In this episode of our Council of Catholic Men broadcast, we delve into the spiritual and moral lessons from the Acts of the Apostles, focusing on Chapter 5. We explore the stories of Ananias and Sapphira, the apostles' miraculous escape from prison, and their unwavering commitment to spreading the teachings of Jesus despite persecution. The discussion highlights the importance of faith, the power of community, and the role of divine intervention in the lives of early Christians. We also reflect on the significance of choosing between God's will and worldly temptations, drawing parallels to modern-day challenges faced by believers.
Additionally, we explore the teachings of the Catholic Church through the catechism, discussing the sacraments and their role in Christian life. We touch upon the importance of baptism, the role of priests, and the enduring relevance of religious ceremonies. The episode concludes with a reading from "The Victories of the Martyrs," focusing on the life and martyrdom of Saint Justin, and a reflection on contemporary figures like Padre Pio and Mother Teresa, who exemplify Christian virtues in modern times. Join us as we reflect on these timeless lessons and their application in today's world.
[00:00:02]
Unknown:
Alright. So we're we're broadcasting live right now. Okay. Alright. So let's begin with the our father in the name of the father, son, and the holy spirit. Amen. Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done upon earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. In the name of the Father, Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Today is 04/16/2025.
And I'd like to welcome anybody listening to our Council of Catholic Men broadcast of Bible study and catechism study. And tonight we're gonna start with the Holy Bible, and we're gonna be continuing on reading the book of Acts of the Apostles, which we left off on chapter four. And tonight, we're gonna read from chapter five. And I'll I'll read because, John, you've got a little bit of a sore throat, so I I don't mind reading it all. So So this will be good. Chapter five, trial before the Sanhedrin. Ananias and Sapphira. A man named Ananias, however, with his wife, Sapphira, sold a piece of property, he retained for himself with his wife's knowledge.
Some of the purchase price took the remainder and put it at the feet of the apostles. But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart so that you lied to the Holy Spirit and retained part of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain yours? And when it was sold, was it not still under your control? Why did you contrive this deed? You have lied not to human beings, but to God. When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last, and great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men came and wrapped him up, then carried him out and buried him.
After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, unaware of what had happened. Peter said to her, tell me, did you sell the land for this amount? She answered, yes, for that amount. Then Peter said to her, why did you agree to test the spirit of the Lord? Listen. The footsteps of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out. At once, she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men entered, they found her dead. So they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
Signs and wonders of the apostles. Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon's porticle. None of the others dared to join them, but the people esteemed them. Yet more than ever, believers in the Lord, great numbers of men and women were added to them. Thus, they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them. A large number of people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered, bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.
Trial before the Sanhedrin. Then the high priest rose up and all his companions, that is the party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy, laid hands upon the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out and said, go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life. When they heard this, they went to the temple early in the morning and taught. When the high priest and his companions arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin, the full senate of the Israelites, and sent to the jail to have them brought in.
But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison. So they came back and reported. We found the jail securely locked and the guards stationed outside the doors. But when we opened them, we found no one inside. When they heard this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss about them as to what this would come to. Then someone came in and reported to them, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple area and are teaching the people. Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them in, but without force because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
When they had brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them. We gave you strict orders, did we not, to stop teaching in that name? Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man's blood upon us. But Peter and the apostles said in reply, we must obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus. Though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things as is the Holy Spirit that God has given to those who obey him.
When they heard this, they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaleel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up, ordered the men to be put outside for a short time, and said to them, fellow Israelites, be careful of what you are about to do to these men. Some time ago, Theodos appeared claiming to be someone important, and about 400 men joined him. But he was killed, and all those who were loyal to him were disbanded and came to nothing. After him came Judas, the Galilean, at the time of the census.
He also drew people after him, but he too perished, and all who were loyal to him were scattered. So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God. They were persuaded by him. After recalling the apostles, they had them flogged, ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them. So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.
And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Messiah, Jesus. And that's the end of chapter five. So, John, any thoughts
[00:08:45] Unknown:
on this? Well, it seems like every time somebody came to do harm to the apostles, either an angel appeared and, helped them with it or Holy Spirit was there. And it seems like that if you're Christian and you have someone being persecuted, if you gather the Christians together or whatever, they won't be persecuted because they're afraid of the multitude. So Strength in numbers. Strength in numbers. Yep. Yep. Gotta stick together.
[00:09:14] Unknown:
Yeah. And it says that they they added they added to their their numbers. So I'm gonna read the footnotes to this part, to this chapter five. So the beginning footnote, and this is the new American Bible, verses one through 11. The sin of Ananias and Saphira did not consist in the withholding of part of the money, but in their deception of the community. Their deaths are ascribed to a lie to the Holy Spirit. They accepted the honor accorded them by the community for their generosity. But in reality, they were not deserving of it. So that that's the beginning story where they sold property and then gave the proceeds and kept some have the proceeds. I think it was they they took the remainder.
Mhmm. But then they put the rest of it at the feet and then they lied about it and said that it was the entire price that they had received for their property.
[00:10:30] Unknown:
You got any thoughts about that? Well, I I have the Catholic bible study here and stuff, and on my footnotes over here Yep. There's a couple of good things that it does say. It's just three. How do you explain why guides why God sometimes delivers you out of hardships, but other times he allows you to go through them? Something to think about. Describe a recent event when you had to choose between God and man. You know, it's kinda like it's kinda like as a Are you gonna sin? Are you gonna do this? Are you gonna live into this temptation? Or are you gonna choose God?
And sometimes, choosing God is the hardest thing, because you may suffer for it one way or another. You may not gain the pleasure of the sin, you know. So you have to be strong. So what's the question again? It's it's whether you choose between Just describe a and it says here, how do you explain why God sometimes delivers you out of hardships? But at other times he allows you to go through them. And my thesis on that would be that the only way to heaven and to Christ is through the cross. So we we have to carry the cross, so we have to accept our pains where we suffer, and offer those up, for our next life.
It's just part of the I think it's part of being Christian.
[00:11:52] Unknown:
Yeah. And Christ, you know, we're gonna be celebrating, the death and resurrection of Christ. Right. Right. Mostly the resurrection, celebrating the resurrection. Right. And commemorating on Good Friday the death of Christ. Right. Taking up his cross and and being crucified with the two other, two other, thieves. Right. There was another question, though, but after that one, what was it? It says,
[00:12:17] Unknown:
it says describe a recent event when you had to choose between God and men and man.
[00:12:23] Unknown:
You know? Yeah. I I think, an easy one to describe that is, like, almost every week, you have to decide whether you go to mass or not. You know, it's it's easier to serve the creature comforts and say, I don't wanna take the day off. Right. I wanna think about going to church. Yeah. And I think that's kind of one that that would describe a choice between doing
[00:12:47] Unknown:
whatever man wants versus what god wants. And I think that pertains right to everyday life. Yeah. Whether you're a church or not, you're the life that you live that chooses choices that you make on a daily basis, you know, for his greater honor and glory, you know, you may suffer for it. Right. Doing what's right. Right. So that's why we have Easter and why it's so rejoice because we can rejoice in the resurrection and we can rejoice in the fact that we can have salvation.
[00:13:21] Unknown:
Yeah. Yeah. Pretty good. Okay. So the next part, verses twelve and six through 16. This this the third summary portraying the Jerusalem community underscores the 12 as its bulk work, bulwark especially because of their charismatic power to heal the sick. So when they're bringing the sick out just to be in the shadow of St. Peter gives that example because they were being healed so miraculously in in such a large number. And that was also a reason that people were following them and and they were loyal to them. Right. Because they saw that God was acting through them and healing people. Because, that was eleven eleven, was it? Yeah, 12 through 16 signs and wonders.
They were in the Solomon's Portico. So right in the temple area, a large number of people in from the towns gathered, and they were cured of their unclean spirits. So, like, demons and and their sick sickness. Okay. So verses 17 through 42. This is a this is a bit of a long one. Mhmm. The second action against the community is taken by the Sanhedrin in the arrest and trial of the 12. The motive is the jealousy of the religious authorities over the population of the apostles, who are now charged with the defiance of the Sanhedrin's previous order to them to abandon their prophetic role.
In this crisis, the apostles are favored by a miraculous release from prison. For similar incidents involving Peter and Paul, see chapter 12. The real significance of such an event, however, would be manifest only to people of faith, not to unbelievers. Since the Sanhedrin already judged the 12 to be inauthentic prophets, it could disregard reports of their miracles, meaning inauthentic prophets, meaning false false prophets, which is why they killed Jesus. They they killed Jesus under the terms that he was a false prophet. That's what the excuse that they used for their motivation that the Sanhedrin did, and they felt guilty over it. And that's why they wanted to get rid of the apostles because they knew deep down in their hearts that they'd killed the Messiah.
Right. They had to have known that because they were the high priests. They were the ones who were in charge of the the prophecies of the old testament that prophesied like Isaiah prophesies a suffering messiah who died for the sins of of his people for Israel. So in it, it says the significance
[00:16:29] Unknown:
I had to take
[00:16:31] Unknown:
It's alright. It's the the real significance of such an event, however, would be manifest only the people of faith. The 12 immediately resumed their public teaching. The Sanhedrin determined to invoke upon them the penalty of death prescribed in Deuteronomy. Gamaliel Gamaliel's advice Gamaliel was the was the, lawyer, you could say, that was advising the Sanhedrin on what to do because they were ready to kill them. But he knew that all that would do is rise up enmity between the people and the and the Sanhedrin if they killed the the apostles.
Right. Could make them upset. So they feel like you said, they feared the numbers of the people that were following the apostles. And they feared to do anything to harm them because of that, because they were protected by the by the love of the people.
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Yeah. Yeah. Yep.
[00:17:41] Unknown:
So they're Gamaliel's advice against this course finally prevailed, but it did not save the 12 from the punishment of scourging. So even though they were gonna kill him, but then Gamaliel persuades them not to, they still had the Scourged. Skirt had them scourged to to, you know, like you like any bully would do is is to get them to keep them from talking. They beat them as a as a means of coercion and bullying.
[00:18:13] Unknown:
And that goes over what we just talked about. In fact, that at times, God allows,
[00:18:19] Unknown:
things that good to happen to you. And other times, he allows things bad Right. Like discourage you there. Right. He he allows bad things to happen to good people. Right. And Just like he also allows good things to happen to bad people, but it's only for a short period of time. Right. Right. Because this life is a short finite time on earth. We all have a short period of time relative to the history of humanity of the creation that God created. And that we have we're only given a limited amount of time to do God's will on earth before we face the final judgment and four final things of of death, judgment, heaven and hell,
[00:19:01] Unknown:
right?
[00:19:02] Unknown:
Which we'll all face one day. And we should think about that every day because that that's how it is with with, and and these the the Pharisees were kind of placing themselves in the role of God take usurping his authority Right. That had been given to the apostles. So, really, the apostles should have been the real leaders of the people and not the fair the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin if if they were just people. But since the Pharisees weren't just people, the Sanhedrin were were ruling like tyrants. And it did not save the 12 from the punishment of scourging in a last endeavor to shake their conviction of their prophetic mission.
And verse 30, hanging him on a tree, when they referred to Christ, they hung him on the tree, which is the tree is the cross, that is crucifying him. And the tree symbolizes the tree of redemption. Whereas in the beginning, when God created Adam and Eve and tested them, he gave them the test not to eat from the tree of now the knowledge of good and evil, which they ended up eating from. So the the tree that was that was the downfall of man also symbolizes the restoration of man through Christ being hung on the tree, dead wood of the cross.
So in verse 31, at his right hand. Okay, and then 34, Gamaliel, Paul identifies himself as a disciple of the rabbi Gamaliel. For one who flourished in Jerusalem between 8025 and 8050. So this Gamaliel, who advised the Sanhedrin not to not to be brutal and crucify and or kill the apostles Right. He was the, he was the rabbi of Saint Paul, who at that time was named Saul before his conversion before he he he converted to Christianity and following Christ. Saint Paul was a persecutor of of the church, the early church, the apostles. And through his conversion on the road to Damascus, he turned and followed Christ.
And it's interesting that Gamaliel, the lawyer who who pleads on behalf of the apostles not to have them killed, is the one who taught Saint Paul. So he must have had some sort of goodness in him, if you could you know, I don't know what he later on went to do, but it says here, verses 36 through 37, Gamaliel offers examples of unsuccessful contemporary movements to argue that if God is not the origin of this movement preached by the apostles, it will perish by itself. The movement initiated by Thaddeus Theodos actually occurred occurred when Cisupius Thaddeus was governor from 4446.
Luke's placing of the of Judas the Galilean after Thaddeus and at the time of the census is an indication of the vagueness of his knowledge of these events. Okay. Well, didn't know that. Alright, so that's the end of the footnotes for the- for the Bible and I think now we're gonna- do you have any other questions before we get to the catechism? Okay, good. Alright. So now we're gonna switch to the catechism, the large catechism of St. Peter Kinesis and we've been talking, we were on the chapter about the sacraments and the necessity for the sacraments.
I forget exactly where we left off. I think we left off we numbered how many sacraments there were. There were seven. Yep. Which are baptism, confirmation, the blessed sacrament of the Eucharist, penance, extreme unction, order, meaning holy orders, and matrimony. Then the next question is why were the sacraments instituted? To give grace. I think we went through this too. There were there were three reasons. Right. And we'll we'll just do this to refresh. Sure. That'd be fine. K. So the first is that there are remedies against against sin. Right. Yep. Alright. Second was that they were certain and sign effectual signs of god's grace and goodwill towards us.
And then third, that there there may be some tokens in the external marks of Christian profession where the children of God and and of the church may meet mutually know one another. So it's how we recognize each other as Christians is through the seven sacraments of baptism. So to know someone else is a Christian, you ask first the first thing is, are you baptized? Yeah. Because that's nest absolutely necessary in order to be saved and to be a member of the Catholic church is that you're baptized. And it all of the New Testament preaches baptism as necessary for belonging to the church.
That's what Christ did. He wanted everyone baptized. The apostles went on to baptize people who came to Christ to believe that Christ was the Messiah. Right. And then everything else follows from that. Like, you know, confirmation means that someone's a Christian that's received confirmation. The Eucharist, someone who goes on some church to church on Sunday or daily and receive receives the mute Eucharist. We know that they're a Christian. You also people who confess their sins to a priest are also known by that to be Christians because that's particularly Christian thing to do. I don't know of any other religion where they confess their sins like that.
Priesthood and matrimony. So as Christians, we marry one man, one woman. Right. All right, so the next page, we have the next question. And what is to be thought of the ministers of the sacraments? So the ministers of the sacraments. Who are who are the proper people who administer the sacraments?
[00:26:34] Unknown:
Priests. Priests, typically. Yep. Typically.
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We must so esteem them as the ministers of Christ and the dispensers of the mysteries of God that do bear the vessels of our Lord and serve the tabernacle. And by that profession have authority in holy things and with a certain right entitled to do minister the same. For not to do to all indifferently, but to priests. So not all to all indifferently, like, to not not just to any person is is this given to administer the sacraments. That's what in different reasons. But to priests and bishops Yep. Does does it doth it belong? And it was by God himself enjoined to concentrate, dispense, and minister the holy sacraments.
So god himself told men in the in in the stories of it or in the bible how to con consecrate, dispense, administer the holy sacraments, the seven sacraments
[00:27:47] Unknown:
Mhmm.
[00:27:47] Unknown:
That we've talked about. And that we may not think that the sacraments do any wit depend on the life and honesty of those that do minister them. So the sacraments by themselves don't they're they don't depend on the life and honesty of the people who minister them. Right. So you might have somebody who who starts out light in life good and ends up becoming a baddie. You know, let's say they start leading a corrupt life. They turn away. But those sacraments are still valid. Whether that person was good or bad, meaning upon the life and honesty of those who minister them. Saint Augustine hath prescribed in this us this rule, sacraments, he said, are not therefore more true and more holy because they are ministered by a better man, for they of themselves are true and holy, by means of the true and holy God whose sacraments they are.
So the sacraments by right belong to God. Oh, so And because of that, they're not dependent on men. Like, the a a more holy priest doesn't mean that the sacraments are less holy or more holy, just as someone who's less of a good priest or say, like, a smart priest, someone who knows a lot of From Yeah. But I under Has a a lot of intelligence or Is it from what I understood is that if a bad priest
[00:29:23] Unknown:
administered the sacrament, it's God who makes it right, not that priest. That sin is on that priest. Correct. Yeah. So it's a it's
[00:29:33] Unknown:
So if yeah. Exactly. You don't take on the act the the sins of someone else. Right. Right. You're responsible for your own sins. And the sacrament of confirmation where it says,
[00:29:45] Unknown:
penance, Basically, my my my look at it is, priest is witnessing my sins that I'm telling to God, and he's the witness. You know, so and, then if there's something that he wants to talk about, fine. But when you're in the penance and you're in the room, it's to God that you're offering those things up. He's bearing Yeah. Through his minister that he ordained. And he's he's he's bearing witness to your sins and your sorrow for committing them.
[00:30:22] Unknown:
Okay. And again, remember that the manners of evil men do nothing hinder the sacraments of God, to make them either nothing at all or ever the less holy. To which accorded the sentence of Saint Ambrose, do thou not regard the merits of the persons, but the offices of the priests. I mean, in the administration of the sacraments. For even if by the unworthy, God accustomed it to work, and by the life of the priest, there can be no prejudice to the grace of the sacraments, as in as witnessed Saint John Chrysostom.
[00:31:04] Unknown:
If you if you feel that the this is a question I would have is, if you feel and know that this priest is bad and you don't wanna have anything to do with them, you just seek out another parish?
[00:31:17] Unknown:
Well, first, you have to go to them and to to correct them because that's what we're here for is to correct each other. And if they don't listen to you after being admonished three times, I think it is two or three times Yeah. Then then you treat them like a publican or a tax collector, and you don't have anything to do with them. It's like you don't wanna be bothered by a tax collector. That's what it says in according to Christ. That's when you go to when you're you have a problem with your brother or whoever it may be, you go to them and you correct them. And if they're not willing to listen to you after you reprimand them multiple times, then you have nothing to do with them.
But you you're obligated to correct them. If you see somebody's but he's wrong, you correct them because they might not know it. They might be ignorant of the fact that they're they're wrong, and it's the just thing to do. So if you do see if you do see someone doing wrong, you correct them, and you have an obligation to do that. So do you have any other
[00:32:31] Unknown:
question? That's a tough thing to do. Yeah. Yeah. It's it's tough to think about. But you still Especially when we don't have the tax collectors, the way that you're what we're seeing in the bible and stuff. When you have this evil priest that's doing stuff, he's you know what I mean? It's like, forget it. I'll go to another parish. Yeah. I mean Yeah. And it's Well, you but but still but they might reveal it to you in three different ways. In other words, they they do this one evil deed at church. Okay? Then they do another evil deed at church. Then do a third evil deed deed at church. Then you have to wait for the Holy Spirit to come and correct it because you can't.
[00:33:12] Unknown:
Because he shouldn't he can't do it on his own. Well, it's like Christ said with your brother. Yeah. If you admonish your brother Yeah. And he doesn't listen to you Yeah. Then you go to the church. But you're first supposed to go to your brother in secret
[00:33:25] Unknown:
and go and tell him, hey, brother, you're doing something wrong. Well, I think we're talking two different things. I'm talking about a priest.
[00:33:31] Unknown:
I'm Not my brother. Well, your priest the priest, we're all brothers and sisters in Christ just like Saint Paul says, brothers and sisters. He calls even the ones who aren't ordained priests,
[00:33:42] Unknown:
brothers and sisters. I have followed them. I find the evil doers. It's best just to stay away from them. Not to deal with them, not to do nothing. Because you just you just can't deal with it. You just let them go, you know. Yeah. Let go of it.
[00:33:59] Unknown:
But you still you still when you when you first notice, this is I'm not I'm not we're not we're not talking about someone who has a history. We're talking about when someone first starts doing something. I'm talking history. I mean Yeah. You're talking about history. And that's that's right. What you're saying is right. Yeah. I mean But you do go to a higher authority. So if you did see, say, for instance, a priest, you would then go to the bishop and say to his bishop, this priest has done this. And you you please correct him because I've gone to him and I've said this, and he told me, buzz off or whatever he told me.
That's that's you go to a higher authority each time. You go to God first foremost of all, but then you follow what God established on Earth to do. He gave us traditions of how to behave toward our brothers. And he talks about that in parables, especially. I see a lot of this going on. Yeah. There's a lot there's a lot going on. We're good. So the next question, I'll read this next question. Oh, we're almost to the to the end of it anyway. So the next question is, what conception ought we have to to have of ceremonies? Those especially that are ordinarily and solemnly loo used in the sacraments.
Ceremonies approved by the church are certain external rights religiously and decently instituted. First, that they may be signs, testimonies, and exercises of the interior worship, which God principally requires at our hands. Then, that there may be some lively and affordable provocations unto religion, whereby the frailty of man may be fortified and under fortified and under and under propped, and as it were, trained with the hand both to receive and also to retain holy mysteries. Lastly, that those things which do appertain to the advancement of God's service and to the preservation of public discipline and concord may be prosecuted in the church after an honest, calmly, and decent order as the apostle willeth.
But those ceremonies, especially which are used in the administration of the sacraments, and which have received of our of the fathers, delivered and commanded unto us as it were by hand, ought with great diligence be to be kept and observed. For besides that they bring a decency unto the sacraments and engender a certain reverence, they are also venerable unto us by a singular commendation of antiquity. Then besides their institution, most ancient and apostolic, they have plenty of mysteries full of gravity and dignity as most holy and learned fathers have noted.
Finally, concerning these things and others of the light tenor, it is an excellent saying of those things which Christian religion, most free from all error, doth admit and embrace, and so many ages together kept untouched, are not vain, but profitable, pleasing to god, and much available to our salvation. True it is that the secretaries laugh at the ceremonies used in the sacraments. But themselves are indeed more to be laughed at, or rather, bewailed in that, trusting in their blind judgment and mortal hatred, two pernicious counselors, They do wage battle against the most clear and evident truth.
Surely of the ceremonies of baptism, even the most ancient divines do witness unto us. Saint Denis, Saint Clement, Tertullian, Origen, Saint Cyprian, Saint Basil, Saint Chrysostom, Saint Cyril. Let the wicked scoff and blaspheme never so much. Those fathers, certainly, with one consent, do commend abrenunciation, exorcisms, holy water, holy chrism, and the sign of the cross. Almost twelve hundred years ago, wrote Saint Basil in this manner. We do consecrate the water of baptism and the oil of unction, and him also that receiveth baptism. But to give particular admonition of the ceremonies that are next to all the sacraments, as it would be very long, so it is also very difficult, and to this our purpose not needful.
Yet, yea, Origen doth plainly confess that in such ecclesiastical observances, there are many things which of necessity all must do, but the reason of them why they are so done is not yet sufficiently known. And that the end and then next week, we're gonna talk about baptism. Alright. Be good. So all of these things are necessary, especially baptism. Yep. And he says twelve hundred years. Well, that's in 1600 something. So twelve hundred years. It's quite a little it's longer. Yeah. I had another however many five hundred five four hundred four hundred some years.
Two. Probably around that. About that. Yep. Yep. So it ends up being, like, sixteen hundred years ago, they're talking about baptism. Sixteen hundred years ago. Still going on. It's still going on. Yep. It's still important to become Christian and to be saved and to do God's will. Okay. Do you have any questions, John? Nope. Nope. Before we move on to the the, tonight's chapter of the victories of the martyrs? Nope. I'm fine there. Okay. I'm gonna find my chapter because we're talking about Justin Martyr. One twenty eight.
K. So we're gonna read from the victories of the martyrs. Saint Alphonsus delagore, victories of the martyrs are the most celebrated martyrs of the church. The lives of the most celebrated martyrs of the church, Saint Justin. Okay. Our saint composed other works in defense of Catholic doctrine against the Marcionites and the Valentinians, and also his dialogue with Trypho against the pernacity of the Jews. Marcus Aurelius, having succeeded Antonius Pius in the Empire, the persecution was renewed and one, Crescens, who, although styling himself a cynic philosopher, was in reality a very shallow fellow, took occasion to exclaim loudly against the Christians.
Saint Justin, in public dispute, frequently convicted him of the most violent malice and the greatest possible ignorance of the doctrine and practices of the Christians and was induced to publish and present to the emperor his second apologia in which he defends his religion against the calumnies of Krsans and others. In showing that Christians had been unjustly put to death, he relates that a married couple had both been guilty of incontinence incontinency. The woman, having been converted to the Christian religion, used all her endeavors to withdraw her husband from his shameful practices.
But he, instead of amending, accused her, and one told me, who had been the means of her conversion of being Christians. The prefect Urbicus sentenced them to death, whereupon a certain Christian named Lucius exclaimed, with what conscience, O urbicus, dost thou condemn a man who hath been guilty of no crime? Lucius, together with another Christian, received a similar sentence. A very short time after the publication of this discourse, Saint Justin was apprehended, together with six other Christians of his acquaintance, and brought before Rusticus, the prefect of Rome, who exhorted him to obey the imperial edicts.
The saint replied, no one can be reproved or condemned for obeying the precepts of our savior, Jesus Christ. The prefect asked him what kind of learning he professed. Justin answered that he had learned the doctrines of various sects and had finally embraced Christianity, although it was despised by those who were led away by errors and false opinions. Unhappy wretch, exclaimed the prefect. Dost thou then delight in this discipline? Justin, yes. Because it teaches me the true doctrine. Rusticus. What is this doctrine? Justin, the true doctrine which we profess is to believe in only one God, the creator of all things, visible and invisible, and to confess confess Jesus Christ, the son of god, the foretold the foretold by the prophets, the preacher of salvation unto men, and the master of those who happily observe the divine precepts.
But neither have I a tongue to express nor a mind to conceive anything worthy of his infinite dignity. To do so, I would need the mind and the spirit of the prophets who, inspired by god, foretold his coming. The prefect asked him where the Christians were in the habit of assembling. Justin replied, where they please and where they can. Dost thou imagine perchance that we all assemble in the same place? The God of the Christians is not confined to a place. He is invisible and fills both heaven and earth and is everywhere adored and praised by the faithful. But I wish to know, rejoined Rusticus, where thou and thy disciples assemble?
The saint answered, as for myself, I dwell at the Timothean Baths. This is the second time I have come to Rome, and I am scarcely acquainted with any other place in the city. If anyone should wish to seek me, I am ready to communicate to him the doctrines of truth. Rusticus. Thou art then a Christian. Justin, so it is. I am a Christian. The prefect then turned to Saint Justin's companions and interrogated them one after the other concerning their faith. They all confessed themselves Christians and manifested a desire to die for Jesus Christ. Rusticus then said to Justin, tell me, thou who art who dost believe that thou hast the true wisdom, whether thou art persuaded that thou shalt ascend into heaven, after I shall have caused thee to be scourged and beheaded.
The saint replied, if I shall suffer these punishments, I hope to receive the reward I hope to receive the reward which is prepared for those who observe the commandments of Christ. The prefect asked, dost thou then really imagine that thou shalt ascend into heaven? This I said, this I do not only imagine, but I know it, replied the saint. And I am so fully assured of it that I entertain no doubt whatever. Finally, the prefect, turning to all those confessors of of Jesus Christ, said to them, go ye together and unanimously sacrifice to god to the gods.
Justin, answering for all, replied, no man in his sentence could abandon religion to become a particular in impiety. The prefect hereupon threatened that their noncompliance would be followed with the utmost with the most unrelenting tortures. Justin said, there is nothing which we more earnestly desire than to endure term torments for the love of our lord Jesus Christ, and thus attain unto salvation. For this, it is that we will enable us to present ourselves with confidence at the tribunal of that judge before whom all the world must necessarily appear.
To this, the other martyrs assented adding, do quickly what thou art about. We are Christians and will never sacrifice to idols. The prefect then pronounced against them the following sentence. Those who have not wished to sacrifice to the gods nor obey the edict of the emperor shall first be scourged, and afterwards beheaded in pursuance of the law. The martyrs were forthwith led to the place of execution, where the sentence being carried into effect, they received the glorious crown of martyrdom in the year 01/1967 or the following.
Their bodies were privately carried away by the Christians who gave them honorable internment. The acts of these martyrs are found in Ruinart and Tillamont. And that's the end of that chapter. Yeah. Yeah. Let's see how much time we got. We got ten minutes. So we can we can go back and discuss any of the stuff that we we read. And what what do you think of that story?
[00:49:16] Unknown:
That's tremendous, but, I've been reading the book of Padre Pio. Yeah. And he was persecuted by the church. And the reason why he's persecuted, he become notarized and his people over, higher than him felt the notary of what he was doing wasn't what the him as a priest should be doing. So they actually took him out of service. You'd say they were envious of him? Yeah. I think it goes where, you know, and then the other thing is he had a a when the people lined up and they came to see him and stuff, And then he would had a real feeling for the people that were, had disabilities, like, you know, were in a wheelchair.
They may have mental disabilities, and he saw them more with Christ than he saw the regular people because they were suffering. And, so, we were talking about where they were Saint Peter was there, and they're trying to get him the people in the shadow of Saint Peter for healing. Well, the same thing happened with Padre Pio. Now you're what I'm what I'm trying to get at is that's more current times.
[00:50:25] Unknown:
So that's that's our faith carrying time. Tell tell anyone in our audience that's listening to this recording right now who Padre Pio was because they might not know. They might not be Christian even Okay. That are listening to us.
[00:50:39] Unknown:
Padre Pio, I believe he wasn't a monk, but he he he was, what do you know what what he was as well? I think he was, wasn't he in some monastic order? Yeah. But I don't know which one it was. Padre Pio. But anyways, he carried the stigmata of Christ. He lived in Italy. Yeah. In the last century, in the nineteen hundreds. The other thing that he did was impressive. He wanted to do something for those people, and that they didn't have anything. So towards his later part of his life, he actually built a a hospital there that still exists to this day.
You know? So that's really a tribute. He he he was he was a very he, vowed poverty. You know? And people would line up for miles to actually get So what does evolved poverty entail? Was that does that mean that he didn't own any possessions himself? He no. Uh-uh. And he had I mean, the way I look at it, he was I've seen different groups that say they profess poverty. Poverty. Yeah. But they may be driving a brand new Cadillac. You know? So A Mercedes or something. He may not have owned it, but, you know, something else. But Padre Pio is very genuine, and his love for Christ was unbelievable.
And so I, you know, for anybody who has any kind of health health issues, and he paid pray for an intervention for to Padre Pio, to our Lord, I think if you I think it's well deserved. He was canonized as a saint? Yeah. Yeah. Recently. In the last twenty years. Yeah. Yeah. So it's kinda like, I I don't know. I identify with Padre Pio a lot. So it's kinda like I wished I would have met him in my day.
[00:52:22] Unknown:
Yeah. You yeah. Well, when did he die? Sixties?
[00:52:27] Unknown:
'50 fifties or sixties? I know that he was alive when I was alive. Yeah. Oh, okay. Yeah. So in the 1960
[00:52:34] Unknown:
I think there's I've seen video of him. I've seen film of him. Then we had John Paul the second,
[00:52:42] Unknown:
which canonized the saint, which was our pope. Yeah. Pope, one of the greatest popes of our times. And, that happened in our lifetimes.
[00:52:51] Unknown:
Yeah. So I'd actually been in a group of millions of people to to see him. I've seen twice saw him twice. Yeah. I mean, I never saw him, but he,
[00:53:02] Unknown:
for us, we had a devotion. Like, you know, he could he he was truly blessed by God. You know. So just the way he talked, the way he carried himself. Yeah. In fact, I have a a CD at home of him singing. I don't know if many people knew, but he had a voice where he He had a good voice. And he sang Yeah. I heard a lot of times. To us that he sang. Even in even in his old age. Yeah. He, he had a good voice. And, sometimes when I go to bed at night, I'll play that CD. It's very it really very comforting, you know, and he sings the, Our Father in Latin and, many other songs and stuff. So, you know, if you look, the thing is is that sometimes we talk about older older saints that were we don't we should look towards what we have in current state.
[00:53:51] Unknown:
Yeah. The saints that are living right now. We can identify
[00:53:54] Unknown:
with that, with Mother Teresa, you know. I I've come across priests from India that actually, ate soup with her every day. That particular priest looked like a monk. And I was really impressed by Mother Teresa because in India, people had, leprosy and, they were laying in the gutters and in the alleys. And she would go in there and she would help these people. And the people that were walking by stoned her, you know. And so it just developed where she's got an order of nuns. She's got hospitals and everything else across the whole world.
[00:54:33] Unknown:
I heard recently there was a priest down in Kansas, in Seneca, Kansas that was murdered. And he's actually friends with our priest. Okay. Our priest, you know, it's it's kind of a concerning thing. You know, when you get one of the especially a priest Yeah. Who gets murdered after celebrating mass in the church
[00:54:58] Unknown:
or he was murdered just outside of the church? I think it's more rapid than we think because I know France, who was a Catholic country, had hundreds of Catholic churches burnt. Currently, I mean, it's been taken over and it's and we've had churches, in fact, in this country. So as Christians, we are persecuted Yeah. To end this day. So
[00:55:21] Unknown:
Well, if you think about what's going on in The Holy Land Right. With the martyrs that are going on there now, Christians that are being Yeah.
[00:55:30] Unknown:
Martyred. It's It's the same same as what was happening in that land in ancient times. So you can bring that the Bible right through current times through the saints and that they're still answering Christ and giving their lives in in in in for Christ, you know, dedicating their lives to a good service. So that's kinda
[00:55:54] Unknown:
Yeah. Well, we have three minutes left. We should have a call in. We we we're gonna have a call in eventually here. Yeah. I have another phone that I can bring with, and we can do call ins. Yeah. Or I can broadcast with that phone and then do call ins on this one.
[00:56:09] Unknown:
But It'll be awfully nice because I'm gonna have more
[00:56:14] Unknown:
things More people involved. They can ask questions. Yeah. Do it. We can have it live. We can bring it up to current times
[00:56:21] Unknown:
where
[00:56:22] Unknown:
would be really beneficial for all of us. I think I can get my mom involved at least. Yeah. I know that much because Yeah. I think if we can get people on certain apps,
[00:56:31] Unknown:
we can do that. We can do that. Yeah. That'd be really good. Really good. Because then we could have, like, a call in time for ten minutes or whatever and answer some questions or try to get maybe they can straighten us out if we say something that isn't,
[00:56:45] Unknown:
you know Correct us. To our yeah. Well, that's what we're here for is to correct each other when we're wrong, which we we're we're men. So that that happens because that's the nature of our existence right now. Well, yeah. We're so much going on We're not in the world. Perfect beings, and we just love Christ. So that's the key as long as you love Christ,
[00:57:05] Unknown:
you know, going forward.
[00:57:06] Unknown:
Alright. So let's let's end with the prayer, and we'll have a couple minutes to go here. So let's end with the hail Mary. Hail Mary. Okay. Name of the father, son, and holy spirit. Amen. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. In the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Amen. Good. Well, so thank you everybody for listening, and I hope to hear back from everybody. I'm gonna be changing the name of my station from Windmiller Radio or Radio Windmiller.
I got a domain today or a couple yesterday. The the name name is Holy Land Radio. Oh, that's really good. I like it. It's a different name. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And it's a little bit more less obscure than Windmiller. I mean, that's just kinda something that I came up with as to to anyway, as a as a Internet. Yeah. Please listen, next Wednesday again when we're together. Yeah. Yeah. Listen, listen next Wednesday and we're overtime. So good night.
Alright. So we're we're broadcasting live right now. Okay. Alright. So let's begin with the our father in the name of the father, son, and the holy spirit. Amen. Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done upon earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. In the name of the Father, Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Today is 04/16/2025.
And I'd like to welcome anybody listening to our Council of Catholic Men broadcast of Bible study and catechism study. And tonight we're gonna start with the Holy Bible, and we're gonna be continuing on reading the book of Acts of the Apostles, which we left off on chapter four. And tonight, we're gonna read from chapter five. And I'll I'll read because, John, you've got a little bit of a sore throat, so I I don't mind reading it all. So So this will be good. Chapter five, trial before the Sanhedrin. Ananias and Sapphira. A man named Ananias, however, with his wife, Sapphira, sold a piece of property, he retained for himself with his wife's knowledge.
Some of the purchase price took the remainder and put it at the feet of the apostles. But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart so that you lied to the Holy Spirit and retained part of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain yours? And when it was sold, was it not still under your control? Why did you contrive this deed? You have lied not to human beings, but to God. When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last, and great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men came and wrapped him up, then carried him out and buried him.
After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, unaware of what had happened. Peter said to her, tell me, did you sell the land for this amount? She answered, yes, for that amount. Then Peter said to her, why did you agree to test the spirit of the Lord? Listen. The footsteps of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out. At once, she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men entered, they found her dead. So they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
Signs and wonders of the apostles. Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon's porticle. None of the others dared to join them, but the people esteemed them. Yet more than ever, believers in the Lord, great numbers of men and women were added to them. Thus, they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them. A large number of people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered, bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.
Trial before the Sanhedrin. Then the high priest rose up and all his companions, that is the party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy, laid hands upon the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out and said, go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life. When they heard this, they went to the temple early in the morning and taught. When the high priest and his companions arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin, the full senate of the Israelites, and sent to the jail to have them brought in.
But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison. So they came back and reported. We found the jail securely locked and the guards stationed outside the doors. But when we opened them, we found no one inside. When they heard this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss about them as to what this would come to. Then someone came in and reported to them, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple area and are teaching the people. Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them in, but without force because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
When they had brought them in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them. We gave you strict orders, did we not, to stop teaching in that name? Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man's blood upon us. But Peter and the apostles said in reply, we must obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus. Though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things as is the Holy Spirit that God has given to those who obey him.
When they heard this, they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaleel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up, ordered the men to be put outside for a short time, and said to them, fellow Israelites, be careful of what you are about to do to these men. Some time ago, Theodos appeared claiming to be someone important, and about 400 men joined him. But he was killed, and all those who were loyal to him were disbanded and came to nothing. After him came Judas, the Galilean, at the time of the census.
He also drew people after him, but he too perished, and all who were loyal to him were scattered. So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God. They were persuaded by him. After recalling the apostles, they had them flogged, ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them. So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.
And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Messiah, Jesus. And that's the end of chapter five. So, John, any thoughts
[00:08:45] Unknown:
on this? Well, it seems like every time somebody came to do harm to the apostles, either an angel appeared and, helped them with it or Holy Spirit was there. And it seems like that if you're Christian and you have someone being persecuted, if you gather the Christians together or whatever, they won't be persecuted because they're afraid of the multitude. So Strength in numbers. Strength in numbers. Yep. Yep. Gotta stick together.
[00:09:14] Unknown:
Yeah. And it says that they they added they added to their their numbers. So I'm gonna read the footnotes to this part, to this chapter five. So the beginning footnote, and this is the new American Bible, verses one through 11. The sin of Ananias and Saphira did not consist in the withholding of part of the money, but in their deception of the community. Their deaths are ascribed to a lie to the Holy Spirit. They accepted the honor accorded them by the community for their generosity. But in reality, they were not deserving of it. So that that's the beginning story where they sold property and then gave the proceeds and kept some have the proceeds. I think it was they they took the remainder.
Mhmm. But then they put the rest of it at the feet and then they lied about it and said that it was the entire price that they had received for their property.
[00:10:30] Unknown:
You got any thoughts about that? Well, I I have the Catholic bible study here and stuff, and on my footnotes over here Yep. There's a couple of good things that it does say. It's just three. How do you explain why guides why God sometimes delivers you out of hardships, but other times he allows you to go through them? Something to think about. Describe a recent event when you had to choose between God and man. You know, it's kinda like it's kinda like as a Are you gonna sin? Are you gonna do this? Are you gonna live into this temptation? Or are you gonna choose God?
And sometimes, choosing God is the hardest thing, because you may suffer for it one way or another. You may not gain the pleasure of the sin, you know. So you have to be strong. So what's the question again? It's it's whether you choose between Just describe a and it says here, how do you explain why God sometimes delivers you out of hardships? But at other times he allows you to go through them. And my thesis on that would be that the only way to heaven and to Christ is through the cross. So we we have to carry the cross, so we have to accept our pains where we suffer, and offer those up, for our next life.
It's just part of the I think it's part of being Christian.
[00:11:52] Unknown:
Yeah. And Christ, you know, we're gonna be celebrating, the death and resurrection of Christ. Right. Right. Mostly the resurrection, celebrating the resurrection. Right. And commemorating on Good Friday the death of Christ. Right. Taking up his cross and and being crucified with the two other, two other, thieves. Right. There was another question, though, but after that one, what was it? It says,
[00:12:17] Unknown:
it says describe a recent event when you had to choose between God and men and man.
[00:12:23] Unknown:
You know? Yeah. I I think, an easy one to describe that is, like, almost every week, you have to decide whether you go to mass or not. You know, it's it's easier to serve the creature comforts and say, I don't wanna take the day off. Right. I wanna think about going to church. Yeah. And I think that's kind of one that that would describe a choice between doing
[00:12:47] Unknown:
whatever man wants versus what god wants. And I think that pertains right to everyday life. Yeah. Whether you're a church or not, you're the life that you live that chooses choices that you make on a daily basis, you know, for his greater honor and glory, you know, you may suffer for it. Right. Doing what's right. Right. So that's why we have Easter and why it's so rejoice because we can rejoice in the resurrection and we can rejoice in the fact that we can have salvation.
[00:13:21] Unknown:
Yeah. Yeah. Pretty good. Okay. So the next part, verses twelve and six through 16. This this the third summary portraying the Jerusalem community underscores the 12 as its bulk work, bulwark especially because of their charismatic power to heal the sick. So when they're bringing the sick out just to be in the shadow of St. Peter gives that example because they were being healed so miraculously in in such a large number. And that was also a reason that people were following them and and they were loyal to them. Right. Because they saw that God was acting through them and healing people. Because, that was eleven eleven, was it? Yeah, 12 through 16 signs and wonders.
They were in the Solomon's Portico. So right in the temple area, a large number of people in from the towns gathered, and they were cured of their unclean spirits. So, like, demons and and their sick sickness. Okay. So verses 17 through 42. This is a this is a bit of a long one. Mhmm. The second action against the community is taken by the Sanhedrin in the arrest and trial of the 12. The motive is the jealousy of the religious authorities over the population of the apostles, who are now charged with the defiance of the Sanhedrin's previous order to them to abandon their prophetic role.
In this crisis, the apostles are favored by a miraculous release from prison. For similar incidents involving Peter and Paul, see chapter 12. The real significance of such an event, however, would be manifest only to people of faith, not to unbelievers. Since the Sanhedrin already judged the 12 to be inauthentic prophets, it could disregard reports of their miracles, meaning inauthentic prophets, meaning false false prophets, which is why they killed Jesus. They they killed Jesus under the terms that he was a false prophet. That's what the excuse that they used for their motivation that the Sanhedrin did, and they felt guilty over it. And that's why they wanted to get rid of the apostles because they knew deep down in their hearts that they'd killed the Messiah.
Right. They had to have known that because they were the high priests. They were the ones who were in charge of the the prophecies of the old testament that prophesied like Isaiah prophesies a suffering messiah who died for the sins of of his people for Israel. So in it, it says the significance
[00:16:29] Unknown:
I had to take
[00:16:31] Unknown:
It's alright. It's the the real significance of such an event, however, would be manifest only the people of faith. The 12 immediately resumed their public teaching. The Sanhedrin determined to invoke upon them the penalty of death prescribed in Deuteronomy. Gamaliel Gamaliel's advice Gamaliel was the was the, lawyer, you could say, that was advising the Sanhedrin on what to do because they were ready to kill them. But he knew that all that would do is rise up enmity between the people and the and the Sanhedrin if they killed the the apostles.
Right. Could make them upset. So they feel like you said, they feared the numbers of the people that were following the apostles. And they feared to do anything to harm them because of that, because they were protected by the by the love of the people.
[00:17:36] Unknown:
Yeah. Yeah. Yep.
[00:17:41] Unknown:
So they're Gamaliel's advice against this course finally prevailed, but it did not save the 12 from the punishment of scourging. So even though they were gonna kill him, but then Gamaliel persuades them not to, they still had the Scourged. Skirt had them scourged to to, you know, like you like any bully would do is is to get them to keep them from talking. They beat them as a as a means of coercion and bullying.
[00:18:13] Unknown:
And that goes over what we just talked about. In fact, that at times, God allows,
[00:18:19] Unknown:
things that good to happen to you. And other times, he allows things bad Right. Like discourage you there. Right. He he allows bad things to happen to good people. Right. And Just like he also allows good things to happen to bad people, but it's only for a short period of time. Right. Right. Because this life is a short finite time on earth. We all have a short period of time relative to the history of humanity of the creation that God created. And that we have we're only given a limited amount of time to do God's will on earth before we face the final judgment and four final things of of death, judgment, heaven and hell,
[00:19:01] Unknown:
right?
[00:19:02] Unknown:
Which we'll all face one day. And we should think about that every day because that that's how it is with with, and and these the the Pharisees were kind of placing themselves in the role of God take usurping his authority Right. That had been given to the apostles. So, really, the apostles should have been the real leaders of the people and not the fair the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin if if they were just people. But since the Pharisees weren't just people, the Sanhedrin were were ruling like tyrants. And it did not save the 12 from the punishment of scourging in a last endeavor to shake their conviction of their prophetic mission.
And verse 30, hanging him on a tree, when they referred to Christ, they hung him on the tree, which is the tree is the cross, that is crucifying him. And the tree symbolizes the tree of redemption. Whereas in the beginning, when God created Adam and Eve and tested them, he gave them the test not to eat from the tree of now the knowledge of good and evil, which they ended up eating from. So the the tree that was that was the downfall of man also symbolizes the restoration of man through Christ being hung on the tree, dead wood of the cross.
So in verse 31, at his right hand. Okay, and then 34, Gamaliel, Paul identifies himself as a disciple of the rabbi Gamaliel. For one who flourished in Jerusalem between 8025 and 8050. So this Gamaliel, who advised the Sanhedrin not to not to be brutal and crucify and or kill the apostles Right. He was the, he was the rabbi of Saint Paul, who at that time was named Saul before his conversion before he he he converted to Christianity and following Christ. Saint Paul was a persecutor of of the church, the early church, the apostles. And through his conversion on the road to Damascus, he turned and followed Christ.
And it's interesting that Gamaliel, the lawyer who who pleads on behalf of the apostles not to have them killed, is the one who taught Saint Paul. So he must have had some sort of goodness in him, if you could you know, I don't know what he later on went to do, but it says here, verses 36 through 37, Gamaliel offers examples of unsuccessful contemporary movements to argue that if God is not the origin of this movement preached by the apostles, it will perish by itself. The movement initiated by Thaddeus Theodos actually occurred occurred when Cisupius Thaddeus was governor from 4446.
Luke's placing of the of Judas the Galilean after Thaddeus and at the time of the census is an indication of the vagueness of his knowledge of these events. Okay. Well, didn't know that. Alright, so that's the end of the footnotes for the- for the Bible and I think now we're gonna- do you have any other questions before we get to the catechism? Okay, good. Alright. So now we're gonna switch to the catechism, the large catechism of St. Peter Kinesis and we've been talking, we were on the chapter about the sacraments and the necessity for the sacraments.
I forget exactly where we left off. I think we left off we numbered how many sacraments there were. There were seven. Yep. Which are baptism, confirmation, the blessed sacrament of the Eucharist, penance, extreme unction, order, meaning holy orders, and matrimony. Then the next question is why were the sacraments instituted? To give grace. I think we went through this too. There were there were three reasons. Right. And we'll we'll just do this to refresh. Sure. That'd be fine. K. So the first is that there are remedies against against sin. Right. Yep. Alright. Second was that they were certain and sign effectual signs of god's grace and goodwill towards us.
And then third, that there there may be some tokens in the external marks of Christian profession where the children of God and and of the church may meet mutually know one another. So it's how we recognize each other as Christians is through the seven sacraments of baptism. So to know someone else is a Christian, you ask first the first thing is, are you baptized? Yeah. Because that's nest absolutely necessary in order to be saved and to be a member of the Catholic church is that you're baptized. And it all of the New Testament preaches baptism as necessary for belonging to the church.
That's what Christ did. He wanted everyone baptized. The apostles went on to baptize people who came to Christ to believe that Christ was the Messiah. Right. And then everything else follows from that. Like, you know, confirmation means that someone's a Christian that's received confirmation. The Eucharist, someone who goes on some church to church on Sunday or daily and receive receives the mute Eucharist. We know that they're a Christian. You also people who confess their sins to a priest are also known by that to be Christians because that's particularly Christian thing to do. I don't know of any other religion where they confess their sins like that.
Priesthood and matrimony. So as Christians, we marry one man, one woman. Right. All right, so the next page, we have the next question. And what is to be thought of the ministers of the sacraments? So the ministers of the sacraments. Who are who are the proper people who administer the sacraments?
[00:26:34] Unknown:
Priests. Priests, typically. Yep. Typically.
[00:26:38] Unknown:
We must so esteem them as the ministers of Christ and the dispensers of the mysteries of God that do bear the vessels of our Lord and serve the tabernacle. And by that profession have authority in holy things and with a certain right entitled to do minister the same. For not to do to all indifferently, but to priests. So not all to all indifferently, like, to not not just to any person is is this given to administer the sacraments. That's what in different reasons. But to priests and bishops Yep. Does does it doth it belong? And it was by God himself enjoined to concentrate, dispense, and minister the holy sacraments.
So god himself told men in the in in the stories of it or in the bible how to con consecrate, dispense, administer the holy sacraments, the seven sacraments
[00:27:47] Unknown:
Mhmm.
[00:27:47] Unknown:
That we've talked about. And that we may not think that the sacraments do any wit depend on the life and honesty of those that do minister them. So the sacraments by themselves don't they're they don't depend on the life and honesty of the people who minister them. Right. So you might have somebody who who starts out light in life good and ends up becoming a baddie. You know, let's say they start leading a corrupt life. They turn away. But those sacraments are still valid. Whether that person was good or bad, meaning upon the life and honesty of those who minister them. Saint Augustine hath prescribed in this us this rule, sacraments, he said, are not therefore more true and more holy because they are ministered by a better man, for they of themselves are true and holy, by means of the true and holy God whose sacraments they are.
So the sacraments by right belong to God. Oh, so And because of that, they're not dependent on men. Like, the a a more holy priest doesn't mean that the sacraments are less holy or more holy, just as someone who's less of a good priest or say, like, a smart priest, someone who knows a lot of From Yeah. But I under Has a a lot of intelligence or Is it from what I understood is that if a bad priest
[00:29:23] Unknown:
administered the sacrament, it's God who makes it right, not that priest. That sin is on that priest. Correct. Yeah. So it's a it's
[00:29:33] Unknown:
So if yeah. Exactly. You don't take on the act the the sins of someone else. Right. Right. You're responsible for your own sins. And the sacrament of confirmation where it says,
[00:29:45] Unknown:
penance, Basically, my my my look at it is, priest is witnessing my sins that I'm telling to God, and he's the witness. You know, so and, then if there's something that he wants to talk about, fine. But when you're in the penance and you're in the room, it's to God that you're offering those things up. He's bearing Yeah. Through his minister that he ordained. And he's he's he's bearing witness to your sins and your sorrow for committing them.
[00:30:22] Unknown:
Okay. And again, remember that the manners of evil men do nothing hinder the sacraments of God, to make them either nothing at all or ever the less holy. To which accorded the sentence of Saint Ambrose, do thou not regard the merits of the persons, but the offices of the priests. I mean, in the administration of the sacraments. For even if by the unworthy, God accustomed it to work, and by the life of the priest, there can be no prejudice to the grace of the sacraments, as in as witnessed Saint John Chrysostom.
[00:31:04] Unknown:
If you if you feel that the this is a question I would have is, if you feel and know that this priest is bad and you don't wanna have anything to do with them, you just seek out another parish?
[00:31:17] Unknown:
Well, first, you have to go to them and to to correct them because that's what we're here for is to correct each other. And if they don't listen to you after being admonished three times, I think it is two or three times Yeah. Then then you treat them like a publican or a tax collector, and you don't have anything to do with them. It's like you don't wanna be bothered by a tax collector. That's what it says in according to Christ. That's when you go to when you're you have a problem with your brother or whoever it may be, you go to them and you correct them. And if they're not willing to listen to you after you reprimand them multiple times, then you have nothing to do with them.
But you you're obligated to correct them. If you see somebody's but he's wrong, you correct them because they might not know it. They might be ignorant of the fact that they're they're wrong, and it's the just thing to do. So if you do see if you do see someone doing wrong, you correct them, and you have an obligation to do that. So do you have any other
[00:32:31] Unknown:
question? That's a tough thing to do. Yeah. Yeah. It's it's tough to think about. But you still Especially when we don't have the tax collectors, the way that you're what we're seeing in the bible and stuff. When you have this evil priest that's doing stuff, he's you know what I mean? It's like, forget it. I'll go to another parish. Yeah. I mean Yeah. And it's Well, you but but still but they might reveal it to you in three different ways. In other words, they they do this one evil deed at church. Okay? Then they do another evil deed at church. Then do a third evil deed deed at church. Then you have to wait for the Holy Spirit to come and correct it because you can't.
[00:33:12] Unknown:
Because he shouldn't he can't do it on his own. Well, it's like Christ said with your brother. Yeah. If you admonish your brother Yeah. And he doesn't listen to you Yeah. Then you go to the church. But you're first supposed to go to your brother in secret
[00:33:25] Unknown:
and go and tell him, hey, brother, you're doing something wrong. Well, I think we're talking two different things. I'm talking about a priest.
[00:33:31] Unknown:
I'm Not my brother. Well, your priest the priest, we're all brothers and sisters in Christ just like Saint Paul says, brothers and sisters. He calls even the ones who aren't ordained priests,
[00:33:42] Unknown:
brothers and sisters. I have followed them. I find the evil doers. It's best just to stay away from them. Not to deal with them, not to do nothing. Because you just you just can't deal with it. You just let them go, you know. Yeah. Let go of it.
[00:33:59] Unknown:
But you still you still when you when you first notice, this is I'm not I'm not we're not we're not talking about someone who has a history. We're talking about when someone first starts doing something. I'm talking history. I mean Yeah. You're talking about history. And that's that's right. What you're saying is right. Yeah. I mean But you do go to a higher authority. So if you did see, say, for instance, a priest, you would then go to the bishop and say to his bishop, this priest has done this. And you you please correct him because I've gone to him and I've said this, and he told me, buzz off or whatever he told me.
That's that's you go to a higher authority each time. You go to God first foremost of all, but then you follow what God established on Earth to do. He gave us traditions of how to behave toward our brothers. And he talks about that in parables, especially. I see a lot of this going on. Yeah. There's a lot there's a lot going on. We're good. So the next question, I'll read this next question. Oh, we're almost to the to the end of it anyway. So the next question is, what conception ought we have to to have of ceremonies? Those especially that are ordinarily and solemnly loo used in the sacraments.
Ceremonies approved by the church are certain external rights religiously and decently instituted. First, that they may be signs, testimonies, and exercises of the interior worship, which God principally requires at our hands. Then, that there may be some lively and affordable provocations unto religion, whereby the frailty of man may be fortified and under fortified and under and under propped, and as it were, trained with the hand both to receive and also to retain holy mysteries. Lastly, that those things which do appertain to the advancement of God's service and to the preservation of public discipline and concord may be prosecuted in the church after an honest, calmly, and decent order as the apostle willeth.
But those ceremonies, especially which are used in the administration of the sacraments, and which have received of our of the fathers, delivered and commanded unto us as it were by hand, ought with great diligence be to be kept and observed. For besides that they bring a decency unto the sacraments and engender a certain reverence, they are also venerable unto us by a singular commendation of antiquity. Then besides their institution, most ancient and apostolic, they have plenty of mysteries full of gravity and dignity as most holy and learned fathers have noted.
Finally, concerning these things and others of the light tenor, it is an excellent saying of those things which Christian religion, most free from all error, doth admit and embrace, and so many ages together kept untouched, are not vain, but profitable, pleasing to god, and much available to our salvation. True it is that the secretaries laugh at the ceremonies used in the sacraments. But themselves are indeed more to be laughed at, or rather, bewailed in that, trusting in their blind judgment and mortal hatred, two pernicious counselors, They do wage battle against the most clear and evident truth.
Surely of the ceremonies of baptism, even the most ancient divines do witness unto us. Saint Denis, Saint Clement, Tertullian, Origen, Saint Cyprian, Saint Basil, Saint Chrysostom, Saint Cyril. Let the wicked scoff and blaspheme never so much. Those fathers, certainly, with one consent, do commend abrenunciation, exorcisms, holy water, holy chrism, and the sign of the cross. Almost twelve hundred years ago, wrote Saint Basil in this manner. We do consecrate the water of baptism and the oil of unction, and him also that receiveth baptism. But to give particular admonition of the ceremonies that are next to all the sacraments, as it would be very long, so it is also very difficult, and to this our purpose not needful.
Yet, yea, Origen doth plainly confess that in such ecclesiastical observances, there are many things which of necessity all must do, but the reason of them why they are so done is not yet sufficiently known. And that the end and then next week, we're gonna talk about baptism. Alright. Be good. So all of these things are necessary, especially baptism. Yep. And he says twelve hundred years. Well, that's in 1600 something. So twelve hundred years. It's quite a little it's longer. Yeah. I had another however many five hundred five four hundred four hundred some years.
Two. Probably around that. About that. Yep. Yep. So it ends up being, like, sixteen hundred years ago, they're talking about baptism. Sixteen hundred years ago. Still going on. It's still going on. Yep. It's still important to become Christian and to be saved and to do God's will. Okay. Do you have any questions, John? Nope. Nope. Before we move on to the the, tonight's chapter of the victories of the martyrs? Nope. I'm fine there. Okay. I'm gonna find my chapter because we're talking about Justin Martyr. One twenty eight.
K. So we're gonna read from the victories of the martyrs. Saint Alphonsus delagore, victories of the martyrs are the most celebrated martyrs of the church. The lives of the most celebrated martyrs of the church, Saint Justin. Okay. Our saint composed other works in defense of Catholic doctrine against the Marcionites and the Valentinians, and also his dialogue with Trypho against the pernacity of the Jews. Marcus Aurelius, having succeeded Antonius Pius in the Empire, the persecution was renewed and one, Crescens, who, although styling himself a cynic philosopher, was in reality a very shallow fellow, took occasion to exclaim loudly against the Christians.
Saint Justin, in public dispute, frequently convicted him of the most violent malice and the greatest possible ignorance of the doctrine and practices of the Christians and was induced to publish and present to the emperor his second apologia in which he defends his religion against the calumnies of Krsans and others. In showing that Christians had been unjustly put to death, he relates that a married couple had both been guilty of incontinence incontinency. The woman, having been converted to the Christian religion, used all her endeavors to withdraw her husband from his shameful practices.
But he, instead of amending, accused her, and one told me, who had been the means of her conversion of being Christians. The prefect Urbicus sentenced them to death, whereupon a certain Christian named Lucius exclaimed, with what conscience, O urbicus, dost thou condemn a man who hath been guilty of no crime? Lucius, together with another Christian, received a similar sentence. A very short time after the publication of this discourse, Saint Justin was apprehended, together with six other Christians of his acquaintance, and brought before Rusticus, the prefect of Rome, who exhorted him to obey the imperial edicts.
The saint replied, no one can be reproved or condemned for obeying the precepts of our savior, Jesus Christ. The prefect asked him what kind of learning he professed. Justin answered that he had learned the doctrines of various sects and had finally embraced Christianity, although it was despised by those who were led away by errors and false opinions. Unhappy wretch, exclaimed the prefect. Dost thou then delight in this discipline? Justin, yes. Because it teaches me the true doctrine. Rusticus. What is this doctrine? Justin, the true doctrine which we profess is to believe in only one God, the creator of all things, visible and invisible, and to confess confess Jesus Christ, the son of god, the foretold the foretold by the prophets, the preacher of salvation unto men, and the master of those who happily observe the divine precepts.
But neither have I a tongue to express nor a mind to conceive anything worthy of his infinite dignity. To do so, I would need the mind and the spirit of the prophets who, inspired by god, foretold his coming. The prefect asked him where the Christians were in the habit of assembling. Justin replied, where they please and where they can. Dost thou imagine perchance that we all assemble in the same place? The God of the Christians is not confined to a place. He is invisible and fills both heaven and earth and is everywhere adored and praised by the faithful. But I wish to know, rejoined Rusticus, where thou and thy disciples assemble?
The saint answered, as for myself, I dwell at the Timothean Baths. This is the second time I have come to Rome, and I am scarcely acquainted with any other place in the city. If anyone should wish to seek me, I am ready to communicate to him the doctrines of truth. Rusticus. Thou art then a Christian. Justin, so it is. I am a Christian. The prefect then turned to Saint Justin's companions and interrogated them one after the other concerning their faith. They all confessed themselves Christians and manifested a desire to die for Jesus Christ. Rusticus then said to Justin, tell me, thou who art who dost believe that thou hast the true wisdom, whether thou art persuaded that thou shalt ascend into heaven, after I shall have caused thee to be scourged and beheaded.
The saint replied, if I shall suffer these punishments, I hope to receive the reward I hope to receive the reward which is prepared for those who observe the commandments of Christ. The prefect asked, dost thou then really imagine that thou shalt ascend into heaven? This I said, this I do not only imagine, but I know it, replied the saint. And I am so fully assured of it that I entertain no doubt whatever. Finally, the prefect, turning to all those confessors of of Jesus Christ, said to them, go ye together and unanimously sacrifice to god to the gods.
Justin, answering for all, replied, no man in his sentence could abandon religion to become a particular in impiety. The prefect hereupon threatened that their noncompliance would be followed with the utmost with the most unrelenting tortures. Justin said, there is nothing which we more earnestly desire than to endure term torments for the love of our lord Jesus Christ, and thus attain unto salvation. For this, it is that we will enable us to present ourselves with confidence at the tribunal of that judge before whom all the world must necessarily appear.
To this, the other martyrs assented adding, do quickly what thou art about. We are Christians and will never sacrifice to idols. The prefect then pronounced against them the following sentence. Those who have not wished to sacrifice to the gods nor obey the edict of the emperor shall first be scourged, and afterwards beheaded in pursuance of the law. The martyrs were forthwith led to the place of execution, where the sentence being carried into effect, they received the glorious crown of martyrdom in the year 01/1967 or the following.
Their bodies were privately carried away by the Christians who gave them honorable internment. The acts of these martyrs are found in Ruinart and Tillamont. And that's the end of that chapter. Yeah. Yeah. Let's see how much time we got. We got ten minutes. So we can we can go back and discuss any of the stuff that we we read. And what what do you think of that story?
[00:49:16] Unknown:
That's tremendous, but, I've been reading the book of Padre Pio. Yeah. And he was persecuted by the church. And the reason why he's persecuted, he become notarized and his people over, higher than him felt the notary of what he was doing wasn't what the him as a priest should be doing. So they actually took him out of service. You'd say they were envious of him? Yeah. I think it goes where, you know, and then the other thing is he had a a when the people lined up and they came to see him and stuff, And then he would had a real feeling for the people that were, had disabilities, like, you know, were in a wheelchair.
They may have mental disabilities, and he saw them more with Christ than he saw the regular people because they were suffering. And, so, we were talking about where they were Saint Peter was there, and they're trying to get him the people in the shadow of Saint Peter for healing. Well, the same thing happened with Padre Pio. Now you're what I'm what I'm trying to get at is that's more current times.
[00:50:25] Unknown:
So that's that's our faith carrying time. Tell tell anyone in our audience that's listening to this recording right now who Padre Pio was because they might not know. They might not be Christian even Okay. That are listening to us.
[00:50:39] Unknown:
Padre Pio, I believe he wasn't a monk, but he he he was, what do you know what what he was as well? I think he was, wasn't he in some monastic order? Yeah. But I don't know which one it was. Padre Pio. But anyways, he carried the stigmata of Christ. He lived in Italy. Yeah. In the last century, in the nineteen hundreds. The other thing that he did was impressive. He wanted to do something for those people, and that they didn't have anything. So towards his later part of his life, he actually built a a hospital there that still exists to this day.
You know? So that's really a tribute. He he he was he was a very he, vowed poverty. You know? And people would line up for miles to actually get So what does evolved poverty entail? Was that does that mean that he didn't own any possessions himself? He no. Uh-uh. And he had I mean, the way I look at it, he was I've seen different groups that say they profess poverty. Poverty. Yeah. But they may be driving a brand new Cadillac. You know? So A Mercedes or something. He may not have owned it, but, you know, something else. But Padre Pio is very genuine, and his love for Christ was unbelievable.
And so I, you know, for anybody who has any kind of health health issues, and he paid pray for an intervention for to Padre Pio, to our Lord, I think if you I think it's well deserved. He was canonized as a saint? Yeah. Yeah. Recently. In the last twenty years. Yeah. Yeah. So it's kinda like, I I don't know. I identify with Padre Pio a lot. So it's kinda like I wished I would have met him in my day.
[00:52:22] Unknown:
Yeah. You yeah. Well, when did he die? Sixties?
[00:52:27] Unknown:
'50 fifties or sixties? I know that he was alive when I was alive. Yeah. Oh, okay. Yeah. So in the 1960
[00:52:34] Unknown:
I think there's I've seen video of him. I've seen film of him. Then we had John Paul the second,
[00:52:42] Unknown:
which canonized the saint, which was our pope. Yeah. Pope, one of the greatest popes of our times. And, that happened in our lifetimes.
[00:52:51] Unknown:
Yeah. So I'd actually been in a group of millions of people to to see him. I've seen twice saw him twice. Yeah. I mean, I never saw him, but he,
[00:53:02] Unknown:
for us, we had a devotion. Like, you know, he could he he was truly blessed by God. You know. So just the way he talked, the way he carried himself. Yeah. In fact, I have a a CD at home of him singing. I don't know if many people knew, but he had a voice where he He had a good voice. And he sang Yeah. I heard a lot of times. To us that he sang. Even in even in his old age. Yeah. He, he had a good voice. And, sometimes when I go to bed at night, I'll play that CD. It's very it really very comforting, you know, and he sings the, Our Father in Latin and, many other songs and stuff. So, you know, if you look, the thing is is that sometimes we talk about older older saints that were we don't we should look towards what we have in current state.
[00:53:51] Unknown:
Yeah. The saints that are living right now. We can identify
[00:53:54] Unknown:
with that, with Mother Teresa, you know. I I've come across priests from India that actually, ate soup with her every day. That particular priest looked like a monk. And I was really impressed by Mother Teresa because in India, people had, leprosy and, they were laying in the gutters and in the alleys. And she would go in there and she would help these people. And the people that were walking by stoned her, you know. And so it just developed where she's got an order of nuns. She's got hospitals and everything else across the whole world.
[00:54:33] Unknown:
I heard recently there was a priest down in Kansas, in Seneca, Kansas that was murdered. And he's actually friends with our priest. Okay. Our priest, you know, it's it's kind of a concerning thing. You know, when you get one of the especially a priest Yeah. Who gets murdered after celebrating mass in the church
[00:54:58] Unknown:
or he was murdered just outside of the church? I think it's more rapid than we think because I know France, who was a Catholic country, had hundreds of Catholic churches burnt. Currently, I mean, it's been taken over and it's and we've had churches, in fact, in this country. So as Christians, we are persecuted Yeah. To end this day. So
[00:55:21] Unknown:
Well, if you think about what's going on in The Holy Land Right. With the martyrs that are going on there now, Christians that are being Yeah.
[00:55:30] Unknown:
Martyred. It's It's the same same as what was happening in that land in ancient times. So you can bring that the Bible right through current times through the saints and that they're still answering Christ and giving their lives in in in in for Christ, you know, dedicating their lives to a good service. So that's kinda
[00:55:54] Unknown:
Yeah. Well, we have three minutes left. We should have a call in. We we we're gonna have a call in eventually here. Yeah. I have another phone that I can bring with, and we can do call ins. Yeah. Or I can broadcast with that phone and then do call ins on this one.
[00:56:09] Unknown:
But It'll be awfully nice because I'm gonna have more
[00:56:14] Unknown:
things More people involved. They can ask questions. Yeah. Do it. We can have it live. We can bring it up to current times
[00:56:21] Unknown:
where
[00:56:22] Unknown:
would be really beneficial for all of us. I think I can get my mom involved at least. Yeah. I know that much because Yeah. I think if we can get people on certain apps,
[00:56:31] Unknown:
we can do that. We can do that. Yeah. That'd be really good. Really good. Because then we could have, like, a call in time for ten minutes or whatever and answer some questions or try to get maybe they can straighten us out if we say something that isn't,
[00:56:45] Unknown:
you know Correct us. To our yeah. Well, that's what we're here for is to correct each other when we're wrong, which we we're we're men. So that that happens because that's the nature of our existence right now. Well, yeah. We're so much going on We're not in the world. Perfect beings, and we just love Christ. So that's the key as long as you love Christ,
[00:57:05] Unknown:
you know, going forward.
[00:57:06] Unknown:
Alright. So let's let's end with the prayer, and we'll have a couple minutes to go here. So let's end with the hail Mary. Hail Mary. Okay. Name of the father, son, and holy spirit. Amen. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. In the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Amen. Good. Well, so thank you everybody for listening, and I hope to hear back from everybody. I'm gonna be changing the name of my station from Windmiller Radio or Radio Windmiller.
I got a domain today or a couple yesterday. The the name name is Holy Land Radio. Oh, that's really good. I like it. It's a different name. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And it's a little bit more less obscure than Windmiller. I mean, that's just kinda something that I came up with as to to anyway, as a as a Internet. Yeah. Please listen, next Wednesday again when we're together. Yeah. Yeah. Listen, listen next Wednesday and we're overtime. So good night.
Introduction and Opening Prayer
Bible Study: Acts of the Apostles Chapter 5
Discussion on Apostolic Trials and Teachings
Catechism Study: The Sacraments
Ceremonies and Traditions in Christianity
Victories of the Martyrs: Saint Justin
Modern Saints and Christian Persecution
Closing Remarks and Future Plans
