Vacation Cont.

I like this camping with Internet, cable tv, and other sorts of things not like tent camping for sure. Right now we are in the midst of a thunder storm and it is raining. So far the old pop up is doing just fine. I also traded her in on a new one this week, but tried and true is the way to go. Off on a boat trip tomorrow and maybe more pictures.

Firefighters Death

We were reminded again today just how dangerous the job of a firefighter is. Nine brave souls were lost this morning in Charleston, South Carolina. Let us remember them and their families in our prayers this evening.

16 June ~ St. Cyrus

Celebrated martyrs of the Coptic Church, surnamed thaumatourgoi anargyroi because they healed the sick gratis (Nilles, Kallendarium utriusque Ecclesiæ, Innsbruck, 1896, I, 89). Their feast day is celebrated by the Copts on the sixth day of Emsir, corresponding to 31 January, the day also observed by the Greeks; on the same day they are commemorated in the Roman Martyrology, regarding which see the observation of Cardinal Baronio (Martyrologium Romanum, Venice, 1586). The Greeks celebrate also the finding and translation of the relics on 28 June (see “Menologium Basil.” and “Menaia”). The principal source of information regarding the life, passion and miracles of Sts. John and Cyrus is the encomium written by Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem (d. 638). Of the birth, parents, and first years of the saints we know nothing. According to the Arabic “Synaxarium” (Forget, Synax. Alexandrinum, Beirut, 1906, II, 252), compiled by Michael, Bishop of Athrib and Malig, Cyrus and John were both Alexandrians; this, however, is contradicted by other documents in which it is said that Cyrus was a native of Alexandria and John of Edessa. Cyrus practised the art of medicine, and had a work-shop (ergasterium) which was afterwards transformed into a temple dedicated to the three boy-saints, Ananias, Misael, and Azarias. He ministered to the sick gratis and at the same time laboured with all the ardour of an apostle of the Faith, and won many from pagan superstition. This took place under the Emperor Diocletian. Denounced to the prefect of the city he fled to Arabia of Egypt where he took refuge in a town near the sea called Tzoten. There, having shaved his head and assumed the monastic habit, he abandoned medicine and began a life of asceticism.
John belonged to the army, in which he held a high rank; the “Synaxarium” cited above adds that he was one of the familiars of the emperor. Hearing of the virtues and wonders of Cyrus, he betook himself to Jerusalem in fulfillment of a vow, and thence passed into Egypt where he became the companion of St. Cyrus in the ascetic life. During the persecution of Diocletian three holy virgins, Theoctista (Theopista), fifteen years old, Theodota (Theodora), thirteen years old, and Theodossia (Theodoxia), eleven years old, together with their mother Athanasia, were arrested at Canopus and brought to Alexandria. Cyrus and John, fearing lest these girls, on account of their tender age, might, in the midst of torments, deny the Faith, resolved to go into the city to comfort them and encourage them in undergoing martyrdom. This fact becoming known they also were arrested and after dire torments they were all beheaded on the 31st of January. The bodies of the two martyrs were placed in the church of St. Mark the Evangelist where they remained up to the time of St. Cyril, Patriarch of Alexandria (412-444). At Menuthis (Menouthes or Menouthis) near Canopus there existed at that time a pagan temple reputed for its oracles and cures which attracted even some simple Christians of the vicinity. St. Cyril thought to extirpate this idolatrous cult by establishing in that town the cultus of Sts. Cyrus and John. For this purpose he transferred thither their relics (28 June, 414) and placed them in the church built by his predecessor, Theophilus, in honour of the Evangelists. Before the finding and transfer of the relics by St. Cyril it seems that the names of the two saints were unknown; certain it is that no written records of them existed (Migne, P.G., LXXXVII, 3508 sq.). In the fifth century, during the pontificate of Innocent I, their relics were brought to Rome by two monks, Grimaldus and Arnulfus—this according to a manuscript in the archives of the deaconry of Santa Maria in the Via Lata, cited by Antonio Bosio (Roma Sotterranea, Rome, 1634, p. 123). Mai, however, for historical reasons, justly assigns a later date, namely 634, under Pope Honorius and the Emperor Heraclius (Spicilegium Rom., III, V). The relics were placed in the suburban church of St. Passera (Abbas Cyrus) on the Via Portuense. In the time of Bosio the pictures of the two saints were still visible in this church (Bosio, op. cit., ib.) Upon the door of the hypogeum, which still remains, is the following inscription in marble:–
Corpora sancta Cyri renitent hic atque JoannisQuæ quondam Romæ dedit Alexandria magna
(Bosio, ib.; Mai, Spic. Rom., loc. cit.). At Rome three churches were dedicated to these martyrs, Abbas Cyrus de Militiis, Abbas Cyrus de Valeriis, and Abbas Cyrus ad Elephantum—all of which were transformed afterwards by the vulgar pronunciation into S. Passera, a corruption of Abbas Cyrus; in the Coptic Difnar, Apakiri, Apakyri, Apakyr; in Arabic, ‘Abaqir, ‘Abuqir (see Armellini, Le Chiese di Roma, Rome, 1891, 179 sq., 563 sq., 681, 945 sq.).

Vacation Part II

Well we made it. The trailer I was following had a flat about 2 miles from the exit we were taking but other than that no problems at all. Took us about 5 hours and the place is unbelievable. Right out the front window I can see Lake Ontario what a wonderful thing to see I cannot wait until the sun sets they are supposed to be great. More tomorrow I am bushed and need a nap.

Vacation

I am off in the morning on a little vacation. I am going camping near lake Ontario in New York. I have been planning this since January and the time is here. Please pray for me, and the other people going, that we get there okay. We have about a six hour drive and this is the first time I will be pulling the trailer.
I am bringing my webcam so maybe I can get it working and let you check out the place should be nice. We are supposed to have Internet access so I should be able to keep blogging and I hope to get a podcast up as well but if not that will explain the silence.

Controversy

So it would seem that my recent posts have caused a stirring in the masses. I think that discussion is good and can bear fruit and we can learn from each other. Questions of faith are not easy to answer, and it would be easy for me to just say that’s what the church teaches and you should believe it or get out, but as a priest I cannot just say that. Priests are called to be teachers of the faith. I believe that what our people need is basic training in the faith and not some flowery Scripture exegesis on the Sunday passages. We are supposed to bring Scripture alive, but if we do not have a clear sense of what we believe and why we believe it then it will not make any sense. Sort of like this blog post right now.
I feel I must preach the truth! Not just my version of the truth but the truth of God’s Church. I have begun to read the Psalms again and meditate on them as I used to do. Psalm 1 has stuck in my craw since Monday and I cannot seem to shake it.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But he delights in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

We need to know and understand what the Church believes and teaches on the issues. We need to be informed about what is going on in the world and how we Christians can influence what is going on. We need to step out in faith and tell society that sometimes they are wrong. We preachers need to start to talk about SIN again and stop trying to be PC about topics. We are called to live the Christian life and not be wishy washy.
Our positions are not always the popular ones, but they are the positions of Christ’s Church. I believe that Christ calls us to a radical way of life and not one in which we just go along with whatever wave society happens to be riding. Perhaps I am wrong and am I popular, not always, but that is not why we are here. If we hold fast to our faith then all will be well, will it be easy, no!
I also feel that sometimes I can get a little snippy. However, good Christian discussion should not degrade into name calling. If we are to have a discussion we need to be able to respect the positions of others. However, if it does not agree with that of Christ’s Church then I will respectfully disagree with you. You are entitled to your opinion but just know that, hopefully, with love I will try and correct you. I have gone on long enough. I welcome your thoughts and opinions even if they differ from mine. Let’s have a thoughtful and prayerful discussion.

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