Council of Catholic Men

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In today’s Council of Catholic Men Bible and Catechism Study, we continue our journey through Scripture by finishing Paul’s Letter to the Galatians (chapters 5–6). We reflect on Christian liberty, the contrast between the works of the flesh and the fruits of the Spirit, and Paul’s call to bear one another’s burdens and glory only in the Cross of Christ. We note how baptismal life, animated by charity, is what avails in Christ and encourage us to “walk in the Spirit” where there is no law against the fruits of charity, joy, peace, patience, and more.

We then turn to the Catechism of St. Peter Canisius on the gifts and fruits of the Holy Ghost and the Beatitudes—seeing how grace empowers the theological and cardinal virtues, equips us for spiritual combat, and promises eternal reward to those who labor faithfully. We close with lives of the martyrs for October 22: St. Philip of Heraclea, with Sts. Hermes and Severus, whose steadfast witness before hostile governors and joyful embrace of martyrdom challenge us to prefer heaven over earth and to persevere in love. We remember, too, the feast of St. John Paul II, giving thanks for his intercession.

Next time, we’ll begin the Epistle to the Ephesians. Thank you for praying and studying with me—may God bless you and keep you walking in the Spirit.

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Welcome to the Council of Catholic men.   We have   today's date, Wednesday,   10/22/2025,   and   we are reading from the Bible and the catechism as well as life lives of the martyrs.   So let's begin with the prayer. In the name of the father, son, and of 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, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.   Let's begin where we left off,   Saint Paul's letter to the Galatians.   We're reading from chapter five.   He exhorts them to stand to their Christian   liberty   of the fruits of the flesh and of the spirit.   Stand fast, and be not held again under the yoke of bondage.   Behold, I, Paul, tell you   that if you be circumcised,   Christ shall profit you nothing.   And I testify again to every man circumcising himself   that he is a debtor to   do the whole law.   You are made void of Christ,   you who are justified in the law.  

You are fallen from grace.   For we, in spirit, by faith,   wait for the hope of justice.   For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision   availeth anything,   nor uncircumcision,   but faith that worketh by charity.   You did run well who hath hindered you,   that you should not obey the truth?   This persuasion   is not from him that calleth you.   A little even corrupteth the whole lump. 17 I have confidence in you in the Lord,   that you will not be of another mind.   But he that troubleth you   shall bear the judgment,   whosoever he be. And I, brethren,   if I yet preach circumcision,   why do I yet suffer persecution?  

Then is the scandal of the cross made void.   I would they were even cut off who trouble you.   For you, brethren,   have been called unto liberty.   Only make not liberty an occasion to the flesh,   but by charity   of the Spirit   serve one another.   For all the law is fulfilled in one word:   Thou shalt love   thy neighbor as thyself.   But if you bite and devour   one another,   take heed   you be not consumed   one of another.   I say then, walk in the spirit,   and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.   For the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh   for these are contrary to one another,   so that you do not the things that you would.  

But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the law.   Now the works of the flesh are manifest,   which are fornication,   uncleanness,   immodesty,   luxury,   idolatry,   witchcrafts,   enmities,   contentions,   emulations,   wraths,   quarrels,   dissensions,   sects,   envies,   murders,   drunkenness,   revelings, and such like,   of the which I foretell you,   as I have foretold to you,   that they who do such things shall not obtain the kingdom of God.   But the fruit of the spirit is charity,   joy,   peace,   patience,   benighted,   goodness,   longanimity,   mildness,   faith,   modesty,   countenance,   chastity.  

Against such there is no law,   and they that are Christ's have crucified their flesh,   with the vices and concupiscences.   If we live in the spirit, let us also walk in the spirit.   Let us not be made desirous of vainglory,   provoking one another,   envying one another.   That's chapter five.   So a little even corrupted the whole lump,   and that comes from   first Corinthians five six.   That's   Here we go.   And it's also it's talking about circumcision   availing nothings nor uncircumcision.   What matters   is your baptism and you doing good works   for for God's sake.  

Chapter six.   He exhorts to charity, humility,   etcetera.   He glories in nothing but in the cross of Christ.   Brethren,   and if a man be overtaken in any fault, you who are spiritual,   instruct such a one in the spirit of meekness,   considering thyself,   lest thou   also be tempted.   Bear ye one another's burdens,   and so you shall fulfill the law of Christ.   For if any man think himself to be   something,   whereas he is nothing,   he deceiveth himself.   But let everyone prove his own self   only.   Excuse me. But let everyone   prove his own work,   and so he shall have glory in himself only,   and not in another.  

For everyone shall bear his own burden.   And let him that is instructed in the word,   communicate to him that instructeth him in all good things.   Be not deceived.   God is not mocked.   For what things a man shall sow,   those also shall he reap.   For he that soweth   in his flesh of the flesh   also shall reap corrupt corruption.   But he that soweth in the spirit of the spirit shall reap everlasting life.   And in doing good, let us not fail.   For in due time we shall reap, not failing.   Therefore,   whilst we have time,   let us work good to all men,   but especially to those who are of the household of the faith.  

See what a letter I have written to you with my own hand.   For as many as desire to please in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised,   only that they may not suffer the persecution of the cross of Christ.   For neither they themselves who are circumcised   keep the law,   but they will have you to be circumcised,   that they may glory in your flesh.   But God forbid   that I should glory,   save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,   by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world.   For in Christ Jesus   neither circumcision availeth anything,   nor uncircumcision,   but a new creature.  

And whosoever shall follow this rule, peace upon them,   and mercy,   and upon   the Israel of God.   From henceforth,   let no man be troublesome to me, for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus in my body.   The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ   be with your spirit, brethren.   Amen.   And that's the end of   the book to   the Galatians.   And I'm going to stop there   because I know that later we have the story of the martyrs, and it's gonna be a longer one than usual   for today, October 22,   which also happens to be the feast days of Saint Pope John Paul the second, which is today.   So the next book we will read is the epistle from   of Saint Paul to the Ephesians.  

Alright.   We'll leave it there,   and we'll begin our catechism lesson.   We're reading from   the large catechism   of Saint Peter Canisius, who was a Jesuit and doctor of the church.   Let's turn to page   two zero eight.   And we're talking about   the gifts and fruits of the Holy Ghost.   Question two zero five.   How may we rightly use the doctrine concerning the gifts and fruits of the Holy Ghost?   By this means, surely,   if with grateful minds, we acknowledge from whence they come unto us and feel the effectual   virtue   and use of them in ourselves,   and show forth and preserve   the same,   they proceed serce from the fountain of all grace, the that father of lights,   who in the same   commendeth unto us his infinite goodness   and charity,   wilt through Christ he doth so abundantly   pour his spirit   upon us.  

For the charity of God, as witnesseth   the apostle,   is poured forth in our hearts   by the Holy Ghost, which is given us,   to wit,   according   to this sevenfold grace,   Christ so deserving   in our behalf.   He that believeth   saith he,   as the scripture saith,   'Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.'   And this he said of the spirit,   that they should receive which believed   in him.   As the evangelist himself   expounded.   Otherwise,   without Christ, as Saint Jerome hath said,   neither can any man be wise,   nor intelligent,   nor a counselor,   nor courageous,   nor learned,   nor godly,   nor full of the fear of God.  

And the virtue and use of these spiritual goods do tend to this end.   That the virtues theological   and cardinal,   which we have spoken of,   may readily perform their force and proper operation in us.   Also, they bring to pass that men do very willingly,   and with sweetness follow everywhere the Holy Ghost as guide.   And by him being moved and strengthened,   do without fainting run forward in the way of the commandments of God, and are made truly spiritual,   and the children of God.   Whosoever are led by the Spirit of God,   they are the sons of God, as witnesseth   the apostle.  

Of these gifts, it were too long to discourse in particular,   but from thence do proceed the most sweet fruits of the Holy Ghost,   which do commend   and set forth   set us forth as fruitful trees in the field of the church,   according to that saying,   every good tree yieldeth good fruits, and the evil tree yieldeth evil fruits.   Therefore, by their fruits you shall know them.   Which fruits also do bring this commodity,   that a Christian man be furnished and confirmed,   as it were, with a certain spiritual armor   against the works of the flesh.   For the rule of the apostle   never faileth.  

Walk in the spirit, and the works of the flesh you shall not accomplish.   And in another place it is written,   'If by the Spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh,   you shall live.'   Question   two zero six two zero six.   Which are the works of the flesh?   Those whereof the apostle thus discortheth   discourseth   the works of the flesh be manifest,   which are: fornication,   uncleanness,   impudency,   impudicity,   excuse me,   lechery,   serving of idols,   witchcraft,   enmities,   contentions,   emulations,   angers,   brawls,   dissensions,   sects,   envies,   murders,   inebrities,   commensations,   and such like,   which I foretell you, as I have foretold you,   that they do such things   shall not obtain the kingdom of   heaven. We just read that in Galatians, by the way.  

And afterward, he addeth in the same place,   and they that be Christ's have crucified their flesh with the vices and concupiscences.   Then in another place,   they that are in flesh, to wit, they that walk according to the desire of the flesh cannot please god.   Therefore, the same apostle   giveth this admonition.   Be not deceived.   God is not mocked.   For what things a man shall sow,   those also shall he reap.   For he that soweth in his flesh   of the flesh also shall reap corruption.   But he that soweth in the spirit of the spirit shall reap life   everlasting.  

Alright.   Let's go on to the of the eight beatitudes.   Question two zero seven. Two zero seven.   Which are the beatitudes of the law of the gospel?   Those which Saint   Ambrose calleth our Lord's beatitudes   and benedictions,   which in Saint Matthew's gospel are in this manner,   recounted   eight in number.   Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.   Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land.   Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.   Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice,   for they shall have their fill.  

Blessed are the merciful,   for they shall obtain mercy.   Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God.   Blessed are the peacemakers,   for they shall be called the children of God.   Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.   Question two zero eight.   Why is this doctrine of the beatitudes to be observed?   Because it is the chiefest and greatest part of the law of the gospel,   which Christ, our lawgiver,   delivered   upon the hill with his own most sacred mouth,   that every man might consider what is constrained,   contained,   and required in   Christian justice   besides faith.  

Then also that they might understand   how unto just persons a crown of justice,   as Saint Paul calleth it,   or   a full and eternal reward,   doth not come without labor.   For hereupon   doth Saint James also affirm,   blessed is the man that suffereth   temptation.   For when he hath been proved,   he shall receive   the crown of life.   And what   question two zero nine   and what is principally to be noted about the doctrine of the beatitudes?   First of all, sirs   ought to be observed   that there be certain distinct   degrees upon amongst them,   as appeareth both by their number and order.  

Then, in every degree,   there are jointly   proposed two things,   whereof   the one is the very act of virtue,   or the merit and the beatitude,   as they call it,   of this life.   The other is the reward of life everlasting,   answerable   to his proper and particular   peculiar merit,   which we may call the beatitude   of our country.   And as the first part offereth labor and difficulty   to the believers,   so the latter,   which   in each degree,   is present presently   adjoined   by the greatness of the proposed reward.   Doth afford consolation,   and easeth the labors,   sweats, and agonies which every man must sustain in Christian welfare.  

For no man shall be crowned unless he strive lawfully.   Everyone shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.   What things a man shall sow,   those also he shall reap,   as constantly affirmeth   the doctrine of the Gentiles.   And therefore our Lord,   before he comes to sit in dread dreadful judgment over the world,   stirreth us to the expectation of his coming with these words.   Behold,   I come quickly,   saith he, and my reward is with me to render to every man   according to his works.   He that shall overcome,   I will give unto him to sit with me   in my throne,   which finally is the most high,   eternal,   and absolute beatitude   and happiness.  

But most vain is the judgment of the world,   touching beatitude and happiness, by which, in the mean session season,   many are deceived   and brought to destruction.   For commonly and for the most part are accounted happy,   the rich and the mighty,   those that excel in glory and authority,   those which abound with the goods of fortune,   those which give themselves wholly to pleasure.   But Christ layeth a double ho   woe   upon those men.   And boldly,   thus doth Isaiah   cry out,   my people,   they that call thee happy,   they deceive thee, and bring to not the way of thy footsteps.   Blessed is the people to whom our Lord is God,   to wit,   that in in living well and happily,   he may always praise and magnify his author and creator.  

And we're gonna end   this part here,   and we'll continue   next week   on the evangelical   councils.   So let's   move on   to   Saint Alphonsus dei Ligori, victories of the martyrs   or the most the lives of the most celebrated martyrs of the church.   And the feast day for today for the martyrs,   we're gonna read page 74,   chapter   eight, for October 22.   Saint Philip,   Bishop   of Heraclea,   and his two companions,   Saint   Servais   and Saint Hermes.   Saint Philip was elected bishop of Heraclea,   the metropolis   of Thrace, in consequence   of his extraordinary   virtue,   and so fully did he correspond to the expectation of his people   that while they tenderly loved him,   there was not one among his flock who was not the object of his most affectionate   pastoral   solicitude.  

But there were two of his disciples whom he loved with particular affection,   Severus,   a priest, and Hermes,   a deacon,   whom he afterwards had companions   of his martyrdom.   In the persecution   of Diocletian,   he was advised to retire from the city.   This, however, he refused to do,   saying that he wished to conform to the dispensations   of God,   who knows how to reward those who suffer for his love,   and that, consequently,   he feared not the threats or torments of the tyrant.   In the year 03/2004,   the saint was one day preaching to his people   upon the necessity   of patience and resignation,   when a soldier   by the order of Bassus,   the governor,   entered the church, and having commanded the people to retire,   shut the doors and sealed them.  

Upon which Philip said to him,   Dost thou think that God dwelleth in these walls,   and not rather in our souls?   Philip,   although unable to enter the church,   was unwilling to abandon it altogether   and remained at the door with his people.   Separating   the good from the bad, he exhorted the former to remain constant in the faith   and called upon the latter to return to God   by some sincere repentance.   Bassus,   finding them assembled,   caused them to be arrested,   and having demanded who was their master,   Philip answered,   I am he. The governor said, hast thou not heard the edict of the the emperor,   that in no place shall the Christians be assembled,   but shall sacrifice to the gods or perish?  

He then commanded that the gold and silver vessels,   together with the books that treated of the Christian law, should be delivered up.   Otherwise,   that recourse would be had to torture.   Philip replied,   for my part, I am willing to suffer in this bod my body,   tottering with age   whatever thou canst inflict.   But abandon   thou   the thought of having any control over my spirit.   The sacred vessels are at thy disposal,   but it shall be my care to prevent the holy books from falling   into thy hands.   Bassus,   infuriated   at this answer,   called forward the executioners   and caused the saint to undergo a cruel and protracted torture.  

The deacon,   Hermes,   witnessing the the agonies of his bishop,   told the governor that, although he were possessed   of all the holy books,   good Christians would never fail to teach Jesus Christ to others   and to render him the honor he deserves.   After these words, the holy deacon was most cruelly scourged.   Bassus commanded that the sacred vessels should be removed from the sacristy,   that the scriptures should be burned, and that Philip, with the other prisoners,   should be led by the soldiers to the forum   to be executed,   in order that the pagans should be gladdened and the Christians affrighted   by the spectacle.  

Philip, having arrived at the forum and having informed of the burning of the scriptures,   spoke at length to the people of the eternal fire prepared by God   for the wicked.   During this discourse, a pagan priest called   Keta Phor   Nius   came carrying some meats that had been sacrificed to the idols.   Hermes, seeing them, exclaimed,   this diabolical   food hath been brought, that we,   being forced to eat it,   may be contaminated.   Saint Philip   desired him to be calm.   In the meantime,   the governor,   arriving at the forum again, commanded the holy bishop to sacrifice to his gods.   The saint asked,   being a Christian, how can I sacrifice to marble?  

Sacrifice, at least, to the emperor,   said Bassus.   My religion,   said the saint,   commands me to honor the princes,   but teaches me that sacrifice is due to God alone.   But doth not this beauteous statue   of fortune,   said the governor, deserve a victim?   The saint replied,   it may receive the honor from thy hands, since thou dost adore it,   but it shall not be, not from mine.   Let then, urged Bassus,   this fine figure of Hercules move thee.   Here the holy bishop raising his voice rebuked the insanity   of those who worship as God's statues   that,   being taken from the earth like earth, should be trodden upon,   not adored.  

Sacrifice.   The holy deacon resolutely answered that he was a Christian   and could not do so.   And having been told that, should be he continue   obstinate,   he would be cast into flames,   Replied,   thou dost threaten me with flames   that last   but for a short time,   because thou art ignorant of the strength of those eternal flames   in which the followers of the devil shall burn.   Bassus,   exasperated   at the constancy   of the saints,   remanded them to prison.   As they went along,   the insulate insolent   rabble frequently pushed the venerable   and aged Bishop   so as to throw him down.  

But he was he, with joyous   looks, quietly raised himself again.   Meanwhile, the term of Bassus government,   having expired,   Justin,   his successor,   arrived at Herculean.   He was a much more cruel man than his predecessor.   Saint Philip,   having been brought before him,   was told that if he would not sacrifice,   he should, notwithstanding   his extreme age,   have a have to suffer tortures   that were intolerable   even to youth.   The venerable bishop replied,   ye, for fear   of a short punishment,   obey men.   How much more ought we to obey God,   who visits evildoers   with eternal torments?  

Thou mayest torture,   but canst never induce me to sacrifice.   Justin.   I shall command thee to be dragged by the feet through the streets of the city.   Philip.   God grant that it may be so.   The bloody threat was executed,   yet the saint did not die in that torment, but his body was torn to pieces.   And in the arms of the brethren, he was carried back to prison.   After this, the governor called before him Hermes the deacon,   whom he exhorted to sacrifice,   in order to escape the torments that were being prepared.   But the saint replied,   I cannot   sacrifice and betray my faith.  

Do, therefore, according to thy pleasure,   tear my body to pieces.   Thou speakest thus, said Justin,   because thou knowest not the pains that await thee.   Upon a trial, thou shalt repent.   Hermes.   Atrocious,   though they may be,   Jesus Christ,   for whom I whose love I am about to suffer,   will render them not only light,   but sweet.   Justin sent him also to prison there where the saints   remained for seven months.   Thus, thence he sent them before to   Adrianople,   and upon his arrival arrival,   again summoned   Philip to his presence,   intimidating   intimating   to him that he had deferred his execution   in the hope that, upon mature consideration,   he would sacrifice.  

The saint boldly replied,   I have already told thee that I am a Christian,   and I all I will always say the same.   I will not sacrifice to statues,   but only to the god that god to whom I have consecrated   my entire being.   Angered by this reply,   the judge ordered him to be stripped and scourged until the bones and bowels were laid bare.   The aged bishop suffered this torture   with so much courage   that Justin himself   was astonished.   Three days afterwards,   he was again summoned before the tyrant   who inquired why it   was that with so much temerity,   he continued to disregard the imperial edicts.  

The saint replied,   that which animates me is not rashness,   but the love I bear my God,   who one day shall judge me.   In worldly matters, I have invariably   obeyed the rulers.   But now the question is whether I will prefer earth to heaven.   I am a Christian and cannot sacrifice to thy gods.   Seeing that he could not shake the constancy   of the holy bishop,   Justin, turning to Hermes, said,   This old man is weary of life, but thou shouldst not be reckless   of it.   Offer sacrifice,   and consult thy safety.   Hermes   began to show the impiety of idolatry,   but Justin   hastily interrupted him, saying,   Thou speakest as if thou wouldst   persuade me to become a Christian.  

21 I earnestly desire,   said the saint, that this should happen   not only to thee,   but to all those who hear me.   21 Finally,   the tyrant, perceiving that he could not win over these   generous confessors, 22 pronounced sentence in the following manner:   We command that Philip and Hermes,   for having condemned   the imperial   edicts,   shall be burned alive.   Sentence having been pronounced,   the saints proceeded   to the place of execution,   convincing   by their holy joy   that they were two victims consecrated to the Lord.   But from having been tortured in the stocks, their feet were so sore   that the holy bishop had to be supported.  

While Hermes, with great difficulty,   followed, saying to Philip,   let us hasten, father,   nor care for our feet,   since we shall no longer have need of them.   When they came to the place of their martyrdom,   according to the custom of the country,   they were placed standing in a trench and covered with earth up to the knees,   in order that they might not be able to flee from the fire.   Upon entering the trench,   Hermes   smiled with holy joy,   and the fire having been kindled by the executioners,   the saints began to thank almighty god for their death,   terminating their prayer and their martyrdom   with the usual   amen.  

After their execution   the execution, their bodies were found entire and fresh   as in full health without any trace of fire.   Saint Hermes, though a simple deacon, was a distinguished man.   He had been first magistrate of the city of Heraclea   and had fulfilled the duties of his office with so much wisdom   that he conciliated   the esteem and veneration of all his fellow citizens.   After having renounced everything to devote himself   to the service of the church,   he took the resolution to live only by the labor of his hands,   like the great apostle,   and he had a son named Philip,   whom he brought up in the same principles.  

While the executioners were setting fire to the pile in which he was to be consumed   and perceive perceiving   one of his friends in the crowd,   he called to him and said, go and tell my son,   these are the last words of your dying father,   words that he leaves you as the most precious marks of his affection.   You are young.   Avoid as dangerous everything that can weaken your soul.   Above all, avoid sloth.   Keep the peace with everyone.   The flames having risen prevented him from continuing.   These details are given by Ruinaud.   Severus,   who was the other disciple of Saint Philip,   had been left in prison while his holy bishop consummated   his martyrdom in the flames,   and having been informed of his glorious triumph,   was deeply   afflicted   at not having been able to bear him company.  

Hence, he earnestly besought the Lord not to think him unworthy of sacrificing   his life for his glory.   His prayers were heard,   and on the following day he obtained the desired crown.   The martyrdom of these saints is related by Cardinal Orsi,   who quotes Ruinart.   And that's gonna I'm gonna end it a little bit early tonight   or day, whatever it may be, where where you may live may be listening.   Let's end in a prayer.   In the name of the Father, and of 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.   Thank you for   participating with me   in the Council of Catholic Men   Bible and Catechism Study.   Today is Wednesday, 10/22/2025.   And God bless you all.