In this episode of the Council of Catholic Men Bible Study and Catechism, we delve into the scripture study of Acts Chapter 10 and 11, focusing on the story of Cornelius and Peter's visions. We explore the significance of Peter's vision, which reveals the new covenant and the acceptance of Gentiles into the faith, highlighting the transition from the Mosaic Law to the teachings of Jesus Christ. The discussion emphasizes the role of Peter as the leader of the early Church and the importance of understanding the new covenant in the context of the early Christian community.
We also continue our catechism study, focusing on the Eucharist and its significance as a sacrament and sacrifice in the Christian faith. The episode explores the reverence and adoration due to the Eucharist, its role as a perpetual sacrifice, and its importance in the life of believers. Additionally, we reflect on the lives of saints and martyrs, such as Saint Peter of Lampsacus and Saint Dionysia, drawing lessons from their faith and courage. The episode concludes with a prayer and an invitation to join the next session of the Bible study.
[00:00:01]
Unknown:
Welcome to the Council of Catholic Men Bible Study and Catechism. Today is 05/14/2025, and we're going to begin our catechism and scripture study of and bible study, for prayer intentions for low Pope Leo the fourteenth, as well as for as as well as for everyone that needs prayer intentions. For we pray for the health of John who can't be here today. He's having some health problems, but we wish him well and hope he gets well soon, as well as the intentions of all bishops, priests, and clerics, the unborn, the poor souls in purgatory, and the elderly. So let's begin with the Our Father, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.
I believe in or actually, 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. Now, we're going to begin where we left off last time in chapter 10 of the book of Acts and this week, I'm gonna read from the Douay Rheims version of the Bible. Which is different from the New American Bible.
And we don't wanna have to pay them for the copyright to use their book anyway. So we'll go with the the Douay Rheims version. And now we're on chapter 10 about Cornelius and the visions. Now, there was a in Caesarea a man named Cornelius and a centurion of the cohort a centurion of the cohort called Italian. He was devout and God fearing, as was all his household, giving much alms to the people and praying to God continually. About the ninth hour of the day, he saw distinctly in a vision oh. I don't know why there's music going. It doesn't make any sense.
It's kind of a bummer. I don't know why there's music going. Interesting. Alright. Well, we're back. We broke up for a moment there. I don't know how to explain it. I'm gonna start over. I don't know where I left off, but I figure I'm getting tons of messages here. It's kind of annoying how how many messages are coming through here. Okay. Well, so we're on Acts chapter 10. Cornelius, the visions. Now there was in Caesarea a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the cohort called Italian. He was devout and God fearing, as was all his household, giving much alms to the people and praying to God continually.
About the ninth hour of the day, he saw distinctly in a vision an angel of God come in to him and say to him, Cornelius, and he gazing at him in terror, said, what is it, Lord? And he said to him, thy prayers and thy alms have gone up and been remembered in the sight of God. And now send men to Joppa, and fetch one Simon, Simon surname Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, who has a house by the seaside. When the angel was speak who was speaking to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a God fearing soldier from among his personal attendants. And after telling them the whole story, sent them to Joppa.
Now, the next day, while they were still on their journey and were just drawing near to the city, Peter went up to the roof to pray about the sixth hour. But he got very hungry and wanted something to eat. But while they were getting it ready, he fell into an ecstasy. And saw heaven standing open and a certain vessel coming down like a great sheet, let down by the four corners from heaven to the earth. And in it were all the four footed beasts, and creeping things of the earth, and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him, Arise, Peter, kill and eat.
But Peter said, Far be it from me, Lord, for never did I eat anything common or unclean. And there came a voice a second time to him, What God has cleansed, do not call common. Now this happened three times, and straightway the vessel was taken up to into heaven. Now while Peter was still wondering as to what the vision he had had might mean, Behold, the men sent by Cornelius stood at the door inquiring for Simon's house. And they called out to ask whether Simon, surnamed Peter, was staying there. But while Peter was pondering over the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, three men are looking for thee.
Two Arise, therefore, go down and depart with them without any hesitation, for I have sent them. 23 So Peter went down to the men and said, Behold, I am the man you are asking for. What is the reason for your coming? And they said, Cornelius, a centurion, a just and God fearing man, to whom the whole nation of the Jews bear witness, has been directed by a holy angel to fetch thee to his house and to hear words from thee. So he invited them in and entertained them. Okay. We got music again. I don't get it. I don't get it. What is going on?
[00:08:13] Unknown:
United Nations member states are since Monday this week observing
[00:08:18] Unknown:
the eighth United Nations. Okay. We're we should be back. If all went well, we should be back. Okay. Alright. We're back. I don't know where I left off. We're I'll just continue where I where I'm at because I'm recording this. You can always listen back to the recording. So, Peter went down to the men and and said, behold, I am the man you are asking for. What is the reason for your coming? And they said, Cornelius, a centurion, a just and God fearing man, to whom the whole nation of the Jews bear witness, has been directed by a holy angel to fetch Thee to his house and to hear words from Thee.
So he invited them in and entertained them. Two Peter meets Cornelius. Three And the next day he arose and started off with them. And certain of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him, and the following day he reached Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, having invited in his relatives and his intimate friends. Two And as Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and falling at his feet, made obeisance to him. But Peter raised him up, saying, Get up, I myself am also a man. And as he talked with them, he went in and found many assembled.
And he said to them, You know it is not permissible for a Jew to associate Okay. I don't get why this is happening. This is ridiculous. I don't know what to say. Let's just take a little pause here because I'm gonna I'm recording this.
[00:10:33] Unknown:
You are driving, and don't use your phone when you are driving. Jean taught the United Nations' special envoy for road safety. The World Health Organization, the WHO, is one of the international agencies taking part in this year's Global Road Safety Wiki campaign. It issued an audio mess
[00:10:57] Unknown:
The reason for that is that of the three thousand two hundred people who die every day on the world's roads, roughly one quarter are pedestrians and cyclists. There are some variations across regions. In Africa, for example, one in three road traffic deaths are pedestrians.
[00:11:22] Unknown:
Okay. Let's begin again. I don't know why we keep getting interrupted, but we do. So, You know it is not permissible for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him, but God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore, I came without hesitation when I was sent for for, I asked, therefore, why have you sent for me? And Cornelius said, Three days ago, at this very hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour. And behold, a man stood before me in shining garments, and said, Cornelius, thy prayer has been heard, and thy alms have been remembered in the sight of God.
Send therefore to Joppa, and call Simon, surnamed Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner by the sea. Immediately therefore I sent to thee, and thou hast very kindly come. Now therefore we are all present in thy sight to hear whatever has been commanded thee by the Lord. Peter's Discourse. But Peter began and said, Now I really understand that God is not a respecter of persons, but in every nation he who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. He sent his word to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
You know what took place throughout Judea. For he began in Galilee after the baptism preached by John. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and he went about doing good and healing all who were in the power of the devil. For God was with him. And we are witnesses of all that he did in that in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And yet they killed him, hanging him on a tree. But God raised him on the third day and caused him to be plainly seen. Not by all the people, but by witnesses designated beforehand by God, that is, by us, who ate and drank with him after he had risen from the dead.
Two And he charged us to preach to the people, and to testify that he it is who has been appointed by God to be judge of the living and of the dead. To him all the prophets hear witness, that through his name all who believe in him may receive forgiveness of sins. The Baptism. While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came upon all who were listening to his message. Two And the faithful of the circumcision who had come with Peter were amazed, because on the Gentiles also the grace of the Holy Spirit had been poured forth. For they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Two Then Peter answered, Can anyone refuse the water to baptize these, seeing that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?
And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they besought him to stay on there a few days. Chapter 11. Now the apostles and the brethren all over Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. But when Peter went up to Jerusalem, they of the circumcision found fault with him, saying, Why didst thou visit men uncircumcised and eat with them? Then Peter began to explain the matter to them in order, saying, I was praying in the city of Joppa, and while in ecstasy I had a vision, a certain vessel coming down something like a great sheet, let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came right down to me.
And gazing upon it, I began to observe, and I saw the four footed creatures of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the creeping things, and the birds of the air. 27 And I also heard a voice saying to me, Arise, Peter, kill and eat. And I said, by no means, Lord, for nothing common or unclean has ever has ever entered my mouth. But the voice answered a second time, what God has cleansed, do not thou call common. This happened three times, and then it was all drawn back up into heaven. And behold, immediately three men came to the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me. And the Spirit bade me not to hesitate to go with them.
And these six brethren also went with me, and we entered the man's house, And he told us how he had seen the angel in his house stand and say to him, Send to Joppa and fetch Simon, surnamed Peter. He will speak to these words, the words by which thou shalt be saved, thou and all thy household. But when I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as it did upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said, John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Therefore, if God gave them, gave to them the same grace as he gave to us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I should be able to interfere with God?
On hearing this, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, Therefore to the Gentiles also God has given repentance unto life. The converts at Antioch. Now those who had been dispersed by the persecution that had broken out over Stephen went all the way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except to Jews only. 22 But some of them were Cyprians and Cyrenians, who on reaching Antioch began to speak to the Greeks also preaching the Lord Jesus. Two And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
And news concerning them came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch. Now when he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and exhorted them all to continue in the Lord with steadfast heart. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit of faith and of faith. And a great multitude was added to the Lord. And he went forth to Tarsus to look for Saul and on finding him, he brought him to Antioch. And for a whole year they took part in the meetings of the church, and taught a great multitude. And it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.
Now in those days some prophets from Jerusalem came down to Antioch. And one of them, named Agabus, got up and revealed through the Spirit that there would be a great famine all over the world. The famine occurred in the reign of Claudius. So the disciples, each according to his means, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. And this they did, sending it to the presbyters by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. So now, we're reading in chapter 11. I'm gonna read some of the footnotes. And the footnotes that we had for the first chapter, which was chapter 10.
So chapter 10 verse two, God fearing, worshiping the true God of the Jews, but without adopting the full burden of the Mosaic law. That was verse two, which was, he was devout and God fearing, as was all his household, giving much alms to the people and praying to God continually. So he's he worshiped the true God of the of the Jews, but without adopting the full burden of the Mosaic law. Verse four, gone up. God, gone up to please God like the smoke of the sacrifice, which was called a memorial. The verse four was, and he, gazing at them in terror, said, what is it Lord? And he said to him thy prayers and thy alms have gone up and been remembered in the sight of God.
It's verse six. He will tell thee what to do is added in the Clementine Vulgate. And that's verse six. He's he is lodging with Simon, a tanner who has a house by the seaside. Verse 15. The distinction made by the Mosaic law between clean and unclean food is no longer to hold good. Verse 15, and there came a voice a second time to him, what God has cleansed, do not thou call common. Verse thirty, three days ago, literally, this is now the fourth day. So verse 30, And Cornelius said, three days ago, at this very hour I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, behold, a man stood before me in shining garments and said.
So verse 33, in thy sight, in Greek, in the sight of God. So immediately, therefore, I sent to thee, and thou hast very kindly come. Now, therefore, we are all present in thy sight to hear whatever has been commanded thee by the Lord. In the sight of God. Verse 46, in tongues, as on Pentecost in chapter two. So 46, for they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Alright. Now chapter 11, the footnotes. Verse 20. To the Greeks. Having heard of the conversion of Cornelius and his household, though many Greek manuscripts read Hellenists, here, the context shows that Gentiles are meant.
For the Jews referred to in verse 19 were Hellenists. Example. Jews living outside Palestine. It's verse 20. Verse 20 is by some of them were Cyprians and Cyrenians, who on reaching Antioch began to speak to the Greeks also preaching the Lord Jesus. Verse verse verse 28, Claudius. Claudius was the Roman emperor between forty one and fifty four AD. So verse 28 witches. And one of them named Agabus got up and revealed through the spirit that there would be a great famine all over the world. The famine occurred in the reign of Claudius. Okay, verse 30.
Presbyters, literally elders. This is the term from which our priest is derived. But here and in the rest of Acts and in many of the epistles, it designates the priests who held office as rulers of the early church. Presbyter also distinguishes these priests from the Jewish elders. So that's verse 30. Verse 30, and they did this, sending it to the presbyters by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. And that is the conclusion of our talk on the Bible. And I'm I find it interesting that these things like, Peter seeing the beast and and God's telling him that what God has made clean, let no man call common.
It also applied to people who partook of those those things. Those the people that partook of those animals that were considered unclean, it made themselves unclean. And that's why when when, Peter was confronted with Cornelius, He knew that men the men weren't unclean. That's what was meant by that vision that he had with the angels. That he saw that the the, angels were presenting him with a vision that that meant that all these Mosaic laws that were kept by the Jews no longer applied and that the old Mosaic law had ceased to be effective at the foot of the cross of Jesus after when Jesus died.
And then new covenant was made to the to the to the Jews that would accept him as Christ, as the Messiah, and that would follow him and his church, which his church at the time, the presbyters, the high presbyter was Peter. Peter was the one that Jesus chose to to, guide the church as the the primate of the church, the the head of the church, the patriarch, and with the apostles but they all went to him for these matters especially when it came to what should we do? Well, should we keep to the old Mosaic Law? Or should we follow the new covenant?
And they went to him to gain a better understanding of what the new covenant meant. And that's why God chose him to send him visions like he did with those animals to show him that God it didn't matter Like Jesus said, it doesn't matter what goes into your mouth. It matters what goes out of your mouth. And so that's that's what they they, were presented with with Saint Peter. Now we're gonna go into the catechism portion of our scripture study. Last week, we talked about confirmation. And this week, we're gonna continue. Or no, we we talked about confirmation And then we talked about the Eucharist. And we started in on the Eucharist.
And now we're gonna continue on with the Eucharist and the meaning of it and why why it's important. And to, every Christian and in fact to every man, woman, and child out there. So we're gonna begin with this question. Ought we to reverence and adore this sacrament? So, ought we to reverence and and adore this sacrament? Today, at our church, we had adoration of the sacrament of of the Eucharist. For an entire hour, we we sat and meditated and read scripture and writings about the church. So here we go. Ought we to reverence and adore this sacrament. Yea, undoubtedly, undoubtedly, for so doth the office of religion require at our hands, that we creatures do give unto our Creator, and servants unto our Lord and Redeemer, most mighty and sovereign, whom we believe to be present in the Eucharist, the honor and worship due unto Him.
For of him the scripture itself pronounces, let all the angels of God adore him. And again, all the kings of the earth shall adore him, all nations shall serve him. Then the divine prophet in another place, when he doth contemplate this this sacrament and the greatness thereof, thinketh it not enough to say, the poor shall eat and shall be satisfied, and shall praise our Lord. But he addeth this also, All the families of nations shall adore in his sight. And again, All those who are fat of the earth have eaten, and adored. The sages and some other like are commended by the evangelists because they exhibited divine honor unto Christ being yet in mortal flesh, falling down before him and adoring him.
But now have we the same Christ in the Eucharist, not mortal, but immortal, wonderful in glory, and marvelous in might and power. And this faith we do justly give testimony of, with a religious worship both of body and mind, when with reverence and submission we do exhibit the office of Christian humility and dutiful gratitude before that dreadful and always most venerable majesty of Almighty God. What then must our belief be concerning the sacrifice of the altar? This undoubtedly, that the Eucharist is not instituted only to that end, that Christians may receive the same as a wholesome food, whereupon it is called meat, drink, lively bread, and the bread of life.
But also to the intent that it may be offered as a sovereign and most proper sacrifice of the New Testament, insomuch as it hath now of old obtained the name of a host, a sacrifice, an oblation, and holocaust. And it is offered for a continual memory and thanksgiving for the passion of our Lord. And that it may be available unto the faithful, both to do away the evils and obtain the good things both of this life and the life to come. And that it may not only profit the living, but also the dead also. To forgiveness of sins, and as most grave fathers do out of divine scripture, and tradition, apostolic, apostolic vouch.
This is that singular, great, incomparable sacrifice, which Christ, at his last supper, ordained under the form of bread and wine, gave charge to his apostles, as to the first and chief priests of the New Testament, and to their successors, to offer saying, do this for a commemoration of me. This is that oblation which was figured by diverse multitude similitudes of sacrifices in the time both of the law of nature and the law of Moses, as being a sacrifice containing in it all those good things as then signified by them, as the consummation and perfection of all of them.
This is that perpetual sacrifice, which shall not be abolished, but about the end of the world, as Daniel testified. To this belongeth the priesthood, according to the order of Melchizedek, which also David affirmed that it should be and continue in Christ. This is that clean and pure oblation, which neither any unworthiness or malice of the offender of offerers can pollute, which alone succeeding very many sacrifices of the Jews law is offered and sacrificed among the Gentiles in every place. That is to say, all the world over, to celebrate the name of our God and Redeemer, as we read in Malachi.
This is the oblation of the Mass, the Sacrifice, the Liturgy, unto which do give invincible testimony, the canons and traditions of the the Apostles, the holy councils, the general consent and continual custom of the whole Church, Greek and Latin, East and West. Which sacrifice of the mass, if we weigh the whole matter uprightly, is in truth a certain holy and lively representation, and also an unbloody and effectual oblation of our Lord's Passion, and of that bloody sacrifice which was offered for us upon the cross. Whereby first it cometh to pass, that a lively memory, faith, and gratitude from us toward our Redeemer is daily stirred up and confirmed, according to that, do this for a commemoration of me.
Of which words the Church hath been such a diligent interpreter, that She hath in such sort ordained all external furniture belonging unto this unbloody sacrifice, holy vestments, vessels, ceremonies, and all manner of actions, that the standards by may have nothing else to behold. But that holy commemoration and the majesty of so great a sacrifice may be the more set forth in the minds of the faithful, by means of these external signs and helps, more easily lifted up, and as it were, led with the hand to the meditation of heavenly things, which do lie hidden in this sacrifice.
Also, hereby, it cometh to pass that the fruit of the oblation of Christ, made upon the cross, and of our redemption, may be applied unto us, and to all the faithful, as well alive as dead. For which cause Saint Cyprian giveth testimony, that this sacrament is both a medicine and a holocaust, to heal infirmities and to purge iniquities. And marital, the disciples of the Apostle St. Peter writeth thus, That which the Jews upon envy did sacrifice, thinking thereby to blot out his Name upon the earth, that same do we for our salvation offer upon a sanctified altar, knowing well that by this only remedy life is given unto us and death put to flight.
We omit other fathers witnesses of the same faith and doctrine, that we may keep that brevity that we proposed in the beginning. By all which things, it is apparently evident that Christ, to sundry ways is called and is indeed for us a sacrifice to wit after a bloody and an unbloody manner. For he offered himself a bloody sacrifice for us upon the cross, that unto the type of this Paschal Lamb which was offered among the Jews, he, the true Lamb without spot, the very truth unto the figure, might answer. But at the Last Supper, as also upon the altar, his pleasure was that the same should be offered after a manner and ceremony unbloody, even as Saint Cyril called it, to the intent that the oblation of Melchizedek, who offered bread and wine, might be made perfect, and he remained true priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
And his priesthood continued forever without any other to succeed in his room. There, once and at one only place of Judea, he offered this sacrifice. Thereof Saint Paul writing unto the Hebrews doth discourse. But here he is sacrificed more often and in every place to wit all over the Church, as it is confirmed by the prophet Malachi. There he was offered unto death, and here was a perpetual and lively remembrance of his death, and a wholesome participation thereof, which floweth from thence, as it were from the head unto the members, to the intent that the fruit and effect of that sacrifice offered upon the cross might be daily exhibited and applied unto us by this sacrifice of the mass.
Now, I'm gonna quit there, and we'll leave the next question for next week. The next question for next week is, is the Eucharist to be received under one kind only, as of bread or under both kinds of bread and wine? That's the next question. But now we're going to turn to the victories of the martyrs by Saint Alphonsus Delagori and read about the saints of the month. Right now, the two saint there are two saints actually a few saints on May 15, which is tomorrow. And one on May 18, which is coming up here in four days. So the first one is I'll read the briefest one about Saint Peter of Lampsacus.
He's mentioned in this other story. So, this is chapter, let's see, 66. Saint Peter of Lamps Lampsacus, May 15. During the persecution of Decius at Lambsacus, a city near the Hellespont, a young man named Peter was brought before the proconsul and, having confessed himself a Christian, was commanded to sacrifice to the great goddess Venus. Peter replied, I wonder much how thou canst expect me to sacrifice to a woman whose shameful impurities it were immodest even to mention. Sacrifice should be offered to the truth, true God alone. At this answer, the tyrant caused him to be bound to a wheel that revolving by certain pieces of wood appropriately placed caused a complete and gradual fracture of his bones.
After this torture, the saint raising his eyes to heaven, exclaimed, I thank thee, my Jesus, because that thou makest me worthy to suffer thy sake, For thy sake. The proconsul perceiving his constancy commanded him to be beheaded. Now we're going to read a fuller story about Saint Dionysia, virgin, with Saints Andrew and Paul of Lampsacus. So we just read about Peter of Lampsacus. And now this is about Andrew and Paul and Dionysia. This is chapter it looks like chapter 19. It is recorded by Fleury that in the third century at Lampsacus, a city in Lesser Asia, there were presented to Optimus and the proconsul three Christians, Andrew, Paul, and Nicomachus.
Being asked to what country they belonged, Nicomachus first of all raising his voice answered, I am a Christian. The proconsul, having repeated the question to the other two, they also replied, We likewise are Christians. Optimus then, turning to Nicomachus, ordered him to sacrifice in obedience to the emperor. But he replied, Thou art already aware that a Christian cannot sacrifice to demons. The proconsul had him tortured so cruelly that he was about to expire. When his courage failing him, the wretched man claimed, I am no longer a Christian. I am willing to sacrifice to the gods.
He was quickly withdrawn from the torture, but was instantly possessed by a devil, and violently casting himself upon the earth, bit off his tongue and expired. Saint Dionysia, a young virgin, only 16 years of age, having witnessed this spectacle and being deeply penetrated by the misfortune of Nicomachus, exclaimed, Oh miserable wretch, by not having suffered a moment longer, thou hast condemned thyself to eternal pains. The proconsul, upon hearing these words, caused her to be dragged from out of the crowd and asked her if she were a Christian.
Yes, she replied, I am a Christian, and therefore weep for that unhappy man who by suffering a little more might have earned heaven for himself, whereas he will now weep for all eternity. The proconsul, enraged at these words, exclaimed, instantly, thou shalt sacrifice to our gods, or thou be shall be ignominiously treated and afterwards burned alive. Dionysia answered, my god is greater than thou. Wherefore, I fear not thy threats. He will grant me strength to suffer every torment for his love. Optimus then delivered her to two young Libertines, who brought her to a house.
But there appeared a youth surrounded with a supernatural splendor, who was ready to defend her from insult. Whereupon, the young men cast themselves at her feet, and implored her intercession on their behalf. On the following morning, the proconsul summoned him before him, Andrew and Paul, who had been kept in prison, and called upon them to sacrifice to Diana. They both replied, we know not Diana, nor the other demons whom you adore. We worship only God. At these words, the crowd of idolaters called upon the proconsul to leave the execution of the two saints to themselves.
And he accordingly delivered them up to be stoned by the multitude. The Saints were tied and dragged by the feet through the streets to the place of execution. While they were being stoned, Dionysia escaped from the guard and repairing to the place threw herself upon the martyrs, exclaiming, To live with you in heaven, I will die with you upon earth. The proconsul, upon hearing this, ordered her head to be struck off. And this was accordingly done. And that's the story of the Martyrdom of Saint Dionysia, virgin, and Saints Andrew Paul and Paul Of Lam Secus. And the next the next story here of Saint Theodosius Vinter is chapter 13, and the feast is May 18.
By the example of Saint Theodosia Theodotus, we are taught the important lesson that there is no state of life in which a man may not become a a saint. He was a citizen of Ansera, the capital of Galatia, was a married man, and followed the humble calling of an innkeeper. Although his life presented to the eyes of the world nothing extraordinary, it was one of sanctity before God. Since having been disciplined in the fear of the Lord from his youth by a holy virgin called Thecusah, he practiced temperance, chastity, and the mortification of the flesh by fasting and other penitential works.
As he loved poverty, he gave to the poor whatever he could afford. And his inn was the home of the needy, the asylum of the infirm, and a school of Christian piety. He converted many from the practice of a shameful vice and from other crimes, and also brought many, both Jews and Gentiles, to the profession of the true faith, a considerable number of whom arrived at the glory of martyrdom. He had likewise the gift of miracles, particularly that of healing the sick, which he affected by laying his hands upon them and invoking the adorable name of Jesus.
The persecution of Diocletian was raging, and Theoten Tecnus, a most cruel man, was governor of the province of Dalmatia. He commanded that all the churches should be demolished. And all and that all who were known to be followers of Jesus Christ to be slaughtered. The pagans animated by the cruelty of the governor entered the houses of the Christians and plundered whatever they thought fit. And if anyone dared to complain, he was accused of being a rebel. Every day, Christians were put into prison, and even noble laities barbarously dragged through the streets, so that many hid themselves in caves or flew into the woods, living like the beasts upon wild herbs.
Theodotus remained in Ancyra, where he employed himself in assisting those who had been imprisoned for the faith, helping those in need, and burying the bodies of the martyrs. Moreover, as the governor had forbidden bread and wine to be sold to anyone who was not known as an idolater, Theodotus supported the poor and supplied the priests with bread and wine for the celebration of the Mass. Thus, by the charity of Theodotus, his inn became the temple and asylum of the Christians. Having been informed that a certain friend of his, named Victor, had been imprisoned for the faith, he went by night to see him and encouraged him, saying, A Christian should have no other concern than firmly to maintain his faith.
Having learned that most enticing promises had been made to him in case he would renounce his faith, Theodotus said, Believe me, my dear victor, the promises which the impious make to us are for our perdition. They are intended to make us slumber. In order that we may not see the eternal death to which they lead us, Victor, animated by this exhortation, went boldly to the place of torture, but having suffered for some time, demanded a respite to consider the pro count proposals made to him. He was accordingly brought back to prison, where he soon died of his wounds, leaving his eternal salvation in great doubt to the inexpressible grief of Theodotus.
I'm gonna read this last paragraph because it's getting near the end of the hour. Sometime after this sad occurrence did our saint met a certain Sometime after this sad occurrence, our saint met a priest named Fronto, in a country place called Malus and told him that he thought it a most appropriate spot for placing the relics of martyrs. The priest replied that the relics should be procured before the work would be undertaken. Theodotus said, God will take care of that. Let it be thy concern to build the crypt, and the relics shall not be wanting. As in earnest of this prom promise, he gave the priest a ring from his finger and returned to Anchrea.
And I'm going to leave it there. We're going to end with a prayer. Okay, in the name of the father, and the son, and of the Holy Spirit, 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, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen. And I'd like to thank everybody for listening in to the Council of Catholic Men and our scripture study of the Bible and the catechism.
And everybody have a blessed week, and I hope to see everybody back on Wednesday. We we begin at 5PM central time every Wednesday. So thank you and God bless you. Thank you.
Welcome to the Council of Catholic Men Bible Study and Catechism. Today is 05/14/2025, and we're going to begin our catechism and scripture study of and bible study, for prayer intentions for low Pope Leo the fourteenth, as well as for as as well as for everyone that needs prayer intentions. For we pray for the health of John who can't be here today. He's having some health problems, but we wish him well and hope he gets well soon, as well as the intentions of all bishops, priests, and clerics, the unborn, the poor souls in purgatory, and the elderly. So let's begin with the Our Father, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen.
I believe in or actually, 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. Now, we're going to begin where we left off last time in chapter 10 of the book of Acts and this week, I'm gonna read from the Douay Rheims version of the Bible. Which is different from the New American Bible.
And we don't wanna have to pay them for the copyright to use their book anyway. So we'll go with the the Douay Rheims version. And now we're on chapter 10 about Cornelius and the visions. Now, there was a in Caesarea a man named Cornelius and a centurion of the cohort a centurion of the cohort called Italian. He was devout and God fearing, as was all his household, giving much alms to the people and praying to God continually. About the ninth hour of the day, he saw distinctly in a vision oh. I don't know why there's music going. It doesn't make any sense.
It's kind of a bummer. I don't know why there's music going. Interesting. Alright. Well, we're back. We broke up for a moment there. I don't know how to explain it. I'm gonna start over. I don't know where I left off, but I figure I'm getting tons of messages here. It's kind of annoying how how many messages are coming through here. Okay. Well, so we're on Acts chapter 10. Cornelius, the visions. Now there was in Caesarea a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the cohort called Italian. He was devout and God fearing, as was all his household, giving much alms to the people and praying to God continually.
About the ninth hour of the day, he saw distinctly in a vision an angel of God come in to him and say to him, Cornelius, and he gazing at him in terror, said, what is it, Lord? And he said to him, thy prayers and thy alms have gone up and been remembered in the sight of God. And now send men to Joppa, and fetch one Simon, Simon surname Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, who has a house by the seaside. When the angel was speak who was speaking to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a God fearing soldier from among his personal attendants. And after telling them the whole story, sent them to Joppa.
Now, the next day, while they were still on their journey and were just drawing near to the city, Peter went up to the roof to pray about the sixth hour. But he got very hungry and wanted something to eat. But while they were getting it ready, he fell into an ecstasy. And saw heaven standing open and a certain vessel coming down like a great sheet, let down by the four corners from heaven to the earth. And in it were all the four footed beasts, and creeping things of the earth, and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him, Arise, Peter, kill and eat.
But Peter said, Far be it from me, Lord, for never did I eat anything common or unclean. And there came a voice a second time to him, What God has cleansed, do not call common. Now this happened three times, and straightway the vessel was taken up to into heaven. Now while Peter was still wondering as to what the vision he had had might mean, Behold, the men sent by Cornelius stood at the door inquiring for Simon's house. And they called out to ask whether Simon, surnamed Peter, was staying there. But while Peter was pondering over the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, three men are looking for thee.
Two Arise, therefore, go down and depart with them without any hesitation, for I have sent them. 23 So Peter went down to the men and said, Behold, I am the man you are asking for. What is the reason for your coming? And they said, Cornelius, a centurion, a just and God fearing man, to whom the whole nation of the Jews bear witness, has been directed by a holy angel to fetch thee to his house and to hear words from thee. So he invited them in and entertained them. Okay. We got music again. I don't get it. I don't get it. What is going on?
[00:08:13] Unknown:
United Nations member states are since Monday this week observing
[00:08:18] Unknown:
the eighth United Nations. Okay. We're we should be back. If all went well, we should be back. Okay. Alright. We're back. I don't know where I left off. We're I'll just continue where I where I'm at because I'm recording this. You can always listen back to the recording. So, Peter went down to the men and and said, behold, I am the man you are asking for. What is the reason for your coming? And they said, Cornelius, a centurion, a just and God fearing man, to whom the whole nation of the Jews bear witness, has been directed by a holy angel to fetch Thee to his house and to hear words from Thee.
So he invited them in and entertained them. Two Peter meets Cornelius. Three And the next day he arose and started off with them. And certain of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him, and the following day he reached Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, having invited in his relatives and his intimate friends. Two And as Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and falling at his feet, made obeisance to him. But Peter raised him up, saying, Get up, I myself am also a man. And as he talked with them, he went in and found many assembled.
And he said to them, You know it is not permissible for a Jew to associate Okay. I don't get why this is happening. This is ridiculous. I don't know what to say. Let's just take a little pause here because I'm gonna I'm recording this.
[00:10:33] Unknown:
You are driving, and don't use your phone when you are driving. Jean taught the United Nations' special envoy for road safety. The World Health Organization, the WHO, is one of the international agencies taking part in this year's Global Road Safety Wiki campaign. It issued an audio mess
[00:10:57] Unknown:
The reason for that is that of the three thousand two hundred people who die every day on the world's roads, roughly one quarter are pedestrians and cyclists. There are some variations across regions. In Africa, for example, one in three road traffic deaths are pedestrians.
[00:11:22] Unknown:
Okay. Let's begin again. I don't know why we keep getting interrupted, but we do. So, You know it is not permissible for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him, but God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore, I came without hesitation when I was sent for for, I asked, therefore, why have you sent for me? And Cornelius said, Three days ago, at this very hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour. And behold, a man stood before me in shining garments, and said, Cornelius, thy prayer has been heard, and thy alms have been remembered in the sight of God.
Send therefore to Joppa, and call Simon, surnamed Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner by the sea. Immediately therefore I sent to thee, and thou hast very kindly come. Now therefore we are all present in thy sight to hear whatever has been commanded thee by the Lord. Peter's Discourse. But Peter began and said, Now I really understand that God is not a respecter of persons, but in every nation he who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. He sent his word to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
You know what took place throughout Judea. For he began in Galilee after the baptism preached by John. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and he went about doing good and healing all who were in the power of the devil. For God was with him. And we are witnesses of all that he did in that in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And yet they killed him, hanging him on a tree. But God raised him on the third day and caused him to be plainly seen. Not by all the people, but by witnesses designated beforehand by God, that is, by us, who ate and drank with him after he had risen from the dead.
Two And he charged us to preach to the people, and to testify that he it is who has been appointed by God to be judge of the living and of the dead. To him all the prophets hear witness, that through his name all who believe in him may receive forgiveness of sins. The Baptism. While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came upon all who were listening to his message. Two And the faithful of the circumcision who had come with Peter were amazed, because on the Gentiles also the grace of the Holy Spirit had been poured forth. For they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Two Then Peter answered, Can anyone refuse the water to baptize these, seeing that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?
And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they besought him to stay on there a few days. Chapter 11. Now the apostles and the brethren all over Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. But when Peter went up to Jerusalem, they of the circumcision found fault with him, saying, Why didst thou visit men uncircumcised and eat with them? Then Peter began to explain the matter to them in order, saying, I was praying in the city of Joppa, and while in ecstasy I had a vision, a certain vessel coming down something like a great sheet, let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came right down to me.
And gazing upon it, I began to observe, and I saw the four footed creatures of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the creeping things, and the birds of the air. 27 And I also heard a voice saying to me, Arise, Peter, kill and eat. And I said, by no means, Lord, for nothing common or unclean has ever has ever entered my mouth. But the voice answered a second time, what God has cleansed, do not thou call common. This happened three times, and then it was all drawn back up into heaven. And behold, immediately three men came to the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me. And the Spirit bade me not to hesitate to go with them.
And these six brethren also went with me, and we entered the man's house, And he told us how he had seen the angel in his house stand and say to him, Send to Joppa and fetch Simon, surnamed Peter. He will speak to these words, the words by which thou shalt be saved, thou and all thy household. But when I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as it did upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said, John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Therefore, if God gave them, gave to them the same grace as he gave to us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I should be able to interfere with God?
On hearing this, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, Therefore to the Gentiles also God has given repentance unto life. The converts at Antioch. Now those who had been dispersed by the persecution that had broken out over Stephen went all the way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except to Jews only. 22 But some of them were Cyprians and Cyrenians, who on reaching Antioch began to speak to the Greeks also preaching the Lord Jesus. Two And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
And news concerning them came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas as far as Antioch. Now when he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and exhorted them all to continue in the Lord with steadfast heart. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit of faith and of faith. And a great multitude was added to the Lord. And he went forth to Tarsus to look for Saul and on finding him, he brought him to Antioch. And for a whole year they took part in the meetings of the church, and taught a great multitude. And it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.
Now in those days some prophets from Jerusalem came down to Antioch. And one of them, named Agabus, got up and revealed through the Spirit that there would be a great famine all over the world. The famine occurred in the reign of Claudius. So the disciples, each according to his means, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. And this they did, sending it to the presbyters by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. So now, we're reading in chapter 11. I'm gonna read some of the footnotes. And the footnotes that we had for the first chapter, which was chapter 10.
So chapter 10 verse two, God fearing, worshiping the true God of the Jews, but without adopting the full burden of the Mosaic law. That was verse two, which was, he was devout and God fearing, as was all his household, giving much alms to the people and praying to God continually. So he's he worshiped the true God of the of the Jews, but without adopting the full burden of the Mosaic law. Verse four, gone up. God, gone up to please God like the smoke of the sacrifice, which was called a memorial. The verse four was, and he, gazing at them in terror, said, what is it Lord? And he said to him thy prayers and thy alms have gone up and been remembered in the sight of God.
It's verse six. He will tell thee what to do is added in the Clementine Vulgate. And that's verse six. He's he is lodging with Simon, a tanner who has a house by the seaside. Verse 15. The distinction made by the Mosaic law between clean and unclean food is no longer to hold good. Verse 15, and there came a voice a second time to him, what God has cleansed, do not thou call common. Verse thirty, three days ago, literally, this is now the fourth day. So verse 30, And Cornelius said, three days ago, at this very hour I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, behold, a man stood before me in shining garments and said.
So verse 33, in thy sight, in Greek, in the sight of God. So immediately, therefore, I sent to thee, and thou hast very kindly come. Now, therefore, we are all present in thy sight to hear whatever has been commanded thee by the Lord. In the sight of God. Verse 46, in tongues, as on Pentecost in chapter two. So 46, for they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God. Alright. Now chapter 11, the footnotes. Verse 20. To the Greeks. Having heard of the conversion of Cornelius and his household, though many Greek manuscripts read Hellenists, here, the context shows that Gentiles are meant.
For the Jews referred to in verse 19 were Hellenists. Example. Jews living outside Palestine. It's verse 20. Verse 20 is by some of them were Cyprians and Cyrenians, who on reaching Antioch began to speak to the Greeks also preaching the Lord Jesus. Verse verse verse 28, Claudius. Claudius was the Roman emperor between forty one and fifty four AD. So verse 28 witches. And one of them named Agabus got up and revealed through the spirit that there would be a great famine all over the world. The famine occurred in the reign of Claudius. Okay, verse 30.
Presbyters, literally elders. This is the term from which our priest is derived. But here and in the rest of Acts and in many of the epistles, it designates the priests who held office as rulers of the early church. Presbyter also distinguishes these priests from the Jewish elders. So that's verse 30. Verse 30, and they did this, sending it to the presbyters by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. And that is the conclusion of our talk on the Bible. And I'm I find it interesting that these things like, Peter seeing the beast and and God's telling him that what God has made clean, let no man call common.
It also applied to people who partook of those those things. Those the people that partook of those animals that were considered unclean, it made themselves unclean. And that's why when when, Peter was confronted with Cornelius, He knew that men the men weren't unclean. That's what was meant by that vision that he had with the angels. That he saw that the the, angels were presenting him with a vision that that meant that all these Mosaic laws that were kept by the Jews no longer applied and that the old Mosaic law had ceased to be effective at the foot of the cross of Jesus after when Jesus died.
And then new covenant was made to the to the to the Jews that would accept him as Christ, as the Messiah, and that would follow him and his church, which his church at the time, the presbyters, the high presbyter was Peter. Peter was the one that Jesus chose to to, guide the church as the the primate of the church, the the head of the church, the patriarch, and with the apostles but they all went to him for these matters especially when it came to what should we do? Well, should we keep to the old Mosaic Law? Or should we follow the new covenant?
And they went to him to gain a better understanding of what the new covenant meant. And that's why God chose him to send him visions like he did with those animals to show him that God it didn't matter Like Jesus said, it doesn't matter what goes into your mouth. It matters what goes out of your mouth. And so that's that's what they they, were presented with with Saint Peter. Now we're gonna go into the catechism portion of our scripture study. Last week, we talked about confirmation. And this week, we're gonna continue. Or no, we we talked about confirmation And then we talked about the Eucharist. And we started in on the Eucharist.
And now we're gonna continue on with the Eucharist and the meaning of it and why why it's important. And to, every Christian and in fact to every man, woman, and child out there. So we're gonna begin with this question. Ought we to reverence and adore this sacrament? So, ought we to reverence and and adore this sacrament? Today, at our church, we had adoration of the sacrament of of the Eucharist. For an entire hour, we we sat and meditated and read scripture and writings about the church. So here we go. Ought we to reverence and adore this sacrament. Yea, undoubtedly, undoubtedly, for so doth the office of religion require at our hands, that we creatures do give unto our Creator, and servants unto our Lord and Redeemer, most mighty and sovereign, whom we believe to be present in the Eucharist, the honor and worship due unto Him.
For of him the scripture itself pronounces, let all the angels of God adore him. And again, all the kings of the earth shall adore him, all nations shall serve him. Then the divine prophet in another place, when he doth contemplate this this sacrament and the greatness thereof, thinketh it not enough to say, the poor shall eat and shall be satisfied, and shall praise our Lord. But he addeth this also, All the families of nations shall adore in his sight. And again, All those who are fat of the earth have eaten, and adored. The sages and some other like are commended by the evangelists because they exhibited divine honor unto Christ being yet in mortal flesh, falling down before him and adoring him.
But now have we the same Christ in the Eucharist, not mortal, but immortal, wonderful in glory, and marvelous in might and power. And this faith we do justly give testimony of, with a religious worship both of body and mind, when with reverence and submission we do exhibit the office of Christian humility and dutiful gratitude before that dreadful and always most venerable majesty of Almighty God. What then must our belief be concerning the sacrifice of the altar? This undoubtedly, that the Eucharist is not instituted only to that end, that Christians may receive the same as a wholesome food, whereupon it is called meat, drink, lively bread, and the bread of life.
But also to the intent that it may be offered as a sovereign and most proper sacrifice of the New Testament, insomuch as it hath now of old obtained the name of a host, a sacrifice, an oblation, and holocaust. And it is offered for a continual memory and thanksgiving for the passion of our Lord. And that it may be available unto the faithful, both to do away the evils and obtain the good things both of this life and the life to come. And that it may not only profit the living, but also the dead also. To forgiveness of sins, and as most grave fathers do out of divine scripture, and tradition, apostolic, apostolic vouch.
This is that singular, great, incomparable sacrifice, which Christ, at his last supper, ordained under the form of bread and wine, gave charge to his apostles, as to the first and chief priests of the New Testament, and to their successors, to offer saying, do this for a commemoration of me. This is that oblation which was figured by diverse multitude similitudes of sacrifices in the time both of the law of nature and the law of Moses, as being a sacrifice containing in it all those good things as then signified by them, as the consummation and perfection of all of them.
This is that perpetual sacrifice, which shall not be abolished, but about the end of the world, as Daniel testified. To this belongeth the priesthood, according to the order of Melchizedek, which also David affirmed that it should be and continue in Christ. This is that clean and pure oblation, which neither any unworthiness or malice of the offender of offerers can pollute, which alone succeeding very many sacrifices of the Jews law is offered and sacrificed among the Gentiles in every place. That is to say, all the world over, to celebrate the name of our God and Redeemer, as we read in Malachi.
This is the oblation of the Mass, the Sacrifice, the Liturgy, unto which do give invincible testimony, the canons and traditions of the the Apostles, the holy councils, the general consent and continual custom of the whole Church, Greek and Latin, East and West. Which sacrifice of the mass, if we weigh the whole matter uprightly, is in truth a certain holy and lively representation, and also an unbloody and effectual oblation of our Lord's Passion, and of that bloody sacrifice which was offered for us upon the cross. Whereby first it cometh to pass, that a lively memory, faith, and gratitude from us toward our Redeemer is daily stirred up and confirmed, according to that, do this for a commemoration of me.
Of which words the Church hath been such a diligent interpreter, that She hath in such sort ordained all external furniture belonging unto this unbloody sacrifice, holy vestments, vessels, ceremonies, and all manner of actions, that the standards by may have nothing else to behold. But that holy commemoration and the majesty of so great a sacrifice may be the more set forth in the minds of the faithful, by means of these external signs and helps, more easily lifted up, and as it were, led with the hand to the meditation of heavenly things, which do lie hidden in this sacrifice.
Also, hereby, it cometh to pass that the fruit of the oblation of Christ, made upon the cross, and of our redemption, may be applied unto us, and to all the faithful, as well alive as dead. For which cause Saint Cyprian giveth testimony, that this sacrament is both a medicine and a holocaust, to heal infirmities and to purge iniquities. And marital, the disciples of the Apostle St. Peter writeth thus, That which the Jews upon envy did sacrifice, thinking thereby to blot out his Name upon the earth, that same do we for our salvation offer upon a sanctified altar, knowing well that by this only remedy life is given unto us and death put to flight.
We omit other fathers witnesses of the same faith and doctrine, that we may keep that brevity that we proposed in the beginning. By all which things, it is apparently evident that Christ, to sundry ways is called and is indeed for us a sacrifice to wit after a bloody and an unbloody manner. For he offered himself a bloody sacrifice for us upon the cross, that unto the type of this Paschal Lamb which was offered among the Jews, he, the true Lamb without spot, the very truth unto the figure, might answer. But at the Last Supper, as also upon the altar, his pleasure was that the same should be offered after a manner and ceremony unbloody, even as Saint Cyril called it, to the intent that the oblation of Melchizedek, who offered bread and wine, might be made perfect, and he remained true priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
And his priesthood continued forever without any other to succeed in his room. There, once and at one only place of Judea, he offered this sacrifice. Thereof Saint Paul writing unto the Hebrews doth discourse. But here he is sacrificed more often and in every place to wit all over the Church, as it is confirmed by the prophet Malachi. There he was offered unto death, and here was a perpetual and lively remembrance of his death, and a wholesome participation thereof, which floweth from thence, as it were from the head unto the members, to the intent that the fruit and effect of that sacrifice offered upon the cross might be daily exhibited and applied unto us by this sacrifice of the mass.
Now, I'm gonna quit there, and we'll leave the next question for next week. The next question for next week is, is the Eucharist to be received under one kind only, as of bread or under both kinds of bread and wine? That's the next question. But now we're going to turn to the victories of the martyrs by Saint Alphonsus Delagori and read about the saints of the month. Right now, the two saint there are two saints actually a few saints on May 15, which is tomorrow. And one on May 18, which is coming up here in four days. So the first one is I'll read the briefest one about Saint Peter of Lampsacus.
He's mentioned in this other story. So, this is chapter, let's see, 66. Saint Peter of Lamps Lampsacus, May 15. During the persecution of Decius at Lambsacus, a city near the Hellespont, a young man named Peter was brought before the proconsul and, having confessed himself a Christian, was commanded to sacrifice to the great goddess Venus. Peter replied, I wonder much how thou canst expect me to sacrifice to a woman whose shameful impurities it were immodest even to mention. Sacrifice should be offered to the truth, true God alone. At this answer, the tyrant caused him to be bound to a wheel that revolving by certain pieces of wood appropriately placed caused a complete and gradual fracture of his bones.
After this torture, the saint raising his eyes to heaven, exclaimed, I thank thee, my Jesus, because that thou makest me worthy to suffer thy sake, For thy sake. The proconsul perceiving his constancy commanded him to be beheaded. Now we're going to read a fuller story about Saint Dionysia, virgin, with Saints Andrew and Paul of Lampsacus. So we just read about Peter of Lampsacus. And now this is about Andrew and Paul and Dionysia. This is chapter it looks like chapter 19. It is recorded by Fleury that in the third century at Lampsacus, a city in Lesser Asia, there were presented to Optimus and the proconsul three Christians, Andrew, Paul, and Nicomachus.
Being asked to what country they belonged, Nicomachus first of all raising his voice answered, I am a Christian. The proconsul, having repeated the question to the other two, they also replied, We likewise are Christians. Optimus then, turning to Nicomachus, ordered him to sacrifice in obedience to the emperor. But he replied, Thou art already aware that a Christian cannot sacrifice to demons. The proconsul had him tortured so cruelly that he was about to expire. When his courage failing him, the wretched man claimed, I am no longer a Christian. I am willing to sacrifice to the gods.
He was quickly withdrawn from the torture, but was instantly possessed by a devil, and violently casting himself upon the earth, bit off his tongue and expired. Saint Dionysia, a young virgin, only 16 years of age, having witnessed this spectacle and being deeply penetrated by the misfortune of Nicomachus, exclaimed, Oh miserable wretch, by not having suffered a moment longer, thou hast condemned thyself to eternal pains. The proconsul, upon hearing these words, caused her to be dragged from out of the crowd and asked her if she were a Christian.
Yes, she replied, I am a Christian, and therefore weep for that unhappy man who by suffering a little more might have earned heaven for himself, whereas he will now weep for all eternity. The proconsul, enraged at these words, exclaimed, instantly, thou shalt sacrifice to our gods, or thou be shall be ignominiously treated and afterwards burned alive. Dionysia answered, my god is greater than thou. Wherefore, I fear not thy threats. He will grant me strength to suffer every torment for his love. Optimus then delivered her to two young Libertines, who brought her to a house.
But there appeared a youth surrounded with a supernatural splendor, who was ready to defend her from insult. Whereupon, the young men cast themselves at her feet, and implored her intercession on their behalf. On the following morning, the proconsul summoned him before him, Andrew and Paul, who had been kept in prison, and called upon them to sacrifice to Diana. They both replied, we know not Diana, nor the other demons whom you adore. We worship only God. At these words, the crowd of idolaters called upon the proconsul to leave the execution of the two saints to themselves.
And he accordingly delivered them up to be stoned by the multitude. The Saints were tied and dragged by the feet through the streets to the place of execution. While they were being stoned, Dionysia escaped from the guard and repairing to the place threw herself upon the martyrs, exclaiming, To live with you in heaven, I will die with you upon earth. The proconsul, upon hearing this, ordered her head to be struck off. And this was accordingly done. And that's the story of the Martyrdom of Saint Dionysia, virgin, and Saints Andrew Paul and Paul Of Lam Secus. And the next the next story here of Saint Theodosius Vinter is chapter 13, and the feast is May 18.
By the example of Saint Theodosia Theodotus, we are taught the important lesson that there is no state of life in which a man may not become a a saint. He was a citizen of Ansera, the capital of Galatia, was a married man, and followed the humble calling of an innkeeper. Although his life presented to the eyes of the world nothing extraordinary, it was one of sanctity before God. Since having been disciplined in the fear of the Lord from his youth by a holy virgin called Thecusah, he practiced temperance, chastity, and the mortification of the flesh by fasting and other penitential works.
As he loved poverty, he gave to the poor whatever he could afford. And his inn was the home of the needy, the asylum of the infirm, and a school of Christian piety. He converted many from the practice of a shameful vice and from other crimes, and also brought many, both Jews and Gentiles, to the profession of the true faith, a considerable number of whom arrived at the glory of martyrdom. He had likewise the gift of miracles, particularly that of healing the sick, which he affected by laying his hands upon them and invoking the adorable name of Jesus.
The persecution of Diocletian was raging, and Theoten Tecnus, a most cruel man, was governor of the province of Dalmatia. He commanded that all the churches should be demolished. And all and that all who were known to be followers of Jesus Christ to be slaughtered. The pagans animated by the cruelty of the governor entered the houses of the Christians and plundered whatever they thought fit. And if anyone dared to complain, he was accused of being a rebel. Every day, Christians were put into prison, and even noble laities barbarously dragged through the streets, so that many hid themselves in caves or flew into the woods, living like the beasts upon wild herbs.
Theodotus remained in Ancyra, where he employed himself in assisting those who had been imprisoned for the faith, helping those in need, and burying the bodies of the martyrs. Moreover, as the governor had forbidden bread and wine to be sold to anyone who was not known as an idolater, Theodotus supported the poor and supplied the priests with bread and wine for the celebration of the Mass. Thus, by the charity of Theodotus, his inn became the temple and asylum of the Christians. Having been informed that a certain friend of his, named Victor, had been imprisoned for the faith, he went by night to see him and encouraged him, saying, A Christian should have no other concern than firmly to maintain his faith.
Having learned that most enticing promises had been made to him in case he would renounce his faith, Theodotus said, Believe me, my dear victor, the promises which the impious make to us are for our perdition. They are intended to make us slumber. In order that we may not see the eternal death to which they lead us, Victor, animated by this exhortation, went boldly to the place of torture, but having suffered for some time, demanded a respite to consider the pro count proposals made to him. He was accordingly brought back to prison, where he soon died of his wounds, leaving his eternal salvation in great doubt to the inexpressible grief of Theodotus.
I'm gonna read this last paragraph because it's getting near the end of the hour. Sometime after this sad occurrence did our saint met a certain Sometime after this sad occurrence, our saint met a priest named Fronto, in a country place called Malus and told him that he thought it a most appropriate spot for placing the relics of martyrs. The priest replied that the relics should be procured before the work would be undertaken. Theodotus said, God will take care of that. Let it be thy concern to build the crypt, and the relics shall not be wanting. As in earnest of this prom promise, he gave the priest a ring from his finger and returned to Anchrea.
And I'm going to leave it there. We're going to end with a prayer. Okay, in the name of the father, and the son, and of the Holy Spirit, 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, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen. And I'd like to thank everybody for listening in to the Council of Catholic Men and our scripture study of the Bible and the catechism.
And everybody have a blessed week, and I hope to see everybody back on Wednesday. We we begin at 5PM central time every Wednesday. So thank you and God bless you. Thank you.
Introduction and Opening Prayer
Acts Chapter 10: Cornelius and Peter's Vision
Peter Meets Cornelius
Peter's Discourse and the Baptism of Gentiles
The Converts at Antioch and the Famine
Footnotes and Commentary on Acts 10 and 11
Catechism Study: The Eucharist
Saints and Martyrs of May
Closing Prayer and Farewell
