திருத்தந்தை புனித முதலாம் கலிஸ்டஸ்Pope Saint Callixtus (Callixtus I)நினைவுத் திருவிழா : அக்டோபர் 14

இன்றைய புனிதர்: 

(14-10-2020)

திருத்தந்தை புனித முதலாம் கலிஸ்டஸ்

Pope Saint Callixtus (Callixtus I)

நினைவுத் திருவிழா : அக்டோபர் 14

இறப்பு : 222 

திருத்தந்தை புனித முதலாம் கலிஸ்டஸ் (Pope Saint Callixtus I or Callistus I) உரோமை ஆயராகவும் திருத்தந்தையாகவும் கிபி 217இலிருந்து 222 வரை திருப்பணி செய்தார். அவருக்கு முன் பதவியிலிருந்தவர்திருத்தந்தை செஃபரீனுஸ் ஆவார். கலிஸ்டசின் இறப்புக்குப் பின் அர்பன் திருத்தந்தையாகப் பதவி ஏற்றார். திருத்தந்தை புனித முதலாம் கலிஸ்டஸ் கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபையின் 16ஆம் திருத்தந்தை ஆவார். இவரது திருவிழா அக்டோபர் 14ஆம் நாள் கொண்டாடப்படுகிறது. இவர் கல்லறைத் தொழிலாளர்களின் பாதுகாவலராகப் போற்றப்படுகிறார்.

கலிஸ்டஸ் (பண்டைக் கிரேக்கம்: Callixtus அல்லது Callistus; இலத்தீன்: Callixtus அல்லது Callistus) என்னும் பெயர் "அழகுமிக்கவர்","எழில் நிறைந்தவர்" என்னு பொருள்படும்.

வரலாறு

முதலாம் கலிஸ்டஸ் திருப்பணி புரிந்த காலத்தில் உரோமை மன்னர்களாக இருந்தோர் எலகாபலுஸ் (Elagabalus) என்பவரும் அவருக்குப் பின் அலக்சாண்டர் செவேருஸ் (Alexander Severus) என்பவருமாவர். கலிஸ்டஸ் மறைச்சாட்சியாக இரத்தம் சிந்தி இறந்தார்.

கலிஸ்டசின் வரலாறு பற்றிய குறிப்புகள் அவருடைய எதிரிகளின் எழுத்துகளிலிருந்தே தெரிய வருகின்றன. உரோமை நகர் இப்போலித்து (Hippolytus of Rome) என்னும் புகழ்பெற்ற இறையிலார் கலிஸ்டசின் எதிரிகளுள் ஒருவர். அவர் தம் "Philosophumena" என்னும் நூலில் கலிஸ்டசைப் பற்றிப் பின்வருமாறு கூறுகிறார்:

கலிஸ்டஸ் இளமைப் பருவத்தில் ஓர் அடிமையாக இருந்தார். அவரது தலைவர் கார்ப்போஃபொருஸ் (Carpophorus) என்பவர் கைம்பெண்களையும் கைவிடப்பட்ட குழந்தைகளையும் பராமரிப்பதற்காகக் கிறித்தவர்களிடமிருந்து பெறப்பட்ட நிதியை கலிஸ்டசின் பொறுப்பில் கொடுத்திருந்தார். அந்நிதியைத் தொலைத்துவிட்ட கலிஸ்டஸ் உரோமையிலிருந்து தப்பியோடினார். ஆனால் போர்த்துஸ் என்னும் இடத்தில் பிடிபட்டார். தப்பிப்பதற்காகக் கடலில் குதித்த கலிஸ்டசை அவருடைய தலைவரிடம் ஒப்படைத்தனர். 

கலிஸ்டசிடம் தாம் கொடுத்த பணத்தை மீண்டும் பெறவேண்டும் என்ற எண்ணத்தில் மக்கள் அவரை விடுதலை செய்யுமாறு கோரினார்கள். அவர் உரோமையிலிருந்த சில யூதர்களிடம் பணம் கடன் வாங்கவோ திரும்பப் பெறவோ சென்றபோது எழுந்த தகராறில் மீண்டும் கைதுசெய்யப்பட்டார்.

கலிஸ்டஸ் கிறித்தவர் என்று தெரிந்ததும் சார்தீனியா தீவில் சுரங்கங்களில் கட்டாய வேலை செய்ய அனுப்பப்பட்டார். உரோமை அரசன் கோம்மொதுஸ் என்பவரை மார்சியா என்னும் பெண்மணி அணுகி, கிறித்தவர்களை விடுதலை செய்யுமாறு கேட்டார். எனவே ஹையசிந்த் என்னும் குரு சார்தீனியாவுக்குச் சென்று அங்கே கட்டாய வேலை செய்ய அனுப்பப்பட்ட கலிஸ்டசுக்கும் பிறருக்கும் விடுதலை பெற்றுக் கொடுத்தார். அப்போது கலிஸ்டசின் உடல்நிலை மிகவும் மோசமானதால் அவர் ஆன்சியும் என்னும் நகருக்கு அனுப்பப்பட்டார். அங்கே முதலாம் விக்டர் என்னும் திருத்தந்தையிடமிருந்து பெற்ற உதவித் தொகை கொண்டு வாழ்ந்துவந்தார்.

திருத்தந்தை செஃபிரீனுசின் உதவியாளர்

திருத்தந்தை முதலாம் விக்டர் இறந்ததும் செஃபிரீனுஸ் திருத்தந்தையாகப் பதவியேற்றார். இவர் திருத்தொண்டராக இருந்த கலிஸ்டசிடம் உரோமை ஆப்பியா நெடுஞ்சாலையில் அமைந்திருந்த கல்லறைத் தோட்டத்தைப் பராமரிக்கும் பொறுப்பைக் கொடுத்தார்.

மேலும், கலிஸ்டஸ் திருத்தந்தை செஃஃபிரீனுசின் வலது கைபோல் செயல்பட்டு, அவரது ஆலோசனையாளராகவும் விளங்கினார்.

கலிஸ்டஸ் கல்லறைத் தோட்டம்

கலிஸ்டசின் பொறுப்பில் ஒப்படைக்கப்பட்டகல்லறைத் தோட்டம் இன்று "புனித கலிஸ்டஸ் கல்லறைப் புதைநிலம்" (Catacomb of St. Callixtus) என்று அழைக்கப்படுகின்றது. கிபி மூன்றாம் நூற்றாண்டில் வாழ்ந்த ஒன்பது திருத்தந்தையர் அப்புதைநிலத்தில் அடக்கம் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளனர். அவர்கள் அடக்கம் செய்யப்பட்ட இடம் "திருத்தந்தையரின் சிறுகோவில்" என்று அழைக்கப்படுகிறது. திருத்தந்தை கலிஸ்டஸ் அவருடைய பெயர்கொண்ட கல்லறைத் தோட்டத்தில் அடக்கப்படவில்லை.

பல நூற்றாண்டுகளாகப் புதைந்து கிடந்த அக்கல்லறைத் தோட்டப் பகுதி 1849இல் ஜொவான்னி பத்தீஸ்தா தெ ரோஸ்ஸி (Giovanni Battista de Rossi) என்னும் அகழ்வாய்வு வல்லுநரால் கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டது.

கலிஸ்டஸ் திருத்தந்தையாகத் தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்படல்

திருத்தந்தை செஃபிரீனுஸ் இறந்ததும் அவருக்கு நெருங்கிய துணையாளராகவிருந்த கலிஸ்டஸ் திருத்தந்தையாகத் தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்பட்டார். விடுதலை பெற்ற ஓர் அடிமை திருத்தந்தையாகப் பதவி ஏற்பதற்கு அக்காலத்தில் தடையிருக்கவில்லை. கிபி ஐந்தாம் நூற்றாண்டில்தான் திருத்தந்தை முதலாம் லியோ சட்டம் இயற்றி, விடுதலை பெற்ற அடிமை திருத்தந்தையாக முடியாது என்று வரையறுத்தார்.

கலிஸ்டசுக்கு எதிரான குற்றச்சாட்டுகள்

திருத்தந்தை கலிஸ்டசைப் பற்றி அவருடைய எதிரியாக இருந்த இப்போலித்து என்பவர் பல குற்றச்சாட்டுகளை முன்வைத்தார். அவற்றுள் சில:

• கலிஸ்டஸ் திருச்சபையின் உண்மையான போதனையைத் திரித்ததாகக் குற்றச்சாட்டு. ஒரே கடவுள் மூன்று ஆள்களாக உள்ளார் என்னும் கிறித்தவக் கொள்கையை கலிஸ்டஸ் "ஒரே கடவுள் மூன்று வடிவங்களில் தந்தை, மகன், தூய ஆவி என விளங்குகிறார்" என்று கலிஸ்டஸ் கூறியதாகக் குற்றம் சாட்டினார்.

• இருமுறை அல்லது மூன்றுமுறை திருமணம் செய்தவர்களையும் குருத்துவ நிலைபெற அனுமதித்தது தவறு என்னும் குற்றச்சாட்டு.

• அடிமைகளுக்கும் சுதந்திர மக்களுக்கும் இடையே நிகழும் திருமணம் செல்லுபடியாகாது என்று கலிஸ்டஸ் கூறவில்லை என்னும் குற்றச்சாட்டு.

• விபசாரத்தில் ஈடுபட்டோர் மனம் திரும்பி பாவப் பரிகாரம் செய்தபின் திருச்சபையில் சேர்த்துக்கொள்ளப்பட்டது தவறு என்னும் குற்றச்சாட்டு.

ஆக, இப்போலித்து கடுமையான ஒழுக்க நெறியைப் போதித்தார். கலிஸ்டசோ மக்களின் நலனைக் கருத்தில் கொண்டு செயல்பட்டார். எனவே, இருவருக்கும் இடையே மோதல் ஏற்பட்டது.

கலிஸ்டஸ் திருத்தந்தையாகத் தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்பட்டதும், இப்போலித்துவின்ஆதரவாளர்கள் அவரை எதிர்-திருத்தந்தையாக தேர்ந்தெடுத்தனர். இப்போலித்து தம் கிறித்தவ நம்பிக்கையின் பொருட்டு நாடுகடத்தப்பட்டு மறைச்சாட்சியாக உயிர்துறந்தார். இறப்பதற்கு முன் அவர் திருச்சபையோடு நல்லுறவு ஏற்படுத்திக் கொண்டார். அவர் கத்தோலிக்க திருச்சபையால் புனிதராகப் போற்றப்படுகிறார்.

மொந்தானியக் கொள்கைக்கு ஆதரவு அளித்த தெர்த்தூல்லியன் என்னும் பண்டைக் காலக் கிறித்தவ அறிஞரோடும் கலிஸ்டஸ் மோத வேண்டியதாயிற்று.

திருத்தந்தை கலிஸ்டசின் இறப்பு

"உரோமை மறைச்சாட்சியர் நூல்" (Roman Martyrology) என்னும் பழைய ஏட்டில், புனித பேதுருவுக்கு அடுத்த படியாக "மறைச்சாட்சி" என்னும் பட்டம் புனித கலிஸ்டசுக்கே வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

அவுரேலியா நெடுஞ்சாலையில் (Via Aurelia) அமைந்திருந்த கலிஸ்டசின் கல்லறை 1960இல் கண்டெடுக்கப்பட்டது. அக்கல்லறை திருத்தந்தை முதலாம் ஜூலியஸ் என்பவரால் கட்டியெழுப்பப்பட்டது. அதில் காணப்பட்ட குறிப்பின்படி, கலிஸ்டஸ் கிறித்தவ நம்பிக்கையின் பொருட்டு மறைச்சாட்சியாக உயிர்துறந்தார். அவரைக் கம்புகளால் அடித்துக் கொன்றார்கள். அவரது உடல் ஒரு குழியில் வீசப்பட்டது. அதனருகே கலிஸ்டசே எழுப்பியிருந்த புனித மரியா கோவில் (Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere) உள்ளது.

---JDH---தெய்வீக குணமளிக்கும் இயேசு /திண்டுக்கல்.

Saint of the Day: (14-10-2020)

St. Callistus I

He was the Pope for the period from 217 to 222 A.D. He was sentenced to do work in the mines of Sardinia. But he was released at the intervention of one Hyacinthus, who represented Marcia, the favorite mistress of Emperor Commodus. Pope Victor-I gave Callistus a pension, since he was ill. He was a deacon and Pope Zephyrinus entrusted the burial chambers in the custody of Callistus. He became the Pope (Bishop of Rome) after Zephyrinus, defeating one Hippolytus in the election. Pope Callistus-I admitted into the Church, the converts, who have previously denied their Christian faith without any penance. Taking this as a chance, Hippolytus spread wrong details about Callistus that Callistus is admitting sinners into the Church. But Callistus said God’s grace has no limit. There is no sin that is unpardonable. God wishes that sinners should live with change of mind. St. Callistus was killed by tossing him into a well, for his Christian faith. But his body was recovered by one Asterius, a priest at night and buried it. But Asterius was arrested for this and was killed by throwing him from a bridge into the Tiber river. Callistus was honored as a martyr.

He is a patron of cemetery workers.

---JDH---Jesus the Divine Healer---

Bl. Alexandrina Maria da Costa October 13

 Bl. Alexandrina Maria da Costa

Feastday: October 13

Birth: 1904

Death: 1955

Beatified: April 25, 2004 by Pope John Paul II

 Holy Saturday of 1918, Alexandrina Maria da Costa, a fourteen-year-old native of Balasar, Portugal, was sewing when three men broke into her home, threatening to violate her chastity. Resolute to preserve her purity, she fled by jumping out a window. The thirteen-foot plunge to the ground crippled her for life. At the age of twenty-one, she became totally paralyzed and permanently bedridden. Alexandrina accepted this affliction as God's will for her and an opportunity to offer herself totally as a "victim soul" for the conversion of sinners. For a period of three and a half years, she received the mystical gift of experiencing each Friday the pains of Christ on the cross. For thirteen years, she was imbued with the mystical phenomenon of being nourished solely by the Eucharist. Out of zeal to convert sinners, Alexandrina requested for her tombstone these words: "Sinners, how much I want to tell you...Do not risk losing Jesus for all eternity, for he is so good. Enough with sin. Love Jesus, love him!" On October 13, 1955, before breathing her last, Alexandrina declared, "I am happy, because I am going to heaven."

St. Berthoald October 13

 St. Berthoald

Feastday: October 13

Death: 7th century

The fifth bishop of Cambrai Arras, France. His time as bishop came during a period of severe upheaval in France, and he labored to protect his people.

Berthoald (or Bertoald) (died 604) was the mayor of the palace of Burgundy from some time before 603 (when he is first mentioned as mayor under King Theuderic II) until his death in the next year. According to the Burgundian chronicler Fredegar, he was moderate, sensible, brave, and honest.

In 604, Theuderic, at the suggestion of his grandmother Brunhilda, sent Berthoald to inspect the royal villae along the Seine, in order to have him away from court so that he might be conveniently killed. Brunhilda intended to raise her paramour Protadius to Berthoald's honours. Berthoald and three hundred men were at Arèle when King Clotaire II of Neustria—alerted by some means to his presence— sent an army under his son Merovech and his mayor Landric to assault him. Berthoald fled to Orléans, and Landric followed and besieged him, which violated a peace treaty with Theuderic. The king of Burgundy went out at Christmas to Étampes and met the forces of Merovech and Landric. Defeating them with the aid of Berthoald, he took Paris. Berthoald was killed in battle, having charged the enemy too far, with no regard for his own life, which he knew was in danger at court because of the plottings on behalf of Protadius. Protadius was indeed made mayor of the palace after him.

St. Carpus October 13

St. Carpus

Feastday: October 13

Death: 1st century

Confessor mentioned by St. Paul in one of his letters. St. Paul stated that he had left his cloak with Carpus. Greek tradition makes him a bishop.

Carpus of Beroea of the Seventy Disciples is commemorated by the Church on May 26 with Alphaeus, and on January 4 with the Seventy.

In his second Epistle to Timothy (2 Timothy 4:13), Paul requests, "The phelonion that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books." Carpus was bishop of Beroea (or Verria) in Macedonia.

St. Chelidonia October 13

 St. Chelidonia

Feastday: October 13

Patron: of Subiaco, Italy

Death: 1152

Benedictine hermitess. She was born in Ciculum in the Abruzzi region of Italy, and became a recluse in the mountains near Subiaco, in a cave now called Marra Ferogna. Chelidonia received her habit from Cardinal Cuno of Frascati. Her remains are in the church of St. Scholastica in Subiaco, and she is patron of that city.

For the islands with this name in antiquity, see Chelidonia (islands).

Chelidonia was a Benedictine hermitess. She was born in Ciculum, Italy, and became a recluse in the mountains near Subiaco, choosing a home, as a hermitess, in a cave now called Marra Ferogna. Chelidonia later received her habit from Cardinal Cuno of Frascati.[1]

St. Comgan October 13

 St. Comgan

Feastday: October 13

Death: 8th century

Abbot and founder. He was the son of a prince of Leinster, Ireland, and the brother of St. Kentigern. Wounded by neighboring chieftains in a battle, Comgan fled with his sister and her children to Scotland. He settled in Lochaise, near Skye. There he built a monastery. He was buried on Iona.

Clan MacEacharn (Scottish Gaelic: Sìol Eachairn) were a group of families who occupied lands in the Kintyre, Islay, and Morvern regions of Scotland as well as island areas such as Mull and Tiree. They are traditionally known as one of the oldest Western Highland family names. The history of the Kintyre branch and its sub branches are well known, however the histories of the Islay and Morvern branches and the island branches is obscure.

Origins of Clan MacEacharn

The MacEacharns are known as Sìol Eachairn.[1] "The Seed of the Horse Lord". They are a clan with other clans branching from them.[2] The clan has no septs, only branch families known under different clan names.[2] The traditional seat of the MacEacharns was Killelan Estate in Southern Kintyre. Killelan translates as "the church of St Fillan". Saint Fillan's mother was Saint Kentigerna.[3] Saint Kentigerna was a Leinster princess. Her father was King Cellach Cualann. Along with her brother Saint Comgan[4] and her son Fillan she traveled to Scotland in the late 7th century AD.

The early 20th century scholar Rev. A.M. Sinclair noted that the genealogy of the MacEacherns was given in the Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis as "Andrew, son of Colin, son of Macrath, son of Gilchrist, son of Macrath, son of Marceartach, son of Cormac, son of Seth, son of Ferchar, son of Finlay, son of Nichol, son of Maine, son of Murdoch, son of Ectigern, who was called In Gamor". Sinclair speculated that the "In Gamor" may stand for an gainnear, meaning "the archer"; though also noted that it could also stand for an ceannair, meaning "the driver". Sinclair stated that Macrath, son of Ectigern had three sons—Gilchrist, Dugall, and Ranald. Gilchrist succeeded his father in Kintyre and was succeeded by his own son, Macrath, who was in turn succeeded by his son, Colin. Colin was in turn succeeded by his son, Andrew, who was chief of the clan in 1385. Sinclair also stated that Colin of Kilellan, a descendant of Andrew, was chief in the year 1493.[5]

Sinclair disagreed with the claimed ancestry of the Clan Dugall Craignish and stated further that in the House of Argyll and the Collateral Branches of the Clan Campbell.[6] , we are told that the MacCouls of Craignish are descended from Dugall Campbell, third son of Sir Archibald Gillespic Campbell. This statement is groundless, and contrary to known historic facts. MacCoul is a shortened form of Mac Dhughaill or MacDougall. MacCoul of Craignish means simply MacDougall of Craignish. There were two clan Dougalls in Scotland, the Clan MacDougalls of Lorn, who were descended from Dugall, son of Somerled of the Isles, and the Clan Dugall Craignish, who were descended from Dugall, son of Macrath, son of Ectigern. MacCoul is simply a contracted form of MacDougall. Both names are the same in Gaelic, Mac Dhughaill.[5]

The clan is not registered with the Court of the Lord Lyon and as such is not officially recognised as a clan.

St. Faustus October 13

 St. Faustus

Feastday: October 13

Death: 304

One of "the Three Crowns of Cordoba, with Januarius and Martial. These martyrs of Cordoba, Spain, were so named by Prudentius. They were tortured cruelly and then burned to death.

St. Fyncana October 13

 St. Fyncana

Feastday: October 13

Death: unknown

Martyr with St. Fyndoca. They are all recorded in the Aberdeen Breviary, but no details of their life exist.

St. Maurice of Carnoet October 13

 St. Maurice of Carnoet

Feastday: October 13

Birth: 1117

Death: 1191

As a monk of the Cistercian monastery of Langonnet, France, Maurice Duault, of Croixanvec, France, exhibited great humility, simplicity, and prudence. He was soon chosen to become Langonnet's abbot. Thereafter he was sent to found a monastery in the forest of Carnoet. The surrounding woods were menaced by aggressive wolves. Upon being asked by his fellow monks to pronounce an excommunication against all the wolves, Maurice reminded them that wolves and "all beasts created by God" should exist, for "God saw all things which he had made, and they were very good." But he added, "May Jesus Christ, and his holy Mother, whom I serve, drive out those wolves who rage violently in the slaughter of men." Shortly afterward, two large wolves were discovered lying dead near the monastery, evidently felled by the abbot's appeal to Jesus and Mary (for the animals showed no signs of injury that would explain their deaths). Among the many miracles attributed to the intercession of Saint Maurice following his death, a boy who had drowned was raised to life when his body was brought to the abbot's tomb.

Maurice of Carnoet was a Cistercian abbot. Born in Brittany, Maurice went on to study at the University of Paris. When he completed his studies he entered the Langonette Monastery in 1144. In 1176 he was elected abbot of Langonette Monastery. Later Duke Conan IV of Brittany build the Carnoet Abbey, for Maurice. In 1176 he became the monastery's first abbot.[

St. Regimbald October 13

 St. Regimbald

Feastday: October 13

Death: 1039

 

Benedictine abbot and bishop, also called Regimbaut and Reginbald. He was a monk at a monastery in Augsburg, Germany, and then at Edersberg. In 1022 he was elected abbot of Lorsch and in 1032 was named bishop of Speyer.

Regimbald[1] (died 1039) was a Benedictine abbot of Lorsch Abbey, and bishop of Speyer, from 1032.[2] He was previously at the abbey of Saints Ulrich and Afra and at Ebersberg Abbey.[3]

Regimbald, represented in 1615.

He is a Catholic and Orthodox[4] saint, feast day 13 October

St. Romulus October 13

 St. Romulus

Feastday: October 13

Death: 730

Benedictine abbot. He headed the monastery of St. Baudillius, near Nimes, France, until the community was menaced by Saracen raiders, circa 720. The monks then fled with Romulus to the monastery of Saissy-les-Bois.

St. Theophilus of Antioch October 13

 St. Theophilus of Antioch

Feastday: October 13

Death: 181

Bishop of Antioch (in modern Turkey), and an early Christian apologist. Originally a philosopher in the eastern Roman Empire, he began to study the Scriptures with the intention of attacking the Christian faith but was soon converted. A gifted apologist, he was the author of an Apology in three books and addressed to Autolycus (the only work of his writings to survive). It seeks to demonstrate the superiority of Christianity over the immoral myths of pagan religion. It is also noted for its development of the doctrine of the Logos (Word) as first enunciated in the Gospel of John and to express the word Triad when describing the relationship of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

There is also a Theophilus of Alexandria (c. 412 CE).

Theophilus, Patriarch of Antioch[1] (Greek: Θεόφιλος ὁ Ἀντιοχεύς) succeeded Eros c. 169, and was succeeded by Maximus I c. 183, according to Henry Fynes Clinton,[2] but these dates are only approximations. His death probably occurred between 183 and 185.[3]

We gather from his writings (the only remaining being his apology to Autolycus) that he was born a pagan, not far from the Tigris and Euphrates, and was led to embrace Christianity by studying the Holy Scriptures, especially the prophetical books.[4] He makes no reference to his office in his existing writings, nor is any other fact in his life recorded. Eusebius, however, speaks of the zeal which he and the other chief shepherds displayed in driving away the heretics who were attacking Christ's flock, with special mention of his work against Marcion.[5] He made contributions to the departments of Christian literature, polemics, exegetics, and apologetics. William Sanday[6] describes him as "one of the precursors of that group of writers who, from Irenaeus to Cyprian, not only break the obscurity which rests on the earliest history of the Church, but alike in the East and in the West carry it to the front in literary eminence, and distance all their heathen contemporaries".

St. Venantius October 13

 St. Venantius

Feastday: October 13

Death: 5th century

An abbot of the monastery of St. Martin at Tours, France. He spurred the scholastic and cultural programs of this great abbey.

புனித_கோல்மன் (-1012)அக்டோபர் 13

புனித_கோல்மன் (-1012)

அக்டோபர் 13

இவர் (#St_Colman) அயர்லாந்து நாட்டைச் சார்ந்தவர்.

இறைவன்மீது மிகுந்த பற்றுக்கொண்ட இவர் ஒருமுறை திருப்பயணமாகப் புனித நாடுகளுக்குச் சென்றார். 

ஆஸ்திரியாவின் வியன்னா நகரிலிருந்து ஆறு கிலோமீட்டர் தொலைவில் உள்ள ஸ்டோகெரா (Stockerau) என்ற இடத்திற்கு வந்தபொழுது, அங்கிருந்த ஒரு சிலர் இவரை உளவாளி என்று நினைத்து, பிடித்துக் கடுமையாகச் சித்திரவதை செய்து கொன்று, காட்டுப் பக்கமாய் வீசியெறிந்தனர்.

இவரது உடல் காட்டுப்பக்கம் வீசப்பட்ட போதும் 18 மாதங்களுக்கு அழிவுறாமல் அப்படியே இருந்தது. இதைப் பார்த்துவிட்டு, ஆஸ்திரியாவிலிருந்த மக்கள், 'ஓர் இறைமனிதரை அல்லவா நாம் உளவாளி என்று  நினைத்து அநியாயமாகக் கொன்று போட்டுவிட்டோம்' என்று தங்களுடைய தவற்றுக்காக மனம் வருந்தினார்கள். 

மேலும் அவர்கள் இவரை ஒரு புனிதராக நினைத்து வணக்கம் செலுத்தத் தொடங்கினர்.

இவர் ஆஸ்திரியாவின் பாதுகாவலராக கருதப்படுகிறார்.

St. Colman of Stockerau

Feastday: October 13

Patron: of Austria; Melk; patron of hanged men, horned cattle, and horses; invoked against plague and for husbands by marriageable girls; invoked against hanging; invoked against gout

Death: 1012

An Irish or Scottish pilgrim who was martyred in Austria while on the way to the Holy Land. Tortured and hanged as a spy, he edified everyone with his courage. His body remained preserved, and miracles were reported at his grave. The Austrians realized that Colman was a holy man, put to death by mistake. He became a patron saint of Austria.

For the other Irish saint and also martyr, see Saint Colman (martyr).

Saint Coloman of Stockerau (Irish: Colmán; Latin: Colomannus; died 18 October 1012) was an Irish saint.

Originally known as Colmán (variously rendered Koloman, Kálmán, Colman, and Colomannus), he was an Irish pilgrim en route to the Holy Land and was mistaken for a spy because of his strange appearance. He was tortured and hanged at Stockerau, near Vienna, Austria, on 16 July 1012. Later tradition has it that he was "a son of Máel-Sechnaill (d. 1022), high king of Ireland." (Breen, 2009)

At the time of his death, there were continual skirmishes among Austria, Moravia, and Bohemia. Coloman spoke no German, so he could not give an understandable account of himself. He was hanged alongside several robbers.

According to Aidan Breen, "He was made a saint by the local people, possibly out of remorse for the deed and because of his endurance under torture and the many miracles reported from where his body was buried." (Breen, 2009)

October 13 The Miracle of the Sun in Fatima

October 13 

The Miracle of the Sun in Fatima

(https://soundcloud.com/user-84758912-221844386/our-lady-of-fatima)

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The Miracle of the Sun in Fatima

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On “the day the sun danced,” thousands of people bore witness to a miracle that not only proved the validity of the Fatima Marian apparitions, but also shattered the prevalent belief at the time that God was no longer relevant, according to one theologian.

What crowds witnessed the day of the miracle was “the news that God, in the end, contrary to what was said in the philosophy books at that time, was alive and acting in the midst of men,” Dr. Marco Daniel Duarte told CNA.

If one were to open philosophy books during that period, they would likely read something akin to the concept conceived by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who boldly asserted in the late 1800s that “God is dead.”

Yet as this and other philosophies like it were gaining steam in the life and thought of society, the Virgin Mary appears and tells three small shepherds that “God is alive and still attentive to humanity, even though humanity is waging war with one another.”

Duarte, a theologian and director of the Fatima shrine museums, spoke about the cultural significance of the Miracle of the Sun given the atheistic thought prevalent in Portuguese society at the time.

In 1917, Portugal, like the majority of the world, was embroiled in war. As World War I raged throughout Europe, Portugal found itself unable to maintain its initial neutrality and joined forces with the Allies, in order to protect colonies in Africa and to defend their trade with Britain. About 220,000 Portuguese civilians died during the war; thousands due to food shortages, thousands more from the Spanish flu.

Compounding the problem, government stability in the country had been rocky at best following the revolution and coup d’état that led to the overthrow of the monarchy and subsequent establishment of the First Portuguese Republic in 1910.

 

A new liberal constitution separating Church and state was drafted under the influence of Freemasonry, which sought to omit the faith – which for many was the backbone of Portuguese culture and society – from public life.

Anti-Catholicism in Portugal had initially begun in the 18th century during the term of statesman Marquês de Pombal, and flared up again after the drafting of the new constitution.

Catholic churches and schools were seized by the government, and the wearing of clerics in public, the ringing of church bells, and the celebrating of popular religious festivals were banned. Between 1911-1916, nearly 2,000 priests, monks and nuns were killed by anti-Christian groups.

This was the backdrop against which Mary, in 1917, appeared to three shepherd children – Lucia dos Santos, 10, and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto, 9 and 7 – in a field in Fatima, Portugal, bringing with her requests for the recitation of the rosary, for sacrifices on behalf of sinners, and a secret regarding the fate of the world.

To prove that the apparitions were true, Mary promised the children that during the last of her six appearances she would provide a “sign” so people would believe in the apparitions and in her message.

What happened on that day – Oct. 13, 1917 – has come to be known as the “Miracle of the Sun,” or “the day the sun danced.”

According to various accounts, a crowd of some 70,000 people – believers and skeptics alike – gathered to see the miracle that Mary had promised. After appearing and speaking to the children for some time, Mary then “cast her own light upon the sun.”

The previously rainy sky cleared up, the clouds dispersed and the ground, which had been wet and muddy from the rain, was dried. A transparent veil came over the sun, making it easy to look at, and multi-colored lights were strewn across the landscape.

The sun then began to spin, twirling in the sky, and at one point appeared to veer toward earth before jumping back to its place in the sky.

Duarte said the miracle was a direct, and very convincing contradiction to the atheistic regimes at the time, which is evidenced by the fact that the first newspaper to report on the miracle was an anti-Catholic, Masonic newspaper in Lisbon called O Seculo.

The Miracle of the Sun, he said, was understood by the people to be “the seal, the guarantee that in fact those three children were telling the truth.”

Even today, “Fatima makes people change their perception of God,” he said, explaining that for him, one of the most important messages of the apparitions is that “even if man has separated God from his existence, God is present in human history and doesn’t abandon humanity.”

With World War I raging, a war the likes of which the world had never seen, Mary appeared to tell the children that “that story can have another ending, when the power of prayer is stronger than the power of bullets.”

 

The Miracle of the Sun is also the heart of a special exhibition called “The Colors of the Sun” the shrine is offering for the duration of the centenary year of the apparitions, which focuses on the symbolic nature of the miracle and its cultural significance.

Displayed are “various objects, some older, others more contemporary, some more modern, some made of textile, others of organic materials, paintings, sculptures,” but which are all “placed with a narrative,” he said.

Beginning with a set of black umbrellas used by people who had gathered at the Cova de Iria (Cave of Iria) where Mary appeared Oct. 13, the exhibit aims to build a narrative of what people saw that day, and is supplemented with different works that express the various elements of Mary’s message to the children.

It also shows how the shrine developed over the years, showing the transformation of what used to be a small, simple chapel into what is now two basilicas: the Basilica of Nossa Senhora do Rosario (Our Lady of the Rosary) and Basilica da Santissima Trindade (Basilica of the Holy Trinity), with an open chapel in between where the statue of Our Lady of Fatima resides.

Pieces come from all over the world – some from the Fatima shrine, some from the State of Portugal, and some even hail from Germany and France.

One of the highlight pieces is a giant heart made by Joana Vasconcelos, a well-known Portuguese artist who crafted the piece entirely out of red plastic ware, such as spoons and forks.

“It’s material that isn’t important for anyone, but which after everything is united, forms the image of a heart and can be the image of reparation,” Duarte said.

The exhibit closes with white parasols, rather than umbrellas, in order to show the fruit of the miracle, Duarte said, adding that it can also signify “the presence of God, the Eucharistic Christ.”

In this sense, the parasols “can be for us a symbol that also we can be God’s tabernacles and can be the place where God dwells,” he said. “This is the true shrine that God wants. The shrine of Fatima is precisely the image of what God wants: to dwell among men.”

This article was originally published on CNA May 12, 2017.