St. Justin Martyr's Letter

     This blog does not relate to my theme, but is related to theology. The letter was written about 150 A.D.

 

 What stood out? What stood out was where he St. Justin states that the Word makes "food" into flesh and blood with a prayer of His word. Our bodies are nourished by transmutation (the flesh and blood of Jesus).

 

 Why is the date important? The date is important because it shows that the Church's understanding of the Eucharist comes from tradition in the early Church.

 

 What does it tell you? The letter tells me that bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ. It tells me that even in persecutions the People of God gathered to celebrate the Eucharist, give thanksgiving, and worship the Lord.

The Holy Foreskin

     Jesus was circumcised according to his customs. The Holy Foreskin is said to be the only piece of Jesus' body to remain on Earth after the Resurrection. During the Middle Ages, many monasteries claimed to have the Holy Foreskin. The only papal approved foreskin was believed to be given to Charlemagne. The last sighting of the Holy Foreskin occurred at an Italian town (Calcata) in 1983. It is said that the foreskin resembled or appeared as a "red chickpea". Later after the last sighting, it is said that the foreskin disappeared. The Holy Foreskin teaches us that Jesus indeed had a human nature; his parents taught him to follow their culture from an early age.



St. Januarius' Blood

     St. Januarius' blood becomes liquid during the every year. St. Januarius is the patron saint of Naples. He was martyred during the Roman emperor - Diocletian. Scientists cannot explain the nature of the blood's behavior.

                                                "In experiments conducted in 1902 and 1904 the reliquary was weighed in a delicate balance. It was discovered that its weight was no more constant than its bulk, that is, its weight might increase as much as 25 grams, thereby defying physical laws. The strangest element is that there is often an increase in weight when the mass actually decreases, and a decrease in weight when the volume increases - this in direct opposition to the laws that dictate an increase in weight with a corresponding increase in mass."

     The blood reminds the faithful that martyrdom is the "seed of the Church". Martyrs were men who tried to live like Christ, and spread the message of the gospel in the face of death.



The Devil

     The Devil was an angel named Lucifer. His pride caused his fall from heaven. Jesus said that he saw Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Jesus said that his mission was "to defeat the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8). Satan is a powerful spirit who instigated man to sin, and continues to tempt man. The Devil's goal is to separate man from God. "One of his greatest tricks on us is to convince so many of us that he doesn’t even exist, truly a great wartime tactic." Humility is the best virtue against the devil. If the devil exists, we know a greater good exists. Evil was not created by God - because God is good. Evil came from a prideful angel.

Flying Nun

     A novice ran up to tell St. Thomas Aquinas about a nun who could levitate. This supernatural event was attracting large crowds, and St. Thomas went to the chapel to investigate. When he looked up, he saw the nun in mid-air.

                  "Look, Father, isn’t it amazing! What do you think?"
                  Thomas answered, "I didn’t know nuns wore such big boots."
Thomas did not deny or was very impressed with the flying nun. Thomas knew that a supernatural event did not mean holiness. Thomas only knew that the supernatural are events which man cannot understand. Like Thomas, we should treat supernatural events with caution because all we know is that the supernatural cannot be explained.