Jan 8. Saint Abo of Tiflis. mantheycalltom | January 03, 2010 January 8 is the feast day of Saint Abo of Tiflis. This prayer is for the conversion of Islamic people to Christianity.More
Jan 8. Saint Abo of Tiflis.
mantheycalltom | January 03, 2010 January 8 is the feast day of Saint Abo of Tiflis. This prayer is for the conversion of Islamic people to Christianity.
mantheycalltom | January 03, 2010 January 8 is the feast day of Saint Abo of Tiflis. This prayer is for the conversion of Islamic people to Christianity.
JANUARY 8, 2011
DAILY PRAYER WITH REGNUM CHRISTI
WHERE LESS IS MORE
January 8, 2011
Saturday After Epiphany
John 3:22-30
Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, where he spent
some time with them baptizing. John was also baptizing in Aenon near
Salim, because there was an abundance of water there, and people came
to be baptized, for John had not yet been imprisoned. Now a dispute
…More
JANUARY 8, 2011
DAILY PRAYER WITH REGNUM CHRISTI
WHERE LESS IS MORE
January 8, 2011
Saturday After Epiphany
John 3:22-30
Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, where he spent
some time with them baptizing. John was also baptizing in Aenon near
Salim, because there was an abundance of water there, and people came
to be baptized, for John had not yet been imprisoned. Now a dispute
arose between the disciples of John and a Jew about ceremonial
washings. So they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, the one who
was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is
baptizing and everyone is coming to him." John answered and said, "No
one can receive anything except what has been given him from heaven.
You yourselves can testify that I said (that) I am not the Messiah,
but that I was sent before him. The one who has the bride is the
bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices
greatly at the bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine has been made
complete. He must increase; I must decrease."
Introductory Prayer: Lord, in spite of so many efforts, my
self-love and vanity cloud my intentions, reducing the merit of my
labors for you. Therefore I come before you empty-handed.
Nevertheless, I'm confident in your forgiveness, knowing that you are
pleased to refresh and renew me as often as I turn back to you with
hope. I love you ardently, good Jesus, and long to love you ever
more.
Petition: Lord help me to practice true humility.
1. "He Must Increase; I Must Decrease" This is the petition that
must burn in the heart of every authentic apostle and leader in the
faith. Often we seek ourselves in our vocation, in our apostolate,
in our service to the Church. Some offer themselves only when the
work to be done brings them honor or enhances their self-importance.
We claim to serve Christ, but if we have our status compromised by
criticism or see someone less capable moved ahead of us in rank, our
heart crumbles in discouragement and our commitment wanes. In moments
when humility is asked of us, may we pass the test that John passes
in today's Gospel. Everyday we must look into our hearts to see if
they are mirrors reflecting back only self-centered motivations, or
if they are windows to the heart of Christ in the world, centered
only on humble service. Mirrors weaken the mission; windows empower
it.
2. "Rejoices Greatly at the Bridegroom's Voice" Breaking the grip
of self-love is eminently positive work. We can let go of a lesser
love only for a greater one. Everyday John's heart had set its
aspiration and love on the Messiah to come. All his ministerial
action and spiritual ideals were centered on Christ. His solitude in
the desert permitted this love to grow without distraction,
communicated as it was in prayer and contemplation. As John states,
all he has received he received from heaven—from the
supernatural life given by contemplation and grace. Love for Christ
was no overnight endeavor, but was the work of years of prayer,
self-conquest and fidelity to the life of conversion he was to
preach.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, I hear now what John heard: your
beautiful voice summoning union with your beloved, the Church. No
greater honor and love can I have than to ensure this union happens
continuously, perfectly and selflessly. May I learn to accept
humiliation and forget myself a thousand times over, so that the
needs of your Mystical Body may be brokered over my humble service
and self-effacing manner. I pray that my ignoble need to be praised
and appreciated apart from your glory never becomes the reason to
find you separated from your spouse.
Resolution: I will pray a litany of humility with great fervor
today before I go to bed.
meditation.regnumchristi.org
DAILY PRAYER WITH REGNUM CHRISTI
WHERE LESS IS MORE
January 8, 2011
Saturday After Epiphany
John 3:22-30
Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, where he spent
some time with them baptizing. John was also baptizing in Aenon near
Salim, because there was an abundance of water there, and people came
to be baptized, for John had not yet been imprisoned. Now a dispute
arose between the disciples of John and a Jew about ceremonial
washings. So they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, the one who
was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is
baptizing and everyone is coming to him." John answered and said, "No
one can receive anything except what has been given him from heaven.
You yourselves can testify that I said (that) I am not the Messiah,
but that I was sent before him. The one who has the bride is the
bridegroom; the best man, who stands and listens for him, rejoices
greatly at the bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine has been made
complete. He must increase; I must decrease."
Introductory Prayer: Lord, in spite of so many efforts, my
self-love and vanity cloud my intentions, reducing the merit of my
labors for you. Therefore I come before you empty-handed.
Nevertheless, I'm confident in your forgiveness, knowing that you are
pleased to refresh and renew me as often as I turn back to you with
hope. I love you ardently, good Jesus, and long to love you ever
more.
Petition: Lord help me to practice true humility.
1. "He Must Increase; I Must Decrease" This is the petition that
must burn in the heart of every authentic apostle and leader in the
faith. Often we seek ourselves in our vocation, in our apostolate,
in our service to the Church. Some offer themselves only when the
work to be done brings them honor or enhances their self-importance.
We claim to serve Christ, but if we have our status compromised by
criticism or see someone less capable moved ahead of us in rank, our
heart crumbles in discouragement and our commitment wanes. In moments
when humility is asked of us, may we pass the test that John passes
in today's Gospel. Everyday we must look into our hearts to see if
they are mirrors reflecting back only self-centered motivations, or
if they are windows to the heart of Christ in the world, centered
only on humble service. Mirrors weaken the mission; windows empower
it.
2. "Rejoices Greatly at the Bridegroom's Voice" Breaking the grip
of self-love is eminently positive work. We can let go of a lesser
love only for a greater one. Everyday John's heart had set its
aspiration and love on the Messiah to come. All his ministerial
action and spiritual ideals were centered on Christ. His solitude in
the desert permitted this love to grow without distraction,
communicated as it was in prayer and contemplation. As John states,
all he has received he received from heaven—from the
supernatural life given by contemplation and grace. Love for Christ
was no overnight endeavor, but was the work of years of prayer,
self-conquest and fidelity to the life of conversion he was to
preach.
Conversation with Christ: Lord, I hear now what John heard: your
beautiful voice summoning union with your beloved, the Church. No
greater honor and love can I have than to ensure this union happens
continuously, perfectly and selflessly. May I learn to accept
humiliation and forget myself a thousand times over, so that the
needs of your Mystical Body may be brokered over my humble service
and self-effacing manner. I pray that my ignoble need to be praised
and appreciated apart from your glory never becomes the reason to
find you separated from your spouse.
Resolution: I will pray a litany of humility with great fervor
today before I go to bed.
meditation.regnumchristi.org
2 more comments from Irapuato
Grew up Muslim. Perfumer to Nerses, the prince of Kartli, a region of eastern Georgia. As a young adult, Abo became convinced of the truth of Christianity, but was afraid to convert openly as Georgia was under Muslim rule and conversion was a capital offense. For political reasons, his prince had to seek shelter in Khazaria north of the Caspian Sea, an area free of Muslim control; Abo and 300 other …More
Grew up Muslim. Perfumer to Nerses, the prince of Kartli, a region of eastern Georgia. As a young adult, Abo became convinced of the truth of Christianity, but was afraid to convert openly as Georgia was under Muslim rule and conversion was a capital offense. For political reasons, his prince had to seek shelter in Khazaria north of the Caspian Sea, an area free of Muslim control; Abo and 300 other members of the court accompanied him, and Abo was baptized there. The prince and his party returned to Tblisi in 782, and for a few years Abo lived quietly as a “closet” Christian. However, in 786 he was exposed as a Christian, and tried for being an apostate from Islam. He confessed his faith at trial, was imprisoned, and martyred. Born •8th century at Baghdad, (in modern Iraq) Died •beheaded 6 January 786 at Tblisi, Georgia •his body was burned on the edge of cliff, and his bones thrown off a bridge into the Kura River •his biographer, a contemporary named John Sabanisidze, swears a pillar of light was seen rising from the water the next day Canonized •Pre-Congregation Additional Information •For All The Saints •Kirken i Norge •Life of Abo saints.sqpn.com/saint-abo-of-tblisi