From: richarra@gmail.com

Prayer from the Heart

   "The pure prayer that ascends from a faithful heart will be like
incense rising from a hallowed altar.
   No fragrance can be more pleasing to God than that of his own Son.
May all the faithful breathe out the same perfume."
--St. Augustine--Commentary on Psalm 140, 6

Prayer: Lord, I am poor and needy, and you are generous to all who
appeal to you.
--St. Augustine--Confessions 11, 2

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December 24th - Saint Chrysogonus Martyr at Aquileia
Teacher of Great Martyr St. Anastasia

4th v.
When Diocletian learned that the prisons of Rome were overcrowed with Christians who resisted torture, he ordered them all to be killed in a
single night, and for Chrysogonus to be sent to him at Aquileia. St.
Anastasia followed her teacher at a distance.

The emperor interrogated Chrysogonus personally, but could not make
him renounce his faith. Therefore, he had him beheaded and thrown into
the sea. The body and severed head of the holy martyr were carried to
shore by the waves. There by divine Providence, the relics were found
by a presbyter named Zoilus who placed them in a coffer, and concealed
them at his home.

St. Chrysogonus appeared to Zoilus and informed him that Sts Agape,
Chione and Irene (April 16), three sisters who lived nearby, would
soon endure martyrdom. He told him to send St. Anastasia to them to
encourage them. St. Chrysogonus foretold that Zoilus would also die on
the same day. Nine days later, the words of St. Chrysogonus were
fulfilled. Zoilus fell asleep in the Lord, and St. Anastasia visited
the three maidens before their torture. When these 3 martyrs gave up
their souls to the Lord, she buried their bodies.


Saint Quote:
Sometimes, when the soul least thinks of it, and when it least desires
it, God touches it divinely causing certain recollections of Himself.
--John of the Cross

Bible Quote:
Is any one of you sad? Let him pray. Is any one in good spirits? Let
him sing a hymn.  (James 5:13)


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TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE JESUS CAME.

 Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house
 Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
 Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care
 in hopes that Jesus would not come there.

 The children were dressing to crawl into bed.
 Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
 And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
 Was watching the late show while I took a nap.

 When out on the East there arose such a clatter.
 I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
 Away to the window I flew like a flash
 Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

 When what to my wondering eyes should appear
 But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here
 With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray
 I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY!

 The light of His face made me cover my head
 It was Jesus! returning just like He had said.
 And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth.
 I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

 In the Book of Life which He held in His hand.
 Was written the name of every saved man.
 He spoke not a word as He searched for my name:
 When He said "It's not here" my head hung in shame.

 The people whose names had been written with love
 He gathered to take to His Father above
 With those who were ready He rose without a sound
 While all the rest were left standing around.

 I fell to my knees, but it was too late:
 I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.
 I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight:
 Oh. if only I had been ready tonight.

 In the words of this poem the meaning is clear:
 The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
 There's only one life and when comes the last call
 We'll find that the Bible was true after all !

"Then I saw Heaven opened, and behold, a white horse.
And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True.
He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and
His name is called the Word of God.
And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name
written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords."
(Revelation 19:11, 13, 16)

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* Origin: www.darkrealms.ca (1:229/2)