Signs of the Times  

    A few more examples of real heroes and heroines and an important part of the Tradition of the Catholic church--founded upon the blood of the martyrs...

      ST. JOHN OF MATHA -- Priest, Founder of the Trinitarians --  (1160-1213)
           (Feast day -- February 8th)

    As an infant, St. John of Matha was dedicated to God by his mother.  In his youth, he was taught riding and fencing and other skills suitable for a young nobleman, but he also spent much time visiting the sick and poor.  He went to Paris, where he obtained his doctorate in theology and was ordained in 1197, receving on the day of his first Mass, the inspiration of founding a religious roder to ransom Christians captured by the Moslems.  He and St. Felix of Valois founded the Order of the Most Holy Trinity (Trinitarians). 
     To obtain the money needed to buy back Christian slaves, the Trinitarians turned to Our Lady under the title of Our Lady of Good Remedy.  Thus, over the centuries, they were ab to free thousands of Christians.  St. John is often depicted receiving a sackof money from Our Lady.  The growing Trinitarian Order extended well into Spain, Italy, England and France.  St. John died in Rome on December 17th.  The habit of the Trinitarians is white with a red and blue cross.



     ST. SCHOLASTICA  -- Virgin, Patronness of Convulsive Children -- (d.543)
          Feast day -February 10th)

      St. Scholastica, who was St. Benedict's twin sister, is regarded as the first Benedictine nun.  When her brother settled at Monte Cassino, she lived in a convent at nearby Plombariola, where it is believed that she was abbess.  Once a year, Benedict and a few of his monks would meet Scolastica to spend the day praising and discussing God together.  On the last of these visits, after supper, St. Scholastica, who may have known that her death was near, pleaded with her brother to stay until the next morning.  St. Benedict refused, answering that he could not spend a night outside of his monastery because it is against his Rule.
     St. Scholastica, proceeded to pray silently, her hands folded upon the dinner table, whereupon a storm arose with such severity that Benedict and his monks were forced to grant her desire.  St. Scholastica told her brother, "I asked a favor of you and you refused it.  I asked it of God, and He has granted it."  Only a few days later, St. Benedict knew his sister had died when he saw a vision of her soul ascending to Heaven in the form of a dove.  He had his monks place her body in a tomb that he had made for himself.



      "....First of all, you must understand that in the last days some people will appear whose lives are controlled by their own lusts. They will make fun of you and will ask, "He promised to come, didn't he?  Where is he?  Our ancestors have already died, but everything is still the sameas it was since the creation of the world!"  They purposely ignore the fact that long ago God gave a command and the heavens and earth were created.  The earth was formed out of water and by water, and it was also by water, the water of the flood, that the whole world waas destroyed.  But the heavens and the earth that now exist are being preserved by the same command of God, in order to be destroyed by fire.  They are being kept for the day when godless people will be judged and destroyed.

     "But do not forget one thing, my dear friends!  There is no difference in the
Lord's sight between one day and a thousand years, to him the two are the same.  The Lord is not slow to do what he has promised as some think.  Instead, he is patient with you, because he does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins.

    "But the DAY OF THE LORD will come like a thief.  On that Day, the Heavens will disappear with a shrill noise, the heavenly bodies will burn up and be destroyed, and the earth with everything in it will vanish.  Since all these things will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people should you be?  Your lives should be holy and dedicated to God, as you wait for the Day of God and do your best to make it come soon--the Day when the Heavens will burn up and be destroyed, and the heavenly bodies will be melted by the heat.  But we wait for what God has promised: new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will be at home.

     "And so my friends, as you wait for that Day, do your best to be pure and faultless in God's sight and to be at peace with him....Be on your guard, then, so that you will not be led away by the errors of lawless people and fall from your safe position.  But continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
                                                                                                              2 Peter 3:3-17