SS. Protus and Hyacinth| Daily Meditation| Daily Quote by S. Padre Pio| Divine Mercy Reflection
Today in the Latin Calendar we commemorate SS. Protus and Hyacinth, Martyrs. A story about this commemoration can be found by Clicking Here.
Another Story:
They were brothers in many ways: brothers by birth, brothers in the Lord and in ministry in the house of St. Philip in Rome, and brothers as they died together, burned for their faith as very early martyrs in the Church.
Other than the above, little is known about these early martyrs. Protus and Hyacinth were buried in the same crypt in the Catacomb of Saint Hermes, the cemetery of Saint Basilla. Hyacinth’s burial stone read that he was buried September 11, 257. Protus’ remains had long before been transferred to the Church of San Salvatore when his brother’s were found.
In 1845 Father Marchi discovered the still undisturbed grave of St. Hyacinth in the crypt. It was a small square niche in which lay the ashes and pieces of burned bone wrapped in the remains of costly stuffs (Marchi, “Monumenti primitivi: I, Architettura della Roma sotterranea cristina” , Rome, 1844, 238 sqq., 264 sqq.) His relics were transferred to the Chapel of the Propaganda.
In life and in death, they belong to God. Though hidden for centuries from the eyes of the world, they are alive, worshiping and interceding, as saints in Heaven.
Daily Meditation
Virtuous Character:
In deciding when to allow a privilege, age is not the main factor; a child's character is. And character is measured not by the absence of problems but by the presence of virtue.
Quote By S. Padre Pio:
Jesus is there to ward off the blows of the enemy so that you may not be hurt.
Divine Mercy Reflection
Reflections on Notebook Four: 237-262
We continue to the fourth notebook that Saint Faustina filled with reflections and revelations from Jesus. As we enter into this notebook, allow yourself to seek God in the silence. This chapter begins with Saint Faustina revealing that she was experiencing a “dark night” (Diary #1235). She lacked the sensory feelings of closeness to God. By analogy, it would be as if you were in a dark room filled with treasures and someone told you that all the treasures of this room were yours. You could not see them but you trusted the person who spoke about all that was around you. Knowledge of these treasures filled your mind even though the darkness hid them from your eyes.
So it is with God. Saint Faustina loved our Lord with all her heart and with every beat of her heart. She knew His closeness and love. But it appears that she could not sense this through her human senses. This gift of darkness allowed her to enter into a relationship with God on a spiritual level far deeper.
Seek this depth of relationship with God as you read through this chapter. Move beyond a desire to feel close to God and allow yourself to become close to God. He wants to enter your heart on a much deeper level than you ever knew possible. Be open to the newness of a relationship shrouded in darkness and allow the Lord to communicate His Mercy to you on this new level of love.
Reflection 254: Divinization
Our calling in life can be described as a call to divinization. What does this mean? It means that God came to Earth and took on our human nature so as to draw us into His very life. We are, in a sense, called to become God. This idea of “divinization” was common among the early Church fathers such as Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, Athanasius, Clement of Alexandria and St. Augustine. It’s not that we are to become God in the sense that our nature becomes divine, this would be a heresy. Rather, we are called to become God in the sense that we are to share in His divine life, becoming one with Him in perfect unity. It would be as if God were an Ocean and we were a drop of water plunged into that Ocean. Though the specific particles of the drop of water representing us remain that one drop, it is absorbed by the waters of the Ocean representing God. Our union with Him must become so complete that God lives in us as we live in God (See Diary #1289).
Reflect upon your calling to become divinized. This concept goes to the heart of our Christian vocation in that it expresses the powerful unity we are called to have with our merciful God. He wants you to share in His life and to become one with Him in every way. Though this may be hard to comprehend, you must accept it as your calling in faith. Reflect upon this concept today and tell our Lord that you give yourself to Him so as to become one with Him and to share in His very life.
Lord, please come to me and divinize me in accord with Your perfect Will and abundant Mercy. I thank You for calling me to such a glorious and high calling in life and I accept this invitation from You. My life is Yours, dear Lord, transform me, consume me and do with me as You will. Jesus, I trust in You.