Council of Catholic Men

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In today’s Council of Catholic Men Bible and Catechism Study, opened with prayer and then began our read-through of Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians using the Douay-Rheims, covering chapters 1–3 with select footnotes. We reflected on Paul’s context writing from prison, the “spiritual blessings” in Christ, the seal of the Holy Spirit, and Christ as head of the Church. In chapter 2, we examined salvation by grace, the reconciliation of Jew and Gentile into one body, and our new identity as fellow citizens and members of God’s household. Chapter 3 highlighted the revealed mystery that the Gentiles are coheirs, Paul’s ministry to them, and his prayer that we be strengthened to comprehend the breadth and depth of Christ’s love and be filled with the fullness of God.

We then turned to the Catechism of Saint Peter Canisius (1622) on the evangelical counsels—poverty, chastity, and obedience—clarifying the distinction between commands and counsels with insights from Augustine, Ambrose, and Jerome, and scriptural foundations for voluntary poverty and consecrated chastity. We concluded with a reading from Saint Alphonsus de Liguori on Saints Anastasia and Cyril of Rome, contemplating steadfast witness under persecution. Next time, we’ll continue with Ephesians chapter 4 and further catechism study.

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Welcome to the Council of Catholic Men.   Today's date is Wednesday,   10/29/2025.   Let's begin with a prayer.   In the name of the Father, and of the 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 with the   Bible. Let's turn   to the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Ephesians.  

And we're beginning from the beginning.   Saint Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians.   I'm gonna read the beginning,   which is an introduction   to this epistle.   Ephesus was the capital of Lesser Asia   and celebrated for the Temple Of Diana,   to which the most part of the people of the East went frequently to worship.   But Saint Paul,   having preached the gospel there for two years the first time   and afterwards for about a   year, converted many.   He wrote this epistle   to them   when he was a prisoner   in Rome   and sent it by   Tychia Tychia   Tychia   Tychias.  

He admonishes them to hold firmly the faith which they had received.   Oh,   excuse   me. Sorry. Let's begin again. I didn't realize that we had background music.   That was that's my fault.   I'm gonna have   to do a setting here.   Let's see. Okay.   That should be better.   Let's begin this again then.   Today's welcome to the Council of Catholic Men   Bible and Catechism Study. Today's date is Wednesday, 10/29/2025.   Let's begin with a prayer. In the name of the father, and of the 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.  

Now, let's begin with the Bible.   We're gonna start off reading from the epistle of Saint Paul to the Ephesians.   And here's the introduction   as written in the Douay Rheims version of the Bible.   Ephesus was the capital   of Lesser Asia   and celebrated for the Temple of Diana, to which the most part of the people of the East   went frequently to worship.   But Saint Paul,   having preached the gospel there for two years the first time   and afterwards for about a year,   converted many.   He wrote this epistle to them when he was a prisoner in Rome and sent it by   Teichicus.  

He admonishes them to hold firmly the faith which they had received,   and warns them,   and also those of the neighboring cities, against the sophistry of the philosophers   and the doctrine of false teachers   who were come among them.   The matters of faith contained   in this epistle   are exceedingly sublime   and consequently   very difficult   to understand.   It was written about   twenty nine years after our Lord's Ascension.   Chapter one.   The great blessings we have received through Christ, Christ.   He is the head of all the church.   Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ,   by the will of God, to all the saints who are at Ephesus,   and to the faithful in Christ Jesus,   grace be to you, and peace from God the Father,   and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,   who hath blessed us with spiritual blessings in heavenly places, in Christ.   As he chose us   in him before the foundation of the world,   that we should be holy and unspotted   in his sight in charity.   Who hath predestinated   us unto the adoption of children   through Jesus Christ unto himself   according to the purpose of his will.   Unto the praise of the glory of his grace,   in which he hath graced us in his beloved son,   in whom we have redemption   through his blood,   the remission of sins   according to the riches of his grace,   which hath superabounded   in us   in all wisdom and prudence.  

That he might make known unto us the mystery of his will,   according to His good pleasure,   which He hath proposed in Him,   in the dispensation   of the fullness   of times,   to reestablish all things in Christ   that are in heaven and on earth in him.   In whom we also are called by lot,   being predestinated   according to the purpose of him who worketh all things according to the counsel of his will.   That we may be unto the praise of his glory,   we who before   hoped in Christ,   in whom you also,   after you had heard the word of truth,   the gospel of your salvation,   in whom also, believing,   you were signed with the Holy Spirit of promise,   who is the pledge of our inheritance,   unto the redemption of acquisition,   unto the praise of his glory.  

Wherefore I also, hearing of your faith, that is in the Lord Jesus,   and of your love towards all the saints.   Cease not to give thanks for you,   making   commemoration   of you in my prayers.   That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory,   may give unto you the spirit of wisdom   and of revelation.   In the knowledge of him,   the eyes of your heart enlightened   that you may know   that what the hope is of his calling.   And what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints?   And what is the exceeding   greatness of His power towards us,   who believe according to the operation of the might of His power?  

Which   He wrought in Christ, raising Him up from the dead, and setting Him on His right hand   in the heavenly heavenly places,   above all principality,   and power, and virtue,   and dominion,   and every name that is named,   not only in this world,   but also in that which is to come.   And he hath subject   subjected all things under his feet,   and hath made him head over all the church,   which is his body and the fullness of him who is filled all in all.   So now   let's do the footnotes of to this first.   The first footnote is   chapter one verse three.   Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ,   who hath blessed us with spiritual blessings   in heavenly places   in Christ.  

And it says here, in heavenly places   or in heavenly things   in Celestibus.   That's   so   spiritual blessings in heavenly places   or heavenly things.   Now,   verse 14,   who is the pledge of our inheritance   unto the redemption of acquisition,   unto the praise of his glory.   Acquisition,   that is a purchased possession.   So a purchased possession.   Redemption of our purchased possession.   So   he's talking about the Holy Spirit. You were signed with the Holy Spirit of promise,   which   Christ later gave   through the Holy Spirit   to the apostles during Pentecost   when the Holy Spirit came upon them. They were up in the upper room in Mount Zion.  

And then they received the Holy Spirit as tongues of flame.   Upon them and then they went out and preached   and converted thousands of people.   That's what he's talking about.   And   so this is the Ephesians   And it said in the beginning that they were philosophers.   And I've heard it said, especially from E. Michael Jones,   that Saint Paul confused   these philosophers because he started talking about   things like   Jesus rising from the dead.   And they kind of looked at him and were like, yeah, right? Didn't take him too seriously.   And then it was later that Saint John started using terms that Greek philosophers would understand,   like logos   like the the word incarnate like in the beginning was the logos the word   and that appealed more to these people in Ephesus   so this is   this is that chapter   in the Bible   that he speak that e Michael Jones references   to this   to Saint Paul kind of failing in his mission to these people in Ephesus and that's why it says in here it says   the matters of faith contained in this epistle are exceedingly sublime and consequently very difficult to understand.  

So just keep that in mind when you're listening to this.   So let's move on to chapter two.   All our good comes through Christ.   He is our peace.   And you,   when you were dead in your offenses and sins,   wherein in time past, you walked according to the course   of this world.   According to the prince of the power of this heir,   of the spirit,   that now worketh on the children of unbelief.   In which also   we all conversed   in time past   in the desires of our flesh,   fulfilling the will of the flesh   and of our thoughts,   and where by nature children   of wrath even as the rest.  

But God, who is rich in mercy,   for his exceeding charity,   wherewith he loved us,   even when he were dead in sins,   hath quickened us together in Christ,   by whose grace you are saved,   and hath raised us up together,   and hath made us sit together   in the heavenly places,   through Christ Jesus.   That he might show   in the ages to come the abundant   riches   of his grace.   In his bounty   towards us in Christ Jesus.   For by grace, you are saved through faith.   And that   not of yourselves,   for it is the gift of God.   Not of works   that no man may glory.   For we are his workmanship.  

Created in Christ Jesus   in good works.   Which God hath prepared   that we should walk in them.   For which cause, be mindful that you being heretofore,   Gentiles in the flesh,   who are called   uncircumcision   by that which is called circumcision   in the flesh made by hands.   That you were at that time   without Christ,   being aliens from the   the conversation   of Israel,   and strangers   to the testament,   having no hope   of the promise,   and without God in this world.   But now, in Christ Jesus,   you,   who sometime   were afar off,   are made   nigh   by the blood of Christ.   For he is our peace,   who hath made both one and breaking down the middle wall of partition,   the enmities   in his flesh,   making void the law of commandments   contained in decrees,   that he might make the two   in himself   into one new man,   making peace,   And might   reconcile both to God in one body   by the cross.  

Killing the enmities   in himself.   And coming,   he preached peace to you   that were afar off,   and peace to them that were nigh.   For by him,   we have access both in one spirit to the father.   Now therefore,   you are no more strangers   and foreigners.   But you are fellow citizens with the saints.   And domestics of God.   Built upon the foundation of the apostles,   prop and prophets,   Jesus Christ himself   being the chief cornerstone,   In whom all the building   being framed together,   groweth up   into a   an holy temple   in the Lord.   In whom you also are built together   into   an habitation   of God in the spirit.  

Alright. So let's do the footnotes first because I found a few interesting things in this chapter.   Chapter two of Ephesians.   Verse nine,   not of works that no man may glory.   Not of works   as of our own growth or from ourselves, but as from the grace of God.   Alright.   So, what he's saying here   is that,   what I'm gathering from it,   in the beginning, he's talking about   how we followed the flesh   and the course of the world, wherein the pastime you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of this heir, of the prince   that now worketh on the children of unbelief.  

And he's there he's talking about the devil.   And the peep, the children of unbelief are the Jews   because they rejected their Messiah who is Jesus. And that's what makes them Jews as they consider   Jesus to be a false   like, a false   prophet   worthy of death   and which is very satanic because he Christ is God and he is the Messiah   who destroyed death, who destroyed the devil's dominion.   And he was placed on the throne of David   coming into this world.   And he reigned, and they crucified him, thinking that they had conquered him,   when in fact, he had conquered them,   that put them to death,   by rising from the dead showing that they had no power over him.  

Even though they were collaborating with   Satan, the devil,   who had power over   man fallen man since the time of Adam and Eve   when God cursed the serpent   for   for deceiving   Eve   and leading them into sin through eating the fruit forbidden fruit.   And that says that the law   was made void   and he talks about the uncircumcision   and the circumcision of the flesh,   meaning that the Gentiles   and the Jews, both the Gentiles and the Jews,   are now   citizens of   God   and his kingdom. It says, citizens, fellow citizens with the saints,   you're no more strangers and foreigners,   and you're the domestics of God. So you're in the same household   where there is no difference   between someone who believes that Jesus is going to come   and a gentile who then learns that Jesus is also is the Messiah   because he fulfilled   the prophecies   and the   and the promise that that God gave to   Adam and Eve that he would send a Redeemer   to crush the head of the serpent.  

Let's move on to chapter three.   Alright, so chapter three.   The mystery hidden from former ages   was discovered to the apostle   to be imparted to the Gentiles.   He prays that they may be strengthened in God.   For this cause, I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ, for you Gentiles,   if yet you have heard of the   dispensation of the grace of God, which is given me towards you?   How that according to Revelation,   the mystery has been made known to me,   as I have written above in a few words.   As you reading may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ,   which in other generations   was not known to the sons of men.  

As it is now revealed   to his holy apostles   and prophets in the spirit.   That the Gentiles   should be   fellow   heirs.   And of the same body,   and co partners   of his promise   in Christ Jesus,   by the gospel,   of which I am made a minister   according to the gift of the grace of God,   which is given to me   according to the operation   of his power.   To me,   the least of all the saints   is given this grace to preach among the Gentiles   the unsearchable riches of Christ,   and to enlighten all men   that they may see what is the dispensation   of the mystery   which hath been hidden from the eternity   in God   who created all things.  

That the manifold wisdom of God may be made known to the principalities   and powers   in heavenly places,   through the church.   According to the eternal purpose   which he made in Christ   Jesus our Lord,   in whom we have boldness and access   with confidence   by the faith of him.   Wherefore, I pray you   not to faint at my tribulations   for you,   which is your glory.   For this cause,   I bow my knees   to the father of our Lord Jesus Christ,   of whom all paternity in heaven   and earth is named.   That he would grant you   according to the riches of his glory   to be strengthened   by his spirit   with might   unto the inward man,   that Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts,   that being rooted   and founded in charity,   you may be able to comprehend   with all the saints   what is the breadth and length and height and depth,   to know also the charity   of Christ,   which surpasseth   all knowledge,   that you may be filled   unto all the fullness of God.  

Now to him who is able to do all things more abundantly   than we desire or understand   according to the power that worketh in us.   To him be glory in the church   and in Christ Jesus   unto all generations,   world without end.   Amen.   That's the end of chapter three.   So the footnotes for chapter three.   Chapter three verse 15.   All paternity   or okay. So, chapter three verse fifteen, first of all,   of whom all paternity in heaven and earth is named.   So, the father of our lord Jesus Christ. He he bowed his knees.   All paternity   or the whole family.  

There's a Greek word here.   I think it's   Papria   is the name of it.   God is the father both of angels and men.   Whosoever besides is named father   is so named with subordination   to him.   And then   we'll save chapter four for next time   because we're getting to the time where we're going to go into the catechism   So,   like I said, the audience   were the Ephesians   who were Greek philosophers.   These weren't Jews or Hebrews   that were waiting for the Messiah. These were pagans initially   who worshiped Diana. It says here that Ephesian   of Ephesus was the   capital   and celebrated for the Temple Of Diana.  

And   which most of the people would frequently worship.   So he's converting the Gentiles   as it said. And that's why it says here he's the apostle to the Gentiles   And when he's talking to the Ephesians because   he knows   that   they're included in what was promised to the Jews.   Just as   the original promise to Adam who's the father of all mankind.   He was promised the Messiah.   So in in that regard,   everyone   is entitled to   that same   belonging to the family of God   through Adam   and then   the new Adam,   who is Jesus Christ.   So let's   end it for there. We'll we'll start with chapter four next next week,   which is an exhortation to unity   alright   now   let's go into the catechism   and we're reading from   catechism   Saint Peter Canisius   that was written in   sixteen twenty two   ad   And we're gonna read where we left off.  

And we're going into what are called,   it says, of the evangelical   councils,   Which are called the evangelical   councils?   This is question two ten,   which are called the evangelical   councils.   Those surely which,   though they be not absolutely necessary for the getting of salvation,   yet   to the intent that we may have a more ready and easy way to procure the same,   they are proposed and counseled   by our savior Christ.   For which cause   the difference that the scripture hath set down between precepts and councils   is very diligently   to be noted.  

That we may understand   that the first are prescribed   as necessary   to be observed.   But the other are counseled   and voluntarily   undertaken.   As furtherances   of the perfect   observation   of the commandments.   Here upon the apostle,   when he would give instruction   about the leading of a single life,   pronounce it this sentence.   As concerning virgins,   a commandment of our Lord, I have not,   but counsel I give.   As having obtained mercy   of our Lord,   to be faithful.   And to this end,   is that which Saint Augustine   hath plainly said,   a council is one thing,   a commandment   is another.  

Council   is given to conserve   virginity,   to abstain   from wine and flesh,   to sell all that we have,   and to give it to the poor.   But there is commandment   given to keep justice,   to turn from evil, and to do good.   And again,   he that shall willingly   hear   and fulfill a counsel   shall have the greater glory.   He that shall not fulfill a commandment   unless he be helped by penance,   he cannot possibly avoid punishment.   Unto Saint Augustine   consenteth   Saint Ambrose,   when as he writeth thus,   that it is   not commanded   which is above the law,   but it is rather persuaded by a counsel being given,   And that which is the safer   which is the safer is showed unto us.  

Also,   counsel   inviteth them   that are willing.   The commandment   bindeth even them that are unwilling.   And of the same mind as Saint Jerome,   as these words do declare,   Where counsel is given,   there is the free choice of the offerer.   Where a commandment   is given,   there is necessity   of a servant.   But that deserveth a greater reward,   saith he,   which is not constrained,   and yet is offered.   Chapter or question   211.   How many evangelical   councils are there?   To recount them all in this place   is not needful,   but there are three principle   of embracing   and professing poverty,   chastity,   and obedience,   as the fathers have gathered out of the holy scripture.  

Poverty   appertaineth   to those that once do forsake all worldly things,   that after the example of Saint Peter and the apostles,   they may perfectly follow Christ.   Chastity belongeth to those that have cut themselves for the kingdom of heaven.   And as Tertilion   hath said,   do show themselves   voluntarily   eunuchs,   and they do perform obedience   who,   to the intent they may fully deny themselves,   are not only utterly averted from all   cupidities,   but also from their own will,   as the scripture admonisheth.   13. Whilst   they do wholly submit themselves unto his will,   in the stead of Christ   they have chosen to be their superior.  

21 Such kind of counsels,   Christ,   the absolute   example of evangelical   perfection,   hath not only taught in word,   as we will presently show,   but hath also   confirmed   the same unto us,   by the example   of his most holy life,   who, when he was rich, for our sakes, became poor.   Not having where to lay his head,   who born of a virgin,   preserveth   a virgin,   and the spouse of all most holy virgins,   who finally   was so diligent in exhibiting   obedience,   being subject to his mother a virgin,   yea, and that which is more unto a carpenter,   and being obedient   even to the death   of the cross,   he witnesseth   of himself.  

I descend from heaven   not to do my own will,   but the will of him that sent me.   And that was that was John chapter six verse 38.   So question   two twelve,   in what place is evangelical   poverty taught by Christ?   In St. Matthew's gospel,   it is declared   in that place which followeth   the rehearsal of the divine precepts,   of which precepts   it is said to everyone   without exception,   If thou wilt enter into life,   keep the commandments.   And then after is the council proposed   of undertaking   voluntary poverty   with a particular form of words annexed,   which might leave   it to the free will of him   who chooseth the same.  

For our Lord saith,   if thou wilt be perfect,   go sell the things that thou hast   and give to the poor,   and thou shalt have treasure in heaven,   and come, follow me.   Where our Lord doth not only give this counsel,   but addeth also,   as it were, a spur,   and to the intent that men might be more willing to embrace   this counsel,   he proposeth   the greatness of reward   whereby he may allure   and comfort them,   promising   that so it shall come to pass,   that he,   which by leaving all for Christ,   Christ's sake,   is poor,   shall have a treasure   in heaven,   shall receive   a hundredfold,   and possess   life everlasting,   which otherwise is very hard for rich men to come onto.  

Such practitioners   and professors   of poverty   were the apostles,   in whom   whose name Saint Peter said boldly unto Christ,   Behold,   we have left all things, and have followed Thee.   Of this number also were the Christians of the primitive church, who,   as Saint Luke testifieth,   did sell their possessions   and applied the money that came thereby   to the common use,   so that no man called anything his own.   He came nothing   because nothing was private,   but all things remained common amongst them.   But this poverty requireth   that it be voluntary   and full   resignation   of riches,   Whereof no property may be retained.  

And here taketh place that famous sentence approved by the ancient fathers.   It is good by portions to give man's   substance to the poor,   but it is better to give all at once with an intent to follow our Lord and being free from care   to be poor with Christ.   Alright.   Let's move on to the next.   Where is the council of chastity   commanded?   Question one thirteen, where is the council of chastity commended?   Both in the Gospels and in the apostles writings,   for Christ commended   those kinds of eunuchs   that have gilded themselves for the kingdom of heaven.   And lest we should think that this   is rather a commandment   than a council.  

He added presently.   He that can take it, let him take it.   In which speech our Lord   doth,   as it were, exhort   as well doth Saint Jerome   interpret,   and invite his soldiers to the reward of chastity,   as if he said,   He that can fight, let him fight,   let him conquer and triumph.   This can he do   unto whom it is given,   And it is given to all as witnesseth the same holy father   that will ask.   That will labor for to receive   for to everyone that asketh,   it shall be given.   And he that seeketh   shall find,   and to him that knocketh,   it shall be opened.  

Thus saith Saint Jerome.   And to this chastity   holy Scripture   assigneth cert a reward,   but to the chastity   of virgins   it promiseth   a particular   and singular reward.   For they that have not been defiled with women,   but have remained virgins,   do stand without spot before the throne of God,   and do sing a new song before God and the Lamb,   And do follow the Lamb   whithersoever   he shall go.   And the apostle   hath said   expressly,   it is good for a man not to touch a woman.   And again,   as concerning virgins,   a commandment of our Lord I have not,   but counsel I give,   as having obtained mercy of our Lord to be faithful.  

I think therefore   that this is good for the present necessity.   Because it is good for a man to do so,   and again,   writing of the widow,   Let her marry, saith he, to whom she will,   only in our Lord,   but more blessed shall she be   if she so remain   according to my counsel.   And I think that I also have the spirit of God.   21 Unto the apostle very finely accordeth   Saint Ambrose,   when he writeth in these words:   Justly, sirs, is the good wife commended?   But more rightly is the devout virgin preferred?   21 The apostle saying,   He that joineth his virgin in matrimony   doth better.  

For the one thinketh of the things that be of the world.   The one is bound by the bonds bands of wedlock,   the other free from bands.   The one is under the law,   the other under grace.   Good is marriage   by means where whereof   there hath been found posterity   of human succession.   But better is virginity   whereby hath been achieved the inheritance of the heavenly kingdom.   And the succession of heavenly merits   hath been found.   By a woman came care.   By a virgin was procured   salvation.   Six   Hitherto,   Saint Ambrose.   Seven Now this chastity requireth that a man does with deliberation   and firm purpose   endeavor to live uncorrupted   and to lead a perpetual   single life,   void of all filth of the flesh   or veneerious   voluptuousness,   That he may be holy both in body and spirit for Christ.  

And in regard hereof,   the apostle hath said,   he that hath determined in his heart,   being settled,   not having necessity,   but having power of his own will,   and hath judged this in his heart,   to keep his virgin   doth well.   I'm gonna end it there.   And we'll go to   Saint Alphonsus de Ligori,   the victories of the martyrs or the lives of the most celebrated martyrs of the church.   And we're going to go and look here   at what date   since we're in October.   The closest one here is Saint Anastasia   and Cyril of Rome,   Page two fifty   four. February.  

Almost there. February.   Alright.   Chapter   56.   Saint Anastasia,   virgin,   and Saint Cyril of Rome.   October 28.   Valerian   succeeded to the empire   on the death of Gallus   in the year 02/1944.   And in the beginning of his reign, showed himself so favorable to the Christians   that many of them were employed   at his court.   But his subsequent   cruelty towards them   was as remarkable as his former clemency.   A certain Egyptian magician   succeeded in ingratiating   himself   into the emperor's confidence.   And as many Christians,   by the sign of the cross,   were enabled to destroy his demonical   incantations,   the Favorite   stimulated   Valerian   to undertake the destruction of the Christian religion   towards the close of the year   02/1947.  

Anastasia   was a Roman virgin of noble and Christian parentage,   and although   endowed with extraordinary   buoy,   manifested from her tenderest years,   a desire   to be espoused to Jesus only.   She accordingly led a most holy life   without any other desire   than to increase in the love in the divine love.   There was at Rome a nunnery   governed by a most holy lady named Sophia,   the inmates of which lived in the greatest Christian perfection,   and among these,   Saint Anastasia   enrolled herself in order to make still further progress in virtue.   The devil left no means untried in order to tempt her to abandon her holy design,   but, by the assistance of continual   prayer,   she overcame these temptations,   and thus rendered herself more perfect,   and more intimately   united to Jesus Christ.  

No sooner   were the edicts of Valerian published   against the Christians   than his emissaries began a most searching inquisition.   They discovered the residence of Anastasia,   who by reason of her exemplary   life   had acquired great reputation   for sanctity   amongst the faithful.   And accordingly,   an   officer, accompanied by a band of soldiers,   having proceeded to the monastery,   broke open the doors,   and in the name of Probus,   prefect of Rome,   demanded that Anastasia   should be given up to them.   Hereupon the good Sophia hastened to animate her   disciple   in the following terms.  

Behold, my daughter,   the time hath arrived when the spouse calleth thee.   Go and offer thyself as a sacrifice of love to Him who for thee offered Himself upon the Cross.   Be strong, and fear not.   Make it appear that thou art worthy of such a spouse.   The young virgin   was forthwith   brought before Probus,   who,   admiring her wonderful beauty,   spoke to her with much affability   and inquired her name.   She replied, My name is Anastasia,   and I have the happiness to be a Christian.   This, said the prefect,   is a bad recommendation.   It overshadows   thy prospects.  

And I would, therefore, recommend thee to abandon so odious a religion.   I intend to render thee perfectly happy.   But to this end,   thou must come with me to the temple   and offers offer sacrifice to Jove.   But if thou wilt not obey,   know that the most cruel torments await thee.   The saint replied,   I shall rather await these torments,   and I am ready to suffer them for the love of God.   Thy promises and thy threats are equally ineffectual.   For the Almighty God, whom I adore,   will give me strength to resist both.   At these words, so resolutely uttered,   the prefect became greatly exasperated,   and commanded the saint to be buffeted upon the face,   which was done with such violence that she was covered with blood,   and in this state was sent back to prison.  

Here she manifested so much holy joy   that the tyrant's fury   knew no bounds.   He commanded that she should be tortured by the dislocation   of all her limbs,   and that her sides should be burned with lighted torches.   This infliction was endured by the saint without a moan,   and with so serene a countenance,   that the prefect,   perceiving   that torture and fire moved her not,   commanded   the nails to be torn from her fingers,   her teeth to be broken with a hammer,   and her breasts to be pulled off with iron pincers.   In the order of nature, she should have expired under these tortures,   but the Lord so upheld her that she did nothing but bless His holy name, and upon being brought back to prison,   all her wounds were miraculously   cured.  

Probus, having heard this, and being informed,   moreover,   that the saint called his gods gods of wood,   of clay,   and of metal,   ordered her tongue to be pulled out by the roots.   The Holy Virgin, upon hearing the cruel command,   began to thank the Lord   and to sing his praises.   The operation filled the spectators with horror,   and a   torrent of blood   proceeded from her mouth which completely stained her clothes.   Finding herself ready to faint after the infliction,   she made signs to a certain Christian named Cyril   to give her some water.   He complied,   and this act of charity   earned for him the crown of martyrdom.  

Notwithstanding   the loss of her tongue,   Saint Anastasia   ceased not to bless the Lord and implore of him help to consummate her sacrifice.   In these prayers, she frequently raised her hands to Heaven,   which so annoyed the tyrant that,   in addition to her other torments,   he had her hands   and feet cut off,   and finally ordered her to be beheaded.   Thus did the glorious Saint enter the Kingdom of Jesus Christ   with as many merits as she had suffered tortures for His sake.   The above mentioned Cyril   was also beheaded   at the same time,   which was on the twenty seventh or October 28,   about the year February.  

Sirius   adds   that the good Sophia,   having heard the glorious end of her novice,   procured the body,   and with the assistance of two pious persons,   buried it without the city.   Alright.   So, let's end it here.   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.  

Today is Wednesday, 10/29/2025.   Thank you all for listening in to   Council of Catholic Men   Bible and Catechism.   God bless.