AMONG THE SAINTS: BL. ELIZABETH OF THE TRINITY

Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity is another great Saint of Carmel. It is through the vitality of Elizabeth's unique spirituality that we gain an insight into what is meant by living a 'Heaven on earth'. Elizabeth makes clear God's awesome Love for His children and she also helps us to understand that God is within reach for each of us. Though Elizabeth lived a short life her teachings on the Trinity will live on and will help many a sojourner to find that Heaven is truly lived within the soul when we love with the Power of God's love.

Read more about this wonderful Saint of Carmel by reading Sister Margaret Dorgan's reflection by clicking here.

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Saint Gregory the Great

For a man of immense intelligence and who was born into a noble and holy family, Gregory did all he could to avoid both the power and the glory which the Church would afford him.

At the heart of Gregory was a simple but complex man. A man of simple tastes who longed to live a contemplative life of prayer as a Monk, yet glory shadowed his steps. It is a well known truth that the most capable men are those who do all they can to avoid power and ostentation.

Gregory not only tried to avoid it he virtually ran away from it. Still like a whisper on the breeze it caught up with him, this man of simple tastes.

Gregory was born around the year 540 while the Church was still in its birth pangs and heresies still lured the unaware. Whenever the Catholic Church has been threatened God produces Great Sons of the Church not to save it but to enrich and make known what is already there. So it is that Gregory stepped into a time of history that was not only tumultuous, but lusty in both ideas and manners.

As the Roman Empire fell and the robust and brutal barbarians brought in their own beliefs which was not based on Christian Doctrine but on the heresy of Arianism. Into this arena came Gregory a man both gentle and inflexible in matters of Divine Truth. A man who would persuade the masses to follow him and the Teachings of the One True Church, yet he insisted on forcible conversions to the Catholic Church. Gregory was a diplomat who respected the Jewish Traditions and yet was intransigent with those who held pagan beliefs. Perhaps Gregory had seen the bitters tears shed by those who suffered under the governing of the Lombards.

In order to combat these heresies Gregory wanted much to evangelize what was then known as the Angles(English). With the Pope's permission Gregory set sail to do just that, unfortunately there were others who strongly objected to losing this great man of fire from the Church and so Gregory was recalled back to Rome.

These were difficult and fraught years for Gregory, he had clashed with the Byzantines, and his mission to Constantinople was not seen as an enormous success. Now he could not follow his heart and evangelize the faith to the Angles, but as always Gregory was an obedient son of the Church and so with filial love he returned to Rome.

The great city though would endure its own agony as floods ravaged many areas bringing forth disease and pestilence. Rome had come to resemble a land of corpses rather than the land of the living. During this terrible upheaval and tragic episode in Roman history the Pope also succumbed and died from the aftermath of the great floods and the plague which was running rampant throughout Rome and other area's. This left the land without a shepherd but not for long.

Upon hearing the rumor that he would become the next Pope, Gregory with great trepidation tried to flee such a heavy task. This was not done in a spirit of craven fear but of a longing to remain as he was a simple man who's life revolved around prayer and mortifications. A man who's own soul was pure and self controlled who did not seek after vain glories or have need of politics. Gregory was to learn though what he longed for and what God ordained to be were two different things. God won!

Gregory was Consecrated as Pope in 590. The gentle breeze that had touched Gregory with greatness had become a hurricane and so the people turned to Pope Gregory to lead them through this momentous time in history.

Pope Gregory would do just this with such aplomb that greatness would attach itself to this simple man of faith and his awesome intellect. To read more about Pope Gregory's reign as Pope click here.

Source

New Advent

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Copyright © 2006 Marie Smith. All rights reserved.


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Blessed's Edward Bamber & Thomas Whitaker

King Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church thereby proclaiming himself 'Supreme Head of the Church of England' in 1534. This would bring untold misery to those who still professed the Catholic Faith. His reign of tyranny against Catholics would be continued under the reign of his daughter Elizabeth I.

Once King Henry broke with Rome this laid the ground work for all those who followed him including the short time span in history where England was without a Monarch. Though there was no Monarch, Catholics were still not safe from the English Parliament as different factions fought for supremacy among them was one Oliver Cromwell. It seems that Charles I did not seem to have the ruthless hold that both Henry VIII and Elizabeth I enjoyed in their blood thirsty reigns.

It wasn't long before the country erupted into warring factions some who supported the claim of Charles I while the parliamentarians supported Cromwell. During this tremendous upheaval Charles I surrendered to the Scots and in 1648 Cromwell is victorious in defeating the Scottish incursion of England. Charles I was eventually beheaded, as England embraced republicanism.

One would have hoped that upon ridding the nation of tyrants England when then enjoy a time of peace and open mindedness towards those of other faiths, this was not to be.

Because of the persecutions faced by Catholic families in England many families sent their sons to be educated and Ordained Priests while they were abroad. Upon their return many chose to head towards Lancashire which had become known as sympathetic to the Catholic Faith. This was not to last.

Both Thomas Whitaker and Edward Bamber received their education in England and were then sent abroad to study for the Priesthood at Valladolid.

Upon returning to the shores of England Edward was seen to kneel and praise God for bringing him back to his native shore, a devout Priest. Unfortunately his prayer was noted by the Governor of the Castle and he was then reported to the authorities whereupon Edward found himself under arrest! He found himself banished but Edward was not here to obey the orders of man but instead to give witness and preach the Catholic Faith. Edward continued to Minister to the people despite the perilous position of Catholic Priests within the region. Like many Priests during these times of tyranny many families including those of noble birth hid Priests within their homes and castles so as to receive the Sacraments.

It surely is a testament to the strong and courageous Catholic families of England that they disregarded an unholy law and at risk of their lives they remained true to their faith. This was not a time for cold or cowardly hearts, it was also not a time for lukewarmness as English Catholics held their faith dear to them and were willing to die for their beliefs. A lesson which is much needed in these days of liberal progressives.

Edward did not have a lucky time of it and once again he found himself re-arrested not once, not twice but three times. This also shows an undue amount of courage on the part of this Priest, that he would choose to stay rather than flee and thereby save his life. Edward knew to save his life at the expense of his faith would be to enjoy no life at all. Edward refused to flee, and though he was helped and hidden by different people Edwards luck would soon run out.

Thomas Whitaker was also sent abroad upon completing his education to Valladolid where upon completing his studies he was Ordained into the Priesthood. In 1638 Thomas decided to return to England in order to give his beleaguered people recourse to the Sacraments of the Catholic Church. He pastored in the region of Lancaster where he was hidden by many of the nobility so as to conduct Mass.

The courage of these two Priests and many more like them can not be understated as they withstood the terrors that capture would bring. The English were not known for their compassion to the Catholics and many still felt threatened by anyone who would preach the One True Faith, Catholicism.

Thomas Whitaker also found himself arrested he was able to escape once and was then re-arrested. He then spent three years of imprisonment, these were severe years for a man known for his gentleness and compassion. Though he was placed under undue pressure to convert to Anglicanism Thomas refused. He continued to refuse to the end saying quietly and gently to his captors, "Use your pleasure with me, a reprieve or even a pardon upon your conditions I utterly refuse". This refusal would lead to his martyrdom.

Both Edward Bamber and Thomas Whitaker were to choose martyrdom rather than betray their Faith. This was no easy decision. Execution in those days were a terrible sight to see, many Priests would be dragged through the streets sometimes upside down hitting obstacles along the way. Once arriving at their place of execution they were then hung drawn and quartered a most despicable form of torture. Even after their death the bodies of these heroic Priests would be left on display as a warning to all other Catholics the danger of practicing their Faith.

As we in this modern era come under increasing threat by the secular world let us remember the courage of these Saints and Martyrs and hopefully follow their example. Lest they died in vain.

Edward Bamber died in 1646.

Blessed Edward Bamber was beatified in 1987 by Pope John Paul II.

Thomas Whitaker died in 1646.

Blessed Thomas Whitaker was beatified in 1987 by Pope John Paul II.

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Saint Bartholomew the Apostle

Saint Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Apostles, and probably a close friend of the Apostle Saint Philip. He was brought to Jesus by Philip, and Bartholomew’s name is usually mentioned in the Gospels in association with Philip.

He is called Bartholomew in the Gospels of Saints Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Most scholars believe that Bartholomew is called Nathaniel in the Gospel of John, and that Bartholomew was actually his last name. The name Bartholomaios means “son of Talmai” (Tolomai or Tholmai), an ancient Hebrew name. (The King of Gessur, whose daughter was a wife of David, bore the name; see 2 Samuel 3:3.) So, in this article, I will refer to him as Saint Nathaniel bar Tolomai (this would amount to him being known as Nathaniel son of Tolomai, just as Peter was called Simon bar Jonah, which would mean Simon son of Jonah.)

We see Saint Nathaniel bar Tolomai mentioned sixth in order as follows in the synoptic (this refers to the first 3 Gospels being similar in content, order, and statement) Gospels:

Matthew 10:3. James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the publican, and James the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus

Mark 3:18. And Andrew and Philip, and Bartholomew and Matthew, and Thomas and James of Alpheus, and Thaddeus and Simon the Cananean:

Luke 6:14. Simon, whom he surnamed Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,

And then again in the Gospel of Saint John:

John 1:45. Philip findeth Nathanael and saith to him: We have found him of whom Moses, in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus the son of Joseph of Nazareth.
1:46. And Nathanael said to him: Can any thing of good come from Nazareth? Philip saith to him: Come and see.
1:47. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him and he saith of him: Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile.
1:48. Nathanael saith to him: Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said to him: Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
1:49. Nathanael answered him and said: Rabbi: Thou art the Son of God. Thou art the King of Israel.
1:50. Jesus answered and said to him: Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, thou believest: greater things than these shalt thou see.
1:51. And he saith to him: Amen, amen, I say to you, you shall see the heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Once more in John:
John 21:2. There were together: Simon Peter and Thomas, who is called Didymus, and Nathanael, who was of Cana of Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee and two others of his disciples.

The last time that Saint Nathaniel bar Tolomai is mentioned in the New Testament is in The Acts of the Apostles:

Acts 1:13. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alpheus and Simon Zelotes and Jude the brother of James.

Outside the references mentioned, there are no other instances of the name of Saint Nathaniel bar Tolomai being mentioned in the New Testament. What we know of him after the New Testament is not certain. There is no mention of him in ecclesiastical literature before Eusebius, who mentions that Pantaenus who was the master of Origen, was evangelizing in India, and was told that Saint Nathaniel bar Tolomai had preached there before him, and had given them a copy of the Gospel of Saint Matthew written in Hebrew. This was treasured by the Church there. India, was the name given to a vast area, and was not limited to the geographical area we know as India today. Other traditions indicate that Saint Nathaniel bar Tolomai also preached and evangelized in Mesopotamia, Persia, Egypt, Armenia, Lycaonia, Phrygia, and on the shores of the Black Sea.

There are conflicting traditions regarding his death. According to one, he was beheaded at Albanopolis in Armenia. According to another he was flayed (skinned alive) alive and crucified head down by order of Astyages, for having converted his brother, Polymius, King of Armenia. Because of the latter legend, he is often represented as a man holding his skin. His relics are at Saint Bartholomew-on-the-Tiber Church, in Rome, and in the cathedral in Canterbury, England.

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

Bernard of Clarivaux was born into the nobility of Burgundy, his father being, Tescelin, Lord of Fontaines and his mother Aleth of Montbard in the year 1090.

From his earliest years, Bernard showed an aptitude for learning he was also deeply devout with a zealousness not usually found in one so young. This young man even from his earliest years showed himself to be a very forceful and charismatic figure who had the ability to draw people to himself and to illuminate the love he held for his Faith to those who would listen to him.

So it was no surprise despite his delicate health that at only 22 years of age he decided to join a Monastery and live the rest of his days as a monk. Due to his charismatic personality 35 other members of his family joined him in his pursuit of the monastic way of life. Quite an achievement for one so young.

One can see even from an early age Bernard was of a determined disposition and did not suffer fools gladly. His rule was so severe that it not only caused him health problems but also his fellow brothers within the Monastery compound. Upon becoming ill, Bernard was able to rest and re-think his strict regime as many of his fellow brothers were flagging under such extreme asceticism and mortifications. When he recovered Bernard relaxed some of the stricter penances for his fellow brothers but he remained very severe with himself.

Bernard was an astute character with a keen intelligence, but this did not mean he was open to any novelty of the moment and remained true to the Teachings of the Catholic Church. He was also very forthright and was not put off by anyone's position in life, not even if that man were the Pope himself! Bernard would speak the truth and accept the consequences for his outspokenness.

This great man of the Church was also not without fault one of them being that Bernard had a great impatience for those who did not grasp facts as quickly and as easily as himself. He also had no patience for those who were indecisive and would often use his quick wit to good effect when dealing with those who were driven by their own ego's rather than a love of God. Bernard also possessed a love for conveying to all his deep passion for God and the Church and would answer all letters written, from the Pope himself to the most humble peasant. In Bernard's mind, all men should be given equal respect be they pauper or prince.

At times the slow moving of the many ecclesial bodies within the Church would set off Bernard's famous impatience, and he would send them his thoughts on various matters. His replies from Rome were equally confronting he was told in no uncertain terms to mind his own business, and keep his thoughts within his own community. It was a robust relationship between those in authority and this most clever and perceptive of men which was the essence of the character of Bernard of Clairvaux.

The very character of Bernard though would be needed by the Catholic Church when an anti-pope Anacletus II tried to overtake the reigning Pope, Innocent II. It was to Bernard that the Church turned to help sort out the mess of the two popes, and who was the legitimate Pontiff. Bernard rallied to Pope Innocent II and helped dispel the cult of Anacletus II by preaching in many different countries as he gained support for the rightful Pope, Innocent II. This would also take a toll on the health of this well spoken and intellectual son of the Church.

During all this work Bernard was also a prodigious writer and his works are still read to this very day. Bernard wrote some of the most mystical writings within the Catholic Church, which gained the respect of all those who read them, his eloquence when writing about different aspects of the Catholic Church would one day make him a Doctor of the Church and deservedly so.

Bernard was also an unwilling accomplice in the Crusades when Rome once again called upon this eloquent monk to preach to the man in the streets in order to set off for the Holy land and the sights sacred to Christianity. Even though many joined the Crusades after listening to Bernard the Crusades were not a success and many lost their lives in the ensuing battles with the Moors, this grieved Bernard deeply. It was at this time that a man tried to bring dissent within the gentile and Jewish communities as he espoused hatred of the Jews. This incensed Bernard, who then immediately rebutted what this despicable man, Raoul and his hateful rantings which incited violence against the Jewish population. Bernard with his usual forthrightness called Raoul exactly what he was a hate filled and heretical speaker who promoted murder at the cost of the innocent. Bernard's condemnation of Raoul was so strong that it gained the respect and admiration of the Jews who lived within the European provinces. So much so that many named their sons after Bernard with the Jewish dialect of Baruch.

All of this traveling and preaching eventually took its toll on the health of Bernard. A man of fierce intellect and a zealous passion for the Church, his entire life was spent in serving the Church which he so loved.

Bernard of Clairvaux died in 1153.

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux was canonized in the year 1170 by Pope Alexander III.

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux was named a Doctor of the Church in 1830 by Pope Pius VIII.

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