in the early stages it is easily cured with antibiotics. Incubation lasts about 5 years but symptoms may be delayed up to 20 years before appearing. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 24/7/2012)
The hospital, before being what it is today, was a leper colony. As the last vestiges of its origin, in the neighborhood adjacent land it is still reserved for lepers, that the Consolata missionaries had built to accommodate all those who were marginalized because of the disease and that, because of extreme poverty in which they lived, did not have the opportunity to be treated in time. The health center works with the help of international organizations like the Catholic Spanish Manos Unidas which also here promotes its campaign "La Salud derecho de todos: ¡Actua." According to the World Health Organization the pandemic is present in 114 countries. Each year, it continues to make more than 2 million disabled people. If diagnosed in the early stages it is easily cured with antibiotics. Incubation lasts about 5 years but symptoms may be delayed up to 20 years before appearing. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 24/7/2012)
TODAY'S MASS ONLINE : FRIDAY JULY 27, 2012
| Matthew
13: 18 - 23 | |
| 18 | "Hear then the parable of the sower. |
| 19 | When any one hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart; this is what was sown along the path. |
| 20 | As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; |
| 21 | yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. |
| 22 | As for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the delight in riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. |
| 23 | As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty." |
TODAY'S SAINT: JULY 27: ST. PANTALEON
St. Pantaleon
MARTYR
Feast: July 27
 Information:
|
|
Martyr,
died about 305. According to legend he was the son of a rich pagan, Eustorgius
of Nicomedia, and had been instructed in Christianity by his Christian mother,
Eubula. Afterwards he became estranged from Christianity. He studied medicine
and became physician to the Emperor Maximianus. He was won back to Christianity
by the priest Hermolaus. Upon the death of his father he came into possession of
a large fortune. Envious colleagues denounced him to the emperor during the
Diocletian persecution. The emperor wished to save him and sought to persuade
him to apostasy. Pantaleon, however, openly confessed his faith, and as proof
that Christ is the true God, he healed a paralytic. Notwithstanding this, he was
condemned to death by the emperor, who regarded the miracle as an exhibition of
magic. According to legend, Pantaleon's flesh was first burned with torches;
upon this Christ appeared to all in the form of Hermolaus to strengthen and heal
Pantaleon. The torches were extinguished. After this, when a bath of liquid lead
was prepared, Christ in the same form stepped into the cauldron with him, the
fire went out and the lead became cold. He was now thrown into the sea, but the
stone with which he was loaded floated. He was thrown to the wild beasts but
these fawned upon him and could not be forced away until he had blessed them. He
was bound on the wheel, but the ropes snapped, and the wheel broke. An attempt
was made to behead him, but the sword bent, and the executioners were converted.
Pantaleon implored heaven to forgive them, for which reason he also received the
name of Panteleemon (the all-compassionate). It was not until he himself desired
it that it was possible to behead him.
The
lives containing these legendary features are all late in date and valueless.
Yet the fact of the martyrdom itself seems to be proved by a veneration for
which there is early testimony, among others from Theodoret (Graecarum
affectionum curatio, Sermo VIII, "De martyribus", in Migne, P. G., LXXXIII
1033), Procopius of Caesarea (De aedificiis Justiniani I, ix; V, ix), and the
"Martyrologium Hieronymianum" (Acta SS., Nov., II, 1, 97). Pantaleon is
venerated in the East as a great martyr and wonderworker. In the Middle Ages he
came to be regarded as the patron saint of physicians and midwives, and became
one of the fourteen guardian martyrs. From early times a phial containing some
of his blood has been preserved at Constantinople. On the feast day of the saint
the blood is said to become fluid and to bubble. Relics of the saint are to be
found at St. Denis at Paris; his head is venerated at Lyons. His feast day is 27
July, also 28 July, and 18
February.
|
SOURCE: http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/P/stpantaleon.asp#ixzz1TJZmUYHs
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