St. Clare

She was born on July 16, 1194 in Assisi, Italy. Her father was Favorino Scifi, the Count of Sasso and mother Orto Lana. Since her parents were of noble family, they wanted take St. Clare to their home, when she became a nun against their will. She refused to return to home and told her parents that God has called for her service. She was one of the first followers of St. Francis of Assisi. She founded an Order of Nuns named Order of Poor Ladies. The Order was renamed as Order of Saint Clare and also called as Poor Clares after the death of St. Clare, by Pope Urban-IV in the year 1263. One day some enemy soldiers came to raid the convent, where St. Clare was residing. St. Clare placed the Blessed Sacrament before the soldiers and she kneeled down to pray. Suddenly the enemy soldiers fled from the convent, due to some sudden fright struck the soldiers. The prayer of St. Clare and her faith in the Blessed Sacrament saved the nuns of the convent on that day. She died on August 11, 1253. She was canonized by Pope Alexander-IV on August 15, 1255, as St. Clare of Assisi. She is considered as the patron of sore eyes. Pope Pius-XII designated her as the patron saint of television in the year 1958.
#clare #saint #television #t.v #soldier #sacrament #holysacrament #prayer #Catholic #faith #eyes #soreeyes #T.V

Soon after Damasus was made supreme pontiff, the rites of Babylon began to come to the front. The worship of the Virgin Mary was set up in AD 381. All the outstanding festivals of the Roman Catholic Church are of Babylonian origin. Easter is not a Christian name; it means Ishtar , one of the titles of the Babylonian queen of heaven, whose worship by the children of Israel was such an abomination in the sight of God. The decree for the observance of Easter and Lent was given in AD 519. The rosary is of pagan origin. There is no warrant in the Word of God for the use of the sign of the cross. It had its origin in the mystic Tau of the Chaldeans and Egyptians. It came from the letter T , the initial name of Tammuz, and was used in the Babylonian mysteries for the same magic purposes as the Romish church now employs it. Celibacy, the tonsure, and the order of monks and nuns have no warrant or authority from Scripture. The nuns are nothing more than an imitation of the vestal virgins of pagan Rome.

The terms chastity and celibacy are sometimes used interchangeably, but they have different meanings and involve different commitments. Chastity is the state of being innocent regarding sexual sin. The word chastity, with its adjective form, chaste, also carries the connotation of moral purity and cleanness. Regardless of marital status, believers should be chaste. Our sexuality should be aligned with biblical principles. Chastity requires more than abstaining from sexual activity; it also includes maintaining purity of mind, thought, and action. In 1 Thessalonians 4:3–4, Paul promotes a chaste lifestyle: “This is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality, that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor” (ESV). Self-control and holiness are essential to chastity.

For unmarried Christians, chastity involves abstinence from all sexual activity until marriage. For married Christians, chastity is found in being faithful to their spouses and honoring their marriage vows: “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous” (Hebrews 13:4, ESV). Whether married or unmarried, Christians should express their sexuality in a biblically appropriate way.

Celibacy is related to chastity but requires a commitment to abstain from both marriage and all sexual activity. Some who take holy orders, such as priests, monks, and nuns, take a vow of celibacy to serve the church and fully dedicate themselves to God. The practice of voluntary celibacy is supported by passages like 1 Corinthians 7:32–34, which says, “I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband” (ESV). According to Paul, the benefit of celibacy is undivided devotion to “the things of the Lord.”

For the Christian, celibacy is not only about remaining unmarried and abstaining from sexual activity; it also involves wholehearted commitment to personal sanctification. Believers who choose a celibate lifestyle make a significant sacrifice. Jesus spoke of “those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it” (Matthew 19:12). By sacrificing marriage and sex, celibate believers can serve God without the distractions that come with maintaining a family.

The key differences between chastity and celibacy are as follows:


• Scope and Application: Chastity is a universal virtue that all Christians should practice, whereas celibacy is a choice. Some believers choose to live celibate, although if someone chooses to marry, “he is not sinning” (1 Corinthians 7:36).
• Biblical Support: Chastity is required of believers, and it is discussed in passages that call for self-control and purity, such as 1 Thessalonians 4:3–4 and 1 Corinthians 6:18–20. Celibacy is recommended by Paul “because of the present crisis” (1 Corinthians 7:26) and for the practical reason of serving the Lord without distraction.
• Personal Commitment: Chastity is a lifelong commitment, with single Christians remaining abstinent and married Christians being faithful in marriage. Celibacy may or may not be a lifelong commitment to remain unmarried and abstain from sexual activity.

Christians are to sanctify their minds and bodies to the Lord. Whether or not that involves a lifelong vow of celibacy, all Christians are called to be chaste.

DAILY BIBLE LESSON.
MISUNDERSTOOD VERSES USED AGAINST THE HEALTH MESSAGE.

Please, share this study with your family, friends co-workers, and all who you can, for the expansion of the Kingdom of GOD.

There are a number of Bible verses that many Christians use to "support" their meat eating (including Biblical "unclean" meat), and which they use against the health message. Let's examine the verses in question.

1. Matthew 15:11 ...'Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.'

If we simply take the whole chapter in context, it can be easily seen that what Jesus is talking about is the Pharisees rules on eating with unwashed hands. And although Jesus is not saying that eating with dirty hands is ok. He is merely pointing out that the Pharisees placed more importance on these ritual rules than they did on love. So Jesus is teaching a "heart" issue, in that what comes from the heart is that which really makes a person "evil", not what goes into the stomach.

2. Acts 10:10-13 ...'And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.'

This is such a well known misunderstood piece of scripture that many Christians use to "validate" their eating of unclean animals. And yet the meaning of the vision is clearly given within the context. Now let's say that the vision DID mean we can now eat anything. Shall we now start eating dogs, cats, rats, horses and such like? Do Christians eat such things? Of course not. And yet they use this verse to support their eating of pigs and other Biblically unclean flesh. Peter even said himself after the vision ... 'Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.' ... He was shocked and troubled by this vision. Why? Because he couldn't believe that God would now pronounce all unclean animals and insects as ok to eat.

So what does this vision REALLY mean? ... Acts 10:28,34,35 ...'And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any MAN common or unclean ... Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.'

Through this vision, God was basically showing Peter that ALL PEOPLE who fear God and do His will are accepted ("clean"). So why did God use a vision to do with eating? Maybe because as verse 10 says, Peter was very hungry before he had the vision. Also in the vision, God spoke THREE times, saying that what He had cleansed, Peter should not call common. Why THREE times? Because THREE NON-JEWS then came to see Peter to take him to Cornelius.

3. 1 Timothy 4:4 ...'For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.'

Again, if we read in context, we can see that in verses 1-3 it says ... 'in the latter times some shall depart from the faith ... Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron ... Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats.' ... Some say that this is speaking about the Adventist church. But note, Paul is saying that these "individuals" teaching to abstain from meats also teach not to marry. The Adventist church does not forbid marriage, but rather promotes marriage between a man and woman. On the other hand, the Roman Catholic church does forbid eating foods on certain holiday celebrations and forbids marriage through it's institutions of the nuns and priests.

Please also notice this important point ... The word "meats" in verse 3 simply means FOOD. When the Bible is talking about animal meat, it says "flesh". But when talking about non-flesh food, it uses the word "meat". For example, in Genesis 1:29 God tells Adam and Eve what He has created for them to eat ... 'every herb bearing seed and the fruit of the tree yielding seed'. And what does God call this food in Genesis 1:29? MEAT. So going back to verse 3 of Timothy above, what "meat" has God CREATED to be received with thanksgiving? Food of the earth. Because God did NOT create animals to be killed and eaten. That was not His plan.

Also, did you notice that in verse 4 it says 'every CREATURE of God is good.'? The word Creature simply means "thing founded" or "created thing". So if "creature" in this verse means anything other than natural products of the earth which God created for us to eat, then people will HAVE to include every crawling thing upon the face of the earth .. INCLUDING HUMANS! So, is it ok to eat rats, spiders, dogs, cats, and people? Is cannibalism now approved? After all, Mark 16:15 says ... 'Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.'

The only logical conclusion is that Paul is talking about those who would forbid the eating of foods that God originally created for our diet.

1 Timothy 4:5...'For it is sanctified by the word of God AND prayer.'

How is food sanctified (made holy for us to eat)? NOT just by prayer which many Christians seem to believe. But rather by the Word of God AND prayer. Now, where in the Bible is unclean meat like pig, camel, mice, bats, eagle sanctified? Where?!

4. Romans 14:2-3 ...'For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.'

Now let's look at what Paul said in chapter 12:1 ...'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.' ... Do you really think that Paul would plead with us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and then turn around and suggest that eating anything, even those things that HARM our bodies is ok? I don't think so. Again, if Paul IS suggesting that eating all things is ok, then you must include ALL THINGS, dogs, cats, rats, horses, etc. Would this be acceptable to God? No way! So what is Paul saying above in chapter 14?

The context of the point Paul is putting across is to do with "those who are weak in the faith". That is, one who has but a limited grasp of the principles of righteousness. He is eager to be saved and is willing to do whatever he believes is required of him. But in the immaturity of his Christian experience and probably also as the result of former education and belief, he attempts to make his salvation more certain by the observance of certain rules and regulations (ceremonial laws) that are in reality not binding upon him. To him these regulations assume great importance. He regards them as absolutely binding upon him for salvation, and he is distressed and confused when he sees other Christians about him, especially those who seem to be more experienced, who do not share his assumptions.

In Corinthians the problem is identified in the practice of eating foods sacrificed to idols. According to the ancient practice, pagan priests carried on an extensive merchandise of the animal sacrifices offered to idols. Paul told the Corinthian believers, which were converts from both Judaism and Paganism that inasmuch as an idol was nothing, there was no wrong, so to speak, in eating foods dedicated to it. However, he explains, because there were some who were beginners in the faith and still fairly weak, and could not with a free conscience eat such foods, Paul urged those who were stronger in the faith not to place a stumbling block in a brother's way by indulging in those foods. And Probably for fear of offending in this matter some Christians abstained from flesh foods (Biblically clean meat) entirely, which means that their food was restricted to "herbs", that is, vegetables.

So what is meant by "all things"? All things that are sanctified (pronounced clean, as per Levitical laws) by the Word of God. Does the Word of God pronounce dogs, cats, pigs and wild beasts as clean to eat? No.

If people would only take the WHOLE of God's Word in context, they would see the clear truth of the matter. God is trying to draw men back to the original plan in the Garden of Eden. And He wants a people in the last days who are living according to that original plan. This is the message of the three angels of Revelation 14. A message of turning away from the world and Babylon's deceptions, and returning back to God. The messages point us to our Creator. And how were we made? We were made in the image of God. So should we act and live in the image of God. This is the health message. Please bring glory to God in all you do.

To learn more about our Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God, and the Sabbath, please visit your local Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Or please visit us at Rossville Seventh-day Adventist Church, located at 1737 Mission Ridge Road, Rossville Georgia 30741

Pastor; Greg Hudson

Services start at 11am on Saturday (Sabbath) morning.

Sister Theresa Grace. The Sisers of Life. Chicago 2055. Excerpt from her honest, straightforward keynote.
#prolifegen #antimagic #occultism #nuns #summit #catholic

Lent is the forty-day penitential season in the liturgical year, observed universally by the Catholic Church as a time of fasting, prayer, almsgiving, and conversion to prepare for the Paschal Mystery of Christ's Passion, Death, and Resurrection.[^3] [^4] Modeled on Jesus' forty days of fasting in the desert,[^3] it retains its profoundly sacramental character, uniting the faithful mysteriously to Christ's own trial and triumph.[^3]

Historical Origins and Development
The observance of Lent evolved gradually in the early Church. While some Fathers attributed it to Apostolic institution,[^4] historical evidence shows diversity in the first centuries: St. Irenaeus (c. 177-202) describes varying fasts of one, two, or more days before Easter, with no uniform forty-day period until the fourth century.[^1] [^4] The Council of Nicaea (325) provides the earliest clear reference,[^1] and by 331, St. Athanasius urged a forty-day fast in Alexandria, noting its widespread practice.[^4] Influences included the forty-day fasts of Moses, Elijah, and Christ, as well as preparation for baptism or absolution of penitents.[^1] [^4]

Over time, the term "Lent" derives from the Old English for spring, translating Latin quadragesima ("fortieth day"), akin to Greek tessarakoste.[^4] Variations persisted, such as six-week observances fasting six days a week (totaling 36 days, excluding Sundays), but the essence remained a unified penitential preparation.[^5]

Duration and Liturgical Placement
Lent spans forty days from Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday (excluding Sundays, which are not fast days), culminating in the Paschal Triduum.[^2] [^4] Computation excludes Sundays to align precisely with the scriptural forty days, though early practices varied slightly.[^1] [^4] In the Roman Rite, it begins with Ash Wednesday; Eastern rites may start on "Clean Monday."[^12]

Purpose and Spiritual Significance
Lent fosters penance, imitating Christ's fast and temptations, to purify the soul and participate in his redemptive work.[^3] It is a "sacramental" season where Christ acts in his Church, giving penitential practices salvific meaning.[^3] Popes emphasize contemplation of Christ's sorrowful face, union with his obedience, and renewal through mercy.[^11] By divine law, all faithful must do penance; ecclesiastical norms reorganize it for Lent's character.[^2]

Penitential Practices
Fasting and Abstinence (Latin Rite Norms)
Abstinence: From meat (but not eggs, dairy, or animal-fat condiments) on Ash Wednesday, Fridays, and Good Friday for ages 14+.[^1] [^2]
Fasting: One full meal, with lesser amounts morning/evening, on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday for ages 21-59.[^2]
These bind gravely; local customs guide quantity.[^2] Mitigations (e.g., meat on certain days via indults) exist but prohibit meat with fish at one meal.[^4]
Prayer and Other Practices
Lent intensifies prayer (e.g., Stations of the Cross, Via Crucis), almsgiving, and sacraments.[^11] Eastern traditions include Presanctified Liturgy on weekdays (no full Eucharistic Liturgy Mon-Fri), Royal Hours, and rigorous fasts excluding meat, dairy, fish (with exceptions).[^12] [^13] [^15] Universal emphasis: educate youth for First Communion.[^16]

| Rite/Tradition | Key Lenten Practices | Exceptions/Notes |
|---------------|----------------------|------------------|
| Latin (Roman) | Abstinence Fridays; fast Ash Wed/Good Fri; meat indults common.[^2] [^4] | Ages 14+ abstain; 21-59 fast.[^2] |
| Greek (Uniat/Non-Uniat) | Xerophagy (dry foods); fish/eggs some days; wine/oil by custom.[^1] | No innovations without Holy See approval.[^1] |
| Coptic | No meat/eggs/dairy all seasons; fish varies.[^1] | Monks/nuns stricter year-round.[^1] |
| Ukrainian Greek Catholic | Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts Wed/Fri; no Liturgy Mon/Tue/Thu.[^13] [^15] | Basil Liturgy on Sundays.[^15] |

Variations and Canonical Notes
Eastern Churches maintain ancient rigor (e.g., no Liturgy certain days to anticipate Pascha),[^13] [^15] while Roman norms, updated by Paenitemini (1966), simplify universal obligations.[^2] Memorials in Lent are optional.[^14] Popes like Benedict XV, Paul VI, and Francis issued annual Lenten messages reinforcing charity and conversion (see additional context table).

In summary, Lent is a graced season of spiritual combat and renewal, rooted in Scripture and Tradition, adapting ancient practices to foster deeper communion with Christ.[^3] [^4] Observe it through prayer, fasting, and alms, ever faithful to Church norms.[^2]

[^1] Catholic Encyclopedia, (The Encyclopedia Press), Abstinence

[^2] Paenitemini, (Pope Paul VI)

[^3] Homiletic Directory (29 June 2014), (Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments), 58

[^4] Catholic Encyclopedia, (The Encyclopedia Press), Lent

[^5] Conference 21. First Conference of Abbot Theonas. On the Relaxation During the Fifty Days., (John Cassian), Chapter 27

[^6] Controversies of the Christian Faith (Disputationes de Controversiis), (Robert Bellarmine), page249

[^7] Letter 55 - From Augustine to Januarius, (Augustine of Hippo), 33

[^8] Letter 55 (400) From Augustine to Januarius, (Augustine of Hippo), Chapter 18. 33

[^9] Council in Trullo (A.D. 692), (Council Document), Canon 29

[^10] Conference 21. First Conference of Abbot Theonas. On the Relaxation During the Fifty Days., (John Cassian), Chapter 23

[^11] 28 February 2001: Ash Wednesday, (Pope John Paul II), 3

[^12] Catechism of the Ukrainian Catholic Church: Christ – Our Pascha, (Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church), 551

[^13] Catechism of the Ukrainian Catholic Church: Christ – Our Pascha, (Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church), 394

[^14] Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the General Roman Calendar, (Pope Paul VI), 14

[^15] Catechism of the Ukrainian Catholic Church: Christ – Our Pascha, (Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church), 393

[^16] Acerbo Nimis, (Pope Pius X), 21

“BEAUTIFUL” #VOCATIONS
Stories of young models and top models, among the most beautiful in the world, who leave #vanity behind and choose to follow a religious vocation.

READ MORE
https://www.uccronline.it/eng/2025/11/24/when-the-worlds-most-beautiful-become-priests-and-nuns/