“When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say. (Luke 12:11-12).”
Saint Basil the Great offers the following insight on this verse from today’s Gospel:
“The Christian should not fear or be distressed in difficult circumstances and thus be distracted from trust in God. He should take courage as if the Lord were at hand directing his affairs and strengthening him against all his adversaries. It is as if the Holy Spirit were instructing him even as to the very replies he should make to his enemies. (The Morals, 63)”
Today is the feast of the Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests and Companions. The National Shrine to the Canadian Martyrs offers biographies on each of the Canadian Martyrs.
Blessed John Paul II visited Canada in 1984 and spoke about these martyrs when visiting the Shrine.
Here is an excerpt from the spiritual diaries of Saint John de Brebeuf, which is the Second Reading in today’s Liturgy of the Hours, Office of Readings.
Blessed John Paul II visited Canada in 1984 and spoke about these martyrs when visiting the Shrine.
Here is an excerpt from the spiritual diaries of Saint John de Brebeuf, which is the Second Reading in today’s Liturgy of the Hours, Office of Readings.
O God,
Who chose to manifest the blessed hope
of your eternal Kingdom by the toil of
Saints John de Brebeuf, Isaac Jogues and
their companions and by the shedding of their blood,
graciously grant that through their intercession
the faith of Christians may be strengthened day by day.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever.
Who chose to manifest the blessed hope
of your eternal Kingdom by the toil of
Saints John de Brebeuf, Isaac Jogues and
their companions and by the shedding of their blood,
graciously grant that through their intercession
the faith of Christians may be strengthened day by day.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever.
Glory to You Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning is now
and will be forever. Amen!
as it was in the beginning is now
and will be forever. Amen!
