Friday of the Third Week of Easter
Saint George
Joshua, Chapter 10, Verse 25
Then Joshua said to them, “Do not
be AFRAID or dismayed, be firm and
steadfast. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies against whom you
fight.”
Joshua, the warrior of God, had just defeated the five Kings of Jerusalem and had all of the soldiers put their foot on the Kings neck as a sign of victory over evil. Additionally, it showed how God had personally empowered each of them to overcome evil and they are not to be afraid or intimidated.
Joshua
defeated 5 Kings; is the number significant?
The number 5 symbolizes God's
grace, goodness and favor toward humans and is mentioned 318 times in
Scripture. Five is the number of grace, and multiplied by itself, which is 25,
is 'grace upon grace' (John 1:16). The Ten Commandments contains two sets of 5
commandments. The first five commandments are related to our treatment and
relationship with God, and the last five concern our relationship with other humans.[1]
Additionally,
in the Rosary there are five daily meditations on the life of Christ where the
faithful pray a decade of Hail Mary’s.
Saint George[2]
The traditional legends
have offered a historicized narration of George's encounter with a dragon. The
modern legend that follows below is synthesized from early and late
hagiographical sources, omitting the more fantastical episodes. Saint George
likely was born to a Christian noble family in Syria Palaestina, during the
late third century between about 275 AD and 285 AD. He died in Nicomedia in
Asia Minor. His father, Gerontios, was from Cappadocia, an officer in the Roman
army; his mother, Polychronia, was a native of Lydda. They were both Christians
from noble families, so their child was raised with Christian beliefs. They
decided to call him Georgios, meaning "worker of the land" (i.e.,
farmer). At the age of 14, George lost his father; a few years later, George's
mother, Polychronia, died. Eastern accounts give the names of his
parents as Anastasius and Theobaste. George then decided to go to Nicomedia and
present himself to Emperor Diocletian to apply for a career as a soldier.
Diocletian welcomed him with open arms, as he had known his father, Gerontius —
one of his finest soldiers. By his late 20s, George was promoted to the rank of
Military Tribune and stationed as an imperial guard of the Emperor at
Nicomedia. On 24 February AD 303, Diocletian (influenced by Galerius) issued an edict that every
Christian soldier in the army should be arrested and every other soldier should
offer a sacrifice to the Roman gods of the time. However, George objected, and
with the courage of his faith, approached the Emperor and ruler. Diocletian was
upset, not wanting to lose his best tribune and the son of his best official,
Gerontius. But George loudly renounced the Emperor's edict, and in front of his
fellow soldiers and tribunes he claimed himself to be a Christian and declared
his worship of Jesus Christ. Diocletian attempted to convert George, even
offering gifts of land, money, and slaves if he made a sacrifice to the Roman
gods; he made many offers, but George never accepted. Recognizing the futility
of his efforts and insisting on upholding his edict, Diocletian ordered that
George be executed for his refusal. Before the execution, George gave his
wealth to the poor and prepared himself. After various torture sessions,
including laceration on a wheel of swords during which he was resuscitated
three times, George was executed by decapitation before Nicomedia's city wall,
on 23 April 303. A witness of his suffering convinced Empress Alexandra and
Athanasius, a pagan priest, to become Christians, as well, so they joined
George in martyrdom.
St. George, soldier-martyr.[3]
Invoked for protection for domestic animals and against herpetic diseases.
Also, patron of soldiers, England, Portugal, Germany, Aragon, Genoa and Venice.
He is pictured striking down a dragon.
St. George is venerated by the Eastern
Church among her "great martyrs" and "standard-bearers." He
belonged to the Roman army; he was arrested and, probably, beheaded under
Diocletian, c. 304. The Latin Church as well as the Greek honors him as patron
of armies. He is the patron of England, since 800. Many legends are attached to
Saint George. The most famous is the one in The Golden Legend. There was
a dragon that lived in a lake near Silena, Libya. Not even armies could defeat
this creature, and he terrorized flocks and the people. St. George was passing
through and upon hearing about a princess was about to be eaten, he went to
battle against the serpent, and killed it with one blow with his lance. Then
with his great preaching, George converted the people. He distributed his
reward to the poor, then left the area.
Troops of Saint George[4]
The Troops of Saint George
(TSG) is a fraternal Catholic nonprofit apostolate for priests, men, and young
men looking for a life of adventure coupled with virtue. Initially founded in
2013 by Catholic author and professor Dr. Taylor Marshall,
we have become a collection of troops that do the following:
·
experience
reverent and beautiful Masses on mountaintop vistas
·
pray
the Rosary with other men around fire pits in the freezing cold
·
catch
a Fish Friday meal by fly fishing for trout
·
go
to confession with our priests while kneeling on moss in the woods
·
teach
our sons archery, rock climbing, marksmanship, fishing, survival skills…and
Catholic virtues
·
foster
a love for the priesthood and a reverence for the sacrament of Matrimony
·
support
our local parish, our priests, our bishops, and community by being available
for works of mercy and service
Mission Statement
“The Troops of Saint
George apostolate aims to use the outdoors as our canvas and the sacraments as
our path to light the way for the formation of Holy Catholic men and boys.
Whether called to the vocation of the priesthood, the religious life, or that
of Holy fatherhood, our fathers and sons will take a prayerful pilgrimage
together to fulfill Christ’s desire for them to grow in virtue and in their
Holy Catholic faith as they journey toward heaven.”
Saint George Trinitarian Salute
The Troops of Saint George
salute their officers, the flag, banners of the saints and Our Lady, and
crucifixes with the “Trinitarian Salute” – three fingers of the right hand
(index, middle, ring) out, and with the pinky and thumb joined signifying that
the divine nature of Christ is joined to His human nature: fully God and fully
man as taught at the Catholic Council of Chalcedon in AD 431.
Prayer Customs: ad orientem
The cadets usually carry a
compass with them. Even when they do not, they should be able to find East.
Like the early Christians, the Troops of Saint George pray facing the East in
response to Gospel according to Saint Matthew 24:27:
“For as lightning cometh
out of the east, and appears even into the west: so, shall the coming of the
Son of man be.”
The Church believed that
Christ’s Second Coming would be revealed “from the east to the west.” The
rising sun was an image of the Resurrected Christ.
So, at times of prayer
(for example, at the Angelus at noon), the Captain or one of the boys should
shout “ad orientem” and the men and boys should turn to face East, unless there
is already a suitable image or crucifix erected nearby.
The Role of Proverbs for the Troops
of Saint George
Each man or young man
among the Troops of Saint George must study the biblical book of Proverbs,
since it is the Book of the Bible that instructs men how to become wise and
virtuous. There the man will learn why he should resist sexual impurity,
alcoholism, quarreling, and financial debt – the chief ways by which men lapse.
He will also learn from the Proverbs the riches of knowing God and the blessing
of a godly wife and family.
St. George, although a man of
courage, like our Christ meekly underwent the torture.
Daily Devotions
·
Total Consecration
to St. Joseph Day 25
·
Manhood of
the Master-week 10 day 3
·
Offering to
the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
[3]https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.cfm?id=886
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