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Feb. 6 St. Paul Miki and Companions--Reflection. apostleshipofprayer February 04, 2010 Nagasaki, Japan, is familiar to Americans as the city on which the second atomic bomb was dropped, immediately …More
Feb. 6 St. Paul Miki and Companions--Reflection.

apostleshipofprayer February 04, 2010 Nagasaki, Japan, is familiar to Americans as the city on which the second atomic bomb was dropped, immediately killing over 37,000 people. Three and a half centuries before, 26 martyrs of Japan were crucified on a hill, now known as the Holy Mountain, overlooking Nagasaki. Among them were priests, brothers and laymen, Franciscans, Jesuits and members of the Secular Franciscan Order; there were catechists, doctors, simple artisans and servants, old men and innocent children—all united in a common faith and love for Jesus and his Church. Brother Paul Miki, a Jesuit and a native of Japan, has become the best known among the martyrs of Japan. While hanging upon a cross Paul Miki preached to the people gathered for the execution: “The sentence of judgment says these men came to Japan from the Philippines, but I did not come from any other country. I am a true Japanese. The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I certainly did teach the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason I die. I believe that I am telling only the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again: Ask Christ to help you to become happy. I obey Christ. After Christ’s example I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain.”
When missionaries returned to Japan in the 1860s, at first they found no trace of Christianity. But after establishing themselves they found that thousands of Christians lived around Nagasaki and that they had secretly preserved the faith. Beatified in 1627, the martyrs of Japan were finally canonized in 1862.
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FEBRUARY 6, 2011
DAILY PRAYER WITH REGNUM CHRISTI
THE LORD'S CALL
February 6, 2011
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 5:13-16
Jesus said to his disciples: "You are the salt of the earth; but if
salt losses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer
good for anything, but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. "You
are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be
More
FEBRUARY 6, 2011
DAILY PRAYER WITH REGNUM CHRISTI
THE LORD'S CALL
February 6, 2011
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 5:13-16
Jesus said to his disciples: "You are the salt of the earth; but if
salt losses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer
good for anything, but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. "You
are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be
hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel
basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the
house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may
see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."
Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, once again I come to you to listen
to your words. I come as one who is hungry, in need of nourishment. I
need you to nourish me, for no one else can. I hunger not for the
food of this world but for the food of your grace. May my prayer this
day give you glory and be an instrument of grace for my brothers and
sisters. Amen.
Petition: Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to grow in confidence as
your disciple.
1. God's Choice In today's Gospel, the Lord invites us to meditate
on the extraordinary grace of being chosen by him. The Lord reminds
his apostles time and again it is not they who have chosen him;
rather, he has chosen them. At times it is easy to lose sight of the
fact that Christ has called us through our baptism to be his
disciples. The experience of our own weakness and limitations in
doing what is right can cause us to lose heart before our great
calling to be salt of the earth and light to the world. Yet, the Lord
has chosen us precisely for that mission: we are to be instruments
for the conversion of those around us, bringing society itself out of
darkness and into Christ's light. Our mission far transcends the
world of today and tomorrow, for we are called to help all people
reach eternal life. Who would dare claim this mission for himself?
2. Glorify the Father How are we to go about the task? The answer
lies in our baptism. Through this sacrament our whole being is
introduced into a new life, the life of an adopted son or daughter of
God in Christ Jesus. >From now on, in all that we do for God's
glory, we are able to do it through our participation in Christ's
royal priesthood. How then shall we be the light of the world? Not in
virtue of our own merits or knowledge, not in virtue of technology,
science or any worldly power, but in virtue of the Holy Spirit who
works within us, guiding and directing our efforts. So, if we are to
be the light of the world and the salt of the earth, we must seek
always to follow the Holy Spirit's inspirations and trust in him
absolutely. By doing so, we will become those disciples whose
greatest desire is to glorify the Father, and people will see in us
the hand of God.
3. Be Strong in Love Christ's call for us to be his disciples and
to proclaim the Gospel to all men can seem too much. With the wear
and tear of our daily life and the struggle to make ends meet, it
appears that there is no time, no energy to be a disciple of Christ.
We must not lose sight of the beginning of our discipleship. It did
not originate in our making a contract with the Lord. It began in his
heart, when he said, "It is not you who have chosen me, but I who
have chosen you." It began when he said, "I no longer call you
servants, but friends." The Son of God has called us his friends.
Who would dare to say that? Who could dream it possible? No one! Yet
it is the truth. Our discipleship is rooted in the love that Christ
has for us. That is why he tells us to remain in his love always. In
fact, he wants us to live in his love, just as a branch lives in the
vine and thus is able to bear fruit.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, you chose me to be the salt of the
earth and the light of the world. It is too much for me!
Nevertheless, I believe in you, I trust in you, and I love you.
Today, may my every word and deed be courageous expressions of your
love for all, leading those whom I meet to give glory to your
Heavenly Father.
Resolution: I will trust in the Lord's call for me to be his
disciple and so make known to those around me, in words and deeds of
charity, the greatness of God's love.
meditation.regnumchristi.org
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St. Paul Miki and Companions (d. 1597) Nagasaki, Japan, is familiar to Americans as the city on which the second atomic bomb was dropped, immediately killing over 37,000 people. Three and a half centuries before, 26 martyrs of Japan were crucified on a hill, now known as the Holy Mountain, overlooking Nagasaki. Among them were priests, brothers and laymen, Franciscans, Jesuits and members of the …More
St. Paul Miki and Companions (d. 1597) Nagasaki, Japan, is familiar to Americans as the city on which the second atomic bomb was dropped, immediately killing over 37,000 people. Three and a half centuries before, 26 martyrs of Japan were crucified on a hill, now known as the Holy Mountain, overlooking Nagasaki. Among them were priests, brothers and laymen, Franciscans, Jesuits and members of the Secular Franciscan Order; there were catechists, doctors, simple artisans and servants, old men and innocent children—all united in a common faith and love for Jesus and his Church. Brother Paul Miki, a Jesuit and a native of Japan, has become the best known among the martyrs of Japan. While hanging upon a cross Paul Miki preached to the people gathered for the execution: “The sentence of judgment says these men came to Japan from the Philippines, but I did not come from any other country. I am a true Japanese. The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I certainly did teach the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason I die. I believe that I am telling only the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again: Ask Christ to help you to become happy. I obey Christ. After Christ’s example I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain.” When missionaries returned to Japan in the 1860s, at first they found no trace of Christianity. But after establishing themselves they found that thousands of Christians lived around Nagasaki and that they had secretly preserved the faith. Beatified in 1627, the martyrs of Japan were finally canonized in 1862. Comment: Today a new era has come for the Church in Japan. Although the number of Catholics is not large, the Church is respected and has total religious freedom. The spread of Christianity in the Far East is slow and difficult. Faith such as that of the 26 martyrs is needed today as much as in 1597. Quote: “Since Jesus, the Son of God, showed his love by laying down his life for us, no one has greater love than they who lay down their lives for him and for their sisters and brothers (see 1 John 3:16; John 15:13). Some Christians have been called from the beginning, and will always be called, to give this greatest testimony of love to everyone, especially to persecutors. Martyrdom makes disciples like their master, who willingly accepted death for the salvation of the world, and through it they are made like him by the shedding of blood. Therefore, the Church considers it the highest gift and as the supreme test of love. And while it is given to few, all, however, must be prepared to confess Christ before humanity and to follow him along the way of the cross amid the persecutions which the Church never lacks” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 42, Austin Flannery translation). www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx