Friday in the Octave of the
Assumption
ST. BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX-
1 Maccabees, Chapter 8, Verse 12
They subjugated kings
both near and far, and all who heard of their fame were AFRAID of them.
This verse is
referring to the Romans (150 B.C.) and Judas Maccabee was impressed with the
romans for, “Judas had heard of the reputation of the Romans. They were valiant
fighters and acted amiably to all who took their side. They established a
friendly alliance with all who applied to them. He was also
told of their battles and the brave deeds that they performed against the Gaul’s.”
(1 Maccabees 8:1-2) Judas sent envoys to Rome, probably before the death of
Nicanor, to conclude a treaty of alliance between Rome and the Jewish nation.
Without precise chronology, the pertinent data are gathered into a unified
theme. The image of the Roman Republic greatly impressed the smaller Eastern
peoples seeking support against their overlords, because of Roman success in
war and effective aid to their allies. Numerous interventions by Rome in the
politics of the Near East bear witness to its power and prestige in the second
century B.C. With the increased Roman control of Palestine after 63 B.C., the
Republic and later the Empire became heartily detested. The eulogy of Rome in
this chapter is one of the reasons why 1 Maccabees was not preserved by the
Palestinian Jews of the century that followed.[1]
Fall of the Roman Republic[2]
In 133 BC, Rome was a
democracy. Little more than a hundred years later it was governed by an
emperor. This imperial system has become, for us, a by-word for autocracy and
the arbitrary exercise of power. At the end of the second century BC the Roman
people was sovereign. True, rich aristocrats dominated politics. In order to
become one of the annually elected 'magistrates' (who in Rome were concerned
with all aspects of government, not merely the law) a man had to be very rich.
Even the system of voting was weighted to give more influence to the votes of
the wealthy. Yet ultimate power lay with the Roman people. Mass assemblies
elected the magistrates, made the laws and took major state decisions. Rome
prided itself on being a 'free republic' and centuries later was the political
model for the founding fathers of the United States. The system was weighted to
give more influence to the votes of the wealthy. By 14 AD, when the first
emperor Augustus died, popular elections had all but disappeared. Power was
located not in the old republican assembly place of the forum, but in the
imperial palace. The assumption was that Augustus's heirs would inherit his
rule over the Roman world - and so they did. This was nothing short of a
revolution, brought about through a century of constant civil strife, and
sometimes open warfare. This ended when Augustus - 'Octavian' as he was then
called - finally defeated his last remaining rivals Mark Antony and Cleopatra
in 31 BC and established himself on the throne.
All
Hale King O’Biden
Bernard of Clairvaux[3]
Bernard, the second
founder of the Cistercians, the Mellifluous Doctor, the apostle of the
Crusades, the miracle-worker, the reconciler of kings, the leader of peoples,
the counselor of popes! His sermons, from which there are many excerpts in the
Breviary, are conspicuous for genuine emotion and spiritual unction. The
celebrated Memorare is ascribed to him. Bernard was born in 1090, the
third son of an illustrious Burgundian family. At the age of twenty-two he entered
the monastery of Citeaux (where the Cistercian Order had its beginning) and
persuaded thirty other youths of noble rank to follow his example. Made abbot
of Clairvaux (1115), he erected numerous abbeys where his spirit flourished. To
his disciple, Bernard of Pisa, who later became Pope Eugene III, he dedicated
his work De Consideratione. Bernard's influence upon the princes, the
clergy, and the people of his age was most remarkable. By penitential practices
he so exhausted his body that it could hardly sustain his soul, ever eager to
praise and honor God.
Patron:
beekeepers; bees; candlemakers; chandlers; wax-melters; wax refiners;
Gibraltar; Queens College, Cambridge.
Things to
Do
·
Because St. Bernard is the patron of
candlemakers, a great project would be to learn how to make candles. Candles
101 discusses in brief about making homemade candles, rolled, dipped and
molded. Practicing making candles now will help in preparing to make a family
Christ Candle for Advent and Paschal Candle for Easter.
·
From the Catholic Culture library: Preaching Conversion Through The Beatitudes: Bernard Of
Clairvaux's Ad Clericos De Conversione and Pope Pius XII On St. Bernard Of Clairvaux, The Last Of The Fathers.
·
Though of a rich and noble family St. Bernard
continually asked the question: "For what purpose are you on earth?"
Spend some time today in front of the Blessed Sacrament and ask yourself this
question.
·
This
site — complete with words and midi files — features hymns written by St.
Bernard.
·
When you fall into sin ask for help of Christ
via His “Shoulder
Wound”.
·
Learn more about the Cistercian Order founded by
St. Bernard.
·
Read more about the life of St. Bernard.
Daily Devotions
·
Offering to the sacred heart of Jesus
·
Rosary
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