Under the Roman Empire, Christianity has begun as a
persecuted religion. Jesus Christ who was crucified and died on the cross has
inspired new believers through His apostles and disciples. The witnessing of
the early Christians, amidst persecution, has resulted to more converts who
were inspired by their faith. Under the emperor Nero, persecutions worsen.
Only after almost three hundred years of persecution, only under Constantine, who had a vision of the cross and who fought under its protection and later has won the battle of Milvian Bridge, that the edict of Milan finally paved way for them as it gave freedom to Christians to worship Jesus as Lord.
Only after almost three hundred years of persecution, only under Constantine, who had a vision of the cross and who fought under its protection and later has won the battle of Milvian Bridge, that the edict of Milan finally paved way for them as it gave freedom to Christians to worship Jesus as Lord.
"Through the mother of Constantine, the mother queen Helena,
gave palaces to become churches and one of this is the Lateran Palace which was
built in the time of Constantine and was consecrated by Pope Sylvester in 324. The
Lateran Church is also known as the the Basilica of St. John Lateran and is the
cathedral of Rome. This is not St. Peter's basilica, but it is the Pope's
cathedral. Also called the Church of Holy Savior or the Church of St. John
Baptist, it was the baptism church of ancient Rome. This feast became a
universal celebration in honor of the basilica called "the mother and
mistress of all churches of Rome and the world" (omnium urbis et orbis
ecclesiarum mater et caput) as a sign of love for and union with the See of
Peter.
The Lateran Cathedral, as it is known today is considered
the mother of all Churches. It is considered as the earliest parish church. We
celebrate this magnificent Church as we celebrate also the freedom of Christianity.
Later in our Church history, Theodosius I, the son of
Constantine, would make Christianity as the official religion of the Roman
Empire."
http://www.rome.info/basilicas/st-john-lateran/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archbasilica_of_St._John_Lateran
http://www.rome.info/basilicas/st-john-lateran/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archbasilica_of_St._John_Lateran
===
After 2000 years, it is true that Jesus really remained
faithful to His Church. Until now, we celebrate Jesus in the Eucharist. The power of the Holy Spirit makes Jesus
Christ present in our midst.
Jesus Christ, who suffered, died and who has risen continuously inspires us as we gather together as His faithful Church. Jesus Christ is the temple who was destroyed by power of evil through the hands of men has been restored by the power and the will of the God, the Father. Obedience, through his passion, death and resurrection has become more meaningful for all of us… and perhaps, this inspires the early Christians to persevere for their Christian faith even to the point also of death… a painful death under martyrdom.
===
Jesus Christ, who suffered, died and who has risen continuously inspires us as we gather together as His faithful Church. Jesus Christ is the temple who was destroyed by power of evil through the hands of men has been restored by the power and the will of the God, the Father. Obedience, through his passion, death and resurrection has become more meaningful for all of us… and perhaps, this inspires the early Christians to persevere for their Christian faith even to the point also of death… a painful death under martyrdom.
===
As a Church, prayer has been our connection to God and Jesus
Himself taught us to pray to God the Father.
Our founder, St. Peter Julian Eymard, has taught us to pray.
Perhaps, St. Peter Julian Eymard, being an apostle of the Eucharist has also
discovered the driving force that motivated the spirituality of the Early
Christian communities who were also described in the Acts of the Apostles—who pray
together, break the bread together, who listen to the word of God together and who
share their resources together.
St. Peter Julian Eymard, gave us a pattern on how to pray most especially during our adoration to the Blessed Sacrament. Perhaps, St. Peter Julian Eymard patterned the prayer in the Lord’s prayer-- he advised us to start first our prayer in praising God as we adore Him in all His magnificence and greatness, second he advised us to prepare ourselves by doing a simple contrition… to say sorry for all those what we missed to do and for the minor sins we have committed. Third, as a child of God he encouraged us to say our thanksgiving to God… to say ‘thank you for all the blessings we received.’ Lastly is the supplication part, like Jesus, St. Peter Julian Eymard understood us, that as humans, we also have needs so he advised us to say to God what we need but he also reminded us to be always open to the ‘will of God unto us.’
St. Peter Julian Eymard, gave us a pattern on how to pray most especially during our adoration to the Blessed Sacrament. Perhaps, St. Peter Julian Eymard patterned the prayer in the Lord’s prayer-- he advised us to start first our prayer in praising God as we adore Him in all His magnificence and greatness, second he advised us to prepare ourselves by doing a simple contrition… to say sorry for all those what we missed to do and for the minor sins we have committed. Third, as a child of God he encouraged us to say our thanksgiving to God… to say ‘thank you for all the blessings we received.’ Lastly is the supplication part, like Jesus, St. Peter Julian Eymard understood us, that as humans, we also have needs so he advised us to say to God what we need but he also reminded us to be always open to the ‘will of God unto us.’
===
Jesus is the head of the Church and we are His body and through
our faithful prayer, we are always connected to Jesus Christ who is our Lord
and our God.
Den Mar
No comments:
Post a Comment