Heathens Begone

“God can’t forgive me”

St. Theophilus served as archdeacon for the Bishop of Adana with such faithfulness, that when the Bishop had passed away, he was unanimously elected to be the bishop’s successor. Out of humility he chose to turn the position down, and a new man was elected bishop instead. The new bishop, however, was fed malicious and unfounded rumors about Theophilus, and chose to deprive him of his role as archdeacon.

Theophilus fell into such despair that he sought the advice of a Jewish sorcerer in order to regain his honorable post. The sorcerer summoned the Devil, who came and asked Theophilus to renounce Christ and His Mother, repudiate the Catholic Faith, and write a statement of his renunciation and repudiation in his own blood. After signing and sealing the script, he then gave it to the Devil, thus pledging himself to his service. The next day, by the Devil’s manipulation, Theophilus was taken back into the Bishop’s good graces and reinstated in his dignities of office.

In time, however, he came to his senses and regretted what he had done. With all the devotion of his heart, he turned to the Blessed Virgin Mary. At a certain moment Mary appeared to him, upbraided him sternly for his impiety, ordered him to renounce the Devil, and made him confess his faith in her and in Christ, the Son of God, and in the whole Catholic doctrine.

She brought him back into her favor and her Son’s. In token of the forgiveness that was granted to him, she appeared to him again and returned the scroll he had given to the Devil, placing it on his chest as a sign that he didn’t need to fear that he might be in the demon’s service, and that, through her intervention, he was a free man.

Having received this gift, Theophilus was overcome with joy. He went before the Bishop and the whole city, and gave a full account of the mercy God had shown him through the Theotokos. All were filled with admiration and gave praise to the glorious Virgin, and Theophilus, three days later, fell asleep in the peace of the Lord.

God’s love is bigger than your sin.

"3. When you pray to God in Psalms and hymns, think over in your hearts the words that come from your lips".
Rule of St. Augustine, Ch. II, 3

Even the social question itself has been solved by the Rosary, as Leo XIII so eloquently proved. Why are the nations in fear and in trembling? The answer is threefold, according to the Sovereign Pontiff. The first cause is a growing dislike of a simple and laborious life. The remedy for this evil we find in the Joyful Mysteries. The second cause is repugnance to suffering of any kind. The remedy for this evil is found in the Sorrowful Mysteries. The third cause is forgetfulness of our future life and destiny, which ought to be ever present in our minds to inspire us with hope and courage. The remedy for this evil appears in the Glorious Mysteries. Yes, the Rosary gives us the answer to the social problem in that cry of victory: Christ conquers, Christ reigns, Christ rules!

On the extraordinary reputation of Christian women in the 4th century and how their piety aided the growth of Christianity
(The Life and Times of Chrysostom by R. Wheler Bush, Ch. II bk. 1 pp. 38-39)