SAINT OF THE DAY -- April 23 - Saint George
April 23
St. GeorgePatron Saint of England, Skin Disorders, Chivalry, Sheep, Horses, Plague, Farmers, Boy Scouts(d. 304)
"Saint George was a man who abandoned one army for another: he gave up the rank of tribune to enlist as a soldier for Christ.
Eager to encounter the enemy, he first stripped away his worldly wealth by giving all he had to he poor.
Then, free and unencumbered, bearing the shield of faith, he plunged into the thick of the battle, an ardent soldier for Christ.
Clearly what he did serves to teach us a valuable lesson: if we
are afraid to strip ourselves of our worldly possessions, then we are
unfit to make a strong defense of the faith.
"
(from a sermon by Saint Peter Damian, Priest)
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If Mary Magdalene was the victim of misunderstanding, George is the
object of a vast amount of imagination. There is every reason to
believe that he was a real martyr who suffered at Lydda in Palestine,
probably before the time of Constantine. The Church adheres to his
memory, but not to the legends surrounding his life.
That he was willing to pay the supreme price to follow Christ is what the Church believes. And it is enough.
The
story of George's slaying the dragon, rescuing the king's daughter and
converting Libya is a twelfth-century Italian fable.
George was a favorite patron saint of crusaders, as well as of Eastern
soldiers in earlier times. He is a patron saint of England, Portugal,
Germany, Aragon, Genoa and Venice.
Comment:
Human
nature seems unable to be satisfied with mere cold historical data.
Americans have Washington and Lincoln, but we somehow need Paul Bunyan,
too. The life of St. Francis of Assisi is inspiring enough, but for
centuries the Italians have found his spirit in the legends of the Fioretti,
too. Santa Claus is the popular extension of the spirit of St.
Nicholas. Both fact and legend are human ways of illumining the
mysterious truth about the One who alone is holy.
Quote:"When
we look at the lives of those who have faithfully followed Christ, we
are inspired with a new reason for seeking the city which is to come" (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 50).
The Golden Legend:
Several stories have been attached to Saint George, the best known of which is the Golden Legend. In it, a dragon lived in a lake near Silena, Libya. Whole armies had gone up against this fierce creature, and had gone down in painful defeat. The monster ate two sheep each day; when mutton was scarce, lots were drawn in local villages, and maidens were substituted for sheep. Into this country came Saint George. Hearing the story on a day when a princess was to be eaten, he crossed himself, rode to battle against the serpent, and killed it with a single blow with his lance. George then held forth with a magnificent sermon, and converted the locals. Given a large reward by the king, George distributed it to the poor, then rode away.
Due to his chivalrous behavior (protecting women, fighting evil, dependence on faith and might of arms, generosity to the poor), devotion to Saint George became popular in the Europe after the 10th century. In the 15th century his feast day was as popular and important as Christmas. Many of his areas of patronage have to do with life as a knight on horseback. The celebrated Knights of the Garter are actually Knights of the Order of Saint George. The shrine built for his relics at Lydda, Palestine was a popular point of pilgrimage for centuries. One of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.
Novena in honor of Saint George:
PREPARATORY PRAYER
Almighty and eternal God! With lively faith and reverently worshiping
Thy divine Majesty, I prostrate myself before Thee and invoke with
filial trust Thy supreme bounty and mercy. Illumine the darkness of my
intellect with a ray of Thy heavenly light and inflame my heart with
the fire of Thy divine love, that I may contemplate the great virtues
and merits of the saint in whose honor I make this novena, and
following his example imitate, like him, the life of Thy divine Son.
Moreover, I beseech Thee to grant graciously, through the
merits and intercession of this powerful Helper, the petition which
through him I humbly place before Thee, devoutly saving, "Thy will be
done on earth as it is in heaven." Vouchsafe graciously to hear it, if
it redounds to Thy greater glory and to the salvation of my soul. Amen.
PRAYER IN HONOR OF SAINT GEORGE
O GOD, who didst grant to Saint George strength and constancy
in the various torments which he sustained for our holy faith; we
beseech Thee to preserve, through his intercession, our faith from
wavering and doubt, so that we may serve Thee with a sincere heart
faithfully unto death. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
INVOCATION OF SAINT GEORGE
Faithful servant of God and invincible martyr, Saint George;
favored by God with the gift of faith, and inflamed with an ardent love
of Christ, thou didst fight valiantly against the dragon of pride,
falsehood, and deceit. Neither pain nor torture, sword nor death could
part thee from the love of Christ. I fervently implore thee for the
sake of this love to help me by thy intercession to overcome the
temptations that surround me, and to bear bravely the trials that
oppress me, so that I may patiently carry the cross which is placed
upon me; and let neither distress nor difficulties separate me from the
love of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Valiant champion of the Faith, assist me
in the combat against evil, that I may win the crown promised to them
that persevere unto the end.
Prayer
My LORD and my God! I offer up to Thee my petition in union
with the bitter passion and death of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, together
with the merits of His immaculate and blessed Mother, Mary ever virgin,
and of all the saints, particularly with those of the holy Helper in
whose honor I make this novena.
Look down upon me, merciful Lord! Grant me Thy grace and Thy love, and graciously hear my prayer. Amen.
Source: American Catholic Organization
Many great miracles have been associated with
the Rosary throughout history. The tremendous power of the Rosary can
overcome any problem, be it small or large, personal or worldwide.
Miracles continue to the present day.
The Rosary is a powerful prayer!
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If you are a victim of domestic or sexual violence, please know that my husband and I pray for you every single night.
If you need immediate assistance, dial 911.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline:
1-800-799-SAFE OR (1-800-799-7233)
SIGNS OF AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP
Do you:
feel afraid of your partner much of the time?
avoid certain topics fear of angering your partner?
feel that you can’t do anything right for your partner?
believe that you deserve to be hurt or mistreated?
wonder if you’re the one who is crazy?
feel emotionally numb or helpless?
Does your partner:
- humiliate, criticize, or yell at you?
- treat you so badly that you’re embarrassed for your friends or family to see?
- ignore or put down your opinions or accomplishments?
- blame you for his own abusive behavior?
- see you as property or a sex object, rather than as a person?
Does your partner:
have a bad and unpredictable temper?
hurt you, or threaten to hurt or kill you?
threaten to take your children away or harm them?
threaten to commit suicide if you leave?
force you to have sex?
destroy your belongings?
Does your partner:
- act excessively jealous and possessive?
- control where you go or what you do?
- keep you from seeing your friends or family?
- limit your access to money, the phone, or the car?
- constantly check up on you?